The Long Ride Home (Cowboys & Cowgirls) (11 page)

“I
don’t know, but I don’t want things to go back to the way they were before!”

“I don’t either, baby. I can’t keep coming out there every weekend, and I don’t want us to not trust each other.”

Elena frowned and picked up her blanket off her chair. She sat down and wrapped it around her and looked out the window. It was dark.

“Where are you?”

“Home. I thought getting drunk would be a good idea.”

“Oh, Ho
lton! You never drink.”

“I know. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and to be honest, it was. Joe and Sarah
were making out like teenagers!”

“Sarah Marie?”

“Yeah, Joe has the hots for her.”

“The hots? Honestly, Ho
lton, sometimes I do believe you are too old for me! Were you at the pub?”

“Yeah, Joe thought it would be a good idea, and I just wanted him to shut up. Long story, anyway, he and Sarah were going at it pretty good when I got a cab and came back here.”

Eleana was laughing and Holton joined her. “I wasn’t too old for you the last time we talked on the phone,” Holton stated.

Elena blushed. “Not fair,” she said quietly.

“No, not fair,” Holton chuckled. “So, how long until Spring break?” Holton asked.

“April.
You know that. We have a very long time. I had an exam today and I know I did horribly.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you study or anything. I can’t even be there for you like I want. This is why this is a huge problem for us.”

“Don’t break up with me again, Holton.”

“I’m not. I just don’t know how to do this. We don’t really know each other well enough.”

“So, we get to know each other,” Elena said.

“You think
you’re so smart, don’t you?” Holton joked.

“I know I am. We can’t see each
other every night, but we can talk on the phone. And I have Skype. You have a computer, just get it set up on your laptop and we can talk.”

“I have S
kype, Elena.”

“You do?” she said excitedly.

“I am only 28!”

“So you keep reminding me!” she laughed. “What’s your username?”

“Just tell me yours and I’ll find you,” Holton interrupted.

“Uh ut, no way. What’s your user name?”

“OldMacdonald229.”

Elena started cracking up, she was laughing so hard. “Wow you really do have an age concept! I like the area code that you threw in there!”

“Shut up, brat!” Holton laughed, feeling carefree. He really did miss bantering with Elena.

“I’m ElenaDade.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Holton closed his eyes and felt his heart hammer in his chest. “You make my heart smile, Elena.”

Elena smiled and closed her eyes. “You make mine beat.”

***

An hour later, Ho
lton was loading up his laptop and logging in to Skype. As soon as he was in, he saw a friend request from Elena. He couldn’t believe that she used his last name in her username. Something that would have freaked him out a year ago didn’t bother him one bit at all now.

As soon as Holton accepted her friend request he heard the sound of her call.

He clicked the button, and saw her on the screen.

“Hey there.”

“Hi!” she said, looking beautiful as always. She was wearing a pair of red pajamas with mini mouse on them.

“What in the world are you wearing?” Holton joked. She looked down at her pjs and smiled.

“Not red lace,” she said, and then blushed.

“No, definitely not, but I like the way you turn all red mentioning them.”

“Yeah, I just bet you do. And stop making fun of me!” she joked.

“I’m really sorry about our last visit,” Holton commented. He looked at her on the screen and felt overwhelmed with emotion. He wanted to tell her…

“I know; me, too,” she replied. She moved her hand over to her screen and touched it.

Holton imagined her touching him. He closed his eyes. “I really wish the drive was only a few hours instead of ten. I would have taken a cab.”

“A cab? That would have cost a fortune.”

“I was drinking.”

“Oh, that’s right,” she said, frowning. “Don’t do an
ything stupid because of me, Holton. I would never be able to forgive myself.”

“Me, neither,” Ho
lton agreed. “So, what do we talk about?”

“Well, how about twenty questions?”

“Why do I feel like I’m in high school again?” Holton joked; Elena smiled and moved her foot underneath her bottom. She leaned forward and laughed.

“Maybe because you act like it?”

“Yeah, sure. You go first.”

“Okay…First time?” Elena asked. Her face turned a bright red.

Holton took a deep breath and could feel his face heat up as well. “I don’t know…”

“Come on, you said we need to know each other better.”

“I don’t want you getting mad. We shouldn’t discuss
people
.”

“I think we should know.
I know you aren’t perfect, Holton. Just tell me. I want to know.”

