Chapter 34
Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
Cassidy
The kids were all occupied writing stories about their life as if they’d lived a hundred years ago.
Looking across the classroom filled me with pride for what I did as a profession.
Each of them was engrossed in their task, with tongues poking between teeth, noses scrunched up, and furrowed brows as they concentrated.
Lucas, though, was sitting back in his seat, tapping his pencil against his teeth in thought.
It amused me to see these little mannerisms, some inherited from parents or grandparents, others seemingly appearing from nowhere.
Mom always said I pinched the end of my nose when I didn’t like someone, a quirk no one else in the family shared. It was a weird trait, but it was mine.
“Okay, Lucas?” I asked. His desk was right in front of mine and I could see that he’d stalled a little.
His gaze met mine, big eyes questioning. “Does my life a hundred years ago have to be like it is now, Miss. Turner, but like a hundred years ago?”
“That was the assignment. Why? What are you thinking?”
“If I could write about the life I’d have liked to have had.” He stretched his arms out across his desk, dangling his pencil off the end of it.
“You can do that, too. How would you have liked to have lived?”
“On the ranch,” he replied, full of excitement and wonder. “Like Bertie does, but a hundred years ago.”
“So?” I asked moving around my desk to sit on the edge of it. “What’s your problem?”
He looked down at the three lines he’d written. “I don’t know what sort of things they do on the ranch or what they did.”
“You know what they do with the horses. How do you help Gunner?”
“I just ride the pony around in a circle.” He shrugged.
My stomach somersaulted as I thought about the camp because that was exactly what it was all about; teaching kids how to work on a ranch. Lucas’ wanting to write a story about the ranch a hundred years ago had given me an idea.
“Why don’t you go and ask Bertie what happens on the ranch.
” I pointed to Bertie who was scribbling away.
“In fact,” I clapped my hands, “everyone can you stop for a moment.” Twenty two sets of eyes looked up at me.
“I’d like you to get into pairs and one of you be the storyteller and one the story writer.
I want the teller to explain to the writer what their life is like now and then the other person write about it as if it was a hundred years ago.
Bertie, can you partner with Lucas because he has a particular life he’d like to write about.
Everyone else, pick your partner carefully. ”
“Sure thing, Miss. Turner.” She saluted me and skipped over to Lucas’ desk.
There was a little noise as people partnered up, but the incredible kids they were, none of them complained or made a fuss. Apart from Amber and Macey, two girls who could be mean, they were insistent on being a pair, even though one of the boys, Gregory, was desperate to write about Amber’s life.
Once everyone was settled, I heard them all discuss which roles they were going to take and animated chatter about their lives began. Satisfied they were working okay I slipped my phone out of my desk drawer and messaged Gunner.
Cassidy
Hey gorgeous. How’s your day going? How’s Charlie’s last day? xx
Within seconds he replied, making me breathless.
Gunner
Hi sweetheart. Better now I’ve heard from you. Which is pathetic because I’m a grown man who can break a wild horse. A man who apparently is a lovesick idiot when my girlfriend doesn’t message him back within seconds xx
Cassidy
But what about Charlie? Is she also happier now I’ve messaged? Xx
Gunner
Infinitely! Although she is having a weep at this very moment because everyone got her a goodbye gift. Good news on Tally, too, she’s going to think about joining us but I’m feeling positive. How about your day? Xx
Cassidy
Good so far, although I’ll be better when I see you. I’ve had an idea actually xx
Gunner
Sexual? I mean I’m not really into ass play but if it’s a deal breaker we can discuss it over dinner! Xx
God, he made me smile so much I thought my cheeks might break.
Cassidy
No! AND NO! About the camp. I’ll tell you more tonight, but I was thinking maybe we teach the kids old ranch ways as well as new.
Think the Yellowstone spin off, 1923 with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren versus Yellowstone now, you know with Beth and Rip – actually scrap the Beth and Rip reference.
She’s far too angry and drinks too much.
I mean I love her but maybe not for school kids xx
Gunner
I don’t know, I quite like the reference. Aren’t they the ones that have a lot of energetic, angry sex?? Xx
Cassidy
Not angry, just very hot sex. I would imagine he throws her around a great deal, and she loves it xx
Gunner
Want to discuss that over dinner instead of ass play?
I almost burst out laughing, but just about caught it at the back of my throat. How would I explain that to the kids, ‘don’t mind me kids, but my boyfriend is messaging me about anal sex.’. Nope it wouldn’t sound good.
Cassidy
Maybe but what do you think about the then and now idea? xx
Gunner
I love it. We could have little learning areas around the ranch and some displays set up. Lily would love that she’d be in her historical element. Xx
Cassidy
Okay let’s talk more later over dinner. Come over whenever you’re ready xx
Gunner
On my way now (winky emoji).
Cassidy
See you later, cowboy xxx
God, why the hell had I fought with him when I could have been having all this goodness.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Gunner said, as he grated cheese for me.
“And maybe we could get some old films to show. I’m pretty sure we’ve got some old family ones in the attic.
My grandparents took them, of the hands herding the cattle up the mountain, branding, calving, that kind of stuff. You think they would be useful?”
“God, yes,” I agreed, reaching for some of the cheese and taking a pinch of it.
“Hey, don’t steal all my hard work.” Gunner narrowed a playful gaze on me.
“Something you’ll learn about me is I love cheese. But, on the subject of the video films, then yes they’ll be perfect.”
Gunner paused his grating, looking thoughtful. “You know what’s funny? Three years of fighting, and it turns out we make a pretty incredible team.”
“I was just thinking the same thing earlier today,” I admitted, leaning against the counter. “Why did we waste so much time arguing when we could have been doing this?”
“Stubborn, I guess. Both of us.” He smiled, the kind that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Though I have to say, making up has been worth the wait.”
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. Even after everything we’d done together, a simple comment from him could still make me blush.
“You know Cal’s dad is still alive,” Gunner continued, returning to grating.
“He’s in his late eighties and it was his ranch before it was Cal’s.
” He cut a piece of cheese from the block and fed it to me.
“I bet he’d be happy to come and do a talk.
I’m sure he has a couple of his old ranch hands still alive, too.
Mitch, one of our old ranch hands, I bet he’d be happy to provide some insight for the last thirty years.
He runs the post office now with his wife and I think he’s a little bored. ”
“That would be brilliant,” I said excitedly as I took the milk from the refrigerator. “But I have an idea, how about we record them and show that as a film or just play the audio to save them coming over to the ranch all the time.”
Gunner nodded enthusiastically. “I love that idea. Like you get in a museum.”
“Exactly that. We could set up little listening stations where the kids could hear about what branding was like back then, or how they managed cattle drives without modern equipment.”
“Nash mentioned once that Grandpa kept journals about ranch life. I bet there are descriptions in there we could use too.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “How great a team do we make, hey, sweetheart?”
“Brilliant.” I pursed my lips, begging for more.
“Nuh uh,” he said, shaking his head. “Food first and then kisses, well maybe sex but kisses will be involved.”
You couldn’t argue with that, and I didn’t want to. Food, kisses and sex, all with Gunner. What a perfect evening.