29. Boone

Twenty Nine

Boone

I used to drown myself in the ranch, spending every waking moment doing something. Whether that be moving the cattle, taking the horses to stretch their legs, or being the first to jump on a task.

After graduating, I needed to grow up a bit. I decided it was time to focus on bettering the family business and myself. I knew one day I’d inherit the ranch and that meant success for my future started the minute I threw my cap in the air and said goodbye to Faircloud High School.

With that being said, my priorities recently changed. I found my mind wanting to be occupied with something, or I should say, someone else. That didn’t mean being less invested in the ranch. It meant creating a life for myself beyond ranching and riding.

When I was with Aspen, I couldn’t seem to pull my attention away for more than a moment. I’d steal glances whenever I could, preferably when she wasn’t looking. I admired her in every way possible, from her stunning body to her beautiful mind. Even when I was working, my mind drifted off to la la land where it was just her and I playing house with nowhere else to go but our four-post king-sized bed.

What the hell happened to me? I was one lucky man to have someone like her willing to give me a chance. I was put on this earth to make her happy, finally finding my life’s purpose.

Physical labor always helped me clear my head; when things got tough or when my mind was a bit all over the place, I turned to tossing hay or fixing something. Right now, my mind was in pure chaos.

Aspen came home last night after seeing her parents, and things didn’t go well. I could tell by the way she acted that the conversation didn’t go the way she wanted. I’d learned a lot about her mannerisms over the last few months. I can read her like a book.

When her bright personality dimmed, I knew she was in her head about something. I tried to talk to her, tried to understand what happened, but she remained closed off, which wasn’t like her. I let it go, knowing she would open up when she wanted. She needed me just to be there, and I was more than happy to do it.

Today, I turned to fixing the farm truck. Nothing was seriously wrong with it; the breaks were starting to squeal, which meant it was time to replace them. I was laid up under the truck, all four tires removed. If I was going through the trouble, I might as well rotate them too. Turning a bolt loose, I began to take apart the back passenger side break.

I nearly dropped the wrench on my face when I was startled by a knock on the barn door. Rolling out from the truck, I wiped my hands on a towel and saw Aspen’s brother walk through the door.

“Oh hey, man,” I said, standing up.

Parker Westgrove was the last person I expected to see today considering no one ever saw him outside of the hardware store. He was a recluse with no real friends or relationships around Faircloud. That sounded harsh, but it was true.

“I came by to talk to you about something.” Parker got straight to the point, bypassing the greeting. Did I also mention he was a bit of an asshole? Not even a “Hey, how are you?”

“Sure, what’s up?” I asked, standing with my feet apart and my arms crossed over my chest. I didn’t mean to make it seem like a power move, but I guess it was.

“I’m here as a concerned brother and to make sure my sister isn’t just another pawn in your game. By the way, Aspen doesn’t know I’m here.” He was harsh. I admired that about him. He gave no fucks what anyone thought and would set you straight without thinking twice.

Parker may be built like an ox, but I still had my masculinity to protect. “I like your sister, and if you’re here to try and convince me to leave her alone, I’m not, so you can save your breath. I have nothing to prove to you.”

Parker, who was typically straight-faced and stern, actually cracked a smile. “After telling our parents, Aspen came to see me and was furious. She cares about you. I can tell that much. I haven’t seen my sister this riled up enough to put our parents in their place, ever.” Parker continued, “So, you’re right, you don’t have to prove anything to me. I’m able to take my sister’s judgment as enough.”

“Then why are you here?” I asked.

“Are you willing to prove to my family how you feel?” I never felt the need to prove myself to anyone in this town except my family. For Aspen, I was willing to go the extra mile to make sure the Westgroves knew how much I cared for their daughter.

Sitting with the question, I pondered an answer. I’d shout from the highest mountain in Faircloud that I cared about Aspen or fight a bull if it meant showing them how much she meant to me. However, I couldn’t say that to Parker. “What’s there to prove?”

