Country Heels FreeView

This is the 1st Three Chapters of Country Heels an upcomming romance novel

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In every fairytale there's always a villain. Do wishes really come true? Brooke is about to get the surprise of her life. It's her 18th birthday, Brad is back and his sights are set on her.

Brooke was ten the very first time she realized that thirteen year-old Brad Stone was her hearts every desire. But after he embarrassed her at the towns festival and broke her heart, she convinced herself that she hated Brad Stone. Unable to convince her heart, Brooke spent the next eight years running from love. Convincing herself that as soon as Brad left for college her life would be normal and she'd never have to look at him again and could move on, she found that once again she had lied to herself because no one could hold a candle to Brad.

Known not only for acting but always getting her way, there's one more person who has their sights set on Brad Stone and actress Miranda Roberts, will stop at nothing to get what she wants and she will "bury" anyone who gets in her way.

Author: Shaunna Rodriguez

Cover Designer: Laura LaRoche

of: LLPix Photography

Publisher: Christian Leaf Publishing

Professional Dedication

First to Laura, my Professional Photographer and Cover Designer, from the bottom of my heart thank you.  Without this impeccable cover and your continued hard work, publication would have been nearly impossible.

Dedication

To God who has blessed me with success as well as the ability and creativity of a writer.

To my wonderful husband, Eric, who has been so supportive, understanding and loving through this entire process, both the writing and publishing. 

To my friends who have supported me one hundred percent all the way and kept me on my toes, a sincere thank you.

To my fans~ writing is never a lost cause but you make it worthwhile.  Thank you for your continued support and patience while I finished this book.

A Special Thank You to Shanna Ramos-Sandoval- Not a day, not a month, not a year went by that you did not remind me about publishing this book.  Thank you for your love, your enthusiasm, your consistency and your patience while I worked through the writing, editing and publishing process for the book.  I hope its everything your heart desires and more.

Disclaimer

Country Heels is a work of fiction and may contain adult material, such as language as well as sexual implications, that are inappropriate for children under the legal age of 18 years-old.

Country Heels, as well as the cover design is copyrighted and protected material that can not be reproduced without the explicit written consent of both the author, Shaunna Rodriguez as well as Laura LaRoche from LLPix Photography.  Any false, unauthorized use, or misrepresentation of this book or its affiliates will constitute legal action. 

Country Heels 2012 Christian Leaf Publishing

Country Heels cover 2012 LLPix Photography & Christian Leaf Publishing

CHAPTER ONE

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

          This was her time to shine.  Her one chance to get her life back together.  Never did she ever believe that she’d have made it this far or be sitting in the very seat that she was sitting in right now, staring at the notoriously, infamous woman sitting across from her that literally held her life and all that was left of her, in the palm of her hand.

          Brooke was nervous.  This was very clear as she  crossed and uncrossed her legs at least ten times nervously.  The fact that she was wringing her tiny, white hands together in her lap, though she tried to hide it, was apparent.  She hated waiting.  Patience had never been her strong suit.  Finally, just as she thought she was going to spring from her seat like a tightly wound Jack-In-The-Box, she heard the pen stop writing.  She looked up from her lap when she heard the woman who was sitting across from her sigh.  The woman, with bright red hair and emerald green eyes, stared at her thoughtfully as she tapped her pen on her yellow legal pad.  Her face, even though apparently young, had begun to wrinkle, especially when she was clearly giving so much thought to something.  Her voice held the key of tenor as she spoke.

          “Tell me about your life, Ms. Townsend,” the woman instructed with unbridled authority.  Taken aback by the woman’s tone, it took a moment for Brooke to unscramble her thoughts.

          “My life?” Brooke answered somewhat puzzled that she would be asked that in an interview.  Though Brooke had never really been to an interview before and until now, she thought most questions were suppose to be about your goals or experiences and how you would benefit their company and what set you apart from other interviewees, though you had no idea about them or their qualifications your only hope was that yours were better and enough to land you the job of your dreams or any job for that matter.  The woman with distinctive, bright, red hair and Emerald green eyes that flashed with amusement at Brooke’s apparent confusion nodded her head and tapped the pen thoughtfully against her teeth.

          “Yes, your life, from start to finish.”  Judging from the expression on Brooke’s face, she gathered that perhaps that was why she was in the city.  This was why she was sitting in the seat that she was sitting in now; to escape the life she had, had before and though she tried, she could not mask her curiosity as to why such a plain, yet beautiful girl, captivated her so.  What was her story?  She had been in this business long enough to be able to take one look at a person and know when there was a story there, whether it be full of pain or one full of happy memories.  As she stared at Brooke, she couldn’t help but feel as though hers was one of both but there was something else.  Something that she just couldn’t put her finger on……

          Thoughtful as she clearly struck a nerve with Brooke and could see that she was desperately trying to make it seem as though there was nothing there and she was a normal Abby, she decided this was going to need a different approach.  One with a bit of finesse.  Brooke watched as the woman scratched a few notes down on the legal pad with her black ink, ballpoint pen.  She directed her attention back to Brooke.

         

“I’ll make this easy for you.  Since we’ve established the fact that you are not a native New Yorker, but are instead, judging from your accent, are likely from somewhere in North Carolina, there’s really no need for you to tell me your life story from the time you were born until the moment you arrived here, and sat your butt in that chair.  At this point, I just want to know what brought you to my city.  You aren’t a native New Yorker.  I know better.  I can hear it in your Carolinian accent.  I see kindness in your eyes, where most natives here are fierce and the daggered looks that you get are enough to send you running to the Emergency Room with stab wounds,” the woman said.  Brooke had come to the city to get away from her past.  To forget it had ever existed.  She came to the city to escape and now this woman wanted to drag it all up again.  Brooke needed this.  It was her last chance to shine, to have her new dream become a reality.  Brooke sighed thoughtfully.  This was her shot, her one shot, and she that she had better make it good.  So, despite the fact that she had buried her memories and swore she’d never dredge them up again… she let her mind wander back into her past.

The sounds of laughter filled the air with the crunching of ice, the crushing of cups, kids laughing, babies crying, and adults talking.  She could see teenagers walking arm and arm, holding hands and stealing a kiss every now and then when they thought no one was looking. 

          It was the Annual Summer Watermelon and Corn Festival in Charlottesville, a wayward, small town at the back end of North Carolina.  The townsfolk kept to themselves, but gossiped nonstop in that little town keeping it alive and going strong for well over a hundred years now. It was founded by John and Jan Townsend, which just happened to be her great- great grandparents.  The whole family had grown up in that sleepy, little town.  It’s an honest, safe and happy place to get married and raise children and for those who had a passion for  farming and ranching, this was the place to be, because, after all, that is what this little town does.  The town has done so well because, well for one, tourists love to come through their usually sleepy little town for the Annual Watermelon and Corn Festival.  This festival has been happening since the founding of the town, too late to go changing up the pace now.  The older folks in the town like to keep things just the way they are.

     After a long time of gathering her thoughts and letting back in the memories that she had worked so hard to shut out, she finally opened up and replied,   “The real story starts when I was only a girl of  10.  I remember like it was yesterday.” She said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

          “It was the 100^th Annual Watermelon and Corn Festival in Charlottesville.  The little place I called home for so many years.  It was a hot day;  smoldering hot.  The ice cold watermelon felt so good on my lips.  I was sticky from head to toe.  I didn’t care though, so was everyone else in that town.  There were so many different things there to eat and sample.  Foods like squash and zucchini, sausage on a stick, macaroni and cheese balls, hamburgers, hot dogs, gumbo, steaks, potatoes, popcorn, watermelon and all the candy one kid could consume.” she recalled with a slight smile on her perfect red lips. 

          “This was also the day that I first noticed Brad Stone.”  There was a short pause as she apparently lingered on the name for some time before continuing. 

          “Brad was thirteen.  He was handsome and rugged to say the least, with farmer’s hands and a an apparent farmer’s tan when he would lift his arms and his sleeves would rise higher on his arms” she giggled happily at the memory as her smile only grew bigger.

          “He had kind blue eyes, a simple smile, and a boyishly handsome face with incredible features.  Despite being only thirteen, Brad was already 6’1”.  He was a little bit gangly in some girls’ opinions, but he would later fill out and be the heartthrob of the town.”  She shook her head.

          “The day of the festival, when I saw Brad, he was standing in line at the popcorn stand sipping on what I can only guess to have been a Dr. Pepper.  I have always been more of a Coca-Cola kind of girl, myself.  I stood in line behind him.  I sampled everything at the festival.  I was so sick by the time I went home.  Every year this happened and every year, my mother would simply shake her head at me and come at me with some awful tasting, yet quick working brew that my great grandmother had invented.”

          “The festival lasted an entire weekend.  It started on a Thursday night around seven o’ clock, p.m., and it didn’t stop until the wee hours of Monday morning.  There was a picture show playing in black and white on the courthouse’s brick wall.  Chairs were set up on the lawn and people laughed and watched.  Some of the movies were romantic, some were comedies, and some were scary.  Shops didn’t open until mid-afternoon in Charlottesville , on the following Monday.  Everyone was either still cleaning up from the festival or sleeping in,”  she stated matter of fact like. 

          “But Brad,” she sighed and brought her hands to her chest with her fists folded together.

          “I knew I loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him.  Brad’s parents owned Stone Farms about five miles outside of town.  The irony of that was that my parents owned Townsend Ranching five miles outside of town as well.  There was about a two mile difference between the two properties.  My father Jim, and Brad’s father Bill, were very good friends and did business together frequently.  Both our mothers, Claire Townsend and Virginia  Stone, were the best of friends.  With as much time as our parents both spent together, I will never understand how it was that Brad and I did not spend any lengthy amount of time together is beyond me.  It is something that I will probably never understand.  I suppose though, it had to do with the fact that since our parents were spending so much time together, someone had to be at the farm and ranch to keep the places running.  It’s no wonder that I only ran into him at the Annual Festivals and by happen stance in town every now and again. Of course I don’t want it to sound like the first time that I met him was when I was ten and that it was at the festival.  That isn’t true at all.  The truth is that our birthdays are actually only days apart, we go to the same school, the same church, and oh yeah, we do live in the same town.  What I am saying is that I discovered at the 100^th annual festival that I was in love  with him.  I don’t know what it was.  I really can’t explain it, but suddenly, seeing him standing in line at the popcorn stand sipping on Dr. Pepper and holding a stuffed animal that he had won at a dunking contest earlier,  (by the way, it was his father he dunked, so sure as I’m a girl and in love with Brad Stone, there will be hell to pay when they get home.) was enough to make my heart go pitter-patter over and over again.”

 ***************************************************************

       “Are you lost or something?”  She heard him say.  Brooke stared at Brad, puzzled.  She swallowed hard and thought fast.  She hadn’t realized that she had been staring at him at all.  It was completely innocent.  She just couldn’t help it.

          “No, I can stand here and wait for popcorn just like you can,” she said.  He stared at her blankly.

          “Yes, but do you have to stare at me while you wait for your popcorn?”  He asked.  He sounded irritated.  She blushed and turned away quickly leaving the line she had already been standing in for at least ten minutes.  Suddenly, she had no appetite, especially not one for popcorn.  She was so embarrassed that she decided to call it a night and head home.  It was getting late after all, and she would be back up there first thing tomorrow to start all over again.  She was certain her parents were ready to leave too.  She strolled across the grounds stepping over small children playing jacks and dodging wads of hay being thrown back and forth.  She found her mother’s hot dog booth and leaned on the counter.

         

“Something wrong sweetie?”  Her mother asked as she slipped another frank into a bun and squeezed mustard on it for an awaiting, apparently very hungry, chubby little boy.  Brooke could hear the music playing in the background that was coming from the stage where couples were dancing.

