Page 80 of Save A Horse
“I kept thinking about today and leaving.”
“Me, too. It’s going to be tough without you around. This summer went by too fast, didn’t it?” That was the understatement of a lifetime
“It did.” I needed to have the conversation with myself, and it needed to be now. I couldn’t put it off any longer. “Colt, can we talk?”
“Yes, of course.” We walked to the rocking chairs and took a seat beside each other.
“I know we haven’t been together that long, but we have a history, and what we have is real. Do you agree?”
“I do.”
“I want you to come clean to your dad about us.” I could only imagine how he felt when I said those words, but he needed to do it. This had been put off for too long, and now the summer was over.
“You want me to tell him that we’ve been seeing each other, keeping it a secret from him?” Yes, that’s exactly what I want. I want you to stand up for what you want and believe in.
“Yes, Colt, I do. He deserves to know.”
“What if he doesn’t take it well?”
“Then we will figure it out if we get there.” I leaned forward in the chair, “He might surprise you. My dad told you that your dad was protecting you from getting hurt. He might surprise you with his reaction. He may understand, Colt.” We had no way of knowing how Walt was going to react, but if Colt didn’t tell him, we would never know.
“You think?” I nodded.
“After that, we can talk and figure out where to go from here.” He didn’t speak. I knew he was just trying to process everything. “It’s up to you to show him that you’re serious about us. It’s up to you to tell him. I’m not going to make you or pressure you. It all relies on you now.” I couldn’t do anything. Only Colt could do something now.
“Okay.”
I walked back inside. I wasn’t sure what Colt was going to do. I could see the fear and anxiety plastered on his face during our conversation. I was afraid he wouldn’t tell his dad. That made me want to cry.
I just wanted him to come clean.
I wanted him to fight for me.
I wanted him to fight for us.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but I was supposed to leave in about an hour, so I was hoping to get some information soon.
Walt let me off the hook from doing any work around the ranch this morning so I could pack. There was one thing I wanted to do before I left, though. I waited until Colt had brought his coffee cup inside and disappeared around the ranch before I went outside. I wasted no time heading straight for the barn to saddle up Domino. I wanted to get in one last ride.
“Can I join you?” I turned around to face the familiar voice.
“Dad? What are you doing here?”
“Can’t a father come see his baby girl before she leaves?” I gave him a big hug. “Now, can I ride with you?”
“I’d like that.”
Out in the field, surrounded by only the sounds and smells of the nature around us, I was enjoying one last ride. This time, it was with my dad. I glanced over at him as we rode, side by side, and could tell he wanted to say something. He had something on his mind.
“I know you have something to say.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Say it.” I pulled on the reins to get Domino to stop, and my dad did the same with Shadow.
“Are you really going to leave?”
“What do you mean? We both knew I only agreed to be here for the summer.”
