by Erica Penrod
“My mom texted your mom and she told her where I could find you.” He kicked at the dirt with his white Nikes. “So, you give riding lessons?”
“Yeah.” I waved as Addie’s mom pulled up and parked besides Landon’s truck.
Addie came from behind me and gave me a hug. “See you next time.” She let go and skipped to her mom’s car.
“Bye, Addie.” We both watched as she climbed into the vehicle.
“So how often do you give lessons?” Landon crossed his arms and stood up straighter.
“Four days a week. Three days are after school, and then one session on Saturday mornings.”
“What ages do you teach? Just kids, or can anyone take lessons?” His eyes reminded me of a black licorice candy, the kind my grandpa liked to buy me.
“I guess anyone, but I’ve only ever taught kids.”
“Would you teach me?” He lowered his chin and looked at me. I searched his eyes and waited for him to start laughing, but he didn’t.
I put my trembling hands in my pockets. “Are you serious, or are you just making fun of what I do?”
Landon shook his head. “I’m not making fun of you. Why would you think that?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I just can’t imagine a city kid like you wanting to ride horses.”
“We had horses back in North Carolina. I just didn’t ride them.” He kicked at the dirt and a cloud of dust settled over his shoe. He raised his head and his eyes settled on something over my shoulder. “Is … is … is that your horse?”
I followed his gaze to my palomino horse. “Yeah, she’s mine.” I turned back to him. He looked pale and shaken up. I watched as the color slowly returned to his face. Maybe he feared horses, which made me more curious. “So why do you want to ride now?” I knew his mom made him come out here, but I didn’t think she’d make him take lessons.
“Cuz I’ve got nothing better to do.” He drew in a deep breath. “I played sports back home and I don’t want to do that here, so I’ve got to find something to take up my time.”
The image of his face stuck to Tosha’s burned onto the back of my eyelids. “Hmmm. Earlier today, it looked you already found something to keep you busy.” I liked the way his cheeks went red when he realized what I was talking about.
“Oh … that. You mean Tosha.” Landon drew a hand from his pocket and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “She’s alright, but I’m not sure how much time I’m going to spend with her.”
An angry flame ignited in my veins. “So why were you making out with her at school today?” This kid was a jerk, and I didn’t care what my mom said or how hot he was—I’d never like Landon Doyle.
“Because I wanted to.” The muscle in his jaw flexed. “So, are you going to teach me to ride or not?”
I rolled my eyes. He was the last person I wanted to give lessons to, but I could use the money. I’d been saving to buy a new saddle. “I guess.”
He exhaled. “How many times a week?”
“As many as you want. Most of my students come twice a week.”
He nodded. “Okay. I want to come Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“Fine.” I thought about my schedule. “Can you come at five?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I waited for him to leave or do anything, but he just stood there staring at me. The same feeling I had when I’d first seen him today began to manifest, and I wiped the moisture collecting beneath the brim of my hat. Landon was trouble, no matter how pretty he was, and I had to remember that. I had to ignore whatever was going on inside of me. “Is there something else you needed?”
“No.” But he didn’t move. He still watched me, and I worried I had something smeared on my face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I wiped at my cheek.
“Sorry.” He glanced down at the ground, and when he looked back up at me, the intensity was gone. “I’ll see you later.”
Landon drove away, and I walked over to the tack room and grabbed my bottle of water. The way he looked at me irritated me, because I liked his eyes on me. Even though I knew his attention was a ruse, I still felt flattered, which was obviously ridiculous. I couldn’t blame Tosha for falling for his game; it was easy to get swept up in his dark eyes, and if I let myself think about his mouth … I couldn’t go there. I might end up on what I assumed was a very long list of Landon Doyle’s has-beens.
“How was school?” My dad placed a steak on my plate as we enjoyed the August evening and barbequed.
“Good.” I picked up my knife and fork. “My architecture teacher is nice,” I quickly added, knowing what was on my dad’s mind. “I think I’ll like the class.”