          “Crazy.  I’m crazy for crying and crazy for trying and I’m crazy… for loving you.”  Brooke unconsciously swayed back and forth as her eyes closed and thoughts of Brad Stone filled her mind.  She heard her mother repeat her name and the question she had just asked.  Her eyes opened and after a moment, the feelings of longing were replaced by hurt and anger. 

          “Yes, Brad Stone embarrassed me and I want to go home now,”  she told her in a very matter of fact like voice.  Her mother shook her head and wiped her wet hands on the front of her apron. 

          “Now Brooke, we can’t just go home right now.  The booth stays open until ten o’ clock, you know that.  It’s only nine o’ clock now,” her mother smiled and patted her head.

          “Did you get lots to eat?”  She asked as she continued to work around her booth, helping the folks standing in two lines on the opposite side of the counter.  Brooke shrugged and slid behind the door to the booth.  She sat on a nearby stool and perched her elbows on her chicken like legs.  She hated her legs.  Hopefully they would fill out soon, she thought as she watched her mother move carefree about the booth taking orders and whipping up food like it was second nature to her.  Her mother cast a weary glance in her direction then continued handing out hot dogs.  It wasn’t a few short minutes before Brooke’s father came sauntering up carrying what appeared to be a bag of popcorn and a red and white cup with a caramel colored liquid inside that Brooke assumed was a coke.  She stared at her empty hands, just then realized she no longer had hers.  She must have thrown it down at Brad’s feet just before she stormed off.  Her father handed the popcorn and coke over the counter to her mother.  Perplexed, Claire stared at them. 

          “What’s this?”  Claire asked Jim curiously.  Jim chuckled briefly then cleared his throat before answering.

          “Brad Stone asked me to give this popcorn and coke to Brooke.”  Jim stole a glance at Brooke.  She saw the puzzled expression on his face as he stared at his daughter but at the same time, Brooke saw what appeared to be the slightest glint of humor in his eyes.  Brooke blushed again.  She growled under her breath irritated at the fact that, that’s all Brad made her do was blush.  She had begun to like it better when they hadn’t notice each other at all.

          “Thanks, but I don’t want it,” Brooke folded her arms over her chest with impertinence.  Jim frowned.

          “Brooke, what has gotten into you?”  Jim was puzzled at her behavior.  Brooke was usually such a  laid back kid.  She didn’t get offended very easily.

          “Brad embarrassed her earlier and she is angry with me that we cannot leave right now,”  Claire informed Jim as she tried to shed light on Brooke’s odd behavior.  Beginning to see the bigger picture, Jim nodded his head and grinned, “I see, do you want me to have a talk with Bill?”  Jim offered his daughter in an insightful move to try and smooth things over and perhaps make his little girl feel better, knowing Brad would be in trouble.  Brooke shook her head no. 

         

“No, Brad will get his when he gets home for dunking his father at the water booth earlier,”  she smiled as she remembered the expression on Bill’s face as Brad hit the target first rattle out of the box, and he was going down.

 CHAPTER TWO

HER HEARTS DESIRE

         
          Her mother was buzzing downstairs making breakfast and talking on the phone when Brooke came downstairs for breakfast.

          “Oh, good morning Sweetie,” Claire said as she closed the oven door with a slam and moved quickly to the sink.  Brooke always thought it was odd that while her mother made breakfast she was preparing for lunch at the same time.  Brooke shrugged and sat down at the table.  Her father kissed the top of her head.

          “Good morning Honey.  Oh and happy birthday.” He winked at her before sitting down at the table and picking up the newspaper.  Brooke was watching her mother intently and couldn’t stifle her giggles at her mother who was now wrapped up in the white, loopy telephone cord.  She had done so much moving and spinning around the kitchen while she talked non-stop to her best friend Virginia Stone, that it had tangled around her. 

          After breakfast, Brooke picked up her book bag and headed out the door for school.

********************************************************************************

      The second Brooke had pulled into the parking lot, the birthday wishes and hugs had started.  Though it was just a birthday, somehow she felt like a star at school today.  By the end of the day, she was certain that she had heard happy birthday from everyone.  The best part of the day though was when the final bell rang and it was time for her to go home.  Excitement filled every bone in her body as she hurried from the building to her truck in anticipation of what surprises her parents had cooked up for her while she had been at school. 

**************************************************************         

As she drove through town she passed by Cranes Jewelry store.  She had really admired a necklace made of white gold with a circle and a diamonds going around it, a few weeks ago while shopping in town with her mother.  Her thoughts were interrupted when she nearly wrecked at the sight of what appeared to be Brad cutting up and talking to a beautiful, leggy blonde girl who bobbed her head of long, shoulder length, blonde hair back and forth and seemed completely captivated and awe struck by the mere presence of Brad.  Brad Stone, Charlottesville’s state football champ, MVP, and the winner of the Heisman Trophy this past year.  Brooke shook her head.  In the seconds it took her to drive past the shop, she was amazed at the clarity she had gotten from that picture.  She and Brad had only ever been friends.  They spent their childhood and teen years working for their parents.  The only time they saw each other aside from festivals is when they had simple run in’s with each other in town or on one or the other’s property.  The truth was, she was surprised that Brad was even in town, considering he had gone to play football at Carolina State, and from what she had read and heard, he was the best quarterback that they had ever seen down there.  Without fail, it seemed like Brad Stone was always on the front page of the newspaper for something.  She saw him on television constantly doing interviews and signing autographs for screaming fans and adoring admirers, all of which were usually of the feminine persuasion.  She continued her drive out of town and headed for home, now not nearly as excited as she had been when she left school that afternoon.  She groaned, she shouldn’t let Brad Stone get to her, after all, it’s her birthday and what could be better, it was Friday.  She shook her head, irritated with herself and the effect that she let Brad have on her.  She just couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that, despite as strongly as she had felt for him for all these years, she and Brad were apparently never meant to be.  The one hope that she clung to was the fact that its hard to say that for sure since they had never had a romantic relationship.  Brooke shook her head as if shaking the thoughts from her brain.  Giving herself something else to focus on for the rest of her drive home she turned on the radio and as luck would have it, the duet, “If You See Her, If You See Him,” blared through her truck radio further energizing her fantasies of Brad Stone.

          Fifteen minutes later she pulled up in front of the old, two story, blue ranch house.  She could see her mom bustling about inside, which was nothing new  because her mother did that every day.  Brooke turned off the truck engine, grabbed her book bag from the seat next to her and went inside the house.  She headed up the stairs to her room where she tossed her book bag next to her computer desk and then she flopped, face first down on her brightly spring colored, plaid comforter.  It wasn’t a few minutes later that she heard soft knocking on her bedroom door.

          “Brooke, Honey, is everything alright in there?”  Her mom called.  Brooke groaned.   

          “Sure mom,” she called back unconvincingly.  Her mother opened the door and moved her small, 5’2” frame inside and perched on the edge of the bed.  When she sat down her shoulder length, curly locks of honey colored hair bobbed up and down on the tops of her shoulders. 

          “Are you sick Sweetie?”  She asked as she placed the palm of her hand over her daughter’s forehead.  She moved her hand a second later satisfied that her daughter wasn’t ill. 

          “Not really, I guess, sort of,” Brooke replied with mixed answers and a sigh.  Her mom’s all knowing expression brought somewhat of a smile to Brooke’s lips.

          “Alright, who is he?”  Claire asked with a smile as she made herself more comfortable on the bed, lacing an arm beneath her daughters head.  Slightly perturbed with this line of questioning, given her surprise seeing Brad on her way home, her answer was snippier than she had intended it to be. 

          “Who has it always been mom?”  Brooke asked with a frustrated groan, not with her mom, but more with herself and Brad, and the world at present. 

          “I see,  Brad Stone still, after all these years.  Why Brooke, I thought you had since moved on,”  Claire replied with a soft voice despite her surprise.  Brooke frowned and shook her head in disbelief.  

          “When would I have moved on Mom?  Brooke asked.  When have I brought a date home or better yet, when was the last time I went on a date?” 

          “Well you will have to excuse my profound ignorance on the subject, considering boys are always calling here for you,” Claire replied.  Brooke could see that she was hurt.  She felt badly now. 

          “I’m sorry, Mom, I know it isn’t your fault.  It’s just,” Brooke paused. She couldn’t begin to explain this electric attraction to Brad.  She didn’t know if it had been those sultry summer afternoons when she had ridden her horse across the pasture and had, had a perfect, front row seat to the Stone’s barn where she watched a shirtless Brad with washboard abs pitch hay for hours.  She didn’t know if it was when she had caught him skinny dipping in their lake pasture.  She just couldn’t put her finger on the countless times she had watched him from afar, wishing she could touch, but never got the chance.  He was always dating some skanky, needs attention, clingy girl from town.  They were always upscale, especially that snide Amanda Crane,  the jeweler’s daughter.  She knew about Amanda and Brad.  The whole town knew about them. There was even talk about them getting married for a couple of years.  That never happened, but it didn’t quiet the town down any.  Especially not when Brad went off to school and Amanda was left here.  Of course, the girl was never faithful to him.  She should have known better, if not for the ethical part but the fact that everyone knows that you can’t do anything in a small town without everyone else knowing about it too.  So, naturally, Brad, despite being at Carolina State, probably heard all about Amanda‘s rendezvous with Tony Shipmen and Matt Donovan and the ten other guys that she bounced between on the weekends.  Thinking about it now, it was probably Amanda that Brad was talking to in the jewelry shop that afternoon.  Perhaps they were talking things through and working things out.  From that girls excitement, her long, bare, tan leg sliding up and down the other as she leaned over the counter letting it “all hang out” for Brad, showing him just what he had missed out on and what he could have now.  Unfortunately, she could advertise and entice with her luscious body that had been “rode” more times than a roping mare but she couldn’t advertise the diseases she had contracted that ran rampant on the inside, dancing in her veins and just “dying” to infect her next fool victim.  Brooke grimaced at the thought of gorgeous Brad Stone infected with something incurable like herpes or worse… she closed her eyes.  She didn’t want to think of anything killing Brad from the inside out.  Her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts and probably for the best.

          “Oh, Brooke, while I‘m up here I just thought you should know that your friends from school are all coming and also…“  She paused briefly.  “The Stones.”  Seeing Brooke’s horrified expression she quickly added “Your father invited them,” Claire dropped the bomb on her.

          “What!”  Brooke shouted suddenly, startling her mom with the intensity of the unhappiness in her shriek.

          “What’s wrong honey?”  Claire asked panic stricken.  She hadn’t realized Brooke would be this upset about a few guests.  She had even said she wouldn’t mind a small get together of friends and family.  That’s what they had invited.  Friends and family.  Claire waited patiently for an explanation.

          “Brad is in town!  How could daddy do this to me?”  Brooke screeched.  Claire tried to shrug nonchalantly as if to signify its no big deal.  She bit her lower lip to hide the smile that was welling up inside of her.  She thought this sounded perfect, she didn’t understand why Brooke was so upset.  So what if Brad was in town. 

          “Well, this is news to me! And I am sure your father did not know that Brad was in town either.  You know, to be so love stricken with the boy, you would think you would want to be around him, not run careening for the hills to get away from him.  No wonder the two of you never dated.  You have both spent virtually your entire lives running away from each other instead of to each other.” 

          “We are going to barbecue for your birthday dinner.  I hope that is still okay with you.”  Claire said.  With as strangely as her daughter was behaving, for all she knew she could have changed her mind about the whole thing or become a vegetarian, at this point, Claire wasn‘t even sure who her daughter was anymore.  She decided now was as good a time as any to leave Brooke alone before she upset her further.  She closed the bedroom door quietly behind her.

