Serenity Falls (21 page)

“Is
Bailey still out there?” I stand up and wipe pieces of hay off my ass.

“I
think so. She was waiting with John.”

I
walk through the threshold of the stall when Sarah whispers, “Please don’t tell
anybody.”

“Not
my story or secret to tell. Just… be careful. Okay?”

She
nods. “Thanks.”

I
offer her a sympathetic smile as I walk away. When I exit the barn, I see
Bailey sitting on the ground next to John’s wheelchair, laughing while they
wait for their rides. I start in their direction when Wes stops me. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Did
you get my note?”

I
nod. “I did. Thank you. I loved the flowers that you put in there.”

“What
time should I meet you in the barn? I see Bailey’s getting ready to leave.”

“I
don’t think tonight is gonna work. I told your mom yesterday that I’d help pull
weeds and cook tonight.”

“Can’t
you get out of it?” he asks with an adorable pout.

“No.
I’m sorry.”

“Okay.
Some other time maybe.” His tone carries an edge that I don’t like as he spins
on his heel and walks away.

Are
you fucking kidding me?
Sarah just
snapped at me not even ten minutes ago because she thinks I was judging her,
and now, my boyfriend is pissed off because I’m not dumping his mom to hang out
in the barn with him. I sigh and look over to see Bailey is getting in her car
with what I can only assume is her mom. Great. Now she’s leaving, and I didn’t
even tell her bye. I reach up and run my hands down my face before I make my
way to help Mrs. Sandy out.

A
couple hours later, and still no sign of Wes, so I decide I need some time to
myself. Maybe some riding will do me good. I haven’t spent much time with Lucy
or Jane anyway. As I push the screen door open and step out onto the porch, the
first thing that I notice is the clouds. They hang heavy and low in the sky,
peppering it with different shades of grey. The soft rumble of thunder off in
the distance, and the cooler breeze moving in, tell me I don’t have too long to
ride. With determined steps, I race toward the barn. Once inside, I decide it’s
Lucy whom I’m taking out. I grab a saddle pad, saddle, bridle, and reins. I
walk over to her stall, and after some coaxing, I finally get everything set up
on her. With the reins hanging from the horn of the saddle, I gather them in my
hands and lead her out of the stall into the open humid, sticky, summer air
outside the barn.

I
lift my left leg, hooking my foot through the stirrup as I grab onto the horn
of the saddle. In one swift, fluid movement, I pull myself up while I swing my
other leg over the saddle. I give Lucy a couple of minutes to adjust to my
weight on her back. With no indication that she’s going to flip out, I squeeze
my thighs and click my tongue. My body bounces with the movement as she walks
forward, and I sigh contentedly. With the reins in one hand, I lean forward to
rub her long, thick, muscular neck. “What am I doing?” I ask softly. I know she
won’t answer, but that’s what I need right now. I just need to talk without
anyone to interrupt me. I need to clear my head from the jumbled thoughts
consuming me right now.

My
hair flies away from my face as the breeze picks up. The barn grows more and
more distant the farther Lucy and I ride into the pasture. How could Wes react
like that? It’s a childish move to just storm away the way he did. I told him
that I needed to help his mom. Maybe, I could understand if I was blowing him
off for something ridiculous like painting my nails, but I wasn’t. Besides, he
shouldn’t assume that whenever he calls or leaves a note that I’m going to be
there at his beck and call. Then, what was that with Sarah? I would never judge
her, no matter what decisions she made about her and Liam. If they want to be a
fling, then that’s their business.

“Kenleigh!
Kenleigh!” Someone shouts my name from a distance and tears me away from my
racing thoughts. I turn my head in the direction I hear my name called.
Wes.
My eyes squint as I try to see his small silhouette running, I think, from
afar. I pull on the reins to turn Lucy in Wes’ direction. His sprinting form is
no longer small but growing larger and larger the closer he gets to me. A loud
crack in the ominous sky above startles me, causing me to pull back on the
reins.

“Shh,
Lucy… It’s fine, girl,” I coo as the horse begins to turn in circles.

“Lucy…
Lucy, it’s okay,” Wes says as he reaches us. He tries to keep his tone even as
he grabs her bridle. Successfully, he calms down, only to let me have it. “What
the hell are you doing out here, on a horse that’s not completely broken in,
when it’s about to storm?”

Since
he still has a grip on the bridle, I drop the reins and hop off the horse. I
come toe to toe with him and poke him in his broad, rock hard chest. “Because
you pissed me off. You acted like a childish brat earlier because I told you I
couldn’t meet you—”

I’m
silenced into submission when Wes grabs me around my neck and slams his mouth
down against mine. His tongue slips out, sweeping against my upper lip, seeking
entrance. I should protest, but I know it’s no use. Without hesitation, I open
to him, granting him access. His soft, moist tongue dampens the anger running
through me.

