Simple Beginnings

by Janelle Stalder

  Ella just shook her head, going back to shovelling. “You know, I don’t think we really managed to get ourselves out of as much trouble as we’d like to think we did. From what I can remember, we were both grounded more than not.”

  I laughed. “That’s true. Although considering how much mischief we managed to get into, the ratio is still in our favour.”

  “Maybe,” she conceded, looking up with a smile. “Remember that time we found Ms. Jansen’s laundry hung up on her line, and took all her underwear away and then put them on Mr. Blocksome’s ducks?”

  A bark of laugh escaped me before I knew it. “That was probably one of our best pranks.”

  She giggled. “Yeah. Except poor Ms. Jansen had to buy all new underwear and forever gave us the crappy candy on Halloween.”

  “Ugh, those awful taffy things. I hated those.”

  “Everyone hates those, that’s why she gave them to us. I still don’t know how she knew it was us anyway. It could have been anyone.”

  We both looked up at each other for a moment before breaking out into laughter.

  “Yeah …maybe not,” she said through her laugh. God I loved that sound. It had been way too long since I’d heard it around here. It felt so – right.

  We spent the next half an hour trading stories back and forth. Some of the ones she remembered actually surprised me. I’d forgotten so many of them over the years. That’s what binge drinking will do to you, my inner voice reprimanded. Even Tut snorted loudly at some of the more outrageous stories.

  By the time we were done, the sky was clearer and the rain had stopped. I leaned my shovel against the side of the last stall, looking over at old Tut as he stomped restlessly.

  “You want to go for a ride, don’t you old man?”

  He grunted, pawing at the floor.

  I looked over at Ella as she put her shovel away and headed toward the back sink to wash up.

  “You wanna come?”

  She looked over her shoulder at me, brows drawn. “Come where?”

  “For a ride,” I said, nodding my head toward Tut.

  “Uh, no. You know I don’t ride him. He bites.”

  “Only if he doesn’t like you.”

  “Exactly.”

  I sighed. “Tut doesn’t dislike you, Ells. He just likes to tease you.”

  “His teasing is biting,” she pointed out.

  “He will be on his best behaviour if you’re with me, won’t you, old boy?”

  He just stared at me. Traitor.

  “I promise he’ll be good,” I said, turning away from him to look back at her. “I’ll ride with you so nothing bad will happen. He’s always good for me.”

  She dried her hands off, her eyes moving back and forth between us nervously. I could see some of her resolve slipping, anticipation igniting deep in my gut. Having Ella nestled in my lap as we went for a ride would be a perfect way to end my day before heading off to my other job. She’s just a friend, I reminded myself.

  “Fine,” she said slowly. “But I swear, Gage, you better keep him in line.”

  I held up a hand, placing the other over my heart. “Scouts’ honour.” Tut chose that moment to let out a loud neigh.

  I walked Tut to the front of the barn after saddling him. Ella waited there, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as she shifted from foot to foot.

  “Nervous?” I said, cocking an eyebrow.

  She stilled. “No.”

  I bit back a laugh. Stubborn, stubborn, Ella. Swinging my leg up and over, I shifted around until I was comfortably toward the back of the saddle then reached down for her. “Let’s go little girl.”

  She huffed, but placed her hand in mine as she put a foot in the stirrup. I helped her up, steadying her as she wiggled around in front of me. I let her get comfortable before shifting slightly forward, bringing our bodies flush. She stiffened. Wrapping my arms around her, I grabbed onto the reins, lowering my head so my mouth was just beside her ear. Taking a moment to breathe in her delicate scent, I said, “you ready?”

  She nodded, not speaking. Giving the reins a quick flick, Tut started forward into the open air, picking up his pace as we made our way to the back trails. The momentum brought us even closer, my chest now all but plastered against her back. I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly she fit against me. Her head just reached to my chin, her hips easily snug within my legs.