On the way down, Claire couldn’t help her mind wondering back to the day she turned eighteen.  She didn’t feel that much differently and she had perfect control of her hormones.  Claire reached the bottom of the stairs and heard voices coming from the kitchen.  Curious, she followed the sounds and was surprised to see her husband Jim, and the “notorious” Brad Stone sitting at the kitchen table.  A smile crept across her lips as she entered the room. 

          “Claire honey, you remember Brad Stone,”  Jim introduced them, again.

          “Well of course Jim, it hasn’t been that long since he’s been gone to college,”  Claire leaned down and hugged the large specimen of a man.  Even she was having a hard time hiding how impressed she was with how much he had filled out.  Handsome and rugged was an understatement, she thought as she let her small, ivory colored fingertips linger on her jaw attempting to hide her smile and the impending blush from her thoughts.  She just didn’t know what Brooke was thinking running from Brad instead of straight into those huge arms.  She could only imagine what warmth they yielded and the feel of safety knowing they’d protect her from any and all harm.  Claire cleared her throat and her thoughts that had spiraled quickly out of control. 

          “So Brad, what brings you by today?”  Claire asked as she attempted to regain her mental composure. 

          “Oh, well, isn’t today Brooke’s eighteenth birthday?”  He asked.  Claire nodded.

          “That it is.”  Claire had a far off look in her eyes for a moment before continuing.  “I have to say that now I understand how your mother felt when you went off to college.”  She touched Brad’s hand gently then turned to her husband “they grow up so quickly.”  She said remorsefully, her voice tearful.  Brad and her husband both nodded and smiled.

          “I came home early from college and just got back into town this morning.  I surprised my mom at breakfast”  Brad chuckled as he remembered her awed expression and shrill shriek as she waved the black spatula in the air with scrambled egg flinging off the end as she ran across the kitchen and threw her arms around him.  “At breakfast my  parents said they had been invited to your house tonight for Brooke‘s party.  I knew I wasn‘t expected home and I don‘t expect an invitation but I-”  Brad paused briefly as he tried to explain to them as well as himself why he was compelled to bring a gift.  “So I thought I might drop off a gift for Brooke before I head back to the farm.” Brad suddenly looked very uncomfortable as Jim and Claire stared at him curiously.  He felt as though he were a specimen being examined beneath a microscope.  Claire nudged Jim in the ribs and he grunted.

          “Brad, the invitation is for the Stone family.  The invitation for Brooke’s party tonight extends to you as well.  As a matter of fact son,  You are welcome any time.  What is it that Brooke says, mi casa is su casa?” Jim informed Brad hopefully, despite the fact that he had tried to hide the hopeful enthusiasm in his voice that the boy might actually show up to Brooke’s party.  What a surprise that’d be for his baby girl.  Brad smiled.

          “Well I appreciate the offer Mr. Townsend, that’s awfully nice of you sir, but honestly, I just don’t think Brooke likes me too much or would want me around for that matter.  We didn’t hang out in school or anything, heck I wouldn’t even call us friends.  This is just the polite thing to do,” Brad began to ramble.  The more he rambled, the more uncomfortable he got and the more he became convinced that he was out of his mind to even bring a gift buy to a girl he claimed he hardly knew but the truth was, he knew Brooke all too well.  Just because they didn‘t “see“ each other, didn‘t mean, he didn‘t see her.  In fact, he knew every detail about Brooke from her favorite color to her favorite music and artist and what she liked to do on the weekends.  He knew what her hair looked like as it flowed behind her as she leaned forward on her horse and let her just run.  He knew the smell of her perfume.  It had tantalized his nostrils and danced through his senses as she breezed past their hay bales when she would walk through the barn to his fathers office.  The room was uncomfortably silent as Jim and Claire tried to come up with a thousand reasons to convince Brad to come tonight and Brad thought of a thousand and one reasons that he shouldn’t even be there right then.  The thought struck him suddenly that Brooke could walk down those stairs at any second and catch him sitting in her kitchen, with her parents and what would he say then?  What was his reasoning for being there?  The worst part was, Brad had secretly hoped he’d see her, catch a glimpse of her, hear her voice even if it was to yell at him to get out! Anything so he’d know she at least remembered his name and who he was.  Breaking the silence suddenly, Jim let out an uncontrolled laugh, then from the expression on Claire’s face quickly regained control and cleared his throat.

          “I’m sorry Brad, this whole thing just strikes me as silly.”  Jim explained. 

          “We insist that you stay Brad, please,” Claire said hopefully.  The only thing Brad could do was  smile.  He could lie and make promises that he never intended on keeping but the one thing Brad was positive about himself when everything else seemed so unclear, was that he never made a promise that he could not keep.  Brad closed his eyes and wondered if he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life, thus far.

          “Well, alright then, I accept graciously.  I do however, need to get home so that I can shower and change.  Though I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the two of you this afternoon.” Brad said as he stood up to leave.  He handed the small, silver and blue wrapped package to Claire.  She pushed it back towards him.

          “So I know that you will come back.  Also, it would mean the world if you came and celebrated with us today.”  Claire started. 

          “Brad, all of Brooke’s friends will be here.  It would be such a shame for you to miss it.” Claire coaxed in a soft, motherly voice he had a hard time resisting.  Brad nodded and then carried the package with him out the front door.  As Claire closed the heavy wooden door behind him, he couldn’t help but wonder who it meant more to for him to attend Brooke’s party, her parents or, he paused momentarily as he glanced up quickly at her bedroom window.  Or would it really mean something to Brooke if he did come?  He felt the butterflies swirling in his stomach as he climbed into his black, dual cab Dodge truck and started the engine.  For a few moments, he continued to stare up at her window with the pink curtains that had yellow polka dots on them, waiting for her to look out at him.  He recited a silent prayer in his mind for her to just please, please for a second see him.

          The ride for Brad back to the farm from the Townsend’s ranch was only a few miles but the drive itself seemed longer and more grueling to him today.  He kept glancing up in his rearview mirror hoping that she’d be behind him.  He closed his eyes for a moment and pictured her racing after him on her horse, leaning forward, letting go and giving it all she had to catch up with him.  Her long, blonde hair flowing over her shoulders as she chased after him. 

         
          It was nearly six o’ clock, and Brooke must have fallen asleep on her bed because she was awakened by laughing and doors opening and closing outside and downstairs.  She yawned and stretched her arms over her head.  She grabbed her wrap around bath towel and padded across her room to her bathroom deciding that a cool, refreshing shower was just what she needed to get her blood pumping.  She knew all of her friends were coming and she didn’t want to be the bum of the party when she was suppose to be the guest of honor at her mother’s gala.  She had to pep up and despite her mind reverting back to that afternoon and seeing Brad standing in the jewelry store talking and laughing with Amanda, she had to keep reminding herself that it was Brad’s loss for letting her slip through his fingers.

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After her shower she dressed in the spaghetti strapped, red dress with matching heels that her mother had purchased for her specifically for this night and until now, she had never worn anything like it.  She was more the jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.  Knowing how she felt about “dressy” clothes, her mom had made her promise that she would wear it at least for an hour to look like a lady.  She exited her room listening to the chatter and the cling and clang of silverware and glasses as she moved to the top of the staircase.  She could hear the clicking of her heels against the wooden floor and felt the brush of the soft dress’s material against her thighs as she moved cautiously to the edge of the staircase, oblivious to the mob that awaited her at the bottom.  She had intended on taking a deep breath and calming her nerves before she faced the crowd and graced her guests with her presence but when she reached the first step, it was as if everyone had gathered in the hallway to await her descent into the pits of party hell.  With sweaty palms, a racing heart and a nervous gaze, her eyes lifted from the floor she was certain would rebel against her heels at any point in time and send her careening down into the crowd.  As her eyes met those of her guests who had already arrived, the room fell silent.  Her heart beat even faster, her breath caught in her throat as she almost felt like a spotlight had been put on her.  All eyes were on her as her own eyes skimmed the crowd for a glimmer of hope for one Mr. Brad Stone.

CHAPTER THREE

 THOSE OLD FEELINGS

         

          “Sweetheart! It’s about time you joined the party,” her mom greeted her enthusiastically.  Brooke made it down the stairs one step at a time, trying not to slip on the ceramic tile and take a header into the crowd.  Of course, it might be like crowd surfing at a concert.  She didn’t know, though, she really couldn’t say for sure considering she had never been to one before.  She pushed the thoughts of, “never,” out of her mind, put on a big smile, and was suddenly overwhelmed with hugs, kisses and well wishes.  She grimaced as she wondered if this was what her graduation  was going to be like also. 

          She finally escaped the crowd, the speeches and the “all about Brooke” moments and had finally reached the sanctuary and fresh air of outside.  She was standing at the back of the house on the wrap around, white porch, leaning against the banister.  She looked out at the evening sky, taking in the glimmering stars overhead.  The wind was catching her hair and gently blowing it around her shoulders softly tossing her blonde tendrils about and making them dance in the soft breeze.  Without thinking, Brooke reached up and ran her fingers through her silky, thick mane and reveled in the softness of it against her fingertips.  Her hair was the one thing about herself that she loved.  She never really thought of herself as beautiful or model like.  More like, if anything, just pretty but only if she was standing in the right light.  Her thoughts and pity party were interrupted when she heard footsteps coming up behind her.  She put on her best smile, because after all, they were all there for her.  The barbecue hadn’t started yet and already she was tired of the crowd.  She stood upright and turned to face the approaching footsteps. 

          “Hi Brooke,”  Jeff Mills greeted her cheerfully.  He was this year’s football star for the school.  He had been hot on her trail since they were freshman, but she just never could picture herself with him.  That could have been because the only picture she could ever see clearly was that of Brad Stone, on the face of every guy she ever gave a second thought to.  That had always been a part of her problem with guys.  It wasn’t that she wasn’t desirable.  That was quite the contrary.  Men found her very desirable and attractive but she always made herself unavailable, in the way that she constantly compared every single man she came into contact with, to Brad Stone.  Were they chiseled and rugged, tall, muscular, did their smile make her go weak in the knees?  Did she long to feel their lips against hers, their arms wrapped around her body and feigning for their touch?  The answer to this was always no.  They just could not hold a candle to Brad or, despite how hard she tried to fight it, the way he always made her feel.  Despite this, she and Jeff were really good friends and he made a great study partner.  Plus, one of the benefits of spending most of her time with Jeff gave the illusion that they “might” just be a couple which kept most guys at bay and Jeff semi-happy that though he may not have Brooke’s heart, he at least had her time and attention which was more than he could say for the other guys.

          “Hey Jeff,” she greeted him warmly but lacked the normal enthusiasm as guest of honor.  She hugged him quickly, not wanting to be caught in his arms too long.  It might give him the wrong impression and she hated that she already gave him delusions and false hope as it was.

          “Sorry I’m late,” he apologized with a sly grin on his face.  She shook her head.

          “You heartbreaker, you,”  she teased and punched him gently on the shoulder.

          “Hey, I had to come here single.  You know, just in case your birthday wish was me,” he smiled and teased back, but she caught a hint of seriousness in his tone.  She wondered if he really thought that he could be her birthday wish or was it secretly his wish for her, for her birthday?  Her heart suddenly beat faster, she didn’t know why.  It just did.  Jenna cleared her throat quickly and gained her composure and playful demeanor.  Steadying her nerves, she found her voice enough to send Jeff inside.

          “Well everyone is in the horse, I mean house.  Go on in and make yourself at home,” she fumbled frantically for her words.  She could not figure out why she had, had a slip of the tongue.  She talked to Jeff all of the time and that had never happened before.  As odd as it was, she suddenly had the urge to get rid of Jeff just as quickly as she possibly could.  She couldn’t explain why because the truth was, she often enjoyed Jeff’s company and rarely tried to get rid of him.  It didn’t appear as though Jeff noticed her rush to get rid of him or if he did, he didn’t show it.  Instead, he smiled and chuckled.  “Horse huh?”  He teased.

