The Unbound Horizon

The Boys Come Home

     Evelyn sat on the fence, Emily had left about 15 minutes earlier and she knew she had get back to work soon. Emily wanted her to think about her and Colton, and what would be best for her, but that didn't matter. It didn't matter what she wanted, all that mattered was Colton, and even if it meant hurting herself and hurting him, she knew that there was no way she could be with Colton. It wouldn't be fair to him, and after everything he has been through, he deserves the best, most well known, and respected lady in the world, and she knew no matter how much she wished she could be that girl, she couldn't because she was already ruined. 

     After she had finished watering the cattle, she went back to the house to help cook. The boys were coming home, so all the girls had gotten together to make a big extravagant for them. Helen, along with Matthews wife, Ellen, Emily and Rebecca had been cooking all day in preparation, so when Evelyn got there, there wasn't that much for her to do. Helen had told to go get cleaned up before they got back, and she obeyed. When she had come back down, she set the table, and starting filling all the glasses with water. 

"Daddy's back!" William yelled, and all the women looked out the window to see them all off in the distance making their way to the house. Everyone was in a hurried and excited frenzy trying to get everything ready before they went outside to greet them coming home. Evelyn took her time, of course she was excited to see her father and brothers, and much as she wanted to deny it, she was excited to see Colton too, but it also hurt, knowing that she wouldn't be able to really welcome him back, or have the same relationship they once had. 

     Evelyn walked outside, and she couldn't help but smile at how happy her family was to be reunited, she could see Matthew, Ben, Isaac and Colton start to race their horses back, while Daddy and Joshua stayed behind on the wagon. She watched, as Matthew rode toward Ellen, Ben toward Emily, and Isaac toward Rebecca. As ridiculous and sappy as she always thought these reunions were, she now thought it was sweet, and comforting. She would've never told anyone but she wished that Colton would ride like that towards her, but also knew there was no point. Then she looked up, and her heart started racing, Colton was riding towards her, she started to panic, what was she suppose to do, no one knew she liked him, and she didn't want to make any kind of scene, but then she realized she didn't care, and while he was riding towards her, she started running towards him, not caring if her family saw, it was about time anyway right. In one swift move Colton pulled his horse to a halt, jumped off, and grabbed Evelyn in his arms and spun her around, with her arms around his neck. 

"Evelyn? Evelyn!?" William said, waving his hand in front of her face. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm alright." Oh my word, she thought, I zoned out again.

"Are you sure? You've been doing this a lot lately?" 

"Yeah William I'm fine, sorry." She looked back and still saw Colton riding towards her, shook off her dream, and walked back inside the house. Trying to be glad, that she was able to control herself and her feelings, and not making a fool of herself. 

     When everyone walked in the house, there was a lot of happy chatter, everyone taking in deep breaths of the wonderful smelly food that had wofted its way through the house, and to the noses and everyone who walked in. They all sat around the table, and Evelyn hoped Colton wouldn't sit next to her, but of course he did.

"Hey Sweetheart, How are you?" He asked, in a soft gentle tone. Evelyn breath caught in her lungs, she use to hate it when he called her sweetheart, but now she loved it, as much as that ridiculous half smirk smile he was now giving her. She was trying to keep her heart from melting. 

"I'm fine," She said curtly with a slight smile. "How are you? How was the trip?"

"I'm good, and the trip went well too, we got everything we were in search for. So I would say it was pretty successful." Colton explained.