1. Bailey


"Mornin, Buckwheat." Pa said with a smile as he sipped his coffee from the rocking chair. If he wasn't outside tending the animals, he was in his rocking chair drinking some coffee and looking out the window - looking over the farm.

"Mornin, Pa." I sighed as I got myself a cup of coffee. Just a week ago I had went and got myself a new horse. I was still a little upset, the horse that I had had since I was 8 passed away, but I was excited to be training with a new horse.

"What's on your agenda today little one?" He asked looking out the window.

"Gonna go ride Spirit, see if I can train him some... take him through some trails... get used to him... Might take the truck into town and get it looked at... it's been sluggish." I shrugged.
I drive a 1997 Dodge ram v10. His name is Cowboy, he's my first vehicle and I’ll have him til the day I die. I can't explain the love shared between a truck and his owner, it's just... I don't know. I rebuilt him, I know his sounds, I know how to make him run better... I know how to fix him when he's hurting.... It's a bond we've shared since I was big enough to see over the steering wheel.

"You know, I think it's time you upgrade." Pa said looking at me with his blue eyes, the blue eyes we shared. Everyone else in our family had brown eyes.

"I can't afford that, Pa." I smiled. "And I could never, Never, get rid of Cowboy."

"You don't have to get rid of him, just give him a break." He shrugged. "Go buy yourself a new car... you deserve it."

"Why do I deserve it?" I asked in shock. "I'm normal. I do everything just like everyone any one else does..."

"You do everything just like everyone else in our family, but believe it or not... Not every one gets up at sunrise, works their hyde off, then takes a quick tea break at noon.. works their ass off some more - then comes in when the sun goes down, eats a good meal and goes to bed. Not everyone does that Bailey."

"Everyone works. I understand not everyone lives on a ranch, Pa."

"You've been saving up money since you were six... What are you waiting for?" He asked.

"A house... I want my own farm." I admitted.

"When you find a good ol' boy, then you can start worrying about that." He smiled. "Until then, why don't you spend it on things you want - now. Not for later."

"I'm going outside, you're welcome to come if you'd like. I'm sure Harley would like to go out."

"I'll pass Buckwheat. But make sure you are back by lunch, I wanted you to go in town for me."

"Yes Pa." I said nodding, finishing my coffee before slipping on my boots and heading out to the barn.

You know, the day I leave this house is gonna be a hard day. This house is the most beautiful house I'd ever seen. We own 75 acres, mostly flat land... 25 acres are wooded and has it's hills, even a creek that leads to a waterfall where we've always went to swim. The house is an old farm house, white with a huge porch. Pa built this house exactly the way Ma wanted it, her porch... her balcony like window that was in the kitchen that you could sit in.. everything he made for her, and I always imagined that i'd raise my kids here one day but I started to doubt it. The only thing modern about this place is the garage where all the cars are, I have a truck then Pa has a truck and a jeep. We have two sheds, one for equipment, it has a bay for working on things... Our other holds the two quads we own. We keep the trailers tarped by the garage, I can see why some people would say we own a lot but in reality we use every little thing we own... it's not like we have it for fun.

I walked down the sidewalk to the barn, I could hear the horses moving around, it was always a calming sound. Sometimes, when I'm upset, I’ll go up into the hay loft with a blanket and just sit and watch the sun or the starts out of the door on the loft and listen to the horses below. it always, always, made me feel better.

"Hey babygirl." Ma smiled. She was over with the goats in the pen on the side.

"Hey mama. I'm going into town later, you need me to get anything for Thanksgiving?" I asked as I went into Spirit's pen. Thanksgiving was two days away, tomorrow we started our cooking... then preparing for the guests to arrive and spend the night. All the things I wasn't looking forward to.

I don't understand it, but I don't get along with my family. They have a certain image they try to obtain, and ever since they found out that Johnny ran off to LA to join a band and that I smoke and drink - well... they don't like us. And family happenings are just, horrid.

"Well, I’ll make you a list when I get up to the house." She said quietly. "I'm gonna be heading in soon to start lunch."

"Little early, don't you think?" I asked as I got the saddle down.

She didn't say anything as I made sure Spirit was ready, she seemed tired or like something was bothering her. Usually when something is bothering her, or she's got a lot on her mind - she'll tell me. usually over a cup of tea. Well, she hadn't done that - so she must be tired.
I took Spirit out the back by the creek, I didn't trust him enough to cross creek, it was a little deep and the water flow was usually steady so I just took him the long way where there was small bridge Pa made for Johnny and I so we could get across safely - with or without a horse - so we could go play in the woods.

There was a small pond back here, wasn't good for much except clearing your head.
I led him around for a little, up all the little trails. I was really upset about Thanksgiving happening at our house this year, usually I can get out of it if it's anywhere else.
Ever since Johnny ran away and I defended him, and they found out I smoke cigarettes and drink beer - we've been shunned.

That's not the problem.
The problem is the remarks they make... The glances.
But you know what hurts most of all?
Ma and Pa smiling as if nothing is wrong.

Notes

I write really fast so there are some errors, sorry! I tried to go through and find them all, but my attention span is that of a gnat! ^-^
Happy Reading!