          “I knew eventually, I would get to you,” he continued to tease her as he walked off.  Brooke realized that perhaps that is why he hadn’t been offended or hurt at her rush to get rid of him.  He thought she was trying to get rid of him before she lost control and threw herself at him.  The thought struck her as funny and she heard her own thoughts of “yeah, like that’s ever gonna happen” startling herself.  After he rounded the corner, she exhaled the breath she had been holding.  Why she had been holding her breath to begin with she really couldn‘t say.  Within seconds of her exhaling, she had the answer to her question of why.  The hairs on the back of her neck and arms stood straight out, not just up.  Chills ran up and down her spine and her heart beat faster.  So much faster in fact, that she had to grip the white railing tighter in order to hold herself upright. 

          “Happy birthday, Brooke,”  His voice was deep and seductive.  She knew it was him the second he had said happy.  The way he said her name left her entire body trembling.  She had yet to even make eye contact with him and already she was plagued by seizures of seduction and desire.  It was his voice.  That was what had made her heart race.  How sad was it that she could sense him, she thought to herself.  She swallowed hard and searched for her voice.  It was in there somewhere, she had just used it. 

          “Brad,”  she managed to choke out softly.  Her gaze halfway met his before she turned away quickly, unable to cope with his blue eyes staring into hers, practically into her soul.  To conceal her feelings for him was her main goal.  She didn’t want the pity of “poor love-struck Brooke” from him and she’d probably get it considering it was her birthday.  He moved towards her slowly.  She could hear every step his shoes made across the deck towards her.

          “I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.  Your parents invited me.  I really tried to drop off a gift for you, but you know your mom,” he rambled nervously in a poor attempt to explain his presence there to her.  In a nervous gesture, he rubbed his sweaty palms against the legs of his jeans.  Brooke watched this odd display.  This was not the Brad Stone she knew.  This was not Mr. Confidence himself.  This was not the boy who spoke his mind fearlessly and met three hundred pound linebackers head on.  This was not the same Brad Stone she had known before, the same one who looked fear straight in the eyes and laughed.  In her confusion, she arched a curious eyebrow at him.  She had never seen Brad so nervous, not even in any of the games he had played, not through public speeches or even on TV.,  never.  Afraid that Brad was about to drop the box in his hand and not knowing what was in it, concerned her.  She watched him jostling it back and forth between his hands as he continued to ramble as if it was the first time he was learning how to put together sentences.

          “I see you bought me a gift?”  Unable to make direct eye contact with him still, she continued to eye the small box in his hand, avoiding his heated gaze that she could literally feel burning through her creamy skin to her insides.  If it got any hotter between them, she was convinced that she was going to need sunscreen.  Brad ran his hand nervously and quickly through his hair.  What was wrong with him?  He chastised himself quietly.  He talked to girls all the time.  The problem was, this was not just any girl.  This was the girl.  This was Brooke Townsend and no matter how hard he tried, no longer could he look at her like she was nothing but knees and elbows.

          “Yeah, well, I figured since it was your birthday and all,” he tried to sound nonchalant about the box in his hand but failed miserably.  Amused by his nervous behavior and nearly forgetting her own “Brad Stone“ nerves, Brooke watched him sway back and forth and bounce from one foot to the other.  She couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to pass out from the swaying or miss-step and fall down from all the bouncing back and forth that he was doing.   Despite the amusement, a part of her felt kind of bad for the guy.  Though she didn’t want to, Brooke decided to give Brad what he clearly needed.  An out.  An out of the obligation to be there for her on her birthday.  She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and prepared to release him from what she interpreted to be pure obligation to her parents for his being there with her right then.

          “Brad, if you don’t want to be here, please don’t feel obligated.”  She kept her tone even but convincing that it was alright with her if he left.  Suddenly, the amusement was gone, her sympathy for him faded and it was all replaced with angst.  She couldn’t help wondering why a part of her was angry with him.  She felt her insides roll and wondered if her eyes had rolled as well.  Her mind wondered back to the past and the memories she had concealed for so many years, were dredged up in an instant.  She thought back to the festival when they had been kids.  It had been eight years since that particular night.  Could it really be possible that she was still holding a grudge from him embarrassing her at the popcorn stand?  She wondered silently.  Defending herself mentally, she gave special attention to the fact that he had, without a doubt, embarrassed her.  Badly.  Had she not been so head-over-heels in love with him, so infatuated, even at her young age she felt it.  He was the one, until he broke her heart that night at a popcorn stand, what seemed like a million years ago.  Brooke chided herself to let it go, they were practically grown now.  A sudden gust of wind tickled her soft, bare skin sending chills up and down her arms and legs and shaking her out of the mental asylum she had locked herself into as she scavenged through the memories of Brad and awakening the feelings of anger she had held onto for so long.  Brooke shook her head quickly as if shaking the memories out, freeing her mind for reality.  Not even aware she had, had her eyes closed until she opened them, she was relieved to hear the sound of her mothers footsteps as she  rounded the corner of the house where both she and Brad were standing.  The relief she had felt at the sound of her mother coming, hoping and praying for the interruption between the chance meeting of the two of them, bottomed out, much like her stomach had, when even her mother paused at the sight of her and Brad standing face to face.  Struggling to find the words in her moment of shock, Claire fought to regain her composure and erase the look of surprise from her face before it became apparent in her voice as well.

          “I’m sorry Brooke, I was just,”  Claire started to leave, not wanting to interrupt what she knew Brooke had practically waited a lifetime for but much to her surprise and chagrin,  Brooke rushed over to her, a little too quickly, in Claire‘s opinion as Brooke practically threw herself into her mothers arms.

          “Oh no Mom, it’s fine, really.  What’s up?”  Brooke rambled nervously.  Claire bit her lower lip to suppress the giggle that was fighting its way up her throat. 

          “We were going to start the barbecue.  I was just letting you know that your father was firing up the grill right now just in case you had changed your mind and decided that you wanted something else.” Claire told Brooke just before she gave her a push in Brad’s direction, and an encouraging smile as if to say, “Go for it girl!”  Brooke was horrified by her mother’s behavior.  She caught herself before falling into Brad’s near open arms.

          “Brad, has Brooke shown you the new horses that the two of your fathers conspired to buy the last week?”  Claire suddenly put in, startling Brooke.

   “No, really?” Brad acted surprised that he hadn’t heard about the new horses yet.

          “Oh yes, your father and Jim are going to break them at our arena, hopefully in time for the rider’s competition in a few months,” Claire informed him.

          “You should take Brad over Brooke and let him see what project he is going to be working on now that he is home for the better part of the summer,”  Claire suggested thoughtfully with a wide smile that literally spread from ear to ear. 

          “That would be great, Brooke!  Do you mind?  I mean, I know you have guests.  I promise we won’t stay long.”  Brad was both antsy and excited now to see the new horses.  Brooke shrugged.  It wasn’t that she was put out about showing Brad the horses, it was the fact that her mother wanted her to do it when her mom could have easily done it herself.  She was playing cupid like a turn of the mill matchmaker and Brooke didn’t like it.

          “Gosh mom, I think maybe daddy should be the one to show Brad.  Perhaps they wanted it to be a surprise.”  Brooke growled.  Despite her objections on having to take Brad to the barn, the fact that they’d be alone together and away from the security of others who could interrupt… Brooke stopped her thought process.  What in the world made her think anything but looking at horses would take place in the barn? 

Giving up on her objections that were clearly not being heard, she and Brad walked in silence to the barn where Brooke slid the red doors open.  She reached for the light, although there was enough moonlight to see.  Brad caught her hand midway as she was reaching for the light switch.  He pulled her towards him.  She felt the hardness of his chest against her breasts.  His chest heaved as he held her tightly against his body.  She wasn’t sure if it was his heart racing or his that she was feeling or hearing for that matter.  Suddenly, his face bent down towards hers.  His lips brushed hers gently at first.  The tip of his tongue began seeking her mouth as it slid tantalizingly across her lips, wetting them.  He parted her lips gently with the tip of his tongue as he coaxed her mouth open.  Brooke felt her body giving in.  Her lips parted as if they were the sea, unto his command and met his desirous force.  She longed for his kiss.  She ached to feel his hands sliding over her skin, the warmth of his body radiating through hers, covering her like a blanket.  Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed his kiss.  Brad pressed his lips softly against hers.  Brooke felt herself going limp in his arms.  His kiss enveloped her like a soft, warm cotton blanket.  She felt her heart leaping around and switching places with her stomach, and then her mind just turned off.  She couldn’t think, and she didn’t want to think.  His tongue found hers with desirous force.  Heat radiated between the two of them as their bodies pressed harder together.  His hand slid from her face, down her ribs and past her waist where it rested at the top of her thigh.  He yanked her leg up towards his hip, pressing her knee firmly against his body and practically lifting her off the ground as his tongue continued to explore the confines of her uninhibited, virginal mouth. 

          When the kiss ended and he drew his face away from hers they were both breathless as well as speechless.

          “I can’t tell you how long I have waited to kiss you,” Brad confessed as he leaned one strong, sturdy hand against the barn wall next to some bridles.  Brooke was still speechless.  She had yet to notice that she was still wrapped in one of his arms.  Unable to get full control of her thoughts or breathing, she could only nod her head in response.

         

“Horses,” she finally croaked out.  Brad frowned.

          “Okay, I’ll take that.  I have been a horse’s ass  for years.  A blind horse’s ass at that,” he agreed.  She shook her head.

          “No, no the horses, I came out here with you to show you the horses,”  she said.  That was what she had programmed into her mind.  They were in there to see the horses.  She led him down the walkway to the end of the barn.  There were four new horses in the end stalls.  Brad stared at them with admiration. 

          “Beautiful,” he whispered, still breathless from their kiss.  She nodded her head.

          “Yes they are,” she replied and leaned against the stall door as she watched the swish of their tails and stomp of their hooves against the dirt floor.

          “No, well yes, the horses are beautiful, but I was talking about you,” he said softly as he reached out to touch her soft face.  His fingers ached to touch her.  His body longed to feel her against it once more.  His insides burned with desire as he stared at her in her elegant dress.  He drank in the curve of her breasts, the shape of her waist and the length her legs.  He remembered the feel of her thigh pressed against his hip and the heat that raged between them.  He relived the heat that radiated from it as his body absorbed it like a sponge.  Brooke swallowed hard as she stared into his eyes.  It was the first time all night that she was able to make eye contact with him.  She felt her body reacting to his gaze.  Her nipples hardened, her lips became dry from her heavy breathing.  Without thinking, she slid her tongue over her lips wetting them.  His gaze followed the tip of her tongue as it slid over her soft, red lips.  His heart raced as he slid his fingers through her hair feeling its silky softness beneath his fingertips.  He moved towards her, drawing her nearer the taught, hardness of his body once again.  Her body pressed against his once more as his hands slid down her waist, stopping at her buttocks and lifting her small frame up to him, her lips meeting his.  He drank from her soul as her lips parted and her tongue desperately sought him out.  His mouth covered hers completely as he drank in her kiss, as if parched.  She had to be dreaming.   This was not real, she kept telling herself. 

          Their second kiss lasted only a few minutes but it felt as though she had been wrapped in his arms for an eternity.  It felt as if time had in fact, stood still and it had just been the two of them.  He sat her back down gently but even after her feet had touched the floor, Brad continued to hold her in place, his hands resting softly on her waist.  Brad moved towards her again closing the gap between them and sliding his fingers down her shoulder over her creamy, bare skin.