  We didn’t speak as I brought us down the trails, letting Tut go as we got further away from the barn. This was what he loved the most, just being able to run as fast or as slow as he wanted. The horse might have been old, but he still had a lot of spunk left in him.

  Little by little I felt Ella relax in my grasp until eventually she softened within my hold, resting the back of her head against my chest. If there was ever a moment in my life when I felt like I was on top of the world, it was this moment right here. Holding the reins in one hand, I let my other graze across her stomach, wrapping around her tiny waist to pull her securely against me. I felt rather than heard her inhale at the touch, but she didn’t move away or say anything. We stayed like this the rest of the ride. And I made sure that ride lasted as long as it could.

  Eleven

  Ella

  It was on our way back that it started to rain again. At first it was just a light drizzle. As the farm house came into view it was as if someone was pouring buckets of water over our heads. We both shouted with laughter as Gage kicked Tut into high gear, galloping us toward the barn. By the time we made it I was soaked through – again. Thankfully my plaid shirt hid all my lady parts.

  Tut shook out his mane the second we got into the barn, causing us both to laugh and groan simultaneously. I leaned as far away from him as I could, making me plaster myself up against Gage even more than I already was. By the way the arm he’d kept around me tightened, I would have said he didn’t mind, but then he released me quickly. The skin beneath my shirts still tingled from being in his embrace. I knew this would keep my mind preoccupied for the rest of the night. Apparently being around Gage Hunter turned me into a stupid, over-analytical girl.

  I slid off the horse awkwardly. Gage, of course, dismounted like a pro. He stepped close to me, a smile still plastered on his face, those dimples drawing my eyes. Both of his hands reached up to push back my wet, tangled hair as he chuckled under his breath. The heat from his skin was such a contrast to the cold I felt from the rain that I actually found myself leaning into his touch.

  “I seem to make you really wet a lot,” he said darkly.

  I opened my eyes and shook my head at the cheeky grin he gave me.

  “No pun intended.”

  “Uh huh,” I said dryly. “You just had to go there, didn’t you?”

  “I’d love to go there.”

  “Gage!” I slapped at his chest as he dropped his hands, laughing.

  “I’m kidding, relax. You should probably head up and get dried off. I’ll take care of Tut.”

  “You sure?”

  He nodded. “Yeah go ahead. I have to get out of here soon anyway, so I’ll grab some clothes at home before I go out again.”

  He was always doing that – rushing out at the end of the day. I could only imagine where he was going – and with who. It was tempting to ask, but I knew it wasn’t my business. Of course Gage would have plans every night. For all I knew he had a girlfriend waiting for him at the end of the day. Maybe that was why he was so insistent we just be friends. It could also explain why he didn’t want me at the party on Friday.

  I looked down at my sopping clothes and sighed. He probably had some model-like girlfriend and here I was looking like a drowned rat. I was just thankful I wasn’t wearing make-up, or I would have graduated to raccoon instead.

  “You okay?”

  I blinked, looking up to see him watching me closely. Forcing my stiff cheeks into a pathetic excuse for a smile, I nodded, putting on my normal Ella-is-happy face.

  “Yup, just fine.”

  He didn�
��t look convinced. His mouth was opening to say something else, but I didn’t wait around to hear what it was. Waving a hand over my shoulder, I headed up to the house as fast as I could, no longer feeling the cold droplets of rain as they continued to pour down on my head along the way.

  “What do you think he does every night?” The question flew out of my mouth before I could stop it. Currently I was sitting in Nan’s kitchen, my hair twisted up in a towel, fuzzy slippers on my feet, some comfy pajama pants and a tank on, and a steaming cup of tea in front of me. Nan had just about had a grandma meltdown when I first came in, claiming I was bound to die of pneumonia if I didn’t get dried off that instant.

  Nan looked up from the pot of soup she was stirring over by the stove. I avoided eye contact. They say the eyes are the window into one’s soul. Around Nan I believed it. Looking away was the best way to keep her from knowing things she didn’t need to.