“I’m…
so… sorry,” he mumbles around our kisses.

“Me,
too. Now, just kiss me.” I wrap my arms around his neck as the bottom falls
out. The rain lets loose, soaking us almost instantly, but I don’t care,
because he apologized, and his lips are on mine. I know I probably shouldn’t
give in so easily, but with him, I can’t help it. I’m falling and falling fast.
The only thing I can do is hold on, and enjoy the ride.

I
stand in front of the mirror as I put the final additions of makeup on. I
haven’t worn it in a long time, and I hope to knock Wes’ socks off when he sees
me. My hands run down the lacy material of my strapless dress. It’s the tenth
time I’ve done this, but my nerves have me smoothing out invisible wrinkles. I
figure, being it’s a Texas, mid-afternoon in July, I won’t overheat in my
outfit. My hair’s in a low, sideways ponytail that wraps around the side of my
neck and rests on top of my bare shoulder. The brown, cowgirl boots I have on
blend well with my red dress. Ready to go, I pick my clutch up off the bed,
make sure I have my phone, reach for the door, and set off to find Wes.

A
shot of excitement surges through me as I think about the past few days.
Tuesday night, Wes and I were sitting on the couch watching a movie when he
mentioned that the Fourth of July was in three days. I had completely forgotten
that the holiday fell on a Thursday. He said that he wanted to take me into
town for the day, because the whole town pretty much shuts down and celebrates.
I got so excited that we were going to be doing something together. Something
that didn’t involve the ranch, that didn’t deal with our friends. It was just
going to be him and me.

Last
night, Liam and Sarah left to go back to San Marcos to spend the weekend with
their families. Jackie went back home to Seguin this morning. I still haven’t
spoken to her. I want to, but after she snubbed me on Monday, I just haven’t
felt the need to clear the air between us just yet. My only problem is I know I
won’t be able to let it go so easily. Wednesday night after dinner, Brantley
and I were cleaning up when I asked him what his plans were for the fourth. He
told me that Jackie offered for him to go with her to her family’s house. He
agreed, and that was that. A part of me wanted him to stay and hang out here
with Wes and me, because I am so mad at her right now, but there was a bigger
part of me that wanted my man all to myself, so I didn’t mention it.

As
I reach the kitchen, I spot Mrs. Sandy with her back to me, standing by the
back door as she picks up her purse off a shelf. “Off so soon?” I ask with a
smile.

Last
night, Mrs. Sandy and I sat at the kitchen table sharing a carrot cake when she
asked what Wes and I would be doing for the fourth. I informed her that he
wanted to take me into town, and she thought that was a wonderful idea. When I
asked if she and Mr. Will would like to join us, she politely declined. She
explained that ever since their first Fourth of July together, he had surprised
her with a trip every year, their first being to San Antonio’s River Walk. With
a shrug, she added that ever since then, the tradition just stuck. “Yes. Will
said we won’t be back until tomorrow night.” She gives me a pointed look
accompanied by a mischievous smile. My skin grows warm with embarrassment as I
remember the last time Wes and I were home alone together, or so we thought.
“Anyway… I hope he’s taking me to the beach down in Galveston. We haven’t been
in a while, and it’d be nice to dip my toes in the sand and enjoy The Gulf of
Mexico.”

“What’s
that?” Mr. Will asks in his deep baritone voice as he walks into the kitchen.

Monday
night after I finished helping Mrs. Sandy, I went in search of Wes. I found him
in the barn working with Jane and Lucy. I quietly approached him. He must have
known I was already there, because he apologized for acting like a child for
the second time that day. I didn’t disagree with him. I accepted his apology
and offered him my help. He helped me to mount Jane, and I leaned down,
silently asking for a kiss with my lips puckered and waiting. Wes, all too
happy to oblige my request, deepened the kiss. When we heard a throat clearing,
we looked to where the sound had come from, and saw none other than Mr. Will. I
don’t know how I expected him to react, but when all he did was nod at Wes and
say ‘Good job son’, I couldn’t help but laugh. I figured that Mrs. Sandy had told
Mr. Will about me and Wes and the shower incident, but I was wrong. And thank
God, she didn’t, because I would have been mortified if Mr. Will knew how she
found out about Wes and me.

“I
was just telling Kenleigh that I hope my surprise is the beach.” Mrs. Sandy
turns around and winks at her husband. I watch his smile widen a fraction as he
takes in his stunning wife. In a white, long, flowing skirt, open-toed brown
sandals, and olive green shirt, Mrs. Sandy exudes radiance. Her blonde hair’s
pulled halfway back in a clip, flowing in soft curls down to her shoulders.