          “You look so beautiful in that dress.  I don’t think I have ever seen you in a dress before.”  Brad whispered as he leaned forward and kissed her neck softly, then followed her neck up to her jaw line then stopped letting his lips linger against hers for a moment before pulling away.  

          Brooke was speechless at this point.  He made her heart beat fast then slow. Then the second he looked at her again or touched her, her heart beat faster again.  It felt like it was going to explode right out of her chest.  Brooke felt the nervousness take over once again, despite their stolen moment together.

          “We better get back before people start to talk,”  Brooke said as she tugged Brad’s arm in the direction of the barn door.

          “Wait!” Brad objected breathlessly as he suddenly remembered the gift that he had brought to give to her for her birthday.  Brooke was in such a hurry she was trying to drag him by the arm out of the barn but Brad refused to be forced out of the barn and away from her before he could give her the box that he had been carrying around with him all day.  He tugged her gently, stopping them just before they had reached the barn doors and pulled her back towards him.  He wasn’t ready to let her go yet, even if there hadn’t been a gift in his pocket.

          “What?”  Brooke asked casting a suspicious glance towards the barn door.  Now, it was her turn to be antsy and nervous.  She desperately wanted to get back before “they” became the talk of the town or one of her parents came out and found them together.  It would look awfully suspicious.  Then again, her mother brought this upon them.  She tried to blame someone for the delay in their quick return to the house when it was only suppose to have taken a few minutes to look at the horses.

          “I have something… I want you to have  something special that I got for you today,”  He said as he stammered to find the right words.  It was Brooke’s turn to be antsy staring back at the door again.  She didn’t know what she was so worried about, just that she was worried.  Perhaps it was the thought of what she might do to him or with him if they were alone for much longer.

          “Okay,” she agreed.  She turned to face Brad, steadying herself for a moment, willing her feet to stand still and not turn to run for the door.  She watched Brad reach into his back pocket and pull out a beautifully wrapped, silver and blue package. 

          “This is for you,” Brad thrust the box at her with more force than he had intended to. 

          “S-sorry,” he stammered nervously again.  She fingered the paper feeling the silkiness of the wrapping paper beneath her fingertips.  It was smooth to her touch.

          “Well, open it,” he encouraged her.  She seemed hesitant at first.

          “I hope you like it,” he added.  She slipped the pretty silver ribbon off of the top then slid her finger gently beneath the wrapping paper.  Once the wrapping paper was off, she discovered that beneath it was a beautiful silver box.  She opened it and what was inside took her breath away.  She gasped and touched her chest.

          “Here, let me put it on you,”  Brad offered as he reached into the box and pulled out the very necklace that she had looked at earlier that week at Crane’s Jewelry store. 

          “How did you know?”  She asked as she let Brad slip the necklace around her neck.  She touched the cool necklace and felt it beneath her fingertips.

          “A little birdie told me,” he whispered into her ear.  He kissed her lips gently before taking her hand and leading her out of the barn.  Before they reached the house, he released her so that she could walk freely inside.  Brooke reached the wraparound porch first.  She placed her hand on the railing and cast a smoky gaze over her shoulder at Brad who had lingered behind her a few feet.  She could see him standing in the shadows of the trees that were blowing gently in the breeze.  He smiled and nodded at her and gingerly pointed towards the door.  Before Brooke couldn’t force herself to look at him.  Now, she couldn’t tear her gaze from him. 

“Happy birthday Brooke.”  Brad offered one more time.  She bit her lip nervously as she searched for something, anything to say to him.  He buried his hands into his pocket and watched her hand reach for the diamond pendant adorning her neck.  She turned and started to walk away but stopped.  She turned back around and met his gaze once again.

“Won’t you stay?”  Her voice, despite the pleading inside of her, was warm and steady in her invite.  His smile grew wider as he nodded. 

“Where is our guest of honor?”  She heard several people beyond the front door which she now had her hand on.  She took a deep breath and then readied herself to face the crowd.  When she looked behind her again, Brad was gone. 

          The party had been in full swing for well over two hours now.  She could hear voices coming from the backyard, mostly that of her dad and Bill talking very loudly and laughing while minding the grill.  As soon as the backdoor opened she could smell the fresh meat that her mother was carrying in from the backyard.  “Hot off the grill.”  Her mom handed her a plate as she walked into the house. 

         

“Your drink is on the bar in the kitchen, honey.  Why don’t you take Brad that way and get him one too,”  Claire suggested as she made her way through the house chatting with the guests as she went.  Brooke, surprised at the mention of Brad’s name because she thought that he had left, glanced behind her and couldn’t hide her pleased expression that he was still there.  He winked at her then parted from Brooke, giving her space and time to meet, greet and mingle with all of her guests.  He had, after all, kept her to himself for longer than she had intended and gave her up sooner than he had wanted to.  Brooke had seen her mom’s eyes dart to her neck but her expression did not change, her voice did not falter and her mission was the same as before; to keep the guests happy.

          Once in the kitchen, Brooke found it easier to breathe.  It was, ironically, the emptiest room in the house, despite the fact that it was a “food” related party.  She leaned against the bar as she sat her plate down and stared at the hamburger on it.  She waited for it to start talking to her and give her some advice, but instead, it just sat there like a bump, proving to be useless.  She reached down and started to pick it up, but the sound of her best girlfriend, Danica, stopped her.

          “Hey, birthday girl!”  She said and wrapped her arms affectionately around her friend’s waist.

          “Hey you!”  Brooke turned around to face her.  Brooke offered the barstool beside her to her friend.

          “So, where have you been all night?”  She asked.  Jenna smiled slyly and touched her neck.

          “Oh, I see, Dani said and stared at the shiny beauty hanging from her friend’s neck.  Brooke had met Danica in Kindergarten and had affectionately nicknamed her then.  It stuck.

          “Was that a gift from Jeff?”  Dani asked curiously.

          “You know that you are all he has talked about tonight.  He has told me a half a dozen times that he had to come here single just in case your birthday wish involved him in some way,” she said.  Brooke frowned.

          “No, this isn’t from Jeff,” she said as she touched the necklace again.  She still couldn’t believe who had given her the necklace.

          “So, why so secretive?”  Dani asked.

          “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,”  Brooke said.  Dani shrugged.

          “Well, it wasn’t like Brad Stone gave it to you.  That would be in your wildest dreams.  Right?”  She laughed out loud but stopped when she realized she was the only one laughing.  Her facial expression changed to shock.

          “No!”  She shrieked in excited disbelief.  Brooke giggled and beamed.

          “And a kiss to boot,” she whispered and clapped her hands then leaned back on the barstool letting her feet swing in front of her.  Dani started to open her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Stone.

          “Brooke sweetie, happy birthday! We hate to be party bums here but it is getting past our bedtime.  We are going to head home now,”  Virginia  leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

          “Yes sweet-pea, happy birthday!  We are so happy we could have been here to celebrate it with you.  This party was simply wonderful,”  Bill told her as he kissed her lightly on the opposite cheek than his wife had.  After they were out of the room, Dani couldn’t resist.

          “Well, I’m glad to see you are keeping it all in the family,” Brooke laughed and shook her head.

          “Shut up and eat!”  Brooke instructed her friend.  After her encounter with Jake in the barn, the gift that hung from around her neck and the dinner that filled her belly, Brooke felt more confident in the night.  Cheerfully, she spent the rest of the evening chatting it up with her friends and guests, moving from one room of the house to the other, outside on the porch, and ending back up in the kitchen once again.  Everywhere there were guests,  that is where Brooke found herself. 

          It was eleven thirty when the last of the guests left.  Brooke, exasperated and completely drained of energy, flopped down on the couch in the living room, completely exhausted.  Ironically enough, after a party of that magnitude, that had lasted that long, the house was extremely tidy.  Spotless to be exact.  Of course, she knew why. Her mom had gone behind everyone cleaning.  She can’t say that she blamed her.  Brooke was a lot like her mom in the way that she could not sleep in a dirty house or come home from vacation to a dirty house and therefore, would not be able to leave for vacation with a dirty house or laundry piled up.  Everything had to be neat and tidy. 

“A success if I may say so myself.  Not to brag or anything.”  Claire had ventured into the living room and now perched on the edge of the armrest belonging to the loveseat. 

“I’m so glad that you aren’t modest mom.”  Brooke teased.

“Brooke.”  Her dad chuckled.

“Well, I guess we are off to bed.  Long day tomorrow.  Starting to break in those new horses out in the barn.”  Her dad continued.  She couldn’t help but notice a curious, more than suspicious look he gave her when he mentioned the horses in the barn.

“I’m expecting Bill around six in the morning honey, likely Brad will be along with him, considering he’s who we’ve got hired on to break em’ for us old fellows.”  He teased and chuckled.  Brooke bit back her smile at the pure delight that overwhelmed her at the mention of Brad’s name and the fact that he’d be there tomorrow.  Likely all day so maybe she’d get to see him just once for  a few minutes at least.

“What are the odds that you’ll be coming down to the arena tomorrow honey?”  Her dad persisted as his gaze was fixated on her.  She could not imagine what was going through his head right then or what her mother had told her from her own wild imagination and the hopes that she and Brad would “run to each other and not from each other.”

“Oh I don’t really know daddy.  It’s hard to say.”  Jenna replied.

“We sure could use your help down there and you haven’t practiced in over a week for your events.”  He pointed out.  She frowned. 

“I’ve been busy with school daddy.”  She informed him defensively.

“Schools over girl.  Now’s the time to get your butt back in the saddle and quit your moping.  If you want a man and it’s not Brad Stone you’re after, Jeff Mills is quite the taker.”  He informed her.  He was met with two unsure gazes that both appeared to be curious as well as offended.

“Er, uh, I mean from a mans perspective.  That is.”  Jim threw in to try to recover but it was too late.

“Jeff Mills, Jim?  Are you serious?  Have you lost your mind?”  Claire all but shouted at him.  Brooke sighed.  She had seen her parents argue over who Brooke should date but Claire always won out with Brad Stone.

“Come on Claire, you favor the boy and are biased.  He’s practically our son for heavens sakes.”  Jim argued with her.

“He is of no sort! I did not bare that child.”  Claire informed him.  Brooke’s head bounced back and forth between her parents.  Her money was on her mom or she’d need to get off the couch so her dad could fix his bed for the night.

“For goodness sakes Claire, he’s dated every girl here and if Brooke hasn’t taken the bait then she needs to move on already.  Girl has better things to be doing than to be chasing after Brad Stone.  Besides the fact that his daddy told me he’s been spending an awful lot of time with Amanda Crane since he got home.  Spent the whole day up at her daddies shop yesterday and today.”  Jim announced to the room leaving Brooke and her mother speechless.

“Jim.  That’ll be enough.”  Claire warned him.  She laid her hand on his arm and stared at him.  Jim ran a swift hand through his thinning, sandy blonde hair that had strands of gray here and there.  He stared at Brooke.

“I’m sorry honey it’s just for the last, what eight or ten years or so, I’ve had to watch you pine over him and as soon as you could walk you were running after his shirttails.  I just don’t think its fair you selling yourself short like this.  You’ve got the potential to snare any husband you want.  Bachelor, cowboy, man on Wall Street.  Some banker, store owner, hell honey anyone you have your heart set on for that matter.”  Her father lectured her.   “Thanks daddy.“  Brooke tried to ignore what her father was saying.  He was right, as much as she hated to admit it.  She had wasted nearly eighteen years pining over a man and it just didn’t seem like things were going to happen for her.  Besides, what if he got what he wanted from her then left?  Then what?  She really would be losing it all to Brad Stone and gaining nothing in return but further heartache.  A lot of people have pipe dreams.  Dreams they set in their minds that before they die they’d like to accomplish.  Brooke had Brad dreams and dreams of being a famous writer or journalist.  She was going to go off to college, major in Ag and Business and dabble in journalism, maybe write for the school paper and get it out of her system, then she was going to come back home and run the ranch like her father had been training her to do since she was in her mothers womb.  Instead of fairytales, he read her “Horse and Rider” “The Rancher” and other “outdoorsy” things.  Her mother stuck more to Cosmo, Lawn and Garden and Betty Crocker books and magazines. 

