What time should I come over? I should be done packing by 11. I can grab lunch in town for us if you want.
Kacey
Whenever you’re done works. Lunch would be great, thanks.
Knox
Sushi or burgers?
Kacey
Sushi!
Knox
That was a test. You failed
Knox
But I’ll get you raw fish so you can risk food poisoning if that’s what you want
Knox pulls in shortly before noon and parks in what’s become his spot outside the barn.
Sitting on the tailgate of his truck eating, I ask, “How do you not like sushi? It’s so good.”
I have sushi and he ordered beef pad thai.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “I prefer to eat cooked meat, preferably beef. Not to mention Trey got food poisoning from sushi once. It was gas station sushi though, so that was on him. I had to get him barf bags for the truck; it was gross.”
I laugh. “Oh yeah, never trust gas station sushi.Everyoneknows that.”
“If you knew Trey, you would know there isn’t much that scares him. It’s either because of a lack of brain power or he’s extremely brave. I haven’t decided which.” Knox smiles as he pops the last piece of his beef in his mouth.
We finish eating and grab the horses I had saddled before he got here. We start riding out through the pasture to one of my favorite mountain trails, and it’s a beautiful day for a ride. The sun shines over the crest of the mountains as the spring breeze blows past us.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
The leather of my saddle creaks as I turn to look at him. “Alright, I know you’re dying to ask, so let’s have it. What are your questions?”
“Right, I won. I beat you. So, I get three questions. Because I won,” he says with the biggest grin on his face.
I roll my eyes. So humble, this one. “Yeah, yeah, live it up, bull rider. It won’t happen again.”
He thinks about his first question, but it doesn’t take him long. “What is your most treasured memory?”
I pause. That wasn’t what I was expecting him to ask. Most guys would’ve asked some dumb, inappropriate question. Leave it to Knox to ask something deeper. I don’t need to think about my answer, it’s a memory I treasure, and replay in my mind every summer.
“I was six, and Mom and Dad took me to the fair. Back then, we didn’t get off the ranch much. Dad was still working long days to keep the ranch afloat, so it was a big deal. I remember sitting in the back seat of the truck and I was so excited. I’d never been to the fair, but Mom told me all about it. She said I could get cotton candy, see all the animals, and ride the rides.
We spent all day there; they walked every barn with me, got me cotton candy, and bought me ride tickets. Dad won me a stuffed animal from one of those rigged carney games and he was my hero for the rest of the day.” I look forward, turning Hooch toward the trail, but I can feel Knox watching me. Listening to every word.
“We ended the day by going on the Ferris wheel and I can still remember the way my parents looked at each other and held hands. I didn’t know it then, but looking back, they were so in love. I think that’s why I love that memory so much.”
I often wondered if I’d ever find a love like that, but after Garrett, I gave up on that dream, and some days I wish I hadn’t.
There is a soft smile on Knox’s face when he replies. “That sounds like the perfect day. You miss your mom a lot, don’t you?”
“Every day. I wish she could see the ranch now. She’d be so proud of my dad.” Talking about her hurts, but it’s good. I wish dad and I talked about her more. I was so little when she died, now I feel like I couldn’t really know or remember all of her since I was just a child.
