False Hope

Chapter 4: "This can't happen."

Was she jealous? Yes. Was she gripping the spoon in her hands so tightly that it would probably shatter? Very much so. Did the fact that the man who had kissed her, bought her food, and was now sitting across the table paying attention only to her sister bother her? Exceedingly so.

After that moment that had just happened, after he had asked to kiss her, how on earth could he sit there now acting as if she didn't exist while he talked and laughed with her sister. For a moment she had felt a moment of guilt. Tami was her sister, she was loyal to her, so she shouldn't be feeling this way. The only reason Daniel was here was because Tami had asked her to bring him here for her sake. So she shouldn't be feeling this way. Daniel had kissed her and made it completely obvious that he was attracted to her as much as she was attracted to him. So she should be feeling this way!

For goodness sake, he was talking and laughing with her sister about how they had met! Why was that so funny? A man getting four of his ribs, one left, three right, broken was funny? A thirteen year old girl intruding into a tent threatening a nurse was funny? A first meeting between a twenty one and thirteen year old girl was funny? They were laughing and talking about that? Why was that so funny? It was beyond her. Worst of all, they were refusing to acknowledge that she was even there.

Thanks, Sis. Thanks alot.

"You're quiet tonight Lily," Tami said touching her arm lightly, "are you alright?"

"I'm just tired," she said digging her spoon a little forcefully into the meat combination lying on her plate. She brought it to her mouth and began to chew. It was tasteless to her.

Tami didn't look convinced. She turned back to Daniel, "So, what have you been doing for the last five years?"

"Rodeo circuit," he answered digging a piece of meat out with his fork, "just me and my horse."

Lily looked up, "Horse?" she asked, "you didn't bring a horse. Not that I know of."

He looked at her and smiled, "He's at the rodeo grounds in Pocatello. He's a pretty good little steer wrestling horse."

"Oh," she said dipping her head down and digging her fork into the meat concoction on her plate. The fork scraped against the grains on the plate making a screeching noise that made her grind her teeth.

"Are you sure you're 'just tired'," Tami said giving her a worried glance.

"Yes, I'm sure," Lily said standing up and wiping her hands on her jeans. "I'm going to go to bed, it's been a long day."

She couldn't stand this anymore. She couldn't stand being in the same room with Daniel. It wasn't easy. Let alone leaving him to "flirt" with her sister. How was she supposed to be around him for the four months that he was here. The four months that Tami was here...

All she could do was sigh and wait. Wait for Daniel to train the horse. Wait for him to leave. Wait for Tami's life to end. Wait for her life to begin again as Tami's life drew to a close. How was she supposed to continue on living without Tami? From the time Tami was sixteen she had been in the care of Lily. Ever since their parents died in that car crash, Tami was the only concern. She had raised Tami like her own. Tami and Lily weren't just sisters, Tami was her daughter, Lily her mentor. Best friends soon to be seperated for a very long time. What was going to happen with Tami gone?

By now, her head was hurting from the thoughts swirling around in her head. It only gave her a better reason to go to bed. She was just about to exit the dining room when Daniel's words gave her a sense of alarm.

"Are there any hotels close by?"

She could have kicked herself. How could she have been so stupid? He was her employee. Wasn't she supposed to be paying for room and board? She must've gotten caught up with the events of the day.