by Arow Jones
By Arow Jones
Copyright © May 2013 by Arow Jones
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to a real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty One
Twenty Two
Twenty Three
Twenty Four
Twenty Five
Twenty Six
Twenty Seven
Twenty Eight
Twenty Nine
Thirty
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
One
Kids and families are everywhere. Our town may be small but the downtown is beautiful. It draws people to the center of the town where many picnics occur, music fills the air, and festivities are hosted.
“Lil?” A hand waves in front of my eyes. I’m lost in my thoughts.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“I said, did you put more sunscreen on? You look like you’re getting a sunburn. You should have grabbed shirt.” Skye, my best friend, pulls out a mini sized tube of sun block from her oversized hobo bag. “Here, put some on while I order our shakes.”
“Yes mom,” I roll my eyes at her. She’s already in line. The local diner opens a side window it keeps in use for part of the year so people can enjoy the outdoors and order food quickly. The picnic tables are already filled but I find an unoccupied bench near the park across the street.
June is my favorite time of the year. I love Colorado spring weather. It’s not like I’ve lived anywhere else and have anything to compare it to but this is my home The Lucky Five Ranch is my home and I love it there. My dad used to tell me stories about how it was won in a poker game by my great-great-grandfather. Back then, it wasn’t much of a farm, just a lot of acreage.
My best friend Skye and I spend at least a week together before she goes to Grandparents house in Montana for the break. The summers here can get hot. Skye’s pool is our reprieve when we aren’t at the ranch’s swimming hole. We’ve been sitting out all morning when Skye decided she absolutely had to have a shake.
We’re just going to come back and hop in the pool again so we kept our bikinis on, thrown on some sundresses and flip-flops. Skye’s curly red hair blows free in the breeze. It’s wild and carefree, just like her. I envy her beauty. She tells me all the time that the combination of my long, thick, brown hair and light green eyes are smoldering. I’m not even sure I know what that means but I let her have her way.
Skye Green’s family has been around since the town was founded. The park bench that I’m sitting on waiting for her to return is adjacent to a plaque naming the park “Green Park” in honor of the Green family.
“Here you go,” Skye hands me a large cup with I can only imagine is her newest concoction. Somehow she’s convinced her Aunt, who owns and runs the diner, to allow her to be a taste tester for her new creations. In other words, Skye has them throw a bunch of stuff in a blender and see what mysteries are revealed. “I call this one a straw-blue-ban-ban and this one,” she holds up another cup, “a peanut-nana.” Her huge grin already tells me there must be other ingredients like wheat grass and protein whey. One time she snuck in spinach.
“Or a berry-berry-na-na and a butter-ban. Hah!” I’m really going to miss her this summer.
“Hardy, har, har. Just take your shake already. Okay,” Skye holds out her phone, “say cheese! My Aunt is going to love this picture!”
“Great, another picture for her Shakes Hall of Fame.” I scrunch my nose in mock annoyance. “You know, we already take up too much space on that wall.”
“Hey, can I help it if we’re photogenic? Besides, if I’m ever going to leave my mark in the world… or something like that. Any who, you love it, and you love me so indulge me, will ya?” She takes a few more pics of us together and then some of us individually. I’d like to agree with her photogenic theory but most of our pics encompass silly faces and product promotion. But she’s right, she’s like the sister I never had and my BFF. I need all the family I can get so I will indulge her.
We both fall into a comfortable silence as we sip our shakes. Even if I’m sure there are surprise ingredients in this shake, I am mildly surprise at how yummy it tastes. We spend a half hour chit chatting, talking about our summer plans before we decide to start walking back. I’m already starting to feel a little wilted under the sun. Thankfully, we’re only a few blocks away from her parent’s historic landmark of a house.
“Skye what are you going to—” Before I can finish my sentence she is pointing towards a drive way.
“OMG! Who are those hunks with Grayson?! Now there’s a shake I’d like to--” Skye points to a driveway where three guys are washing a silver truck. A heavy metal song is playing in the background. The sight of three gorgeous guys all wet and sweaty is making me light headed. Or, maybe it’s just the sun? My eyes instantly lock onto a muscular back with a tattoo of an intricate long horn bull on his back. Horns stretch from one shoulder to the other. My stomach flip flops at the familiar sight.
“Oh, wow! I think that’s Grayson’s older step-brother. He must be home for the summer.” I laugh, nervously. She knows I am well aware of whose body my eyes are glued onto. I put my hand to my mouth, checking for drool.
“Shut it. You know you want a taste of that.” She points to the bull tattoo. “I didn’t even know he had that.” When he was sixteen. It was the summer he didn’t go skinny dipping. I don’t tell her I know that. The stalker predator in me has only one target and he’ll never know. That was the worse summer of my life. My first summer without my parents. I can feel myself drifting off again until I feel a nudge from Skye. My feet automatically step in line with her. We’re walking directly towards the alluring sight before us.