“You
and the beach,” Mr. Will grumbles. “Don’t you remember the last time we went to
the beach?”

“I
told you to put on sun block, you big baby,” she laughs, shaking her head. “William
here,” she points at her husband, “did not want to listen to me. I think his
exact words were ‘I’m not afraid of a little sun. Hell, I work in it every
day’, but he failed to remember that he’s always in long sleeve shirts when
he’s working outside.”

“Okay,
drop it,” he sighs.

She
arches her eyebrows at him. “I will when you say the magic words.” Her tone is
taunting, and I can’t help but smile at their playful banter.

Magic
words? Oh, this ought to be good.

“I
don’t think so woman,” Mr. Will argues as he digs his keys out of his pocket.

“William
Wesley Adams… Say it.” Mrs. Sandy throws her hand on her hip. I can see the
struggle she’s having as she tries not to smile.

“Fine.
Fine. You’re always right,” he grumbles out, but then I catch the corners of
his lips tug into a grin.

Mrs.
Sandy jerks her head in a nod and chuckles. “And don’t you forget it.”

Mr.
Will looks at me and says under his breath, “Those words always taste like
poison on my tongue. But as long as it makes her happy, I’ll tell her she’s
right every day for the rest of our lives.”

I
flash a smile at him as my phone dings with a text message. “You’re a smart
man, Mr. Will. If you’ll excuse me, it’s probably my aunt.” I smile and pat his
arm before I leave the kitchen and move toward the living room. Pulling my
phone out, it’s Wes. Last night, he had to go into town, and asked if I needed
anything while he was out. Although I said I was good, he thought it would be a
good idea if we exchanged phone numbers, just in case I remembered anything
that I might need. We haven’t really felt the need up till now to exchange
phone numbers, since we’re always around each other, and our rooms are right
across from one another.

WES- Meet me by the truck

Me- On my way out xx

“We’ll
see you guys tomorrow sometime. Be safe and call if you need anything,” Mrs.
Sandy hollers from the kitchen. I lift my head to catch her and Mr. Will
walking out the screen door.

“You
too! And Happy Fourth of July!” I shout at their retreating backs as I drop my
phone into my clutch.

My
eyes roam around, looking at the lock on the front door that no one ever uses
to make sure it’s locked. With my check complete, I walk through the kitchen
and out the back door, locking it behind me. As soon as the screen door shuts,
I spin around, my eyes widen from surprise, and my jaw is agape. My eyes start
to water, and a smile spreads across my face when I see Wes, standing against
the tailgate of his truck, in a pair of blue jeans, a gray T-shirt, brown
cowboy boots, and a white baseball cap. But what catches me off guard is the
bouquet of flowers in his hand. I fly down the stairs, across the walkway, and
through the lawn. I can’t get over to him quick enough. Right as I get to him,
I leap into his arms, and he catches me. With his arms bound around my waist,
and mine around his neck, he spins me in circles, and laughs. “If I would have
known my baseball cap had this kind of effect on you, I would’ve worn it a lot
sooner,” he says, kissing the tip of my nose.

“Oh,
yes, the hat does have quite an effect on me, but it’s the flowers in your hand
that did me in,” I say huskily as I lean down, barely brushing my lips against
his.

“Oh,
yeah.” He lets me slide down his body before he releases me. He clears his
throat while he   hands me the flowers. “These are for you.”

The
beautiful bouquet is a mixture of white daisies, yellow roses, and orange
chrysanthemums. I lean in to smell the flowers. My eyes drift close, and a
smile spreads across my face. Smells just like summer time. I look up at him
and whisper, “Thank you. No one’s never given me flowers before.”

He
nods and shyly smiles. “I’m happy to be the first one then. You ready?”

“Absolutely.”

He
places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the passenger side.
After opening my door, he helps me in. As I smooth out the bottom of my dress
before I sit down, I catch his eyes studying me as if it’s the first time he’s
ever seen me. “You look stunning.”

I
laugh. I don’t mean to, but stunning is not a word that I’m accustomed to
hearing come out of Wes’ mouth. “What? Why are you laughing at me?” His
eyebrows dip low in confusion.

“Stunning?
Really, Wes?” I ask skeptically.

“Does
fucking sexy sound better?”

I
turn in my seat to face him. My hands reach out and grab the collar of his
shirt before I pull him to me. “There’s my man,” I mumble against his lips.

“I
was trying to be a gentleman.”

“You
are. Just in your own way. Don’t change for me. I like you just the way you
are.” I capture his lips with mine one more time. When his hands glide up my
thighs and around to my ass, I pull back. “Now, take me out. I’m ready to have
some fun,” I whisper with a wink.

Wes
squeezes my ass and groans. “And, there’s my woman.”