by Ali Parker
“Yes, but we have to get some cotton candy first. The smell has been driving me crazy.” She looped her arm in mine and together we walked out of the kiddie park and out onto the fairgrounds.
“It is so lively. Look, every person has a smile on their face and is having a good time. I absolutely love it here,” she said, looking around with her green eyes wide with excitement.
“Yes, there is much more of the fair to see, too. There’s the livestock show in the back. We usually show, but this year we aren’t going to, and probably not next year either. The year after that we’ll put some of our livestock again. Father wants it that way.”
“Well, honestly I’m glad you’re not showing because I get you all to myself.”
“I’m glad too. Now let’s get you that cotton candy,” I said, pulling her toward the food section of the fairgrounds. This was turning out to be a very good day at the fair.
28
Lydia Myers
I was having the best time and being at a county fair was the most romantic date possible. Being there with an attractive cowboy only made it that much better. I was surprised to see how well Connor worked with children. Watching him pick up kids and put them on the horses and pony, then lead them around was very sweet. It made me like him that much more, and I was aware of how hard I was falling for him. It was a confusing place to be. But I was trying not to think about that and just enjoy the moment, and have a good time. The fair only came around once a year and I wanted to enjoy every second of being with him.
We walked side-by-side through the fairgrounds. Suddenly Connor grabbed my hand. I looked at him.
“Is that alright, ma’am?”
“Yes, I suppose so. Everyone in your family knows already, so we might as well let the whole town know,” I said, smiling. I squeezed his hand back. Holding hands in public was such a basic thing, but for us I knew that it meant a lot more. It meant that we were making this just for fun and casual relationship between us, a bit more serious. It felt silly to think but that’s what it truly was.
“Oh, here we are. You smell that?” he asked, as we turned the corner into the food area of the park.
“Yes! Cotton candy here I come,” I said.
“Yes, let’s get you that cotton candy ma’am,” he said. “One cotton candy for the lady, please.”
“Coming right up.”
Connor paid for my cotton candy, and handed it to me. It was pink and it smelled wonderful. I pulled a piece off and stuck it in my mouth. The sweet and gooey mess evaporated into delicious sugar. “Mmm, so good.” I pulled off another piece and fed it to him. He smiled and took it from my hand into his mouth.
“Yum, that is good. Come on, let’s walk around a little,” he said.
We walked around eating the cotton candy. The fairgrounds were large and impressive. I loved that it was in a big field, feeling grass and dirt under my feet instead of the asphalt or cement the way that these things were in the city. We continued walking down the food area, I knew I wanted to get something more substantial later. There was a chili cook-off going on, lots of brisket barbecue, hamburgers, and tacos. Everything you could possibly want in Texas. I smiled, enjoying how happy everyone was as they walked around. They all had giant grins on their faces.
“This is the way to the rides. What do you think you want to get on the first?”
“I think we should start slow, how about the Ferris wheel? That way we can sit up there and see everything?”
“Sounds good to me. I’m game for anything you want,” Connor said, turning to look at me. There was that sparkle in his eye, the sparkle that said he wanted to take care of me. I was more than happy to let him.
We walked over to a ticket counter. “Two unlimited wristbands, please,” Connor said, handing the guy behind the counter some money.
“Sure thing,” he said.
“What is this?” I asked Connor as he wrapped a fluorescent green paper wristband around my wrist.
“This way we can get on all the rides as many times as we want. We won’t have to come back here and buy tickets for every single ride.”
“Oh, that is smart. I like that idea. You know, in that case I want to get on everything, again and again,” I smiled.
“We can ride to your heart’s delight, Lydia,” he said, handing me his wristband. I put it on his wrist, securing it. Then he quickly stole a kiss, pecking me on the cheek. He grabbed my hand and led me off quickly toward the Ferris wheel. I had to kind of jog to keep up.
“Hold on, let me throw this away,” I said, looking at the empty paper cone where the cotton candy used to be. I tossed it in the trash can. Soon we were sitting in the Ferris wheel chair with a bar across us. The ride started and we slowly lifted into the air. The air felt good. It was starting to cool down a bit. It wasn’t so hot like the days we had been having. It was perfect.
“Look at us, Lydia. We’re on top of the world,” he said, playfully.
“Yes, we are,” I said, as he put his arm around my back. This felt like a good proper date and it made me feel like I was in high school again at the homecoming fair and carnival. It felt really good, like a life without a care in the world. I was hooked.
The view from the Ferris wheel was beautiful. We could see the entire fairgrounds all around us, and in the distance we could see the horizon and clouds, a beautiful Texas sky.
“Now, this is a moment, isn’t it?” Conner said, looking at me.
“Yes it is, but that is a very cheesy thing to say.” I teased him.
“See, that is what you do to me. You turn me into a cheesy man,” he said, as he leaned over and kissed me. I kissed him back enjoying the moment. It was wonderful.
After the Ferris wheel, we went on my favorite ride, the spinning baskets. Connor looked like he was going to puke, which only made me laugh harder as the baskets spun around with us inside.
