1986
Supper came earlier than Will had expected. He heard someone ringing the triangle bell, and knew that meant he had about five minutes to get up to the house. He led Buck into the stall at the end of the barn, took his saddle off and began to brush him out. Will liked the smell of the sweat on his horse. They had worked hard today, and he gave Buck a handful of oats. Buck’s soft lips quickly scraped Will’s hands dry of any remaining oats, and then went back to his hay. Will threw the blanket over the saddle and carried it back to the tack room. He stopped when he thought he heard singing, and running water. The tack room was at the back of the barn, with stairs running down into what looked like a basement. Will put the saddle on the tree, and followed the stairs and the singing. He noticed a bright pink ribbon on the last rail at the bottom of the stairs. He stopped and ran his fingers through over the silky cloth. His thick calloused hands snagged the material. Will turned it over and ran it along the back of his hand just as the Kaytie came around the corner. He smiled as he took her in. Her T-shirt clung to her still moist body, her cut-off Levis played up her taught tan legs. Her blonde hair was wrapped up in a towel, and her tiny feet were still wet from the shower. He was sure she had seen him, but then she stopped at a long mirror and bent to take the towel off her head. Will watched as she threw the towel over her shoulder and then ran her fingers through her long hair, till humming lightly to herself. He leaned against the wall, studying her. She was lean, and tan, and yet still very feminine. He liked her sassy attitude, but she also had a vulnerability and sweetness that took the edge off the ranch girl persona that she tried so hard to portray. Kaytie smoothed her hair back behind her ears, and Will turned to go quietly back up the stairs.
Kaytie turned her head "James?" She slid her feet into her sandals and started to climb the stairs. As she got to the top she stopped when she saw Will Cannon standing in the tack room. He made eye contact with Kaytie and she felt herself beginning to blush as a grin spread slowly across his face.
Supper came earlier than Will had expected. He heard someone ringing the triangle bell, and knew that meant he had about five minutes to get up to the house. He led Buck into the stall at the end of the barn, took his saddle off and began to brush him out. Will liked the smell of the sweat on his horse. They had worked hard today, and he gave Buck a handful of oats. Buck’s soft lips quickly scraped Will’s hands dry of any remaining oats, and then went back to his hay. Will threw the blanket over the saddle and carried it back to the tack room. He stopped when he thought he heard singing, and running water. The tack room was at the back of the barn, with stairs running down into what looked like a basement. Will put the saddle on the tree, and followed the stairs and the singing. He noticed a bright pink ribbon on the last rail at the bottom of the stairs. He stopped and ran his fingers through over the silky cloth. His thick calloused hands snagged the material. Will turned it over and ran it along the back of his hand just as the Kaytie came around the corner. He smiled as he took her in. Her T-shirt clung to her still moist body, her cut-off Levis played up her taught tan legs. Her blonde hair was wrapped up in a towel, and her tiny feet were still wet from the shower. He was sure she had seen him, but then she stopped at a long mirror and bent to take the towel off her head. Will watched as she threw the towel over her shoulder and then ran her fingers through her long hair, till humming lightly to herself. He leaned against the wall, studying her. She was lean, and tan, and yet still very feminine. He liked her sassy attitude, but she also had a vulnerability and sweetness that took the edge off the ranch girl persona that she tried so hard to portray. Kaytie smoothed her hair back behind her ears, and Will turned to go quietly back up the stairs.
Kaytie turned her head "James?" She slid her feet into her sandals and started to climb the stairs. As she got to the top she stopped when she saw Will Cannon standing in the tack room. He made eye contact with Kaytie and she felt herself beginning to blush as a grin spread slowly across his face.
