Wild and Free

Chapter 8

I had a pretty boring day at the hospital. It was 6:30 and I decided to watch tv for a bit, I clicked to watch a movie and scrolled through till I found one I liked, Flicka. I was about halfway through when someone flipped open the curtain.

"Food, now." I said immediately, as he was holding a bag.

"Hello to you to." He said as he sat down on the extra chair and pulled out two Chipotle burritos handing one to me. I fumbled with the tinfoil wrapper and ended up tearing it up in little shreds. I took a bite and slowly chewed thinking over something. Drake mumbled something around a mouthful of black beans and handed me a large Jamba Juice cup. I took a sip and smiled, Razzmataz, my favorite.

"So, what torture devices have they used on you today?" Drake mocked, finishing his burrito.

"Not much really, except they stabbed my finger and took some blood." I said in a scared tone.

"Well then, I talked to your dad. He was busy with some new horses and said I could take you home." Drake said taking my smoothie and drinking some.

"Hey!" I snatched the cup back and hugged it.

"Whoa Ok, I give in!" Drake said putting his hands up then pulling another smoothie out from behind him. "I got Orange something." Drake said staring at the cup in (mock) deep confusion. He shrugged his shoulders and took a sip. We finished our dinners and watched the end of Flicka.

"Ready to ditch this place?" Drake stood up and stretched. We checked me out and went to Drake's car (which he washed). I climbed into the car and stared at my cast. Drake started the car and I jumped in surprise. Drake glanced over at me and smiled as I looked out the window blushing fiercely. We drove home in silence.

We arrived at the property 15 minutes later and it was dark. I hopped out of the car and ran to Cloud's stall.

"Rebecca! Wait!" Drake called as I heard his feet pounding behind me. I stopped at her stall and peered in nervously. Cloud looked up from her hay and bobbed her head. I sighed and leaned against her stall. Drake stopped in front of me and looked at me in bewilderment. "What was that for? Think your dad was going to get rid of Cloud?" Drake gasped.

"Sorry." I sighed sheepishly. Drake sat down next to me and leaned his head back. I stared at him with a deep focus and took a minute to see all the details of his face. He had a stong, lean look to his face. His shaggy blonde hair covered his forehead and marks of dirt and sweat were dried onto his cheeks. He had an angular chin and thin nose.

"What are you staring at?" Drake asked breaking my focus.

I blinked a few times then said "Oh! Um nothing...." I looked away then back at Drake. Now he was staring.

"What?" I asked staring into Drakes eyes. He grinned and pulled my face into his. His lips met mine in a strong yet sensitive kiss. I closed my eyes as Drake wrapped his arms around me and the kiss deepened. We broke apart and stared at each other for a minute. I pulled strands of hair out of my face and smiled.

"You should probably go inside." Drake said checking his watch. I nodded and stood up. Drake walked me to the porch and I opened the door.

"Goodnight." I called closing the door smiling. I went to my room and fell asleep.

* Few weeks later*

I had a brace on now instead of my cast and it was easier to do my chores. I walked over to see Cloud in her stall eating her morning oats. I smiled and went to barn A to go and groom a paint named Tuxedo. I was grooming him when Drake walked in to see me.

"Good morning." I said smiling as I walked over to him.

"Good morning. We are out of rolled oats can you go get a bag from the feed store? The large shipment is coming tomorrow and we need to finish morning meals." Drake asked.

"If you finish Tux I will."

"Fine." Drake took my brush I was holding and walked over to Tuxedo.

"One more thing, can I borrow your truck?"

"I don't want a scratch!" He said tossing the keys to me.

"Like you would notice one with all the other scratches on that truck!" I called walking out.

When I arrived at the feed store I bought the feed and talked to one of the workers for a while.

When I got home Drake ran up to me with panic in his eyes.

"What's wron-"

"Clouds missing."