13. Colt
Colt
Icould talk to Ethan for hours and never run out of topics to talk about.
After walking to Dairy Queen, we ordered and took our ice cream outside to a picnic table. Ethan ordered a peanut buster parfait with extra caramel and pecans along with the peanuts. My usual has always been a hot fudge sundae, but I followed his lead and topped it with pecans today.
“I see why you love it here,” he says as he scrapes at the bottom of his cup with a spoon. “It’s like living here is always being wrapped in a warm, fuzzy blanket. There’s such comfort here.”
“Most of the time, yeah. It has some bad stuff too, but we’re a tight community.”
“Is that why you don’t want to leave? Someplace new might not be as welcoming?”
Ethan has quickly picked out most of the things about me that others ignore or attribute to my shyness.
I like that more than I thought I would.
It’s rare to meet someone who immediately makes you feel comfortable in your skin.
I can say anything to Ethan, and he doesn’t judge me.
He usually understands immediately, and that helps when I don’t know the right words I want to say.
“When my mom died, this town was here for my uncle and me in ways that I can’t put into words.
Every single person was there. I didn’t realize it at first, but it was like they all stepped in to help my uncle learn how to parent.
” I finished my ice cream a while ago, but I told Ethan I wanted to talk, and it’s taken me this long to figure out how to say it.
“A community to raise a child?” Ethan says softly, and I nod.
“Sort of. But it was more. One of my teachers took me to the cemetery every Mother’s Day and on her birthday.
He even gave me a flower to place there.
It was funny because most of those visits were wordless.
” I laugh softly at the memory. “He’d pull up, and my uncle would say, ‘Mr. Worth is here.’ I’d put my shoes on and just get into his car.
He’d pass me a flower, and when we parked at the cemetery, he’d say, ‘Take as long as you need.’”
Tears form in my eyes, and I quickly swipe at them.
“He did that for three years, and it wasn’t until he transferred that I learned this whole town had my back.
The florist, Ms. Moody, always gave him the flower, and then she started showing up when Mr. Worth left.
Then it was the librarian inviting me to the boys’ activity nights at the library when my uncle had to work and promised him they’d get me home afterward if he couldn’t. ”
Ethan’s soft gaze remains steady, and I continue.
“The ranch hired me when they needed labor, but also because my uncle needed to do something with me, you know? There was a ranch hand there my uncle knew, Hasting Brown, who would drive me home, and he’d always say he had to stop at the Mercantile.
He didn’t, but he’d come out with a cream soda and then bring me home. Every weekend without fail.”
“Is that how you learned to love cream soda so much?” Ethan asks, and I smile.
“I already loved it, and my uncle didn’t buy it often. Mr. Brown knew that and treated me.”
A silence falls between us, and Ethan reaches for my hand.
“Snow Creek is like another family member. Your uncle had to leave because of his health, but you want to stay and give back. Support them as they did you?”
“Mostly. If I leave, it feels like a betrayal. I know that’s weird, but this town is…it means a lot to me, and I don’t know how I could ever leave it behind.”
“Not even for love?”
I’ve never been in love. Truly loved so deeply that I put another person ahead of my own needs. I’ve had a few relationships, but they were short and mostly unfulfilling. Leaving for love is new territory, and I have to be honest with Ethan.
“I’ve never been in love, so I don’t know.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Never?”
“I’ve liked a few people a whole lot, but I don’t think I was in love.”
“Is that what scares you about being with me for the next few months? If we fall in love, you don’t know how you’d deal with it?”
Again, Ethan just gets it, and I nod. “Mostly, but also…I kind of want to know what it’s like to find someone like that.
Someone I don’t want to live without and can’t stop thinking about.
It might be devastating, but I don’t want to miss out on a chance.
I’m pushing myself to take the risk, Ethan. I like you. So much.”
That’s the truth. I like him and enjoy everything about him so far. Nothing about us should work long term, but I want to enjoy our connection. Just once, I want to take the risk like Uncle Albert said and not live with all the what-ifs forever.
Ethan’s knee bumps against mine under the table. “I like you too, Colt.”
“So, you’re okay with just…doing stuff together, then?”
Ethan smiles. “Naked stuff? Absolutely.”
My cheeks burn as I laugh. “That’s not what I meant, but I suppose that’s part of it. I meant dating, I guess. As much as our jobs allow it, anyway.”
“Are you asking me to go steady?” Ethan laughs until he falls against me, and I join in.
