Crimson Catch (Game Time #1)
Page 20
After the trucks are packed with the rest of our stuff, we decide to stop by my favorite bakery for a flavored coffee and fresh baked croissant for breakfast. As Mom drives out of the city, I quietly eat my breakfast and we make small talk. After we merge onto the interstate, she cranks up the radio and sets the cruise control. I text Lauren until she has to leave for the studio, and wish I was going with her.
Barrick
I roll out of bed before the rooster crows, slide on my worn out jeans and shirt, and then grab my boots and head toward the kitchen. Sitting my boots by my chair, I open the refrigerator and grab the orange juice and drink straight from the carton.
“Barrick! You know better,” Mama says as she hands me a glass.
“Sorry, but it taste better this way,” I admit.
“You sure it doesn’t have to do with not wanting to do the dishes?” I shrug my shoulders. “What time you think you’ll be home tonight?” she asks as she twists her hair into a funky knot on the top of her head.
“Probably four. Ms. Brown said she wanted to stop a little early today.”
“Are you serious? That doesn’t sound like her,” Mama says.
“Yeah she’s got family comin’ into town.” Mama doesn’t say anything, but I can tell by her stance that she’s thinking about something. I finish my juice and slide on my boots. I slide my worn out ball cap on my head, pick up my truck keys, and grab a fried apple pie on the way out the door.
Arriving at the Brown’s farm, I pull my truck alongside the barn and notice the lights are on. Walking inside, I see Ms. Brown filling the feed buckets for the horses.
“Mornin’ Ms. Brown,” I say.
She stops and turns to me. “Boy, I’ve told you to quit calling me that! It’s Mae Ellen or Mae, but not Ms. Brown. Now, grab that feed and get to moving. We got a lot to do today, and not a lot of time.”
“Yes Ms. Mae,” I say.
“That’s better,” she says as she continues to work.
I spend most of the morning with the dairy cows. I swear I’ve seen more cow milk in the past two months than my entire life. Who would have thought that a farm in little old Delight could be such an asset to our county and the foothills of North Carolina? When Mr. Brown passed away three years ago, my older brother, Bo, helped Ms. Mae. Now that he is overseas with the Marines, she asked if I’d like to help. I had no idea what this job actually entailed.
After lunch Ms. Mae asks me to do a few things out of the ordinary. This woman’s got me carrying boxes, mopping, and even wants me to go the grocery store for her. The only time she’s ever asked me for help inside was to fix a broken door handle. I don’t ask any questions, I say yes ma’am as she gives me each task. She must really be excited about her family coming into town.
As I set the groceries on the table, I hear her holler for me to come help her upstairs. When I make my way into the room, I hurry a little bit more when I realize she’s struggling to move a dresser. I quickly grab the other side, and we both move it with ease.
“’nything else Ms. Mae?” I question.
“Nah, I just got to make the beds and I think I’m about finished. You’ve been such a big help ‘round here. Thank you.”
“No problem,” I say as I help her neatly stack boxes in the corner of the room.
Glancing at her watch she informs me it’s a little after three. “Go ahead and call it an early day Barrick. I’m going to finish up here and then relax a little bit.”
“You sure?” I question.
“Yeah, just be here at normal time tomorrow.”
Chapter 3
Cadence
Staring out of the passenger side window, I can’t help but wish my life were different. The farther down the interstate we drive, the faster my dreams fade behind me. Who knew that one act—or hell, maybe more—by my father would impact my life to this extent? I cannot stand him.
Hearing my phone beep, I take my phone from my purse. Touching the screen, I see a picture from Lauren. It’s a selfie of her in the studio with a pouty face. I smile knowing that she’s missing me, but seeing the studio makes tears well up in my eyes. I quickly wipe them away, grab my ear buds and turn on my favorite playlist.
Mom and I make fairly good time, but I’m so tired of being in this vehicle. We stop every few hours to stretch, use the restroom, and get a snack. When we hit the North Carolina state line I get excited, but my excitement is quickly extinguished when I realize we still have a few more hours to go.
As the sun begins to set, the light is blinding as we drive west on interstate forty, but once it’s behind the trees we’re no longer squinting behind our sunglasses. We make a turn off the interstate and Mom calls Gran to let her know we’re almost there. She says that she has dinner waiting for us, and I can only imagine what varmint she’s fried up.
As if she’s reading my mind Mom looks at me. “Stop it. You know she’s not going to feed you something crazy.”
“You never know, but I bet no matter what it’s something fried and a million carbs,” I say with attitude, and Mom pulls the car off to the side.
“Look, I left Delight thinking I’d never go back, but sometimes we can’t control what happens in our lives. I know that this isn’t want you want to do right now, but I didn’t want a divorce either. As much as you think your life is over, it’s not. Take a moment and think about me Cadence. I’ve lost everything I’ve worked for and your father. The least you can do is be grateful that Gran is letting us move in with her. Now I’d appreciate you putting a smile on your face when we get to Gran’s just like I’m going to do.”
I don’t say anything because if I did she’d probably make me walk the rest of the way to Gran’s and there’s no way in hell I’m walking out here by myself.
Mom drives in silence as I stare out the window. We finally arrive in Delight, and when I say we’ve arrived I mean we’ve passed a tiny green rectangular sign with the word Delight on it. There’s no post office, shops or anything. It’s a spec of a community near an extremely small town called Lawndale where there isn’t a chain restaurant for thirty miles.
Turning onto the gravel driveway I see the glow of the lights in the farmhouse. Once Mom puts the Suburban in park, I open the door and almost vomit from the stench that invades my nose.
“What is that smell?” I ask as I hold my nose.
She starts to laugh. “Cadence, it’s the country, but more than likely that’s a bunch of cow manure.”
Oh. My. Gosh. I woke up in New York and landed in hell. I quickly grab my essentials and as I begin to walk toward the house, I trip over something. I squeal and catch my balance. “Why’s it so dark out here?”
“Cadence, honey, this is the way God made it. There aren’t any street lamps. Just give your eyes a moment to adjust.” I do and it helps, but before I take another step, I grab my phone and turn on my flashlight. I then drop my essentials on the ground.
“No service! Mom! My phone has no service!”
“You’ll survive. Gran has a landline.” Who the hell is this lady and where did my mother go? Shoot me now!
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Find out more at:
http://authorcaseypeeler.com
About the Author
Casey Peeler grew up in North Carolina and still lives there with her husband and daughter.
Growing up Casey wasn't an avid reader or writer, but after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston during her senior year of high school, and multiple Nicholas Sparks' novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading. That love ignited the passion for writing several years later, and her writing style combines real life scenarios with morals and values teenagers need in their daily lives.
When Casey isn't writing, you can find her near a body of water listening to country music with a cold beverage and a great book.
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Also by Casey Peeler
Full Circle Series (Losing Charley, Finding Charley & Loving Charley)
Full Circle Series Box Set
Southern Perfection
Crashing Tides
Covering the Carolinas
Our Song
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
DEDICATION
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
EPILOGUE
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Other Titles by S.M. Donaldson
Excerpt from
Tutu’s and Cowboy Boots by Casey Peeler