“Go on to bed Jim.”  Claire turned him towards the stairs and gave him a gentle shove.  He turned and glanced back at Brooke and started to say something.

“Jim, please.  Before you make a bigger fool of yourself dabbling in affairs you know nothing about.”  Claire was fearless when it came to speaking her mind and protecting Brooke, even if it was from her dad who she knew loved her dearly and only had her best interests at heart but Claire had been matchmaking this romance for eighteen years and she’d be damned if she let some nosey ole, hot headed coot come along and mess things up.  Waiting until Jim had disappeared down the hall upstairs and the bedroom door closed, she slid down next to Brooke and pulled her closer to her small frame.  Brooke took after her mother in a lot of ways.  Her tiny 5’5 build, her long blonde hair and blue eyes, her calm demeanor and rational thinking, unless it came to Brad and clearly they were both irrational when it came to him. 

“He means well honey.  Don’t you listen to a thing he says.  He doesn’t know girls.  He knows ranching and being tough as shoe leather but I promise you, there was a time when your father was an old sap and romantic and from time to time, when he isn’t meddling, he still is.”  Claire kissed the top of Brooke’s head and stared down at her.  “You look just like I did when I was eighteen.”  She smiled and reveled in her most wonderful creation.  The miracle child.  The doctors had told her it would never happen.  Her body was not “friendly” when it came to pregnancy and it just wouldn’t take.  She wasn’t even trying when she found out she was pregnant with Brooke.  She was three months along before she found out and right then she changed her entire lifestyle in under a week.  She gave up horseback riding and competitions and ranching and kept to the house.  She hired a housekeeper to help her so that she wasn’t overworking and straining her body.  She didn’t drink an ounce of caffeine for nine months while she was pregnant and for a year after she had Brooke.  Her first cup of coffee in nearly two years was heaven sent.  After Brooke, there were no more and given the fact that she nearly died during child birth and Jim nearly lost them both, she had her tubes tied and that was the end.  They had both treasured Brooke from the second she was conceived.  Claire was quiet as her mind went wild with the memories. 

“Mom?”  Brooke said her name softly.

“Hmm?”  Claire zoned back in.

“Everything alright?”  She asked worried.

“Oh yes dear.  Everything is fine.”  Claire kissed her daughter once again then stood up.

“Just tired.  It’s been a very long, very trying day and I’m off to bed.  We have guests coming in the morning but you feel free to sleep in dear, not a thing for you to do except enjoy the summer.”  Claire stood up and headed for the stairs.

“Brooke, remember, with age comes wisdom and with time, you learn patience but it’s not just given.  You’re very stubborn, just like your father but very intelligent and mindful, just like me.  It’ll come to you dear and when it does, I know you’ll make the right decision and you’ll see everything will work out just fine.”  Her mother reassured her before walking up the stairs.

          “Oh and Brooke dear, are you going out or are you going to bed?”  Claire turned around on the staircase to face her.

          “Probably just going to bed soon,”  Brooke stated honestly.  She was really tired.

          “Well,  if  for  some  reason  you  do decide to go  out, that’ll be just fine.”  Claire informed Brooke as if she was thinking Brad was hiding in a closet somewhere in the house. 

          “Okay Mom,”  Brooke replied and giggled at her.  She was an adult now, for the most part.  She earned her keep working around the ranch.  It was something she had done since she was a kid.  She had always been determined to be independent and self-sufficient.  It wasn’t like she was mooching off of her parents or anything.  She made a point not to. 

          Once her mother had reached her bedroom, before she closed the door for the night, the lights dimmed throughout the house.  It was then that Brooke decided it was too nice of a night to waste what was left of her birthday and such a beautiful evening sitting around in the house, cooped up inside.  She pushed herself up off of the couch and made her way through the screen door and outside onto the porch.  She then opted for the porch swing.  The cool night air blew through her hair as she rocked gently back and forth, swaying in time with the gentle breeze.  She closed her eyes and let the fresh air envelope her in its warm whispers.  As she let herself go to the night, the madness of the day unfold.  Completely relaxed now, she inhaled and exhaled slowly.  She was swinging peacefully on the swing when she heard the sound of rustling in the distance.  She forced her eyes open as the sound drew closer.  She raised her head up and her gaze fell on a familiar shadow that was creeping across the lawn.  She watched as it stopped just short of the porch steps.

          “Hello Bradley,” Brooke surprised herself when her voice came out in a regular, controlled tone.

          “Oh, you knew it was me,” he seemed surprised that she had seen him.  She gathered his was more from him being caught rather than her ability to speak to him now without stammering.

          “Well, fortunately for you, I knew that it was you, otherwise, this would be considered trespassing,”  she teased him and followed it with a bold smile.

          “You seem more laid back now,” he observed as he walked up the porch steps.  She shrugged.

          “I guess.  Maybe I am,” she watched him linger next to the porch banister.  He continued to stare at her with those daunting, blue eyes.

          “So, graduating in a week, that must be exciting for you,” he commented as he sat down beside her.  Charlottesville was different than any other place she knew of.  Just because the last day of school was one day didn’t mean you were graduating the next.  They usually waited a week or so. That way families that lived out of town could come and visit and take part in the celebration. 

          “Yeah,  I guess it is exciting,”  Brooke replied.  Brad moved closer towards her.

          “Would you like to sit down?”  She gestured to the spot next to her.  She had begun to feel bad for the poor guy inching more towards her waiting for the offer.  She took pity on him and offered since he clearly didn‘t want to accept the out that she had generously given him earlier.

          “Thanks,” he appeared relieved and apparently gracious as he hurried to sit beside her.  Hurried was an understatement as he practically sprinted then vaulted onto the deck.  Once on the deck, he then made a mad dash over to the swing which tilted forward with his weight.  After he sat backwards, the swing straightened back out bobbing them both up and down then it began rocking gently again.  He planted his Nike clad feet firmly to the deck and gave one good, hard push off.

          “So, great party,” he couldn’t take the silence between them any longer and decided to fill it with something.  Anything to start a conversation.  She sat silently just enjoying the night.  After a thoughtful moment, she replied.

          “Yes, yes it was.  It was a great birthday!”  She said it with genuine enthusiasm and a huge smile as she reminisced and let her mind wander through the nights events.  Brad turned half sideways on the seat so he could look at her, drinking in more of her beauty as he did.  He reveled in the way that her creamy skin glowed in the moonlight and her eyes sparkled as if she were in fact, the keeper of the stars.  She was oblivious to Brad’s eyes on her and even more oblivious to his thoughts, which were all captivated on her.  Her mind was lost to the intimate encounter she had with him in the barn.  She just couldn’t forget his touch.  The way his fingertips burned her skin and her nipples hardened to the point of being painful.  She couldn’t forget the taste of his kiss or the way his soft lips felt as they pressed into hers.  Her mouth could still feel the way his tongue tasted of a light mint.  She reveled in the way that it felt to be in his arms and the way that it felt for his hand to slide over her thigh then yank it tightly against him, holding it against his hip.  She felt her bodies yearning and could physically taste the desire she had for him flooding her senses.  She pulled her arms around her body, despite the warm air, she had chills and her nipples had inadvertently hardened once again.

“Am I keeping you up Brooke?”  Brad touched her arm tenderly.  She snapped back to reality so quickly she was convinced she may have suffered mental whiplash.  She blinked a few times to focus her eyes.

          “No.  Not at all.  I’m glad that you came,” she finally replied after a few minutes.  She turned her body towards him.  He stared at her taking in her blue eyes and long, oval-shaped face.  Her skin was a creamy shade of ivory and glowed constantly.  Her cheeks were set slightly high and naturally lightly blushed.  They were just beneath her perfectly spaced, blue eyes that always sparkled. His gaze lingered on her kind mouth before moving on.  She had small ears, but then again, she was a very small girl with a tiny, petite figure.  He was thankful she had grown out of the chicken legs and into straight up to her ass model legs.

          “So, what’s in the future for Brooke Townsend?”  Brad asked curiously as he nonchalantly stretched his arm out before putting it on the back of the swing.  She shrugged.

          “I don’t know, I have offers from New York for the modeling school there.  I also have offers from colleges here and there for the journalism course I am interested in. I could just major in agriculture and come back here and teach until my dad wants me to take over the ranch,”  she reviewed her several educational and career options for him.  Brad nodded his head.

          “Yeah, I like that idea,”  he said.  She frowned.

          “Which one?  There were lots of them,”  she giggled, slightly amused.  He reached up and touched her cheek gently and slid his thumb down to her chin brushing it softly then used it to draw her slowly towards him. 

          “The one where you stay here,” he whispered softly as he leaned forward.  She met his kiss.  Brad moved his hands to cup her face.  Despite their tongues parting, his lips continued to linger against hers.  She pulled back from him eventually separating their embrace.  She had never kissed anyone this much or this often.  Let’s face it, until Brad, she had never kissed anyone before.  It was Brad who had her heart right from the start.  Now that he was showing interest in her so suddenly and out of the blue, she had to question why?

          “Brad, what is going on with you?”  She asked curiously.  He frowned uncomfortably at the idea that she was questioning his intentions.

          “What do you mean?”  He asked as he stared at her blankly, apparently genuinely confused.  He thought he had made it clear.  He thought that she understood what his intentions were or at least as far as his feelings were concerned when he had kissed her in the barn.  How could she have not felt the sparks and passion between them and had the necklace meant nothing to her?  He put a diamond on her after all.  That should have meant something to her.  He remained silent and pondered the meaning behind what she was asking.  Had he misread her body language?  Was he wrong?  Had she not felt anything for him?  This was Brooke Townsend, the girl that never dated anyone, always kept to herself but could she be a bad girl underneath her good girl façade?  Had she thrown herself at every man in town and no one talked about it?  He had a thousand questions and only so much mind to answer them and everything in him said that she had feelings for him.  The kiss they shared in the barn was not just any kiss.  He had, had many a “just a kiss” encounters.  Brooke Townsend was not one of those, not for him at least.  Brooke waited for him to give her something but he continued to remain silent.

          “I mean, think about it Brad, I’ve known you for eighteen years practically.  I went to school with you for most of those, and now, after living next to each other our whole lives, seeing each other every day, now, today, on my eighteenth birthday, you show interest.  It’s just a little confusing that’s all,”  she explained her confusion.  After listening to her explanation, it did seem a bit far fetched that he’d suddenly show interest in her.  The only problem was, this really wasn’t a sudden thing.  He had always been interested in her.  She just never let him in and refused to see it. Brad nodded his head in understanding.  It was hard to dispute what she was feeling.  Not with the points that she had made.  They had after all, like she had so eloquently pointed out, spent the last eighteen years sending each other mixed signals but at the same time, he had given her every part of his soul in the barn.  He melted into her with his kiss, felt her body come alive beneath his touch and felt the heat transferring between them.  He had not imagined the attraction between them.  Granted, the passion between them had not reached the highest peaks and exploded to the point that she was ready to throw him on top of the bails of hay and tear his clothes away.  Though, he wouldn’t have objected and he thoroughly enjoyed the feel of her silky lingerie against his hand as the palm of his hand had engulfed her soft, tight buttocks.  He felt a tightening in his jeans and quickly tried to get control of his thoughts that were running rampant.  He cleared his throat.