Then we got on a ride known as the hammer, then another that shot us straight up into the air. Next, we did something else that I absolutely loved, walking through the small haunted house.
“All right, should I go first?” Connor said, as we stood at the entrance of the haunted house facade. It was painted with green and black paint, and ghoulish ghosts were painted on the exterior facade as well.
“Are you scared? Do you want me to go first?” I laughed at him.
He straightened his back, and put his chin in the air. “No, I got this. Give me your hand.” He was being silly, pretending to be scared just to make it that much more fun, and I was all about that. I was enjoying his demeanor and playfulness.
He pulled me inside, into the dark. It was pitch black until my eyes adjusted to the light. Suddenly a man in a mask jumped out of the wall and screamed. I screamed and held onto Connor, until the man went back behind the wall. We both laughed and kept on going. We walked into a long corridor, very dark. Connor stopped and pulled me into his arms and kissed me deeply. I put my hands on his strong chest, feeling his hard muscles. We stopped kissing when we heard a noise behind us, it was the next group of people coming in. We both laughed and kept on walking. It was a very short maze of horrors, not too scary so it was suitable for children, but we made the most of it and pretended to be as scared as possible. Before long we were pushed out into the sunlight. We couldn’t stop laughing, and it was almost uncontrollable. I was having such a good time.
“Oh, look at that. A dove hunt,” Connor said, pointing at the carnival games out in front of us. He grabbed my hand and led me over to a shooting range game. There were cardboard doves going back and forth behind the attendant.
“I'm going to win you a prize, so get ready to pick out which one you want,” Connor said, as he slapped money down on the counter for the attendant. Then, he picked up a toy rifle and aimed at the doves. He shot and hit two.
“You have to hit four in order to win a prize,” the attendant said.
“Let me try,” I said, grabbing the gun from him. Connor sighed playfully.
�
�All right.”
I took the toy rifle in my hand and began to shoot. I hit every single one. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the attendant’s mouth fall open.
Connor was shouting, “Woohoo! That’s my girl.”
“I have never seen shooting like that. Take your pick, Missy. You’ve earned one of the big ones,” the attendant said.
“Thank you. Hmmm, I think I’ll take the pony,” I said, pointing to a pink pony.
“Here you are,” he said, as he handed it to me.
“Well, that was emasculating. Next time, you will win me a prize,” Connor joked. I laughed and laughed.
“I'm sorry, I’m not trying to damage your manhood. It’s not my fault that I’m a good shot. But speaking of shots, do you think we can get a drink? Like take a break with a cold beer, maybe?” I raised a brow.
“Sure, we can do that. The pavilion has bands playing and a bar set up. The sun is starting to set, too. I think it’s a good time to take in a beer and a two-step dance,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me in the direction of the pavilion. “As long as you don’t slap me this time.”
I laughed, “I’m still really sorry about that. And I do owe you a proper dance, don’t I?”
“Yes ma’am, I would think that you do.” He cleared his throat, obviously distracted by the thought.
I smiled, completely content in this moment. We were having such a good time together and I really could see us doing this every single year. I wanted my future to include this cowboy at my side. As we walked, some commotion reached our ears.
“Take that back, Matthew. Damn it.”
“Shit,” Connor said, stopping in his tracks. I looked at him, feeling confused.
“What?”
“Stay here,” he said, walking really fast as he left my side and went to where a set of RV’s lined up against each other. Like hell was I going to stay put. I could hear the raised voices a lot clearer, and I knew there was a fight going on. I was on his heels, following him.
He rounded the corner into the alley that the trailers had created. Dylan was punching another guy about his size and age. I put my hands on my mouth.
“Dylan, stop,” Connor shouted. “Damn it!”
But Dylan didn’t stop. The other guy started to fight back and they rolled on the ground. Connor was trying to grab Dylan, but couldn’t get a hold of him. I just stood there, holding a pink pony. What could I do? I was no help at all.
Finally, Connor got his arms around Dylan, and just then two men appeared behind the other guy and pulled him away as well.
“Calm down, both of you!” the two guys said.
“Dylan, we’re getting out of here. You know better than this! Matthew, I apologize,” Connor said, pulling Dylan away and toward me. I walked backwards, following Connor’s lead. He grabbed Dylan and threw him against the front grill of the RV, putting his hand on Dylan’s chest and holding him there.
“What did I tell you about fighting? This is not the place. You are too old for this crap!”
“You know Matthew,” Dylan said. “This is his fault. He was talking shit again. How many times can I let him get away with that?” It was then that I realized he was slurring his words.
“Fuck! You’re drunk, and it’s not even sunset yet, Dylan. This is what happens when you get drunk, you can’t hold your fist at your sides. I’m going to take you home before the police show up.”
“I'll come with you,” I said.
“No, I don’t want you to have to see this, Lydia. Go back to the kiddie park and get a ride with Abi and Wyatt back to your car. I’ve got to handle this, I’m so sorry,” Connor said.
I looked at Dylan, looked back at Connor, then nodded my head. “All right, I’ll go with Abi and Wyatt. Do what you have to do.”
“I’ll come over to your place tomorrow,” he said.