“She tell you how our parents reacted?” I shook my head because she hadn’t. Last night she was quiet, laying her head against my shoulder on the porch swing while I stroked her hair. “In that case, let me give you the short version. My parents blew up and Aspen left crying. They don’t think you’re good enough for her.”

“Oh, for fucks sake,” I said, laughing out loud while placing my hands on my hips. “I’d do anything for your sister. The way I feel about her, I’ve never felt towards anyone. She’s special and I’m lucky as hell she sees something in me that clearly the rest don’t.” Never did I think that the choices I made growing up when it came to women would be held against me as an adult.

Aspen was unique. She made me feel rich, the kind of rich money couldn’t buy. When I thought of her, I saw her beautiful smile and blushing pink cheeks. I admired her kind soul and captivating presence. Picturing her eyes, blue as a cloudless sky, made my heart beat faster with excitement. I was gone for this woman, a woman I never thought would be willing to give me a chance. She thought no one ever noticed her, but I always did.

Parker relaxed his body, slouching from his stern stance. “I have an idea. Are you up for it?” Parker asked, grinning for the second time since coming into the barn. Whatever his idea was, I was in as long as it meant Aspen would be happy.

“Tell me what I need to do,” I said, walking towards Parker with my hand out. Parker placed his in mine and we shook on it. Keeping this plan a secret from Aspen was going to be hard, but if it was the only secret I ever kept from her, I think I’d be okay with that.

Aspen

It’d been a couple of days since the blowout with my parents and I still hadn’t heard from them. I needed to take a step away and gather my thoughts before broaching the subject again. After talking with Parker, I thought a lot about what I was going to say or how I would say it without sounding wicked. Now, I was about to put my thoughts into actual words. Parker texted me to meet him at our parents’ house. It was the perfect moment to come clean and have the tough conversation knowing Parker would be by my side.

I decided to tell my parents that I respected their opinions and could see where they were coming from, but I didn’t plan on changing my choices. I’d apologize for how I reacted and for my own part in what happened the other day. That was the adult thing to do, not continue to fight like children having a tantrum.

Boone didn’t know what happened the last time I saw my mom and dad. That night, I didn’t tell him the details because I didn’t want to hurt him. He understood it didn’t go well and left it at that. I spent the night on the swing, letting him console me. Boone didn’t need to know the details to understand how upset I was, which said a lot about the connection we shared.

Pulling up to the house, I put my car in park and took a deep breath. My hope was that seeing my parents with Parker would give me someone on my side, it wasn’t two vs one. Using the confidence I had from my mental pep talk, I walked up to the front door and knocked. I didn’t feel like I could barge in like I used to, given how things went last time. I waited a few moments before knocking again. No one answered, which left me one choice, and that was to let myself in.

Doing that, I stepped sheepishly inside, peering around to see if anyone was there. The television was off, and my dad’s recliner chair was empty. I softly shut the door. Maybe they were taking a nap? Tiptoeing towards the kitchen, I heard a light chatter coming from the back porch. The sliding glass door to go outside was right off our kitchen, I stood by the window to see who was out there.

“Thank you for letting me come over, Mr. And Mrs. Westgrove. I hope I’m not intruding.” My jaw flew open, nearly hitting the floor, when I heard a voice I’d recognize anywhere. Peering outside, Boone was sitting with my family at the patio table. I saw the back of his head, topped with his cowboy hat. There was no mistaking that man; he went very few places without it. Always in the same white t-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. My dad wore a straight face, not a frown or smirk. He sat with his arms crossed firmly across his chest. My mom sat beside him, blonde hair in a slick back bun. Unlike my dad, she had a faint smile.

Refusing to make myself known, I crouched down and stayed close enough I could hear the conversation.

“You came over unannounced, so I’d say you’re intruding,” my dad replied.

“I’ll make it quick then,” Boone quipped, not taking the sarcastic tone from my dad. “I like your daughter. It’s clear you don’t accept me or our relationship. I wanted to be a man and sit down with you both to address any of your concerns.” Boone put on his serious tone and spoke eloquently. It was kind of hot.