          “Brooke, the truth is, I’ve noticed you every single day since we were just kids.  I’ve noticed you since you were nothing but knees and elbows.  I cant say that when you were knees and elbows that I was sexually attracted to you or even head over heels in love with you but I did notice you.  It’s just that I was under the distinct impression that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me,”  he explained.  Brooke frowned.  How could this be her fault?

          “What would give you that idea?”  Now it was her turn to be confused.  Brad had tried to tap dance around this subject and had hoped to avoid the topic of who is to blame who, altogether but it seemed like Brooke was not going to let this go easily.  It was just like her to be stubborn.  Just like her father.  Brad took a long draw of breath and exhaled slowly as he gathered his wits and his thoughts.  He could quite possibly be going down the road to end all things with Brooke, including a friendship, at this point.  He tried to choose his next words very carefully.

          “The fact is that you are usually so cold to me.  You are kind to my parents, but the looks you always gave me, were as if they were saying, “I hate you!  Stay away from me! Never speak to me!”  He told her.  She frowned and sighed.  That was not what she had meant to exhibit at all.  Her disdain was for the girls that he chased, not for him directly but more for his taste in women and the fact that he seemed to have his eyes on everyone but her, and it burned her to the core and broke her heart especially when her eyes could only ever see him.  Brooke was quiet as he spoke.  She was usually quick to defend herself but she knew he was right.  She knew what she had been feeling when she had looked at him and then looked at girls like Amanda Crane, hanging off his arm and on his every word.  This was the moment that Brooke would have to come to terms with the past and the fact that Bradley Stone had in fact, broken her heart, though it seemed silly now and for years she had convinced herself that she was just too strong for that to have happened.

“What is it Brooke?  What is it that you don’t like about me?  I mean, I just don’t understand why every other girl falls all over themselves for me and you cant seem to stand the sight of me.”  Brad leaned back, away from her as he took in her body language.  She had tensed immensely then all at once, her body just slumped forward as if in defeat.  She propped her elbows up on her toned thighs and sat her chin in her palms.  He dropped one foot back to the ground and continued to rock them gently, not wanting to knock her from the swing, given the fact that she was now leaning forward and Brooke was known for her bouts of clumsiness.

“That’s just it Brad! I’m not like every other girl.”  She snapped defensively at him.

“I wasn’t trying to say that you are.”  He tried to defend himself.

“You just did!”  She pointed an accusing finger at him.  Brad frowned.

“That’s really not what I was trying to say.  I was just trying to ask what it is that you don’t see in me that every other girl does.”  He tried to point out the innocence behind his comment but failed again.

“There you go again Brad.  With your “like every other girl“ crap.”  She shook her head. 

“Brooke wait.”  He caught her arm as she prepared to stand up.

“No Bradley Mason Stone.  I’ve spent eighteen years waiting on you and I’m finished.”  She practically leapt up off of the seat.  He was shocked momentarily that she knew his middle name.  Few people knew it.

“Brooke please.”  He begged.  He slid from the swing to his knees, his hands folded in front of his chest in a pleading gesture.  It was one of desperocity and not an act he had thought completely through before doing.  Brooke froze in her tracks and stared at him shocked.  She glanced around quickly as if afraid someone might see him.

“What in the hell are you doing?”  She cocked her head to the side curiously.  She tried to hide the amusement from her voice and shield it from her expression.

“I’m-”  Brad glanced down at himself and then back up at her.  He shrugged helplessly.

“I’m begging you not to leave me Brooke.” 

“Leave you?  I’m not with you Brad and you’re going back to school soon anyways.  My mom said earlier you were only here for the “better part of the summer.”  She quoted her mother, raising her fingers in the air and then dropping her hands back down by her side.

“Stop Brooke.  Just stop damn it.  Now I have chased you long enough and chased is the operative word here because you in fact have been doing all the running.  Stop running away Brooke.”  He begged.  She stared curiously at him.  She tried to will her feet to take her into the house and to leave him on his knees begging but she just couldn’t do it.  As a matter of fact, it was almost like he had turned into a magnet because she was being drawn back towards him.  He watched her move slowly towards him.  He stayed right where he was, afraid that if he made one wrong move she’d turn and run. The fact of the matter was, he really should be at home sleeping considering the long day he had ahead of him with only the hope of about four or so hours of sleep if he left within the next few minutes but he had left without telling her how he truly felt too many times before and he just didn’t want to leave it that way again.  Brooke sat back down on the swing and focused her attention on him, still on both knees, though his hands were no longer pleading but holding onto the side of the swing so that it didn’t bolt off with her and pitch her to the ground.  She had, had a fairly wild experience with Mary May-Weather, a new mare two weeks ago and she had been struggling with a pain in her tailbone and not wanting to get back on her again.  It wasn’t her first time being bucked off but her mind hadn’t been on the new mare, it had been on Brad and she had promised herself until she could get her mind right, she wasn’t going to ride again.  She could get herself hurt or killed or worse, someone else or even one of the horses. 

“I see you Brad.  How can I not see you?”  Brooke started speaking softly.  He still remained on the ground at her feet. 

“I see you with every other girl in town.  I saw you in Crane’s Jewelry store on my home from school yesterday.  From the looks of things, you and Amanda were awfully cozy and from where I was sitting, it looked like you two were trying to patch things up and rekindle the fires of your past.”  Brooke continued.  Brad bit his lower lip.  He didn’t want to admit that he had to finesse Amanda to find out what necklace Brooke had been looking at with her mom.  Amanda had made it seem petty and miniscule and had made it clear that she preferred much larger, more expensive stones.  She had led him across the store, away from the necklace to look at things she wanted that she assured him her daddy would give him a very, very steep discount on, especially if he knew it was for his little girl.  Brad had, had to leave to meet some friends but had assured Amanda he’d be back for a necklace.  It was a birthday present for someone special but when he returned two hours later, Amanda was gone and her dad was there.  They had, had a long discussion and had both agreed that there was no future between him or Amanda and that she was busy “sampling” life.  Brad remembered the grimace on the old mans face when he put his daughters lifestyle into perspective for him.  He had made some suggestions about other girls in town but lingered on Brooke for a long time.  He had pointed out several things she had looked at over the last couple of years as she had been in and out of the store.  Some of the things he had replaced, some of the things were rare and gone but he had put something away that he knew Brooke fancied.  Oddly, it was something that he had looked at for her years ago and thought he was being silly but the thought never left his mind.  Honestly, the thought had crossed his mind everyday for several years now but then, on top of thinking he was being silly, he couldn’t afford anything like it, no matter how much he wanted to buy it for her.

“Brooke you don’t understand.”  Brad shook his head.

“I understand Brad.  You were too busy dating and partying and living it up.  You had to have the most beautiful girl in town on your arm or you wouldn’t have been the same Brad Stone.”  Brooke almost spat the words at him.

“You’re right Brooke.”  Brad’s tone had turned harsh and icy, drawing her attention up to him.  He had moved to sit next to her on the swing once again and she hadn’t even noticed until now.

“You’re exactly right.  I had to have the most beautiful girl on my arm.  I desired more than anything to have the most beautiful, breathtaking, absolutely gorgeous girl in town, or anywhere for that matter, on my arm.”  He informed her.

“And you wondered why I didn’t fall all over myself for you.  Why the hell would I have bothered?  I knew I didn’t meet those standards and with each girl you dated, especially leggy, model Amanda Crane, you proved it.”  She shook her head at him, completely disgusted with where this conversation had even gone to.   She had never felt worse about herself or inadequate.

“Well, Brooke, had you fallen all over yourself to get to me like I did to get to you, then you’d have known why the hell it was worth the bother and then, I wouldn’t have been denied the privilege or the honor of having the most beautiful girl in town or anywhere, on my arm and instead of those other girls hanging on my every word and my arm and falling into my bed, I would have been hanging on yours and it would have been all about you, much like I have always tried to make it Brooke.  You just never noticed because you were always too busy running the other way.”  Brad pointed out.  Brooke couldn’t keep going back and forth like this.  She’d just tell him the truth and get it over with and then go to bed and forget this conversation, this night and that Bradley Stone had ever existed.

          “Look, I guess I never really got over you embarrassing me at the popcorn stand at the festival when I was ten.  That was the day I realized, before you embarrassed me so, that I was in love with you.  I didn’t think of you as gangly or unattractive because you were so tall at such a young age.  I loved you just the same,” she confessed and blushed at her open and honest confession.  She had decided to tell him the truth but as she spoke the truth, she never realized it was that in depth and that’s the sad part, it was her truth and a shocking realization at the same time.  Clearly, for everyone. 

          “And then you broke my heart,” she added softly as she stared at the concrete porch, unable to meet his gaze once again.  How pathetic did he think she was now?  Pining for someone she never thought even knew she existed and yet, she was unable to move on or see past him.  Brad was completely speechless.  All these years he had been blaming her and trying to show her what she was missing by dating one girl after another and here it was, he was the one that had broken her heart and he was the one missing out.  Not the other way around.  This was his fault.  He had been such a jerk to her and he really had no explanation for it other than he was just trying to be macho.  He had, had a complex because he was already so tall and everyone made fun of him.  He couldn’t stand the idea of Brooke thinking badly of him because-  He paused.  Because he loved her.  It wasn’t a matter of attraction, it was a matter of hearts desire but he was thirteen and had no idea that’s what was going on, just that he cared for her and didn’t want her thinking he was unattractive or not wanting to have anything to do with him.  He tried to rationalize things in his head.  He had.  He was an idiot.  Brad was the one that had the defeated expression now.  It made perfect sense to him why she ran the other way and despised him for being with other women.  He was trying to show her what she was missing, all the while, she knew.  But after the way he treated her- oh hell.  He thought to himself.  He took her hands in his.  Despite the chill in the early morning air, she was surprisingly warm.  He could hold her tiny hands in his and never let them go, they seemed to fit just perfectly into his bear claws.

          “I’m sorry for that Brooke.”  He apologized. I was just a kid, and I had no idea what love was then, and I for sure didn’t know how you felt  about me then or now for that matter.”  He explained.  She frowned at the last part of his sentence.  Well, until now that is,” he pointed out.  She blushed again.  She had really let the cat out of the bag with that one.  She tried to recover quickly.

“Don’t think too much of it Brad.  I was just a kid.  It could have just been puppy love and perhaps, I hold grudges.”  She tried to sound convincing.  Brad stared at her curiously.

“Really?”  He tried to conceal the chuckle that threatened to emerge.

“Yes.”  She nodded her head in agreement

“Puppy love huh?”  Brad leaned back and touched his semi-long chin thoughtfully.

“Yes.  Puppy love.  You’ve heard of it right?”  She replied.

“Oh yes, indeed I have.”  He nodded and left his finger thoughtfully on his chin.

“Then why are you staring at me in disbelief?”  She questioned.

“For the obvious reason Brooke.  Disbelief.”  He replied.

“What cause have you got to disbelieve me in the fact that it was puppy love?”  She asked confused.  She thought she had sounded very convincing.

“Puppy love for ten years?  Nearly eighteen for that matter.”  He pointed out, again making her blush. That could explain the warmth of her body despite the chill of the air outside.  She remained silent for a moment.

“I hold grudges.”  She told him abruptly.  He chuckled.

“You don’t say?”  He kissed her hands tenderly and continued to hold them.

“Yes.  Apparently for years.”  She informed him.

“Mmm, yes.  Well.  I believe that it was a justifiable begrudging.”  He chuckled at his own joke.

“Brooke, stop trying to convince yourself that I don’t-”  He paused.

“You don’t what?”  She paused and waited.

“That I don’t believe you hold grudges.  I do believe you.  Clearly.”  He recovered before slipping.  Brooke shook it off and rolled her eyes at his comment.