As soon as he heard his name Grayson turns towards us. His wet shirt clings to his chest. We can see the outline of his muscular form. He’s on the wrestling team and in the same grade as us. The other two are older and just as well defined. The guy with the blonde hair goes into the garage and turns the music down. Grayson looks over at the other guys and waves them over.
“Well, well, well,” Grayson drawls, “Look what the cat dragged in. Someone upstairs must really like us to grace us with the presence of the two of the most beautiful giddy-up girls in Colorado.” Skye’s blushing face giggles. She’s had a crush on Grayson since we were in the fifth grade. I’m pretty sure Grayson feels the same way but they always seem to stick to flirting. We’ve known him our whole life and he’s always been a sweet talker.
“Ladies, you remember my older brother JT and his best friend Chase? Guys, this is Skye and Lily.” They wave at us. JT looks us over like he’s assessing us. The side of his mouth turns up into a smirk until he sees me looking at him. He has the most incredible shade of dark green eyes that remind me of the emeralds. I’m pretty s
ure he can see me blushing now but then he scowls and walks back to the truck. I frown. Does he remember me? I would recognize him and Chase anywhere.
Chase walks towards us. He’s just as gorgeous with his blonde hair. “Uh, don’t mind him. He’s getting over a bad break-up,” he explains.
“As if, that girl was nothing but trouble.” Grayson answers. Chase pushes away the bangs of his blonde hair, showing off his dreamy hazel eyes. He reaches over and grasps my hand. “Hey, I’m Chase.” I can feel the blood rushing to my face. I really hope he doesn’t notice me blushing. My mouth seems to stop working but I shake his hand and smile.
He doesn’t let go of my hand. If he did notice my face getting red he does a good job of pretending he doesn’t see it. “JT and I went to a private school out in Boulder. We’re back home for the summer before we start the fall semester at University of Colorado, in Boulder.” He looks back at me and cocks his head to the side. “Say, aren’t you--”
“CHASE!” JT cuts his question off. “Let’s go man, I’ve got to pick up some stuff before the bonfire tonight.” He hops in the silver truck and starts it. Chase smiles and shakes his head. “It was nice talking to you ladies, maybe we’ll see you all at the party tonight. Later G.” He nods to Grayson then gets in the passenger side of the truck. They drive off with squealing his tires. All that’s left is a short pair of tire marks in the street. What just happened?
“So, you ladies coming to the bonfire tomorrow night?” Grayson is facing Skye but keeps glancing over at me. Strange. Maybe he noticed me looking. Then again, we were all looking at their strange behavior. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and rejoin the conversation.
“Yes!” Skye says a little too enthusiastically. When she’s not riding with me or hiding behind her camera, she’s all about parties and boys.
“I don’t know.” Skye and I both answered at the same time. She knows I am not very social and I know she wouldn’t miss it for anything. I know she’ll try to talk me into it so I let it go, for now. We talk to Grayson, or rather, Skye talks to him while I nod and pretend I’m listening. What was all that about with JT? Our families didn’t really get along in the same social circles. He never paid any attention to me before.
I’m not going to either.
Anymore.
Two
We’ve been home two days and I’m already wound up tight about seeing Lily. That girl has no idea what she does to me.
“Dude, did you see who that was? Wow, man she’s all grown up.” I want to punch that grin off his face.
I can feel the scowl on my face. I wipe a hand over my jaw like I’m trying to wipe away my expression. Lily James and her Gramps of The Lucky Five ranch. My relative lost that place to his relative in a poker game. My father used to tell me stories about the loss of the land and how the Tanner family had wanted to get it back. If it wasn’t for our family’s successful law firm in Boulder and the oil we’ve been getting from our land we’d still be living on a struggling cattle ranch that couldn’t afford to lose any part of our land. Even so, the Tanner family and the James family have stayed out of the same circles for as long as anyone can remember.
“Yeah, I did and don’t talk about her like that.”
“Why not? She’s free game.” I turn to Chase and punch him in the arm. “No, man, she’s not for you.” He has the gall to smirk at me.
“Whatever you say but I hope she comes to the bonfire.” I should have punched him in the face instead of the arm. He knows how I feel about her. “Get a grip man, she’s free game.”
“What-the-fuck-ever.” He throws his head back and laughs.
Chase has been giving me a hard time ever since we were sixteen. After Lily’s parents died I spent some time pulling away from everyone. Especially Chase. He would know what was wrong if he saw me so I just made sure I wasn’t around. It didn’t work. Eventually I confessed my feelings for Lily and the secret. I was raised to be a man of honor but I’m not ready. Neither is she.
I know he’s just giving me a hard time. He would never get in the way of a relationship between Lily and me.
I’m perfectly capable of doing that all on my own, thank you very much.
Three
“Come on Lily! It’s going to be fun!”
“Skye, you know I’m not supposed to go out tonight. Besides, I have homework and laundry to do.”
