Page 32 of Save A Horse
“Yeah, I’m good.” I looked over at him.
“Next time you’re going to do something like that, maybe think about how you’re going to get down before you climb so high up.”
? ? ?
“I like that story.” I smiled, remembering that day so clearly.
“Yeah. It’s too bad that the storm a few years back tore it down. I thought that thing was going to last forever up in that tree.”
“It survived that long?”
“Sure did.” The conversation continued for a few more minutes, then Walt decided to head to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Colt
Icouldn’t believe my dad remembered all the details of that story. It was so long ago, but I guess it was a little bit of a scary moment. I had been scared and a little embarrassed that I had been so stupid to not think of how I was going to get down once I got up there. After that incident, I always thought things like that through before doing anything.
My dad decided to go to bed, so I started cleaning up the dishes. I was glad that Daisy and I were finally alone again. I was sure that I would be wishing for that a lot more for the rest of the summer with her.
Daisy came up beside me, gently brushing her hand against my back, taking a towel in her hand.
“I’ll help by drying them.” I smiled at her.
We did the dishes in silence, and I just admired the way that being in her presence brought so much comfort to me. Daisy was impeccable and this evening between us was picture-perfect.
“Hey?”
“Hm?”
“So, what do you want to do now that we have some time to ourselves?” There were a lot of things I wanted to do, but I couldn’t risk it all right now, especially with my dad just in another room.
“Do you want to go out on the porch for a bit?”
That was probably a safe option for us. My dad usually slept through the night until six a.m. when he got up, but being outside would give us some more relief and security.
“I could use some fresh air.” I
I wanted so desperately to take her hand in mine, but I couldn’t risk my dad seeing us. We walked out onto the porch, me quietly shutting the door behind us as not to disturb my dad. We took seats in the rocking chairs. My dad had built them for my mom. She always wanted a pair of them and a porch swing, and anything she wanted, my dad made happen.
“It’s nice being back here.” I turned, facing her.She was looking out toward the fields. “I’ve…missed this. I guess I never really realized how much.”
“Yeah…I’ve…I never realized how much I missed having you around this place until you came back. I could feel it the moment I saw you, struggling with the gate…our hands brushed against each other when I came over to help you, and I…I felt something.” I probably sounded crazy to her. "It sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
“You felt that, too?” I nodded, a surprised look on my face.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you never come back here? I mean…you came here for my mom’s funeral, but your dad said he never saw you otherwise.”
“He came to visit me once, but I knew he felt so out of place that he wouldn’t be back." I could see the hurt in her eyes. I felt so bad for her. I knew the death of her mom hit her hard. It me hard, too, when my mom passed. I was thankful for the twenty years I had with her, but Daisy only had sixteen years with hers. She didn't have her mom by her side for the rest of high school, her graduation from high school or college, or when she moved for college. I had my mom through high school. I never realized my situation could have been worse. "Sometimes I wish he had come back…maybe shown me a little more support.”
“But why didn’t you come here? It works both ways…doesn’t it?”
“I was struggling. I guess…in ways…I still am.” She paused for a moment, then stood and walked over the wooden railing. She folded her arms and propped herself against it. “After my mom died, I felt like a piece of me was missing. She was the rock, and then she was gone, just like that. I told you I have blamed myself.”