“As I was saying.”  She started again.

          “After that, I wondered what kind of person you were.  I tucked my feelings away and kept them hidden.  I watched you date girl after girl and I came to the conclusion I just wasn’t your type or the girl for you and after that I just kept telling myself, just graduate and leave, graduate and leave  and now that I am ready to graduate and leave, here you are,”  she threw her arms in the air, frustrated at what had unraveled.  Brad shrugged and gave her his best, innocent suave smile.

          “Bad timing,” he joked.  She smiled, despite her irritation with him.

          “The worst,” she agreed.  Unwilling to give up this argument or give in she continued to be standoffish and uncertain.

          “Besides, why would it matter if I stayed here or not?  You’ve got college and I‘ve already made plans to leave.  We lead separate lives and I don’t want a summer romance.”  Brooke leaned back against the swing and folded her arms over her chest.  Brad sighed.  He had been keeping a secret.  Not just about the way that he truly felt for her but the time was just not right to tell her.  He knew she was angry with him and confused.  He didn’t blame her.  Hell, at this point  he was angry with himself and confused about why she had only had eyes for him for so long after the way he had treated her and made her feel and then after seeing him with girl after girl, its like she had given up hope on never giving up hope.

          “Earlier you quoted your mom about me being here for the better part of the summer.  She’s right Brooke, I am here for the better part of the summer.  The only thing is, her meaning and my meaning have two very different meanings.“  Brad frowned at the odd way he had put that.  “She’s talking about Summer itself and the length of it.  I am talking about you.  You’re the better part of my Summer.  Without you Brooke, I’ve come to realize I have nothing else.“  He could not have been more sincere if he tried.  He gave her everything in that statement without giving it all away too soon.  It just wasn’t the right time to tell her.

          “And then what Brad?  After your “better part of the Summer” with me, then what?  You leave me and you run off to college and expect me to just be here waiting on you or do I get more fond memories to tide me over for another ten years until you decide I can be the better part of something else for you?  The better part of your Summer is here and the better part of the rest of your life is out there.“  She waved a frustrated hand towards the darkness of the trees that loomed next to the barn.  “It’s football and Carolina State and all the little panting sluts you left behind there to come home.  Why did you come home Brad!“  Brooke was suddenly angry and accusing.  She was also very overrun with fear, dread and confusion.  Brad turned his head away quickly to hide the pain in his eyes and the moisture that was accumulating quickly from them.  She hadn’t meant to be so harsh.  She felt a twinge of guilt as she stared at the back of his dark head of hair.  When he was a kid, it was blonde but as he had aged, it had grown out much darker.  She felt her stomach drop as she watched his shoulders shrug up and down and heard a soft sniffle.  She touched his arm gently.

          “Brad.” She called his name hopeful that he’d turn around and face her.  It was a slow process but he finally angled himself partially in the seat towards her.  She looked at him, willing him to open up to her.  Even if she didn’t know what kind of relationship she wanted with him, she knew 100% without a doubt that she wanted to be his friend at least. 

          “I’m hurt Brooke,” he tried to say it calmly but instead he said it angrily, startling her.  She had chills again but not for longing but for something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on right then.  For the first time since she had known him, she saw emotion; real emotion: anger, pain, fear, angst.  She saw all of it  right there in his eyes, face and body language.  The man she was convinced could never be broken was sitting on her porch swing and was shattered into a million pieces.  He was barely hanging on with the glue that was beginning to lose its grip.   

          “I’m sorry Brad,” she said it softly.  She leaned backwards once again, despite her urge to reach out and comfort him, she didn’t touch  him.  She  kept her hands to herself.  She didn’t know if he wanted to be touched or not.  If she was feeling that way, she wouldn’t want to be touched.  Brad remained quiet.  He had leaned his head back against the chain that hung from the ceiling over the deck and he had his eyes closed.  He looked so peaceful but his jaw was solid and she could see the lines of frustration apparent on his face.

          “So now what?”  She asked him.  He shrugged.  This was becoming an ongoing response from him.

          “Well, I have to find the heart to tell my parents for one,”  He sounded remorseful.  Bill had such high hopes for Brad.  His only son, his only child for that matter.  He had been so proud.  He was one of Brad’s biggest fans and supporters.  One of his favorite things to talk about was Brad and the way he had made his way to the top of the sports world.  Bill had been telling everyone for the past year that Brad was going to make it into the NFL Draft.  Brooke felt twinges of dread for Brad.  She could almost see the disappointment spread on Bill’s long, lean face.

          “You are going to lose your scholarships,”  Brooke pointed out the obvious.

          “Brooke, I already lost my scholarships.  No pro teams are going to pick me up now.  I tore my ACL, I had surgery on it.  It was hell keeping that out of the papers.  I tore up my knee and my shoulder.  Although the shoulder and the knee will heal with time, the doctors said that any kind of excess trauma by blunt force or otherwise will land me back in the hospital.  So, basically, I am a working man now.  Good thing I paid attention to farming because it looks like that is what I am going to be doing for the “better part of my life“ he used his fingers to make air quotations for emphasis.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with farming or ranching or making a life of it Brad.  Our dads have made a lifestyle out of it and they’re successful! They live their dream doing this.”  Brooke was going for the reassurance angle.  Instead she apparently insulted him. 

“I’m not my father! When is everyone going to wake up and realize that shit! This is his dream! Not mine!  Anyone can swing a pitchfork or ride a damn horse!  Not everyone can play football! That was my dream Brooke!”  He didn’t give Brooke a chance to react or say a word before he practically leapt to his feet from the swing.  Brooke held on as the swing bobbed up and down.  Unsure of what had just happened, without another word, she watched him storm off her porch and out into the darkness of the night. 

CHAPTER FOUR

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

Six o’clock AM came entirely too early for Brad who had collapsed down into bed at about five.  He felt like he had been the clown in a barrel at a rodeo that had been horned and tossed around.  He groaned as he stared at the blue illuminated lights on the alarm clock that was beeping loudly at him.

“Oh shut up.”  He growled as he slammed his hand heavily down on the top of it to turn it off.  Outside he could hear the roosters crowing and the knock of the cows bumping against the stalls near the barn.  He listened to the whinny of the horses and that’s when he remembered, he was due at the Townsend’s ranch that morning to start working on their new horses.  He closed his eyes as he tried to picture the four new horses he had seen in their barn the night before.  His heart sped up as he his memories struck a cord remembering the barn. 

“Brooke.”  He whispered her name and then opened his eyes to find his mother standing in his doorway staring at with an inquisitive expression on her face.

“Morning mom.”  Brad stretched his arms over his head and moaned loudly, satisfied as his muscles stretched. 

“Good morning son.  It’s nice to wake up and see your face here in the morning again.”  She walked into his room, wiping her hands on the blue, cloth dish towel.  She sat down on the edge of his bed and stared around his room.

“You came in late.”  She started.  He didn’t reply.

“Or was that early?”  She tried to joke but he remained silent and gave a weak smile.  She frowned.

“Something wrong?”  She asked worried.  He shrugged and sat up, leaning his bare, muscular back against his headboard.

“You’ve always been able to talk to me about anything Bradley.”  She reminded him.  He still remained silent.

“Brad, you’re gonna have to get your head on straight.  You’ve got an important and dangerous job to do today.  Those horses aren’t going to care what you have going on in your life and if you aren’t focused-”  She stopped.  She couldn’t bare the thought of something happening to him. 

“I got this mom.  I just made an ass of myself last night, that’s all.”  Brad tried to reassure her.

“How?  Brooke seemed very pleased when your dad and I left.”  She seemed puzzled by his statement.

“Yeah and I went back after the party was over.”  He informed her hotly.  Her expression remained optimistic as she looked at him.

“And?”  She pressed.

“And I said some things I shouldn’t have.”  He told her. 

“Brad, telling a girl that you’ve been in love with practically your whole life is not making an ass out of yourself.”  She tried to be reassuring and supportive.

“That’s just it mom.  I couldn’t tell her.  Instead, I unloaded my-”  He stopped before he told her what he just didn’t want to. 

“Brad-”  She started.

“Get up son, we gotta get moving.  Got a lot to do today.  Plus you gotta stay in shape boy.”  He chuckled and threw a black, Stetson in Brad’s direction.

“Leave the Nikes here would ya- you do remember how to wear boots and spurs right?”  Bill continued to joke with his son as he laughed cheerfully all the way down the stairs.  Brad had turned his head to look out his bedroom window.  It was pointless because there was a navy blue curtain hanging over it, concealing the inside from the outside.

“Bradley.”  His mother touched his arm gently.  He met her gaze.  There was so much pain behind his eyes that it nearly broke her heart.

“Now’s the time Bradley.  If you’ve got something”

“I’m hurt mom.”  He practically whispered it.

“Physically or-”

“Yes.  Football.”  He told her.  She nodded her head knowingly.  He stared at her as if waiting for advice or something.  Anything.

“I knew.”  She told him softly.  His expression changed from hurt to shocked.

“What?”  He gasped.

“The school and the hospital sent letters.  I read them then shredded them to keep your father from finding them.”  She told him.  Brad chuckled through the pain. 

“You’re kidding.”  He leaned his head back against the wall and laughed again. 

“No.”  She shook her head. 

“Thanks mom.”  He said it softly again.  She nodded her head and smiled.

“Well what are moms for?”  She smiled again then patted his arm.

“Breakfast is on the table.  Lets get you going before your daddy comes up here hollering instead of chuckling.”  She smiled and walked to the door.  She turned back around to face him.

“It’ll be okay Brad.  It always works out in the end.
Brooke had been sleeping so peacefully until the screams started.  She sat straight up in bed and turned her head frantically from side to side as she tried to figure out where the screams were coming from.  Was she dreaming?  She pinched her arm and it hurt.  She let out a yelp.  She heard the screams again and leapt from her bed.  She was wearing a tiny, pink, spaghetti strapped shirt and little white shorts with pink hearts on them.  She grabbed a pair of purple boots that were close by her bed and stuffed her feet into them.  She ran for her bedroom window and frantically shoved it upwards to open it.  There was no time to use the front door.  She scraped her arms and legs on the tree bark as she used the large oak that was outside of her bedroom window to shimmy down to the ground.  She dropped the last few feet down.  Her feet stung from the pain of landing and she thought maybe she had hurt her ankle.  She could hear frantic chatter in the distance and then the screams started again, growing louder as she ran towards them.  Fear consumed her every thought as adrenaline fueled her movement.  Brooke ran frantically in the direction of the barn, following the howls of pain and loud voices shouting. 

“Brad!”  She heard Bill yelling.  Her heart raced as she sprinted faster.  She slipped in the mud, sliding hands first across it.  The gravel dug into her bare knees and ripped her skin as she scrambled to get back to her feet.  Her boots slid as she tried to gain traction.  She steadied herself and ran faster as she followed the growing screams of agony.  She had heard screaming like this on horror movies when someone was being brutally murdered or tortured.  Her imagination ran wild as she fought to keep the worst out but it only opened the door for the horrific thoughts that consumed her.  It was a mixture of Brad, her father and Bill yelling at the tops of their lungs.  She reached the barn and threw open the doors only to find it dark, empty and smelling of new hay.  She turned, leaving the doors open and ran towards the field.  She was nearly to the opening when she heard the screams again.  Bill was screaming Brad’s name.  Frantically, Brooke looked around.  Her eyes fell on the arena where the dust was just beginning to settle.  She sprinted in that direction.   The closer she got, the stronger the smell of blood was and the louder the screams were.

 

Country Heels, The Full Novel- Releasing Soon! Will be available on smashwords.com (distributes to all ereaders) ) and amazon.com (kindle)