CHAPTER 4: HORSE RIDE

Six o’clock in the morning, Christopher had woken up to the sound of roosters singing, bringing a smile on his face. It was a better sound compared to the noisy neighbors and cars in the city. He got out of his bed and planned to enjoy a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. “Christopher! Breakfast is ready!” Grace called from the kitchen. Even his mother was trying to get used to waking up early. Country Life, he thought. After enjoying a quick, warm shower, he put on some jeans and a black t-shirt before heading downstairs. Walking into the kitchen, he noticed Sheriff Fisher sitting on the kitchen island stool as he sipped on some coffee. “Good morning, sport,” Sheriff Fisher said while Christopher shook his hand. It confused him why the sheriff was in his house so early in the morning. Grace noticed and tried to divert him into getting some pancakes and bacon. “I invited Thomas for breakfast to thank him for welcoming us into town,” she said while preparing a dish for him. Thomas? Christopher thought. He was silent as he sat down to eat. Since when were they on a first name basis? “So, I heard excellent things about you. Like, how much you love science. The school has a wonderful program for Seniors who plan to go to college and pursue a career in that area,” Thomas talked to him as if they were friends. All Christopher could do was nod. He didn’t want another man getting close to them and then leaving. Not that it would happen, but just in case that was his intention, he needed to be ready to protect his mother’s heart. “So, are you ready for school?” He asked. Christopher nodded again and finished his breakfast, excusing himself. He shot a glare at Thomas before he stomped back to his room. “I’m so sorry, Thomas. It’s been really hard for him. So many things have been going on. I thought accepting the job and moving here would be a great idea,” Grace said, picking up Christopher’s plate and putting it in the sink. “Don’t worry, and this is a great place to start fresh. He’ll learn to love it,” Thomas replied, getting up from the stool to help Grace with her dishes. “Thank you for the invitation. It was great getting to know you a little more. We’ll see each other in town,” Thomas added, picking up his hat from the kitchen island and putting it on, “Have a good day, Grace.” His dimpled smile had Grace’s heart racing. She couldn’t think of him that way. They had just met, and she had gone through her divorce so recently. After the sheriff left, she headed upstairs to check on Christopher. “Chris, are you okay?” She asked him as he was looking out the country-style windows where he had his telescope. “I am, Mom. Thank you,” he replied, smiling at her in reassurance. “If this is about the Sheriff, I can…” “No, Mom. It’s not about him. It’s about you. The only concern I have is your heart being broken again. I have noticed the way he’s looking at you, and it scares me.” She walked over to him and hugged him. “I’ll be careful, I promise,” she whispered while giving him a small squeeze. They both looked outside, noticing three young people in the distance on their horses coming their way. “I wonder who could they be?” She said, walking out of the room and heading downstairs to check on them. Christopher also headed down but stayed inside, looking out the living room window. He saw a beautiful girl in the middle of another equally pretty girl and a guy that looked like he lifted weights. Christopher could see his mom talking to them, and she looked back at him, a sympathetic smile on her face. He knew what that girl wanted, and he quickly said no, noticing her face of disappointment as she walked away, defeated. ~~~~~~ “You fell asleep in the stalls again,” James laughed when he saw Palmer lying on the hay bale next to Trigger. She stirred awake and gave her father a sheepish smile. “I guess I did,” she said with a sleepy voice, “Trigger kept me company.” Palmer stood up and walked out of the stall. She was hugging her father before heading back into the house for another much-needed shower and some breakfast. “Good morning, sweetie. I see you slept in the stalls with the horses again. Couldn’t sleep last night?” Daisy asked when she saw her walk in. Palmer nodded and hurried to her room. She couldn’t wait to ride Trigger and head over to the Melbourne’s house. After that shower and a change of clothes, she sat at the table and swallowed her food. “Someone is in a hurry today. Going somewhere?” Daisy laughed at her rush to eat her scrambled eggs with bacon and hash browns. “Well, it is a beautiful day, so I will go for a ride today,” she replied with her mouth half full. Her mother gave her a stare, and she swallowed the food, so she didn’t upset her further. She gobbled her breakfast, not giving importance to a stomachache. Her excitement consumed her. After saying her goodbyes to her mom, she put on her riding boots and walked to the barn to get Trigger. She saw Gunner’s red pickup truck, and a smile appeared on her face to see Faith with him. Her friend hopped off, not waiting for it to stop, and ran to Palmer’s arms. “Hey girl, ready to go shopping? I convinced Gunner to come with us,” she asked as Palmer looked at Gunner with an apologetic smile. “What did she do to convince you?” She asked while Gunner shrugged his shoulders. “She promised to go out to dinner with me,” he said with a sheepish grin, to which Faith denied. “He knows I would never go on a date with him,” Faith said, but Palmer knew that was a lie. She could see Gunner begging her silently to say no to the shopping invitation, to which she laughed. “I’m sorry, Faith, but I’m taking Trigger for a ride. You’re both welcome to join,” she said, getting a mouthed ‘I hate you’ from Gunner. Shrugging her shoulders, she stuck her tongue out at him before they walked inside the barn to get the horses ready. Gunner was trying to be as close to Faith as possible, but she walked away from him. He was a little disappointed and shrugged it off, taking one horse to saddle it up. “Where are we going?” Faith asked as she tried to put the saddle up on her horse but failed to do so since she rarely had to deal with them. She had to learn so much about riding horses. Gunner took the saddle from her hands and helped her with it. Faith gave him a sweet smile, but as soon as he looked at her, she changed her expression and looked away. “There you go. Ready for you,” he winked at her, walking back to finish with his horse. Faith secretly wanted him to help her mount the horse, but she was stubborn and did it herself. “Come on, guys. We’re wasting time,” Palmer mentioned as she nudged her horse's flanks with her heels, getting him started on a nice, easy-going pace with a click of her tongue. Faith and Gunner followed behind at a suitable distance from each other. “Are you doing okay back there?” Palmer asked her. Faith nodded but didn’t say a word; she was feeling uncomfortable. They would argue and chat a lot, but with how intimate the ride felt like even with Palmer in the front, she felt her heartbeat fast as a blush crept up her face. After just ten minutes of riding, they arrived at Christopher’s house. Palmer was bouncing on the saddle, excited to meet him. She remembered Grace, a pretty lady with her blonde waves and brown eyes. Her well-rounded face complimented her whole appearance. “Hello, Palmer, nice to see you again!” She greeted her with such enthusiasm. Palmer got off the horse and walked towards Grace, hugging her as if they knew each other their whole lives. “Hello, Mrs. Melbourne. I’m really happy to see you again,” Palmer said and tried to look inside, searching for that boy she wanted to meet so badly. “Me too. What brings you here?” “Well, my friends and I were just riding, and I thought maybe we could meet Christopher?” She mentioned. Grace looked inside. Christopher was sitting on the stairs, making it easier for her to see him. He shook his head, and she looked back at Palmer with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but today’s not a good day. Maybe when he goes to school, you might be able to see him,” she said. Palmer smiled, but Grace could see the disappointment in her eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she apologized again. “No, that’s okay. I’ll see Christopher on Monday. It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Melbourne,” Palmer said, walking back to mount her horse. “Please, call me Grace. And it was nice seeing you too.” Palmer ushered her horse to walk while Faith and Gunner looked at each other, feeling sympathy for their friend. They knew when Palmer wanted something, and she wouldn't stop until she got it. Right now, Christopher was going to be her next friendship target.