Chapter 11
WESTON
I’m in a daze as I saddle up the horses for Eric and me. After the events of last night, he’s more desperate than ever to get out on the horses, as though we’re going to find Samantha wandering around obliviously again. Though, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t mind that at all.
Driving back to the ranch without her felt strange. Eating breakfast without her felt even worse. Now, as we prepare to head out for the day, I’m consumed by the loneliness that came along the moment she left.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve not felt this way since Cheryl died. Of course, it was worse then. But the feeling that I won’t be around her again, see her smile, hear her laugh...it’s agonizing. We only had such a short amount of time together, but now that she isn’t here, it feels like something is missing.
I can tell Eric thinks so too. He’s still stroppy this morning from our little argument last night. I’ve tried to speak to him about it, but he just keeps turning the conversation to our horse ride. I force a smile as I put his riding helmet on for him.
“The horses are enjoying the sun.”
Eric crosses his arms across my chest. “Samantha would have liked the horses.”
I sigh. I guess I’m just going to have to accept that he’s going to be like this all day. There’s nothing I can say to make this better. It’s not like I can bring Samantha back, after all. I didn’t ask for her number. I didn’t even say a proper goodbye. And now I’m regretting not getting out of the car and hugging her. Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t be obsessing over her leaving now.
“Come on, let’s go,” I tell Eric, mounting Cherry. He sighs with just enough sass to annoy me, and not enough to be scolded as he gets on his horse. He nods to me and we begin to ride in the direction of the lake.
But as we’re about to set a pace with the horses, I spot a car coming down the hill track. I bring Cherry to a halt and watch the car. It doesn’t seem to be one of the neighbors or one of the ranch boys. Eric squints at the car too, excited at the prospect of a mysterious stranger.
“Dad, who is that?”
“I don’t know, buddy...but I think we’re about to find out,” I tell him, guiding Cherry back towards the house. Eric follows eagerly, desperate for a bit of excitement on this quiet day. My pulse races a little, enough to make me sweat in the heat of the afternoon. A question is playing on my mind.
Is it who I hope it is?
My question is answered when Samantha gets out of the driver’s seat. She seems a little flustered, fiddling with her hair as she gets something off the back seat. She spots Eric and me approaching and waves at us awkwardly. I can’t help grinning at her.
“Hey there, stranger,” I murmur. Samantha’s cheeks redden even more and she tucks her hair behind her ears, clutching a bag in her other hand.
“Hi...I didn’t mean to barge in…”
“You didn’t!” Eric declares, hopping down from his horse and almost falling over. I’m about to scold him for being reckless when he rushes to Samantha and hugs her. She looks surprised for a moment and then she laughs, patting his head.
“It’s good to see you!” she says. It seems like she means it, as well. When she looks up to meet my gaze, her smile is genuine.
“But in any case...I wasn’t intending to stay. I just brought you all some gifts...to say thank you for taking care of me.” She holds the bag up. “There’s something in there for each of you.”
I dismount Cherry and head over to take the gifts from Samantha. I peek in the bag and she watches me do so, eagerly waiting for my response. I raise my eyebrow.
“I suppose this delightful whiskey is for Eric?”
Eric giggles, loving being in on an adult joke. Samantha titters too, but I can tell she’s nervous being around me again. I tell myself to go easy on her. I close the bag and smile.
“This was very nice of you...you really didn’t have to. And honestly, Madeline will be thrilled with the jam. She loves it on toast.”
“Well, you’re welcome,” Samantha says. Now that I’ve taken the bag from her, she clearly doesn’t know what to do with her hands. She wrings her fingers together, avoiding my eyes and trying to think of something to say. She seems relieved when Eric grabs her hand and pulls her over to his horse.
“Do you want to stroke her? Her name is Peanut Butter. We were about to go take them around the lake!”
“Oh, really? Well, I don’t want to hold you up…”
“Stay as long as you want,” I chip in gently. Samantha flashes me a grateful look as she comes to a halt between Peanut Butter and Cherry. The horses are a little rattled by the presence of a stranger - they don’t often see an unfamiliar face. But Samantha reaches out gently for Cherry’s mane and the horse doesn’t decide to bolt. After several moments, Cherry relaxes, nudging against Samantha’s hand.
“She likes you!” Eric declares. I nod, joining Samantha in combing my fingers through Cherry’s mane.
“She’s a good judge of character,” I murmur. Samantha blushes again, and I grin. It’s almost too easy with her. But she doesn’t shy away again. She keeps her chin up, watching Cherry’s every move with soft eyes.
“She’s really beautiful,” she says. I’m about to respond when Eric tugs on my sleeve insistently.
“Can Samantha come with us? Please, Dad?”
I waver. “Um, well, I’m sure Samantha has a very busy schedule.”
“I actually have no plans as of yet,” Samantha says with a shy shrug. “I was just going to head back to the hotel.” She pauses, a look of panic crossing her features. “But, of course, you’re both busy. And besides, I don’t know how to ride a horse…”
“You could ride with me,” I blurt out. I’m shocked the words even passed my lips. Yes, I wanted to see Samantha again. I’ll admit that. But I didn’t actually expect her to show up. And now that she has, it seems I just can’t stop myself from furthering this friendship. Samantha and I were meant to have a time-limit. A twelve hour period in one another’s company to be kept as a unique memory. Now? It looks like she’s becoming a recurring character in my life. But I don’t have the heart to backtrack now, no matter how guilty it makes me feel.
“You sure?” Samantha says, scuffing her shoes on the ground. “I don’t want to impose on your day…”
“I think Eric’s pretty set on having you here,” I say with a smile. “Besides. It’s nice to have a new face around here. We could all use the excitement.”
Eric jumps up and down in glee. “You’re going to love it, Samantha! I can show you all my favorite spots!”
“Well that would be really lovely,” Samantha beams. She turns to me. “Though, I have to warn you…I really don’t know what I’m doing with horses.”
I hand her the bag of gifts. “Take these inside, first of all. I’m sure Madeline will want to say hello. Then I’ll get you some riding gear.”
“Thank you. I’m...I’m really excited to spend the afternoon with you guys,” she says. As she turns to walk to the house, I want to tell her I feel the same, but I keep my mouth shut. Eric smiles as he gets back on Peanut Butter’s saddle.
“I’m glad she came back,” he says.
Me too, son. Me too.