Page 22 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
“How do I get her to move?”
“Keep your posture upright and relaxed. If you give her the slightest indication that you’re scared, she’ll act a fucking fool. Apply light pressure with your leg and shift your weight slightly forward. She’ll catch on.”
Remedi did as I told her, and Beauty began to move. She trotted across the yard, heading for the field with me closely behind ’em.
“That’s it. Just keep that stride,” I instructed her. It’s really nothing to riding a horse once you get the hang of it.
“This is easy,” she tossed over her shoulder. Remedi kicked Beauty a bit harder, and she took the fuck off.
“Remedi!” I yelled behind her. I don’t know who she thought she was, trying to ride her that fast, but she damn sure wasn’t a professional, and she’s gon’ get herself hurt.
Ghost galloped as fast as he could to catch ’em. He pulled up on the side of her, and I gripped the reins, pulling Beauty to a halt. Remedi leaned over, hugging Beauty. I jumped down off Ghost and walked both of ’em back to the stables.
After returning Ghost to his stall, I went over and helped Remedi down off Beauty. She jumped down and fell straight into me. Both of us crashed to the ground with Remedi lying on top of me. She lay there, pouring her soul into my eyes. Her head leaned in my direction. Lips drawing closer to mine.
“Khalif, I—” The sound of Dallas’s voice was what ripped us apart. Remedi jumped to her feet and dusted herself off. She extended her hand and helped me off my back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy. I saw you come in here from across the field.”
“It’s okay. I was just leaving,” Remedi spoke, though we both knew that was far from the truth. Had Dallas not interrupted, I’m not certain what would’ve happened between us. I haven’t felt a connection with anyone since Simone. Remedi is slowlycreeping her way inside, and I don’t know how to feel ’bout it. “I’ll see you later, Khalif. Tell Khali that I said hey,” she told me as she trotted toward the door, tucking her loose strand of hair back behind her ear. “Dallas,” she spoke as she passed her.
“Were you two about to…”
“You ain’t see nothing.”
Dallas pursed her lips.
“Uh, I forgot that my truck isn’t here, so you’d have to take me back to it,” Remedi said from behind Dallas.
“I can run you that way. I need to make a stop in town before I grab Khali from school.” I turned my attention back to Dallas. “Was it something important?”
“Not really. You can gone and handle that. I’ll talk to you whenever you get back,” she said and disappeared out of the stable.
“It’s really no trouble. If you have something that you need to do, I can just get a taxi to take me back to my truck.”
“I just told you that I have to go into town anyway. I don’t have a problem taking you to yo’ truck. I’m the one who brought you all the way out here anyway. Let me grab my keys,” I told her and headed for the house. She stood there, waiting by the truck for me to come back out the door. The only thing she had was her purse and phone when I brought her here. The nigga had torn her clothes up. I’ll never understand why niggas thought they needed to take pussy from a female when there are several of ’em out there that freely offer it. Shit, if he was that desperate, I’m certain he could’ve found a prostitute and got some for a decent price.
I hit the fob on the truck, and she climbed inside before I even reached it. Remedi placed her seat belt on while I started the truck. I backed out the driveway, and the ride was silent all the way to Moonshine Junction. As I pulled into the parking lot,she finally turned to me and asked, “How did you know where I was last night?”
That should’ve been a question she asked at first. “I was across the street at the store when I saw him take you into the room.”
“Why did you risk yourself to save me? What if he had had a gun?”
Lifting the front of my shirt, I showed her my pistol resting in my waistline. “I ain’t afraid of no gun.”
“But that’s not answering my question. What made you save me?”
“I got a daughter. If something bad was ’bout to happen to her and I’m not around, I’d want someone to save her.”
“I guess that’s fair.”
That was half the truth. The moment I saw her with him and saw that she wasn’t in her right mind, it angered me. Remedi was sweet as fuck from what I could see. She ain’t deserve no shit like that. I’d hate myself if I just walked away and didn’t do anything and something seriously happened to her. I had to intervene.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said, opening the door and jumping down out the truck. I hit her with a head nod, and she shut the door behind her. My truck didn’t move ’til I saw her get into her truck and pull out of the parking lot.
The stop I needed to make was The Front Porch Kitchen. Ma was at work today, and I’d promised Khali a slice of apple pie. Not just any apple pie either—Ma’s apple pie. She’d asked for some the night before, and I’d told her that I’d come by and get her some today. Had I called Ma and told her that she wanted that pie, she would’ve gotten up, made her an entire pie for herself, and brought it straight over to her. Anything Khali wants, my baby girl gets. People really be moving mountains for her.
Hopping out my truck, I entered the restaurant. It was still lunchtime, and people were crowded in there. No one in town could resist my mama’s cooking.
“Hey, Khalif,” Manda, one of the waitresses, said as she passed me with two plates in her hands.
