Chapter 28 – Ainsleigh
twenty-eight
AINSLEIGH
“Good morning, Mama,” I said with a beaming smile. I woke this morning with a pep in my step. I opened the butterfly that Gentry gave me last night when I woke up, and I couldn’t stop smiling over the words inside.
You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, and I’m blessed to get to call you mine.
Your next question is, what’s something everyone likes that you don’t?
All my love,
Gentry
What he didn’t know was I was the blessed one. He had every right to turn his back on me and run, and he’d given me another chance. I wouldn’t blow this second chance no matter the cost.
I shook my head and laughed at his next question. Technically it was my turn to ask the question, but he found a way to be sneaky. I had to ponder what my response would be.
“You’re in a chipper mood this morning,” she said with a laugh as she turned and handed me my cup of coffee.
“I am,” I replied, not giving away the reason.
I leaned in and hugged my mom with my free arm and kissed her on the cheek.
“Have a wonderful day, Mama,” I said as I grabbed my walkie-talkie and walked outside. Nothing could ruin this day, not even shoveling horse manure at the crack of dawn.
After I finished my morning chores, I went over to the office to check my posting for the day.
Loretta greeted me with a wave as I walked into the office. Every time I saw Loretta she was always cheerful and upbeat. Things sure would be different around here when she leaves.
“Good morning, Miss Loretta. How’re you today?”
“Someone seems happy this morning?”
“I am. Do you have today’s assignments, or do I need to meet up with Gentry to get them?” Nothing could put a damper on my happy mood.
“What’s got you beaming this morning? For someone who usually drags until midday, you seem awfully chipper. Would your good mood have anything to do with your date with Gentry yesterday?”
I could only laugh. Gossip around this ranch spread like wildfire.
“Who spilled?”
“So, there was a date?”
I furrowed my brow, confused. If someone didn’t spill the beans, how’d she know?
“Yes, there was a date. It was amazing. He was so sweet, and we had a picnic at the tree,” I said as I leaned against her desk.
“Y’all are so cute together. I’m happy you’re both giving each other another chance.”
I was happy too. I hadn’t been this happy in a very long time.
“Thank you,” I replied, a blush coming across my cheeks as I remembered the way he kissed me the night before.
“Gentry brought the assignments by earlier. You’re with him today,” she replied as she handed me the schedule.
Reviewing the schedule, I noticed that we had a few one hour sessions on teaching children the basics of riding a horse.
“Thanks, Loretta. Have an amazing day,” I said with a smile as I walked out of the office and toward the riding arena.
I loved teaching children how to ride horses. I loved showing them how to brush and care for them and how to lead them around the arena so they could get familiar with the horses. Then when they finally get to ride the horse, I loved showing them there was nothing to be afraid of.
When I arrived at the arena, Gentry was already there getting everything set up. He had several brushes in a bucket and step stools set out so the kids could get up beside the horse comfortably to brush them.
“Hey there, cowboy,” I greeted him as I climbed on the side of the fence, sitting on the top rail.
“Good morning, butterfly,” he said as he finished setting up the last step stool.
He sauntered over to me, and I took the time to take him in.
He wore a flannel with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his strong biceps, and jeans that fit him like a glove.
His black cowboy hat was worn and weathered, and it donned a thin layer of dirt likely from riding the ATV earlier today.
Dirt and dust always flew around on the trails, often leaving everyone covered in a thin layer by the end of the day.
As he walked over to me, his eyes never left mine, a smile on his face directed solely at me. Chills covered my body even in the hot Texas sun.
He reached me and placed his hands on either side of me on the railing.
“Gentry, about last night,” I started. I needed to clear the air about Kyle.
“What about it?”
“I just wanted to see how you were feeling.”
“I thought about what you said last night after I went to bed and decided that even though the thought of you being with someone else hurt, you had every right to move on. And I trust you when you said you didn’t have strong feelings for him.
I don’t want to focus on the past anymore.
I want to move forward with you, butterfly. ”
I took a sigh of relief that he wasn’t angry with me.
“You look beautiful today,” he said as he leaned in for a kiss.
“Not here, cowboy,” I said as I leaned back. I didn’t need any of my brothers or my father seeing him give me affection. Not when this was so new.
