“Doubt it,” Jeremiah says as he winks at her. “Seriously, Mouse, what the heck happened to your braces and brown hair?”
She relaxes, dropping her arms to her sides. “What’s wrong with you guys? You grew up. I grew up. You weren’t all tall and… whatever.” She moves her hands in an awkward motion toward us, solidifying my knowledge that she’s been looking at me. The very thought makes me want to go pound out some push-ups or something so she has more to stare at.
“She wants us,” Jeremiah says with a straight face, causing me to choke on my lunch. Savannah turns, throws up her middle finger and walks out of the room, leaving us standing there, each with our own thoughts. It’s going to be a longer summer than I originally thought, especially knowing her and her big-city attitude are in full force.
Savannah
I officially hate my life. No, hate isn’t a strong enough word, but despise doesn’t seem to drive home what I’m feeling right now.
Loathe?
Resent?
Revenge? Yes, that’s what I want. Revenge. I want revenge on Tyler, Jeremiah and most importantly my mother. Not that I can come up with something clever or anything that would make a difference in my mom’s world to show her how much I hate my life right now because of her.
I look down at the pile of manure and let my gaze wander to my boots. No, they’re not even my boots, but my Aunt Sue’s pink muck boots with stupid brown horses on them. Every part of me is sweating right down to my toes. I rest my head against the pitchfork, but only briefly before the smell of cow shit assaults my nasal passage. I’m going to need so much therapy after living here. I certainly hope that Paris has some amazing doctors with the capacity to brainwash away my memories.
I don’t know how people wake-up here every day and act happy. There’s nothing here. TV is questionable. No mall within a hundred miles. No Internet. No air conditioning. No cell service. I’ve literally stepped back in time and the highlight of my life is going to be the once a week trip I’m allowed to take into town – wherever that may be – to email my schoolwork. Lucky me!
“Savannah.”
I roll my eyes, pick up the pitchfork and move the steaming pile of cow shit into the wheelbarrow. I know I’m the laughing stock of the ranch, but I don’t care right now. Maybe in the back of my mind this was my plan all along – pack nothing but my summer wardrobe so they’re forced to take me shopping. Anything I can do to get off the ranch and into civilization. So what if my uncle doesn’t like my “daisy dukes” and crop tops? It’s a hundred freaking degrees outside. He’s lucky I’m not in my bikini right now.
“I called for you.”
I stop and place my hand on my hip, cringing immediately at the thought of shit touching my skin. Dropping my hand, I look Tyler square in the eyes. Had he known who I was when he picked me up yesterday we could’ve hung out. But no, he had to be an ass of epic portions and ignore me. I thought for sure he’d at least be a little bit of a salvation for me while I was here.
“I’m here doing the work you said I had to do!” I wave my hand widely at the many piles that I’m supposed to move out to the “back forty,” as he called it. After Tyler’s early lunch, I was given my list of chores. At first I thought it was a joke. I couldn’t believe my aunt and uncle expected someone like me to get dirty. Sadly, I was wrong, and I was ushered out the door. Even my cry about homework fell on deaf ears. I’m sure that comes later. I’m learning quickly that we use nature as a clock on the ranch.
“I see that. You’ve been out here for two hours and have yet to fill one barrow. You might want to pick it up because it’s gotta get done, and it’s either today or tomorrow.”
“Whatever,” I spit out as I dig the pitchfork into another overheating pile of crap. “What do you want, Tyler?”
“Well…”
I stop what I’m doing and immediately regret it. He’s taken
off his hat and is running his hand over the top of his freshly shaven head. When we were little I used to tease him about his curls, but he doesn’t have them now and a part of me is wondering if they’ll reappear if he grows out his hair. I suppose this heat doesn’t mix well with longer hair. Lord knows I’m sweating something fierce. His blue eyes are a stark contrast against his tan skin, making them sparkle as if looking out over the ocean. His tan is real from working, not the fake type that the guys in the City often spend most of their time achieving under bulbs. I would know, since it was an every other day stop for me. On Tyler though, it’s sexy, appealing and sadly the opportunities I have to see him shirtless no longer continue.
I look over his shoulder at Jeremiah who is taking out one of the horses. He’s screaming something incomprehensible, which causes Tyler to look as well.
“Ignore him.”
“I plan on it,” I say automatically. It’s dawned on me that getting along with Tyler and Jeremiah will make my time here more manageable, but I’m not here to establish the connection we had when I used to live here. Those days are long gone and overtaken by superficial thoughts and selfishness. I’m here to do my penance and get the hell on a plane to Paris. I have a goal and I won’t let some country boys ruin it for me.
“Can I get back to work, Boss?” Tyler blanches at my choice of words, which gives me very little satisfaction. I want to take back my words, but am afraid to show him that I care. He didn’t care about me yesterday. Why should I show him my true feelings today?
“Actually, Aunt Sue has asked that I take you into town. She thinks you need some clothes suitable for working on the ranch.”
I shake my head. “She just wants me to dress more like her.”
“Don’t know, don’t care, Savannah. I have to go into town, she mentioned me taking you, said it might be nice if we stopped for supper. I’m leaving in fifteen minutes.”
Tyler doesn’t wait for me to respond. He turns and leaves me ankle deep in manure. I freeze when he takes off his shirt; watching the sun hit his back makes me ponder how different my life can be here if I let down my guard. Thing is, I did that once, and that’s how I ended up back in his Podunk town. I bet Tyler knows I’m watching him as he bends down to pick up the hose. He turns on the water and splashes himself. The droplets glisten in the sun as they traverse down each ridge on his back making me wish I had a towel to offer. He doesn’t exist where I’m from… and I can’t exist here.
“Savannah?”
His voice breaks my daydream and I find him standing in front of me. His chest is wet and drying quickly from the penetrating sun. My eyes travel down the front of his body. There isn’t a patch of hair until his belly button and then… I force myself to look away.