A smile covered his face and his deep dimples sank into his cheeks. My dad was handsome, and even though I was his daughter, I wasn’t blind. I noticed the way women looked at him, and girls that couldn’t be much older than me stared just a little longer than necessary. But their reaction didn’t bothered me, because I’ve seen the way my dad looks at my mom. She is the moon, the stars, and the sun to him, and I guess I’ve always taken comfort in that. I see the way my parents are with each other and I can’t help but want that for myself.
Landon’s dark-as-night eyes on me flashed before my mind. Stop it, I reprimanded myself.
“I’m glad to hear that. I knew you would like it.” He smiled at me and then winked at my mom.
I nodded as I chewed on a piece of the T-bone. Maybe I’d better go into the counselor’s office tomorrow to see if I could change my schedule and sign up for drama class. Because right now, I could use some serious acting skills. Between feigning a love for architecture and pretending Landon didn’t get beneath my skin, I worried my amateur attempts wouldn’t last for long.
“Did Landon make it out the barn?” Mom helped herself to the green salad.
“Yeah.” I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell her about the lessons. She might get the wrong impression, just like my heart had about Landon. I didn’t want to spend time with a guy like that. Someone who tossed girls aside like they were nothing but an old pair of boots.
“Nikki asked me for your number, and I’m glad he found you. Wouldn’t it be great if you guys became friends again?”
I choked on my mouthful and reached for my glass of water.
“Are you okay?” Mom’s brow furrowed.
I nodded. “Yeah.” I took another sip. “And Mom, I have a best friend, and Landon doesn’t need any help making friends. He already has a girlfriend.”
“He does?”
“For now, anyway. I get the impression he’s kind of a player.”
Mom’s brown eyes softened, and she looked off into the distance.
“Your mom was a player and she turned out just fine.” Dad waved his spatula in the air. “She just needed a little time to grow up.”
Mom launched a cherry tomato at Dad’s head. He ducked, and she laughed. “Yeah, that was me, alright. Librarian gone wild.”
Dad walked behind Mom, leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m just teasing.” He glanced over at me. “You know your mom is my angel. Literally saved me.”
Mom shook her head, her lips spread in an easy smile, but I didn’t miss the look she gave Dad. A reverence hung in the air around them. Whatever happened to them all those years ago, when my dad woke from a coma and when my uncle died, wasn’t something they talked about often. Not that they didn’t talk about my uncle Jess, because they did, all the time. I knew Mom dated Jess before my dad, and when I asked her about it, she told me it was a long, complicated story and that one day, when I was old enough, she’d tell me. I figured I was old enough now and that sometime soon I’d ask her.
“I mean, I don’t know Landon, but from what I’ve seen and the little I’ve talked to him, he just seems that way.”
“Maybe that’s how he’s dealing with his grief.” Dad walked back the grill and put a hunk of meat on his own plate. “Grief can make people act in wa
ys they wouldn’t normally do.”
“He’s very handsome, though, isn’t he?” Mom grinned at me.
“Yeah, but what does that matter?” I took another bite of steak and hoped the heat rising up my face wasn’t noticeable.
“He looks a lot like his dad.” Mom continued to watch me. What was she doing? Trying to gauge my reaction?
“I don’t know. I don’t remember what his dad looks like.”
“Oh, he’s very good-looking.” Mom pierced a piece of lettuce with her fork.
“Hey.” Dad knit his brows together. “I’m right here. I can hear you.”
Mom stretched out her arm and put her hand over Dad’s. “I know, and I love you. I’m just stating the facts. Travis and Nikki are very pretty people, and it makes sense that their son would be too. I’m just pointing that out to our daughter.”
“Okay. In that case, yes, Nikki is very beautiful.” Dad grinned as Mom scowled at him. “Just stating the facts, dear.” He leaned over the table and kissed her lips.
I closed my eyes. “I’ll leave you two alone and get started on the dishes.”
“But I just sat down.” Dad cut into his steak.