  “Who, Peach?”

  Ugh. She was going to make me say it. “Gage,” I clarified. “He’s always running out of here so fast. I was just wondering where you think he goes.” I shrugged, doing my best impression of I didn’t really care, despite me asking.

  “You know how those boys are,” she answered with a wave of her hand.

  Not really, I thought.

  “Play hard, work hard. They’ve always been that way.”

  What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did Nan just admit that her little golden boy was a man whore? Play hard, work hard? I opened my mouth to question her further but ended up just shutting it again. Maybe I didn’t want to know what she meant. Maybe it was better if I just nipped this curiosity in the bud and stop worrying what Gage did outside of the farm. As just friends, it shouldn’t matter to me where he went or what he did with his evenings.

  Maybe you should start doing something with your own evenings, my inner voice suggested. It was good idea except …I didn’t really have anywhere to go. I could always call Jaiden …

  Just the idea of going out had me feeling bone tired. I was still getting used to these early morning wake-up calls, and my body ached from all the manual labour I’d been doing. Tomorrow night, I decided. Tomorrow was Friday …maybe Jaiden would be going to the field party and I could tag along.

  What if Gage gets mad if you show up?

  I pushed that thought instantly away. Who cares if he got mad? Not I! Gage Hunter didn’t get to decide where I went, and if I wanted to go to a party that I was officially invited to by Cam, then I would. So there. So why did the whole thing make my stomach roll? It felt like the party in grade nine I had gone to. And just like that party, I had an awful feeling that I was going to see something I didn’t like.

  “Morning.”

  I looked up, wiping the sweat from my brow as I squinted against the sun. Gage walked toward me, his features hidden by the bright sunshine illuminated behind him. “I think it’s more like afternoon,” I said, brushing the dirt off my shorts.

  He chuckled. “Touché.” He stopped, turning so his face was in the shadows now and I could see him clearly. Thankfully he was wearing a shirt, making it easier for me to keep my focus there. “How’s your day going so far?” he asked.

  I looked around at the tomato plants I’d just finished staking and sighed loudly. “Good, I guess. I feel like the back of my neck is as red as these things are going to be though.”

  I jumped when I felt his cool fingertips on my skin as he leaned around to look at the exposed skin above my tank top.

  “Yeah, you’re looking a little pink. You should probably put some sunscreen on.”

  “I did,” I said, stepping away from him. “I think I just keep sweating it off though.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it sure is hot today. I don’t know what’s worse, days like this, or miserable days like yesterday.”

  I nodded back, shifting from one foot to another as we awkwardly looked at each other. Neither of us spoke for a moment until he finally reached up, rubbing the back of his neck, saying, “I was thinking maybe we could go grab some ice cream to cool down. If Nan will let us, of course.”

  He came here to ask me to go get ice cream?

  “We could stop off at the pond too if you want.”

  Now the pond sounded like a good idea. This time I’d be better prepared though and actually pack a bathing suit and towel. Getting Nan to agree to let us skip off for a couple of hours was another story.

  “Maybe you should ask her,” I said, looking away from him when I saw the spark of happiness fill his eyes. Obviously he’d thought I wouldn’t be up for it. There was no way I was going to look too deeply into why he was happy I’d agreed. “She’s more likely to say yes to you than to me.”

  “I don’t know about that. She was kind of cross with me this morning because I got here a bit late.”

  “Rough night?” I said without thinking, turning to look at him. I instantly wanted to take back the words, and the way they’d come out. I sounded like some jealous girlfriend. If I could have smacked myself without him seeing I would have right then.

  His eyes narrowed. “I guess you could say that. I ended up sleeping through my alarm.”

  I bit the inside of my cheeks to make sure nothing else incredibly stupid escaped. “She’ll get over it,” I replied after a beat. “Just go flash those dimples and tell her how much you love her cooking and all will be forgiven.”