“Then you have to tell me everything!”

“I think that’s kind of the point of getting to know each other.”

“Alright, fine. I was 21. Grace Milner.”

“The French’s exchange student?”

Ho
lton sighed. “Yep, that’s the one.”

“What happened?”

Holton rolled his eyes. “Well, it wasn’t magical, if that’s what you’re asking!”

“No, not what happened during. I think you can leave those details out.”

“Thank God.”

Elena laughed. “I meant, what happened with you two?”

Holton shook his head. “No, I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Come on!”

“No.”

Ho
lton looked to his right and then in front of him, but wasn’t making eye contact with the screen.

“Look at me,” Elena said. “I’m not going to get mad.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

Holton took a deep breath and then looked directly at the camera. “I ended it, okay? I only had sex with her because you went to homecoming with Garret Brandt.”

Elena’s eyes widened and she gasped.

“Okay, my turn.”

“Oh no
you don’t!” Elena exclaimed. “You…had feelings for me?”

Holton looked in the camera, trembling. “I’ve had feelings for you for a very long time.”

Elena’s hands shook. “Holton, how long?”

“
Since then.”

“I was 14.”

“Yeah, and I was always way too old for you, Elena. I am too old for you now, but I don’t have the strength to stay away any more.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“Are you kidding? Your parents would have had me thrown in jail.”

“My parents have always loved you!”

“They wouldn’t have if I dated their only daughter.”

“Ho
lton, it was my dad that was pushing me towards you since high school.”

Ho
lton looked at her curiously then shook his head. “No, I don’t believe it.”

“Yes, believe it. I can’t believe you had sex with her.”

“I didn’t want to tell you.”

“I’m not mad. I’m flattered. Thank you for telling me.”

Holton nodded and then looked up with a smile on his face. “Why did you really call me when you were 17?”

Elena flushed a bright red and started laughing. “I completely forgot about that!”

“Well?”

“I don’t think t
hat’s an important question, Holton. Ask me something else.”

“No way.”

Elena bit her bottom lip and smiled. “I wanted to have sex with you.”

Ho
lton’s eyes widened and he started laughing. “No, that’s not what you called for!”

“Yes it was. We were talking about sex in health class and everyone in my class was doing it. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. Don’t you remember me asking you if you carried your wallet around everywhere?”

“Yeah, but…” As if it finally dawned on Holton, he laughed really hard. “You wanted to know if I had a condom with me?”

“Yeah.”

“Jesus, Elena, you were only 17…”

“Yeah and you were a really hot 25.”

“Fuck. I don’t know what I would have done.”

“You would have said, “No, Elena, go play with your friends.”

“I would not have.”

“Ho
lton, are you kidding me! Up until three months ago, you ignored me like I didn’t exist.”

“I think you have me mistaken for someone else.”

“No, I don’t think so. My turn!” she said giddily. “What did you think about when you called me that night on the phone?”

“What night?”

“You know what night, Holton.”

“Oh, that night,” Ho
lton smiled. It was a seductive smile and it lit Elena’s insides on fire. “I thought that you were the sexiest woman in the entire world, and I wished…god, how I wished you were with me.”

“I have never done anything like that. I was nervous.”

“You were wonderful, Elena. Have you been worried about that?”

“I thought that maybe I did something wrong.”

Holton looked at her beautiful face and smiled softly. “You were so good, Elena. I can’t wait to be with you for real next time.”

“You want to?”

“God, yes.”

“Your turn,” Elena said, laughing at his expression.

“Sure now that you have me all hot and bothered. “Um, most embarrassing moment?”

“That’s easy…you were there. It was the day my dad and mom were in the yard and told you that I was now officially a woman. I was 13 and I started my period.”

Holton laughed. “I remember. You were very embarrassed and I thought you were adorable.”

“But not the love of your life,” she said, laughing.

Holton didn’t say anything. He just smiled.

“Okay, your first love,” Elena said. She took her blanket off and picked up her hairbrush that was right next to her desk. She started brushing her long hair.

Holton swallowed. This was it, he thought. “You.”

Elena looked around nervously and then looked at the screen. “W-what?”

“You.”

“Ho
lton, I just asked you who your…”

“I heard you, Elena. I love you. I’m in love with you.”

Tears streamed instantly down Elena’s face and she started hiccupping. If she didn’t look so adorable at that moment he would have laughed.

