“I’ve been careful. Mama taught me well, just like she taught you."
He pats me on the back. “You’re still getting a paternity test though. I wouldn’t believe that woman as far as I could throw her. What class is she taking in school, anyway? She learning how to cook using a cauldron?"
“I’ve never asked her. We have no classes together."
“What the hell do you talk about, anyway?" Braylynn asks, giving me a look like I just told her I was giving birth myself.
“If my brother knocked this chick up, chances are they aren’t talking about much." Nash points out to her.
When we pull up to the ranch, Piper is sitting on the porch. She sees me sitting in the back of the cab, and she rises. Concernis registered all over her face. As I step out of the truck, I watch her reaction to both Nash and Braylynn's expressions. “What happened?"
They both have the grace to look at me for approval before speaking. I nod, giving them a knowing look. “That woman is a snake." Braylynn comments, using what seems to be her favorite word tonight.
“She blurted it out, plain as day, that she’s pregnant." Nash adds.
Piper's mouth widens. “You’re not serious."
“As serious as the nose on my face." Nash confirms. “But he’s getting a paternity test before she squeezes a dime out of him." Nash indicates, thumbing towards me.
Billy walks out from behind the barn, evidently with ears like a hawk. “Is she married?"
I get irritated. “Was this all a plan just to interrupt our evening so you could gossip?"
“No, I took care of things here, but Piper said that y’all were on your way back anyway, so I figured best not to bother you.” He gives me an evaluating glance. "What are you doing back so early, anyway? Did you find out if she was married or not?"
My eyes roll. "For chrissake. No! We didn't get to that! She got all flustered and the night went all to hell as soon as Braylynn opened up her big mouth!"
Billy's face is blank. I don't normally speak to him that way, but I'm not actually speaking directly to him. It's more like I'm addressing everyone here. And I'm so frustrated I could punch a hole in a wall. I'm not an angry person. Never have been. But after tonight, there are so many things running through my head, and I need to get away from it all. Now. After scraping a hand over my face, I sigh. "Billy, you mind if I take Digger out? I need some air."
"Sure thing, man. He's not saddled."
"I'll do it." Nash offers. "You go take a walk for five minutes."
I don't argue. I'm past that. My head is all over the place. The girls watch me as I walk away, likely wanting to shower me with questions and support, but I'm not up for it yet. I need to clear my head and decide what to do, or at least the first half, before talking more about it. Nash brings me Digger right on time, as promised, and I hop on him. It takes five more minutes before I feel like I can walk into a room without screaming. The air is crisp and cool as the sun goes down, and the brush snaps happily underfoot, as I trot through the woods. I decide I want to venture out further, so I take Digger outside the wooded area and start off at a gallop. It feels so liberating, as my ankles slap against his sides, clinging to his body with my thighs. It's sort of magical how riding can make you forget all your problems.
His hooves pat on the earth as we gallop through all of Billy's land, until we get towards one of the parcels that's bordered by a low fence, and I see it. Rather, I seeher. I see a young girl laying in the pasture. There are trees overhead and I can see from a distance that she's got a fancy camera in her hand. "Hey!" I shout. "This is private property!"
Nothing.
"Hey! I said this is private property! You're trespassing!"
She doesn't move, except for small finger gestures as she adjusts her camera. After pulling back on the reins, slowing Digger down, I call out to her once again. "Ma'am! You're trespassing!"
Still nothing. It's like she's deaf. Or maybe she's an illusion. Or maybe she's just ignoring me and she's about to open up a can of whoop ass on me, like what I picture Shelly doing if someone were to sneak up on her like that. My boots hit the grass underfoot and I walk to her. The woman is blonde. Her hair is long and is pooled all around her face and head as she lays in the soft grass. She's photographing on her back, and it looks likea telephoto shot from the vantage point of the grass to the tips of the trees. "Ma'am?" I call out softly, intrigued by what she's doing. The camera has a small screen on the side of the lens, and I can see the shot that she's taking.
There is a soft tote bag next to her bearing some photography studio’s name. But a long tripod hanging halfway out of it is blocking the first name of said business from my view. “Ma’am?” I try once more, before going any closer. She still doesn’t acknowledge me. But I’ve forgotten all that, because I’m watching her pan in and out of the shot, adding effects, making the shot look like something out of a horror movie. Then she changes the effect and it looks like the most beautiful goddamn picture I’ve ever seen.
Her finger movements are so fast yet fluid. It’s like she’s been doing what she’s doing all her life. I’m lost watching her. She transforms the photograph from just a couple of trees to something unimaginable. Now I’m no expert. I mean, my phone is filled with pictures of horses and nuts and bolts and pieces of the resort house. Stuff like that. But this, this is something else.
She turns over onto her stomach and glances at me. Her eyes widen and she lets out what I’m guessing is a scream. I’ve startled the pants off her. Never in my life have I seen a woman scurry off so fast. I’m lost for words. But then I find a few as I chase after her. “Ma’am! I didn’t mean to scare you! It’s just that this is Billy’s ranch! You’re not supposed to be here!” I run after her as fast as my legs will carry me, but she’s faster. Like she ran in competitions or something.
I’m winded and considering going back for Digger, when she runs into the brush and I lose her. I’m so out of shape it’s frightening. My chest heaves as I stop to catch my breath. The woman’s footsteps are so soft I can barely hear them. But even if I knew where she was headed, I’m too winded to follow her any further. Once I reach Digger, I climb on him and retrace thepath where she went. It’s too dark by the time I even start getting anywhere, so I give up, and find myself laying right back in the spot where she was laying.
It’s perfect. It’s like she made that spot what it is. Perfect view in between the trees. The twilight peeks in through the clouds in such a way that makes it look like the lord himself is looking down on me. I figure she must have scouted this spot out. You wouldn’t think to look at it that way.
And I seem to have found myself another place to go to clear my thoughts. I know this, because I’m not laying here thinking about what happened tonight. In fact, I find myself looking up the various photography Studios, here in town, and even out of town, trying to figure out where this girl perhaps works. The search is to no avail, of course, so I figure that she’s probably from out of town, especially if she didn’t realize that she was on private property.
Any local would know that this is Billy‘s land. Unless you’ve had his permission, you’re not supposed to be here. Funny thing is, the girl's face seems to be glued inside my head. The long, sheer, blonde hair, the big blue eyes that stared back at me so frightened, and her long, nimble fingers. Milky, white skin, full pink lips, long, dark eyelashes, there is no two ways about it, that woman was like an angel. I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful before.