“Really?” She says dryly. “That’s the best you can do? You’re the smartest person I know. You can take a test with your eyes closed and get better grades than a snerd. You know the nerdiest class nerd!”
“Really? Is that even a word?”
“We’ll just go, say hi, ogle some eye candy and be back before anyone knows we’re gone.” She breaks out the puppy dog eyes. Truthfully, I am dying to go to the bonfire too. Everyone from school goes. It a hometown tradition and now that I’ve survived my first year of high school I’ve realized that I’m tired of always playing it safe and I really do need to break my wallflower image. I just like giving her a hard time.
Between school, working for Gramps at the ranch, and competing with my equestrian team, I haven’t really had much time for social activities. Horses are my focus. My whole life. The Interscholastic Equestrian Association gives out scholarships and I’m hoping to be one of our team’s recipients. Gramps is my only living family member left, now. I know he has some money saved up for me but I really want to make it on my own. I want to run this ranch one day and a degree in Equestrian Management and Business would be perfect.
“Okay, I will go but I we can only stay for a bit. High Five is about to give birth any day now and Gramps is gonna be down at the stables.”
“Yay!” She squeals. “I promise, we’ll only stay for an hour or so.” One hour will likely end up two. Double everything she says and that’s about what I count on.
“Seriously though, don’t leave me alone. Last time we went to a party it took me forever hours to find you. I was cornered by a very, drunk as a skunk, sophomore. I felt like I needed to take three showers to get the smell off my clothes!”
“Ha, oh my, that’s right! What was his name?” She reminded me of Tigger when she was giddy, jumping up and down with her long red curls bouncing along with her. Guys always drawn to her fire red hair and blue eyes.
“Logan the Hammer.” I say dryly. Ugh. What girl in her right mind would find an alcohol induced flirty teenage mouth attractive? Apparently, I’m in the minority since Logan always has a following of girls more than willing to give in to temptation.
Skye puts me in a jean skirt and green halter top with black cowboy boots. She wears a blue summer dress and brown cowboy boots. She snickers. “You’re like a life size doll. You are going to look hot tonight!”
“Gramps and all the hired hands on duty tonight are down at the barn monitoring High Five and playing poker. We need to be quiet and take the back trail.” We can hear them from the back porch. Luckily the trail leads behind the house and away from the barn so no one sees us leave. The moon is full and lights our way. We walk along the trail across the fields and through the woods until we get to a clearing on the other side of the lake.
The lake is fed by a river that separates The Lucky Five property line from JT’s family property. The bonfire is on his side of the property. Cars line the clearing, surrounding a blazing bonfire. This spot has been a town tradition. The Tanner family is one of the founding families. The party’s here are legendary, in a high school sort of way. Tonight was no exception.
On one side of the bonfire were kegs and coolers with drinks. There was dancing, laughing, and couples wandering off towards the lake’s hidden, moonlit, make out shores. Can something really be hidden if everyone knows about it? I used to come down here to swim and spy on the unruly boys next door. We grab some drinks and find spots to hang out.
“Hey, I gotta pee.” Skye says with a little sway. With all the excitement we might have had a drink too many.
“Okay, do you want me to c
ome with?” I’m not sure what I think is funny but I start giggling. She just grins and points at someone walking towards the woods. I think Chase. Grayson is with him. My heart flutters. If they’re here then so is JT. I grin back at her. She knows I have a secret unspoken crush on JT. Okay, it’s a little more than a crush. It’s silly. JT’s never looked my way. He could have any girl he wants. He’s the town’s beloved.
I want to be his beloved.
The beer is getting to my head. I lean back on the front bumper of her truck when I lose my footing.
“Whoa there.” I looked up and see the most beautiful green eyes staring back at me.
Four
I hate going to these bonfires. I don’t even go to this school but technically they are hosted on my family’s property abutting the Lucky Five so my father expects me to attend. We’ve only been here for an hour and I’m already feeling the itch to leave. Chase is off in the woods. Some jock head is grinding against the red head, Skye. Grayson isn’t going to be too happy to see that. I wish he would ask her out already. I’m sick of hearing how much he likes that girl.
“JT,” a voice purrs next to me. Small hands roam up my chest. I know who it is and she obviously can’t take no for an answer. “Baby, why didn’t you tell me you were going to be here tonight?” Blanche tries to put my arm around her but I grab her wrists and step away, removing them from my body.
“You knew I’d be here. Stop pretending we didn’t already have this conversation earlier in the week.” Grayson had told me she was telling everyone she and I hooked up during the school year and were a couple. “I’m not playing around Blanche.” I drop her wrists. I might have been interested in her large breasts and cheerleader body but I know better than to go where every man has gone before.
“Come on baby, you know we belong together. Even your mom thinks so. She’s invited me to your brunch tomorrow.” More like my mom felt obligated to invite her. Her dad is a partner at the law firm.