“Don’t make fun of me. Do you know how hard it was just to say all this to you?”
Ethan’s laughter cuts off, and he squeezes my leg. “I do. I’m sorry. I just—”
“It’s okay. We needed a laugh. It’s one thing I like about you. You make me feel lighter.”
He makes me feel a lot of things, but that’s the easiest one to name.
“I’m glad.” He checks the time on his phone and sighs. “I should get back. I promised a kid in the youth group I’d take photos for them tonight. A cowboy fashion show, apparently.”
“That sounds like something Kaspar might have arranged.”
“Kid with the blue hair? Has an accent?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes.” Ethan stands. “Walk me to my Jeep?”
“Of course.”
When we reach his Jeep, Ethan cups my face with his hands and kisses me before pulling away. He drops a kiss on my nose before stepping back. “Thank you for tonight, Colt. Text me later?”
“Okay.” I laugh as he climbs into his Jeep. With a final wave, he pulls out and heads to the ranch.
Walking along the sidewalk, instead of going straight home, I detour into the park and skip rocks along the riverbank until my arm gets too sore.
Another week of constant trail rides and fishing guides ends with a rained-out Friday.
We rarely cancel trail rides, but the thunderstorms and torrential rain make it not only unenjoyable but unsafe.
Beau, the youth activities coordinator, asked if I could join him for an art session earlier.
He always tries to get me involved with the teenagers aside from my usual trail rides and fishing trips, but it rarely works out.
Not that I don’t like working with the kids, I do, but my duties don’t always allow me to join in with what Beau plans.
“Who was the kid who didn’t come into the class? The one in black? I saw him in the office earlier, just watching the rain.” I ask Beau as we clean up the art supplies.
Beau sighs. “That’s River. He’s won awards. Art awards, I mean.” Beau pulls out his phone and motions for me to come look. “You’d appreciate this, Colt. Look at this painting! He won a district high school art award for it. Isn’t it incredible?”
Enlarging the photo, I nod in agreement. “Wow!” I wish I could paint as well as this kid. “He has some serious skills. Any idea why he didn’t want to join in today?”
“No,” Beau sighs as he swipes through the series of screenshots he’s saved on his phone. “I hope his dad isn’t disappointed. When I looked him up online and then saw all of River’s accomplishments…”
Beau trails off, eyes wide, and shoves his phone in his pocket.
“The dude who painted the blob horse? That’s his dad?” Now things click together. “He’s the CEO from Chicago? You looked him up?”
Beau’s cheeks turn about as red as the barn doors. “Uh, yeah.”
“Huh. Points to you because I never would have thought of doing that. There’s a lot about him online, then?” Lord, I just learned what Instagram and hashtags are. Searching up my crush online is the last thing I would’ve thought of.
“Oh, yeah.” Beau nods. “Also… I’d appreciate you keeping that bit of information to yourself, Colt. If the others find out I went all internet stalker on the guy, they’ll never let me hear the end of it.”
“Don’t I know it. Gunner ribbed me for days because I bought Ethan a fly-fishing vest.”
Beau laughs. “That’s such a Colt thing to do.”
I shrug. “It’s all I know. Don’t worry, Beau.
Your secret is safe with me.” I lift the box of art supplies from the counter.
“If you’re okay here, I need to finish some barn chores.
The group of rained-out trail riders will be using the hall soon, too.
I’ll get the art stuff back in the closet if you want to deal with the art? ”
“Yep. On it.”
I’m on my way down the hall when Beau calls out. “Colt?” I pause and turn back with the box in my arms. “Thanks.” He might be thanking me for not questioning him more about the CEO, or he might be thanking me for the help; either way, the answer is the same.
“Anytime, Beau.”
The group of rained-out trail riders ends their trip with a gathering in the dining hall instead of their sunset ride. Thankfully, they’re a happy bunch and know we don’t control the weather.
Ethan volunteered to photograph some of their revelry in exchange for using it on the ranch’s socials. He told me he’d be finished by 8 PM, and it’s now just after that. The music is loud, even with the rain pounding on the roof, and the guests are enjoying themselves despite the situation.
Maybe it’s because Ethan has been dancing with them for the last few minutes and doing his best John Travolta impression. When he spins and sees me, he folds forward with laughter.
“Please don’t judge me on my disco moves.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He grabs his camera with a promise to send photos to the group in a few days before posting anything and joins me at the door.
“So, are we going to your place tonight?”
“Is that okay? We can stop at your cabin for a bag.”