“I know, but I need to go over the syllabus for each of my classes and I don’t want to be up late tonight.” I didn’t want to discuss Landon anymore. I didn’t like the way my heart sped up and my stomach tossed at the mention of his name.
“Okay, sweetie.” Dad smiled right before he put the fork in his mouth.
“Just take care of the dishes in the house and I’ll take care of these out here when we’re finished.” Mom motioned like she held a wand and cast a spell over the table.
“Cool.” I picked up my plate and walked through the set of French doors into the kitchen.
At the kitchen sink, I saw my parents through the window, laughing and talking. I smiled to myself as my nerves settled and I got busy cleaning up. I rinsed the few cups and bowls, put them in the dishwasher, and scooped the remaining cheesy potatoes into a plastic container. Once the sink was full of hot soapy water, I washed off the counters and put the potato pan in to soak. Happy to be about finished, I hummed an old country song. I anticipated the refuge of my bedroom for the rest of the night and let out a deep breath. But first, I had to put any thoughts of Landon Doyle through the garbage disposal. He wasn’t allowed to take up any more of my time. If I had known Landon wouldn’t consume anymore of my conscious thoughts, but would hijack my dreams that night, I might never have closed my eyes.
5
Halle
I inhaled as I opened my eyes and smelled the scent of alfalfa and grass. A ceiling of blue sky with a warm sun covered my head and the green carpet was soft beneath my bare feet. A white eyelet dress hung from body and I pressed my hands into the soft folds of the cotton material. This had to be a dream, but I’d never felt more awake. Unsure of what was happening, I raised my hand to shade my eyes and survey the land around me. In the distance I saw a figure moving towards me, leading a horse … my horse, Fancy. My heart sped up with excitement, which made me nervous. Shouldn’t I be afraid? A calm washed over me like someone poured a bucket of reassurance from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. My eyes narrowed, and I focused on the girl headed for me. Her hair was long and dark and swayed behind her back like a breeze-blown curtain with each step she took. There was something so familiar about the pretty girl. She smiled when her eyes met mine.
“There you are.” Her almond-colored skin complemented her robin’s-egg-blue eyes. Beautiful full lips and pronounced cheekbones were enough to make a girl jealous. But she was infectious, like she wore happiness and joy as perfume.
I slanted my head. “Here I am?”
“He’ll be waiting for you.” She handed me the reins. “You better get going.”
“What? Who’s waiting?” Now I was really confused as I straightened the leather straps in my hand.
Her lips parted into a mischievous grin. “You’ll see.”
“What do you mean? Where am I?”
“Just trust me.” She laced her fingers together and offered them as a step. “Here, let me help you up.”
I put the reins over Fancy’s head, a foot in her hands, and climbed on the horse’s bare back. “How did you get my horse?”
The girl laughed, and the sound floated into the air like musical notes. “Don’t worry about it. But you really do need to get going.”
“Right.” I shifted my legs. “He’s waiting for me.”
“He is.” She bit the corner of her lip and nodded. “Trust me. He needs you.”
“What are you talking about?” I looked over my shoulder, without any sense of direction. “I don’t understand.”
“Halle, he’s the one.” Her words caught my attention. I turned back, and she was gone.
I needed to wake up and I patted my cheek. What did I do now? Fancy pranced and spun me around. “Easy, girl, what’s the matter?” I reached down and stroked her neck, and that’s when I saw the shape of someone in the distance. “Oh.”
Fancy trotted towards the person, who I determined was the guy I was supposed to … what was it she said? Her words came me back to me. He’s the one. If this was a fairy tale, and he was my prince charming, he’d better be wearing cowboy boots.
Little butterflies floated in my belly and a smile crept its way across my lips. His back was to me and I couldn’t see his face. We got closer and my heart slammed into my chest. The boy that haunted me all day turned around, and our eyes met—Landon. This couldn’t be right. What had the girl been talking about?
He raised his hand. “Hi.” His word came out stammered.