“I was meant to kiss you, butterfly,” he replied, causing my heart rate to rise.
“I just don’t want anyone seeing is all,” I reiterated.
“Look around. Do you see anyone?”
I took a moment to look over his shoulder in all directions, and sure enough no one was around.
Leaning back, I looked in his eyes, and said, “Kiss me, Gentry.”
He stepped in between my legs, our bodies flush together.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered before his lips met mine, soft and featherlight, almost as if he was testing the waters, before he deepened the kiss.
My lips parted with a sigh, giving him the chance for his tongue to dip inside.
I got lost in the feeling of our bodies touching and his lips tasting me as if it were his last meal.
He pulled back and my head followed, not wanting the kiss to end.
“We have to stop, butterfly. I don’t want us to get caught. The kids will be here any minute.”
My cheeks flushed, and my lips swollen from his kiss, I bowed my head, bashful at how much I wanted the kiss to continue, consequences be damned.
“You’re right,” I said, still breathless.
“There’s more where that came from later,” he said with a wink as he stepped away.
I hopped down from the fence, brushed off the back of my jeans, and went over to the horse, gently rubbing her on the neck as she nudged my hand looking for a treat.
“Such a greedy girl.” I laughed as I pulled a sugar cube from my pocket, some left over from my morning chores.
Five kids ranging from five to eight came over with their parents, excitement all over their faces as they climbed on the bottom rail of the ring, their arms holding on to the top as they waited for instruction.
Gentry grabbed the lead on the horse and led her over to the fence, introducing the horse to the kids. I leaned back on the fence and took in the way he interacted with the kids.
He introduced the horse to them, a kind, gentle soul, and explained what they would be doing today. The kids started to cheer, but Gentry quieted them down, explaining that sudden loud noises could spook a horse if they weren’t careful.
I walked over and picked up the bucket with the brushes, passing them out to each of the kids as Gentry explained that we’d be brushing down the horse first and went over the safety measures when being around the horses.
“We never want to walk behind the horse, okay? And we always want to be gentle and kind with them,” he said, his voice soft and reassuring.
He opened the gate to the riding area, and the kids filed in, each one lining up on the side of the horse just as Gentry instructed.
One little boy stood in the line, but was farther back than the rest of the children. Gentry tried to coax him to come closer, but he shook his head, his little lip quivering.
My heart broke at how scared the kid now was when moments ago he was full of excitement. I was about to walk over to talk to him, but Gentry handed me the lead.
I took over giving the kids instructions on how to brush down the horse, as I watched from the corner of my eye how Gentry interacted with the little boy.
He knelt to his level and whispered something to the little boy that I couldn’t quite hear.
The little boy nodded after a few moments of Gentry coaxing him.
He looked over to the boy’s mother, and she nodded.
I wasn’t sure what he was asking permission for until I saw Gentry pick up the little boy and put him on his shoulders, a smile gracing both of their faces.
I loved seeing Gentry interact with children. He was such a gentle soul and always knew just what to say and just what to do to get them to step out of their comfort zone.
We showed the kids how to brush the horses, giving them a chance to brush them and get a feel for being around such a big animal.
Next, we showed them how to lead the horse with a slow and steady pace.
By the time the hour was up, the little boy who was so frightened, confidently held the lead and led the horse around the riding arena with Gentry barely having to give him any corrections.
When we concluded the lesson for the day, the little boy raced over to his mother.
“I did it, Mommy. Did you see?” he shouted as he ran into his mother’s waiting arms.
My heart constricted at the sweet gesture. I smiled as I gathered the supplies to clean up the area before the next round of kids arrived.
I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, the Texas sun bright and hot against my skin.
Gentry walked over and helped me get everything set up.
“You were great with him,” I said as I smiled over at him. He was everything in a man that I wanted, but was almost too scared to have. Until now.
He smiled at me as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. His face fell as he looked down at the screen. He put his phone back in his pocket as he looked back up at me.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Nothing to worry your beautiful head about,” he said as he kissed my forehead before he walked over to greet the next group.
Why didn’t I believe him? What could he have received to make his expression fall and worry to etch his features?