Page 73 of The Hearts We've Broken
I was good with my hands, so I probably still would have found my way to a ranch or farm. Or I’d be workingin a shop. I could have seen myself welding or being a carpenter for a living. Leather crafting also sounded interesting. I was also good with finances, having taken care of my own for the past decade or so.
I had options, should the bull riding thing not work out. I had to make it work out, though. If not for myself, then to prove everyone who’d ever doubted me wrong.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
juniper
The weekend was quickly approaching, which meant the population of Miles City was about to double in size. Liv and Nico had started to mentally prepare me for the Bucking Horse Sale festivities. Based on what everyone had told me, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready for what I was about to witness.
With the Bucking Horse Sale this weekend, and Gulch Days the next, I had an action-packed week ahead.
Gulch Days was considered the summer kickoff celebration for my college town. It consisted of live music, trade shows, and food vendors, and occasionally they’d bring in a Ferris wheel and other carnival rides. It was like a smaller scale county fair—without the 4-H shows and exhibits, since that took place in mid to late August.
Today was my last day off for about five days. I’d work the weekend closing shifts before switching to day shifts, ending my week with a double right before we’d leave for Goldfinch.
Originally, I’d planned to have a day of doingabsolutely nothing, but then my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.
Tucker
I’m outside
What? Why?
Tucker
Kidnapping you
Come outside
I walked over to the window to see if he was telling the truth, and sure enough, he was standing outside…in a pair of swim trunks.
Not bothering to put on a pair of shoes, I stepped outside, shielding my eyes from the sun as I exited the house.
“What are you doing here, and why are you wearing a swimsuit?”
“I’m kidnapping you so we can go spend the day by the creek. Go get dressed, unless you prefer skinny dipping.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “You know I wouldn’t mind either.”
“I wasn’t planning on doing anything today.”
“Well, now you have plans. Come on, it’ll be fun. Why relax at home when you can lay out in the sun, get a tan, and spend time with me?”
It was a fair point. Besides, I hadn’t been down to the creek—the namesake of the place he lived—yet.
“Okay, be right back.” I disappeared into the house. I slipped on my favorite purple bikini, some denim cutoffs, and flipflops, grabbing a towel and sunglasses before leaving Natalie a note and heading out the door.
Mikey whistled when I descended the stairs, and I shook my head at him.
“You look good, Peachy.”
This time, I didn’t bother trying to open my own door, remembering what he had said earlier in the week. It seemed to make him happy, and call me a romantic, but I liked seeing him that way. Mikey deserved good things, too.
The Silver Creek was exactly how I had imagined it, but when we drove past the pullout where several vehicles were parked, I looked at Mikey confused.
“I know a secret spot.” He winked. “Trust me, this is going to be way better than the normal place people go.”
About ten minutes later, we drove down a narrow gravel road surrounded by trees. The creek ran parallel to the trail, the soothing sound of water filling my ears.
We parked in a small clearing deep in the woods. When I took a good look around, I understood exactly why Mikey drove here. Trees loomed overhead, blocking out the harsh sun rays, while still allowing light to dapple on the ground. The creek widened into a swimming hole beneath, the water rippling, but not moving swiftly like the current downstream. Large, flat rocks lay near the bank, providing a peaceful area to sunbathe. A larger, ledge-like rock jutted out over the water, and on the other side stood a tree with a rope swing hanging from its wide branches.
