The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Two

I tried so hard to ignore him, but he was here so often, it was like avoiding death. I'm going to have to face it eventually. I took a deep breath and ignored him talking to my father at the dining table in the kitchen. Great. I can feel him looking at my back as i make myself breakfast.

"Do you mind not staring at me like a that!" I snapped at him, slamming down my knife on the bench top.

"I apologize for being so rude," he said, smirking at me because he knew how much he irritates me.

"Darlin' be nice, I'm heading over to town, let Mr. Pierce out when he's ready to leave." I sighed and nodded in understanding.

He's probably going to go collect the groceries and give them to the people on the streets in town. This is what we do, because my mother made my dad promise her to help the needy before she died. That's what he told me, and i guess it made sense, I knew i would've done the same thing. I have my mothers' kind heart to those that deserve kindness and forgiveness.

I hear my dad's pick up truck slowly fade out into the distance, the house was so quiet. I almost believed that Mr. Pierce had left, only, he didn't. He sat on dining room chair, his hands behind his head, looking directly at me like I'm a piece of candy.

"Why are you doing this? Taking away my home... Taking away everything i love.." I whispered. I could tell he could barely hear me because he leaned forward, as his eyebrows creased together.

"I don't have a choice.." His gaze fell to the fruit bowl in the middle of the table, he felt guilty and i knew it. My heart felt for him but my mind was mad as heck. But i sat in the chair beside him, feeling the need to comfort this man that's taking away my life as i knew it.

"Do you have a spear change of clothes? I want you to try something." I ask him.

"No I don't, why's that princess?" i almost blushed at my new nickname.

"I wanted to take you out on horseback, you can borrow some of my fathers clothes that he never wears. It'll be fun." I tell him, smiling a little. He simply nods and smiles at me. I excuse myself to find some blue jeans, a white singlet, a button up plaid shirt and a hat. Returning to him with a giant grin on my face.

"Here, I think these will fit you, I'll be outside prepping the horses." I hand him the clothes and rush out to the stable, I picked out a large draft horse named Gypsy, she's calm enough for what i think is a first time rider. I take Storm out and prep them both for their day out. I put apples in a satchel attached to the saddle. I also strap in rope, in case of an emergency.

"Are we ready to go now?" I heard his deep voice behind me.

"Oh yeah, here, this is Gypsy, she's a draft horse, was rescued after being neglected on a farm across town." I pat her neck. Mr. Pierce swiftly gets onto her back.

"Impressive, i take it you've ridden before." He smiles at me, i feel so much smaller now. My 5'3" compared to six foot somethig man on a horse so much taller than me is just incredible. That's not even the word for it, or for him. He left the shirt unbuttoned and through the thin white singlet i could see the outlines of his abs. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I dragged my feet over to Storm and hopped on before leading Mr. Pierce out of the stable and down the trail.

"It's beautiful out here," He spoke in awe, i didn't answer him but he was keen to get an answer out of me, "My name's Christian, so you can finally stop calling me Mr. Pierce, I feel so old when people call me that." He chuckled, i was itching to smile, but i only just stopped it.

"I learnt how to ride by my mother, she was so in love with horses, i was scared at first but she pushed me and i did competitions, i loved it. But then she-" He stopped Gypsy, i stopped my horse beside him, reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder, i knew exactly how he felt.