My mom interjected first. She was always softer than Dad. “We just want what is best for our daughter. Her success and happiness is our priority. We don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Not that we have anything to explain to you,” my dad chimed in. I rolled my eyes, groaning to myself.

“I get that,” Boone responded. “But her happiness and success are also my top priority, and I know her better than you think.” He was right. Boone knew me and my goals better than my parents did. I shared more with Boone in the last few months than I did with them in over twenty years.

“I know what’s best for my daughter. I raised her, and a Cassidy isn’t it. She’s better than this place and deserves to explore what the world has to offer. She needs that,” my father replied.

“She needs it, or do you?” Boone spat back, keeping a calm tone. I gasped, my hand covering my mouth. “Aspen is a woman who enjoys the comforts of familiarity. She does the same routine every day and every night. She sticks with the same friends and has had the same hobby since she was a kid. She doesn’t need adventure or exploration. She needs someone who will respect her wishes and grow with her here in Faircloud.”

The corners of my eyes began to prick with tears. What Boone just said hit me hard. The way this man understood me, almost more than I understood myself, was unbelievable. My entire life, I’d done the same things, followed the same people, and wanted the same goals. I was a creature of habit, just like Boone. He meshed into my world so effortlessly, because deep down, we were the same.

My dad scoffed, speechless. My mom spoke instead, “She has always been gentle, easily bruised.”

“Ma’am, your daughter is stronger than you think. You’ve both done an amazing job raising her into the woman she is today. The way I feel about her isn’t something I’ve felt for anyone before. You can dwell on my past when I was a stupid boy. Today, I’m a man who cares about your daughter.” Boone spoke sweet and gentle just like he had when he was teaching me to ride a horse. He’d make an amazing father one day.

Hearing Boone say those things about me made my chest ache to the point I physically rubbed it with my hand. I was falling for this man and taking things slow was beginning to be much harder than I thought.

As a young girl, I read books about summer flings and thought, How could someone fall in love in one summer? Well, I was living proof that when you felt a connection as strong as I did with Boone, anything was possible. For the first time in my life, I felt enthralled by a real man and not a fictional character. It was consuming and velvety, I wish everyone had a chance to experience it.

Standing up slowly, I showed myself. When I walked outside, all eyes snapped towards me. I didn’t feel shy or nervous. I felt empowered by Boone’s words. For the first time, I stepped foot into the same room as my parents and didn’t feel small.

“Hi, sweetie,” my mom said, standing to greet me with a hug. I didn’t say a word, but I hugged her back, staring right at Boone. Smiling, I mouthed, Thank you.

He tipped his hat towards me and winked, those damn butterflies being awoken once again.

Letting go of my mom, I sat next to Boone, who pulled out the chair for me. He was laying it on thick for my parents, and I didn’t mind it one bit. His hand found my thigh under the table, a reassuring touch that everything was okay.

“Dad,” I said, trying to engage him. Instead, he said nothing and barely looked in my direction. His attention was solely on Boone, who also refused to back down. “I’m sorry for how I handled the other day. I didn’t mean to come off as hateful or nasty and I’m owning up to it.”

My mom smiled, her shoulders sagging slightly. I continued, “But, I meant what I said. I’m not going to stop seeing Boone, and I’m not going back to school. I’m writing a book.” Now, I was smiling. It felt damn good to say that out loud. “I’m proud of myself for the farm stand, and I’m happy.” I placed my hand on Boone, squeezing it.

“That’s all we want,” my mom cooed. I knew that’s all they ever wanted, but their distorted version of my happiness was them projecting the life they wanted onto me.

“I am. I don’t know how else to prove it to both of you. I need you to take my word for it,” I said.

My mom nodded, and so did my dad. He was done with the conversation, and there was no convincing him until he saw it with his own eyes. I was taking the nod, the surrender, as a win. With time, I’d prove to them both that Boone and I were perfect for each other. I’d show them that being an author was right for me, and they could worry less.

I don’t know how long that will take. I was willing to go the extra mile every time to convince them it was okay to loosen the reins and let me take control of my own fate.