Connor grabbed Dylan’s arm, yanking it and pulling him through the back of the fairgrounds toward his truck. I was sad to see him go. I knew that he had to handle this family business, but why did it have to interrupt the best date I’d ever been on? Was this what dating Connor Dawson was going to be like? What if I was married to him? Would this be the way of things all the time? Whitney had warned me, but I didn’t take her warning seriously. Now it had ruined a perfectly good day at the fair. How many things would get ruined in the future?
29
Connor Dawson
I woke up Sunday morning still feeling anger. I had been pissed off about the fair and my little brother, the feisty headed fighter who had ruined my date with Lydia. We had been having a really good time, and were about to switch from daytime fair activities to nighttime activities such as two-step dancing and drinking. I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms and have a proper dance that didn’t end with her slapping me. But that was all ruined the moment I heard my brother’s voice shouting. I knew what was happening before I even saw him. Dylan and Matthew had always had a beef between them and every time they got together it ended up in a fight. It didn’t help that my brother was quick to punch instead of use words. I understood this because I was the same way when I was his age. I couldn’t be a hypocrite about it, but I didn’t want him to ruin his life by getting in serious trouble with the law by fighting in public spaces.
I pushed my hand through my hair and put my cowboy hat on as I walked down the stairs. I could hear voices coming from the front porch so I peeked out the open door, where my father was talking to the sheriff. This wasn’t good.
I stepped out onto the porch. “Father—”
“Connor, go get Dylan. I think he’s in the barn.”
“Yes sir.”
I quickly walked off the porch, already knowing what this was about. Someone obviously told on Dylan and he was in trouble. Entering the large door of the barn, I was growing angrier by the minute.
“Dylan! Where are you? Get your ass down here!”
“It’s for me isn’t it?”
I looked up to see him in the loft of the barn. He had been watching the whole thing from the large barn loft window.”
“Yep. Father’s calling you. I’m sure the sheriff is here to talk to you,” I said.
“Is he taking me in?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
“Fuck! This is bullshit, Connor, and you know it.” He descended the ladder.
“Just keep your cool. Fighting with the sheriff ain’t gonna do no good. I only want to hear ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ out of your mouth, you understand?”
“Yes sir,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Together we went toward the house and climbed onto the porch. Dylan hung his head low, looking guilty as ever.
“Father. Sheriff,” he said.
“Dylan, I’ve got to have a word with you, son.”
“Yes, Sheriff?”
“Matthew Dean has filed a report against you for assault. I’ve got to take you down to the station.”
“Sheriff, I was there. I saw the whole thing. Dylan was acting in self-defense,” I said, immediately lying to the sheriff.
“That may be the case, Connor, but Matthew says Dylan threw the first punch,” the sheriff said.
“I understand, Sheriff. I’ve got nothing to hide. If you need me to come down to the station, I’ll come,” Dylan said.
My father spoke. “Sheriff, let me drive my son in my truck. We’ll be right behind you. I just don’t want him sitting in your backseat going through town. People talk. Can you allow me this courtesy?”
Dylan immediately looked at my father, as did I. I could tell my father’s pride was hurt, he was disappointed in his sons. I didn’t like seeing that, and Dylan looked like he was ready to melt into a puddle on the floor.
“Alright, Dawson. You can drive him. Let’s head on out,” the Sheriff said, stepping off the porch.
My father gave Dylan a look, and my brother could only look at the floor. Together they walked to my father’s truck and drove off.
“Fuck
,” I said, going inside and slamming the door.
Abi was just coming down the stairs, yawning and still in her pajamas. It was Sunday after all.
“What are you so grumpy about already? How can you be pissed at this hour?” she said.
“The sheriff was just here. He made Dylan go down to the station. Father drove him,” I said, going into the kitchen. I poured myself a cup of black coffee.
“What?”
“It’s true. They just left,”
“Is this about the thing with Matthew?”
“You know about that? How did you know?” I asked, wondering if Lydia had told her when Abi gave her a ride back to her car.
“All my girlfriends were talking about it at the dance at the fair last night. It’s a small town after all,” she said, grabbing a mug and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“Terrific,” I said, opening the fridge and getting out the eggs. I needed a distraction.
Together, Abi and I made a simple breakfast. When Wyatt came down we informed him what was going on. He was incredibly pissed off. We all sat there feeling tense and waiting for Father to return as we ate a vegetable egg scramble, baked sweet potatoes, and toast.
“I guess we all went through a phase like this when we were younger,” Wyatt said.
“That’s true, but we didn’t get caught. Sure, we got into fights, but it wasn’t in public places. Most of the time anyway. Dylan can’t control that temper of his and there’s a lot more brewing inside of him. He needs to come to terms with that before he can set it all aside.”
“What does that mean? What aren’t you saying?”
“Yeah, what's going on?” Abi said.
“Look, I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Father said he was going to handle it, but he obviously hasn’t. Dylan has been feeling really lost and for some reason has been thinking about the future. Since you’re the oldest, he thinks the entirety of Dawson Ranch will go to you and you’ll eventually turn him out and he’ll have nothing. It seems like he’s basically having an identity crisis or something.”
