“I have a spare hour now,” Charlie said, getting up from her chair. “Want me to show you a little more of what we do?”
And that was why I’d asked Charlie to step up in the first place. “That’s a great idea.” I reached out my hand to Tally. “I’ll leave you with Charlie, but hopefully next time we speak it’ll be because you’re accepting my offer.”
As I left them to go and work with an ex rodeo horse who’d been sent to me by my friend Deacon, I was grateful that a shit day had turned out okay. Maybe it was the shape of things to come—good things, but when I looked over toward the development site, I couldn’t be so sure.
Chapter 34
Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
Cassidy
The kids were all occupied writing stories about their life as if they’d lived a hundred years ago. Looking across the classroom filled me with pride for what I did as a profession. Each of them was engrossed in their task, with tongues poking between teeth, noses scrunched up, and furrowed brows as they concentrated.
Lucas, though, was sitting back in his seat, tapping his pencil against his teeth in thought. It amused me to see these little mannerisms, some inherited from parents or grandparents, others seemingly appearing from nowhere. Mom always said I pinched the end of my nose when I didn’t like someone, a quirk no one else in the family shared. It was a weird trait, but it was mine.
“Okay, Lucas?” I asked. His desk was right in front of mine and I could see that he’d stalled a little.
His gaze met mine, big eyes questioning. “Does my life a hundred years ago have to be like it is now, Miss. Turner, but like a hundred years ago?”
“That was the assignment. Why? What are you thinking?”
“If I could write about the life I’d have liked to have had.” He stretched his arms out across his desk, dangling his pencil off the end of it.
“You can do that, too. How would you have liked to have lived?”
“On the ranch,” he replied, full of excitement and wonder. “Like Bertie does, but a hundred years ago.”
“So?” I asked moving around my desk to sit on the edge of it. “What’s your problem?”
He looked down at the three lines he’d written. “I don’t know what sort of things they do on the ranch or what they did.”
“You know what they do with the horses. How do you help Gunner?”
“I just ride the pony around in a circle.” He shrugged.
My stomach somersaulted as I thought about the camp because that was exactly what it was all about; teaching kids how to work on a ranch. Lucas’ wanting to write a story about the ranch a hundred years ago had given me an idea.
“Why don’t you go and ask Bertie what happens on the ranch.” I pointed to Bertie who was scribbling away. “In fact,” I clapped my hands, “everyone can you stop for a moment.” Twenty two sets of eyes looked up at me. “I’d like you to get into pairs and one of you be the storyteller and one the story writer. I want the teller to explain to the writer what their life is like now and then the other person write about it as if it was a hundred years ago. Bertie, can you partner with Lucas because he has a particular life he’d like to write about. Everyone else, pick your partner carefully.”
“Sure thing, Miss. Turner.” She saluted me and skipped over to Lucas’ desk.
There was a little noise as people partnered up, but the incredible kids they were, none of them complained or made a fuss. Apart from Amber and Macey, two girls who could be mean, they were insistent on being a pair, even though one of the boys, Gregory, was desperate to write about Amber’s life.
Once everyone was settled, I heard them all discuss which roles they were going to take and animated chatter about their lives began. Satisfied they were working okay I slipped my phone out of my desk drawer and messaged Gunner.
Cassidy
Hey gorgeous. How’s your day going? How’s Charlie’s last day? xx
Within seconds he replied, making me breathless.
Gunner
Hi sweetheart. Better now I’ve heard from you. Which is pathetic because I’m a grown man who can break a wild horse. A man who apparently is a lovesick idiot when my girlfriend doesn’t message him back within seconds xx
Cassidy
But what about Charlie? Is she also happier now I’ve messaged? Xx