  “Well that’s not hard to do,” he said, smiling wide enough to pop those babies out. Ugh. He was too good looking for his own good. People like him should come with a warning. Beware – may distract and mesmerize you should you stare at him for too long. Subjects have been known to become dazed and confused, and can agree to almost anything this man suggests. All women, hide your virtue.

  “You go see what she says while I finish up here,” I suggested, mostly to get him away from me for a moment so I could gather my senses again. “I’ll meet you out front.” He agreed and turned to leave. My eyes – those blasted things with a mind of their own – glanced over to watch him leave, skirting over the way his t-shirt clung to those wide shoulders like it was made especially for him.

  Just my luck, he glanced over his shoulder catching me in mid-stare. Thankfully my mouth wasn’t hanging open like some dog. A slow smile spread across his face just as he turned back around. Damn it. That warning should be tattooed on his forehead. I did not need him thinking I was falling into his trap like all the other girls. It was time to fight back. And I had just the arsenal for the job – red bikini, you’re up.

  Twelve

  Gage

  We ate our ice cream as I drove us back to my house for a quick swim. Nan had taken some convincing but she eventually gave in. I think it had more to do with her just wanting me to stop bugging her than anything. I had a sneaking suspicion she had put up a fight just for appearances sake, and had every intention of letting us go from the beginning. For some reason she seemed to want us to be friends just as much as I did.

  “Why do you still have that?”

  I looked over at Ella, my eyes following her tongue as it licked up some of the ice cream that was dripping down the side of her cone. I shifted in my seat before looking back out the windshield. “Have what?” I asked.

  Her hand reached out, hitting the friendship bracelet hanging from my mirror. It didn’t even occur to me to take the thing down before she saw it. I’d had it there since the day I bought this old beast. My cheeks heated, wondering what she must be thinking of me keeping it after all these years. Trying my best to act casual, I shrugged as though it were no big deal.

  “I distinctly remember someone threatening me with immediate death if I were to ever throw it away. I figured it was best to just to keep it rather than face an early demise.”

  She laughed, easing some of the tension in my shoulders. “I never expected you to actually keep it.”

  “Contrary to those cute freckles, baby blues, and golden angelic hair, you were quite scary as a child. I feared for my life many
times with you.”

  Her arm reached across the cab, smacking me on the arm. “You make me sound awful.”

  I laughed, rubbing the spot she’d hit. “You were,” I replied. “And no one knew it because you looked so damn innocent.”

  “Whatever,” she said, leaning toward the open window. I could still hear the smile in her voice though.

  “So does that mean you don’t have yours anymore?”

  I saw her wave her hand in the air dismissively. “It’s probably somewhere.”

  “Probably somewhere,” I repeated. “Hmmm that doesn’t sound very convincing. You know what that means, don’t you?”

  “No …” she said slowly.

  I paused, letting her sweat it out a bit. Then I reached over and tickled her right in the side where I knew she was the most ticklish. I used to get her so bad she’d be begging for me to stop. She squealed, trying to push my hand away as I attacked.

  “Immediate death!” I cried out, fighting back my laughter.

  She cursed and laughed at the same time, gasping for me to stop. Finally she managed to grab hold and still my hand, but only because I had to focus on turning the truck onto my driveway.

  “You are a cruel, evil man,” she said, breathing heavily. The feel of her gripping my hand was distracting, as was the way her chest rose and fell rapidly. A sharp need filled my stomach that I had to instantly push away.

  “Hey, it was your rule,” I replied. “It’s not my fault.”

  We drove past the house toward the pond, my hand still clasped in hers across the seats. As soon as I parked she released me, much to my disappointment. We both hopped out of the truck and I didn’t waste any time pulling my shirt over my head and heading to the rope. I wasn’t paying attention to her as I swung out, plunging into the cool depths of water. It was an instant relief from the stifling heat of the day.