The butterflies flew away and were replaced by an anger rolling through my gut like a ball of barbed wire. “What are you doing here?” I tried to focus on my frustration and not on his eyes, wide with what appeared to be bewilderment. And then the heat disappeared, and the girl’s voice echoed in my mind. He’s the one. “You’re not a cowboy.” I bit my lip. “You’re not who I expected.”
Landon’s black eyes were like spilled oil on pavement, lost and out of place. “I’m not?”
The vulnerability sprayed across his face melted my emotions. The peace I’d felt earlier settled over me like a warm bath and everything inside of me longed to be wrapped up with him. The corners of my mouth tugged on my lips and I let the smile escape.
His expression changed at my gesture. His eyes lit up and he gave me a lopsided grin, and I started to laugh. I swung my leg over and hopped down. He moved to me and I entwined my arms around his neck. Landon pulled me close. Our foreheads touched and my heart beat in a rhythm so natural I didn’t know how I’d ever breathed without him.
He brushed the hair from my face and his fingers touched my face. The feel of his flesh on mine made me feel whole in a way I couldn’t explain. Like we were always meant to be one but had been separated until now. His breath became my own as he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. Heaven and earth collided in what I knew had to be destiny.
I woke to the sound of a hairdryer. A quick glance at the clock and I jumped out of bed like the house was on fire. The time was five after seven and I had less than a half hour to be ready if I didn’t want to be late for the second day of school. Which would be embarrassing, especially if I looked like I just rolled out of bed.
The dream appeared in my mind and my emotions slammed me in the chest. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that everything I felt was only make-believe. I wiped my cheeks and sucked in some air. But it felt so real. I touched my lips and closed my eyes, remembering the feelings that passed between Landon and me in a kiss. This was crazy. Nothing passed between us. I’d made up the whole thing, and I would keep my little episode to myself.
Yesterday had been a little overwhelming and dreaming of Landon was just a product of an overtired brain. I padded across my room and dug for a T-shirt in my drawer. There wasn’t much time to pull myself together, but the sooner I forgot about the dream, the bet
ter off I’d be.
There was a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
“Hey, sis.” Mom peeked her head around the door. “I didn’t know if you were up yet.” She gazed at the clock. “Aren’t you going to be late?”
I pulled out one of the new V-neck shirts I got for school and reached for a pair of pants still in the shopping bag from the store. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t set my alarm last night.”
“Sorry, I should’ve checked on you sooner. Are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I’m fine, just tired. And Mom, I’m seventeen. I don’t need you to wake me up in the mornings.” I brushed past her on my way to the bathroom. “But thank you.” I kissed her cheek. “I got to run or else I’m not going to make it.”
“Okay. I’m headed to work, so I guess I won’t see you until you get finished with your riding lessons later this evening.”
“Alright, see you tonight.” Ugh, I forgot about that. Maybe Landon changed his mind overnight, but if not—I swallowed the lump in my throat and darted to the shower.
I got to school just as the first bell rang, skipped my locker and went straight to class. Makell grinned as I slid into my seat when the second bell sounded.
“Just in time.” Makell opened her notebook. “Rough morning? You look tired.”
“Gee, thanks.” I pulled out the assignment we’d started in class yesterday. Visions of Landon kept coming no matter how hard I tried to distract myself. I’d memorized his face and the way I felt in his arms. But more than that, I loved the way he made me feel wanted.
“Hal?”
I blinked and saw Makell staring at me. “Yeah?”
“It’s a little early to be daydreaming, isn’t it?” She laughed.
Mrs. Bell called the class to attention and for the next hour I tried to listen, but I couldn’t quit thinking about the dream. This morning I hadn’t wanted to see Landon, but now I thought I had to see him to put this thing behind me. One look at Landon Doyle in the daytime with his mouth attached to Tosha’s was all the closure I’d need. The Landon I saw in my sleep was purely fictional. One dose of the real-life version and I’d be cured.