Chapter 64 - Lucy
One Month Later
It’s sunny, but the air’s got a nice crispness to it. Fall is coming. The carnival brought in enough money for R&M Ranch to donate not only to the Turner Family Dude Ranch’s summer camp, but to another farm on the outskirts of town that supplies our beef.
Sipping my coffee on the back porch of the house I now share with Reese, I close my eyes and listen.
Birds chirp and fly overhead, I can hear the horses on their morning runs, the few trainees that stay year round are here, converting things over just in case we get nasty weather earlier than expected.
Cap brushes my leg as he sits, his butt half-way on my foot.
The action makes me giggle and I reach down to scratch his ears.
After the hospital discharged me, I went home with Mawmaw, much to Reese’s disappointment. That night I called him because I couldn’t sleep, and I knew why. I needed him and the comfort that having him close provides.
He showed up in record time, as if he was waiting for my call. Mawmaw cried, only a little, and told me I could get my things whenever I was ready.
So, today we’re officially moving me in. Briar and I packed all of my stuff from the house I love so much, and loaded up Reese’s truck, mine and Spencers, all full.
“Are you hidin’ from all the work, Goldie?” Reese laughs, wrapping his arms around my middle.
“I’m lookin’ at my future, Old Man,” I smile, breaking out of his arms and setting my coffee cup on the table. Turning around, my eyes scan every inch of his face and I reach up on my toes to kiss him. “Now hush.”
His arms circle my waist and he crushes me to his body.
“Okay, enough, enough,” Briar interrupts with a chuckle. “Dad says he and Heath are gonna head out, somethin’ about the shop.”
I nod and pass Reese by to meet my brother and brother-in-law in the living room that’s bursting with clothes and boxes. Looks like Reese and I have a whole unpacking party ahead of us.
Spence meets me half-way in a hug that makes me feel like a little girl again.
Not living in Goldspur Ridge will be hard.
I know it’s not that far back home, and we have our Sunday brunches, but I’m used to being able to just walk to his house.
Plus, this is Briar’s last year of high school, and I don’t want to miss out on anything.
“Loo,” he chuckles, “we’re not that far.”
“I know,” I sniffle, wiping under my eyes with a laugh.
Heath rolls his tearful eyes and walks over to wrap me up in a hug. “I’ll miss you, too, Lucy Loo.”
Spence chuckles and shakes his head. “We’re gonna see you more than you think, alright?”
I nod and turn to Briar whose nose is red, and tears already stream down her cheeks. “It’s not the same, Dad.”
“You can call me, or text me anytime Flower, plus we’ve got a lot of events this year,” I remind her with a wink.
She sniffles and lunges on me wrapping her arms around my neck. “How am I gonna do senior year without you?”
Running my hand over the back of her hair, I smile. “You won’t, I’m just a little further down the road.”
After a few minutes, she releases me and kisses my cheek. Colt’s at Goldspur Gears this morning, since he’s not sure what he wants to do with his life, he’s taking the year off school.
Spencer, Heath, and Briar head out while Reese and I stand on the front porch, his arm around my shoulder as we watch them pull away.
Reese’s phone rings, which has become more common these days with the titles his riders won, and the carnival being such a huge success.
I leave him to it and pull my phone from my pocket, dialing Indy. She’s been up here as much as she can since I got out of the hospital, but the ranch needs a lot of work before the winter hits really hard, and they have to seal everything up.
“What’s up, Buttercup?” She sings into the phone, almost breathless.
I laugh, “What are you up to?”
“Oh you know, racing after the new filly. Fun times,” she huffs and I burst out in laughter.
“You need to start workin’ on your endurance, Goose,” I giggle.
“Hey, I’d like to see you try chasing after an animal with four legs longer than yours.”
“Touché.”
The two of us laugh and she says, “I’ve been tryin’ to find a way to thank you, Loo. That money y’all raised, it’s got us covered for almost two years.”
“You don’t need to thank me, I knew we could do it, I just didn’t realize how big it would end up bein’,” I smile and take a seat on the rocking chair on the front porch.
I really didn’t, the carnival was such a hit that people are still talking about it. We have news crews calling, wanting to do a story on it and asking about next year.
“Ma and Dad are happier than I’ve seen in a while, like they got their spirit back? You know?”
That makes my inside warm, her parents have always been good to me, and I’m glad the community could give back.
“You know, we need to get y’all outta the house,” I tease, since the carnival they’ve been repairing, rehabbing, and cutting trails that have long since been overdue for some tender love and care. “Enjoy the ranch, but make sure to carve out some time for yourself, okay.”
“That’s what my bees are for,” she quips and sighs. “I’m gonna have to get this filly into the barn before the vet gets here. I’ll call you later.”
“Good luck!” I tease, putting my phone back in my pocket.
From the porch I can see just about all of R&M, it’s weird to see it so empty. The older boys stayed, since they’ve graduated there’s really nowhere for them to go except back home, and I know the twins won’t even entertain that idea.
Reese walks out, cutting off my thoughts. He smiles and offers me his hand.
“How about we unpack a bit, and then we can go check in on the Folleys?” He asks and I look up at him. His deep blue eyes draw me in, and I swear I fall in love all over again every time I see them.
The Sheriff hasn’t returned to work, but he was released from the hospital last week and I like to check in on him as often as I can.
“I like that plan,” I tell him, enjoying the way his eyes linger on my lips.
“You haven’t heard the best part,” he rumbles, wrapping his arm behind my back and dipping me backward, kissing me before pulling me up. “When we get home, I’m gonna kiss the daylights outta you.”
“I like the way you think, Old Man.”