“You…”

“I…”

“What?”

“Elena, you have to know.”

“No, I didn’t. You’ve never said.”

“Why do you think I want to know everything there is to know about you?”

“I don’t know… maybe you’re nosy?”

Holton chuckled. “I am that. Well, I better get going. It’s really late now. Tomorrow is going to suck enough without being tired.”

“Yeah, sure. Ho
lton?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Tell me again.”

Ho
lton smiled and looked right at the camera. “I love you, Elena.”

“I love you, too.”

Holton clicked off, smiling. Being in love wasn’t so bad after all.

Chapter
10

H
olton spent the whole next week talking to Elena and working on the fair project as well as keeping his and Elena’s ranch’s afloat. He was beyond exhausted and ready to see Elena. They had a date planned for Valentine’s Day, but that was a little over three weeks away.

“Holton, can you help with the
livestock show?” Joe asked as he got out of his truck and walked over to Holton. Holton was saddling his horse.

“Yeah, of course. I actually like doing that part.”

“That would be good. Hey, I just wanted to tell you…well ask you.”

“No, I will not date you, Joe,” Holton joked, looking at Joe with a ridiculous grin. “We hardly know one another.”

Joe guffawed. “Yeah, no that’s not it, well close.”

Holton’s eyebrows went up and he
looked over to Joe.

“Sarah and Me… we’re getting married. I was wondering if you’d be my best man?”

Holton grinned and slapped Joe on the shoulder. “Man, that’s great. And yes, I would be honored.”

“Great. You can bring Elena with you. She knows Sarah, but they don’t know one another that well. It would be nice if they could get along.”

Holton smiled, thinking of Elena. “Yeah, that would be nice. I’ll call her tonight.”

“Good.”

“When’s the big day?” Holton asked a smiling Joe.

“Valentine’s Day.”

***

“Guess who’s getting married?” Holton asked as he got Elena on the phone.

“Who’s that?”

“Joe and Sarah.”

“Aw! Well that’s great!” Elena exclaimed, hoping that he was going to say him and her.

“Will you come home and be
my date?”

“When is it?”

“I know this kind of sucks, but we will still be together. Valentine’s Day.”

Elena smiled, thinking that she just wanted to spend the day with him. “That sounds perfect.”

“I’ll get you a ticket and you can finally come home. Joe asked me to be his best man.”

“That’s wonderful, Holton.”

“He wants you to get to know Sarah.”

“Why?”

“Because, he’s my best friend and you…you’re my girl.”

Elena giggled. “Oh, I’m your girl?”

“You know you are.”

C
hapter 11

February

B
eing in love sucked. Holton was so exhausted. Each night, after Elena got off work from the diner she worked at, they would Skype. Skyping and emails were all he had to look forward to each night, and of course the occasional text. And then there was Valentine’s Day and the wedding.

Ho
lton was out feeding his chickens when the text came.

He looked down at his phone. It was from Cheryl, Elena’s roommate.

*Holton, Elena’s been in an accident.*

Ho
lton stopped what he was doing and pushed the call button on his phone, trying to get Cheryl on the line. His heart raced in his chest and he could barely breathe. What kind of accident?

“Ho
lton, is that you?” Cheryl’s voice came from the other end of the phone.

“Cheryl, what happened?”

“You better get here, Holton.”

“Chery
l, tell me what’s happened!” Holton demanded. He ran into his house and grabbed his wallet and the keys to his car.

“I…it’s bad, Ho
lton. She was hit on the way to school.”

“What do you mean, hit? She doesn’t have a car…”

“Yeah. She was crossing on third and Stark when the drunk driver ran into her. She’s unconscious right now.”

“Oh my G
od!” Holton cried. “What hospital?”

“State. I’ll
tell her you are coming when she wakes up. I know it’ll be a while. But she’ll…”

“I’m flying. I’ll be at the airport soon. I’ll call you once I’m in the air. Tell her I love her, Cheryl. Tell her, please.”

“I will,” Cheryl cried. “I promise.”

Ho
lton hung up the phone and called Joe next. He let him know that he was going to be out of town and told him about Elena. Joe offered to come over to the ranch and help with things until Holton could get back.

***

When Holton got to the airport, he was able to get on the next flight to Sunnybrook, which left in 45 minutes. Those 45 were the longest in his life. Holton felt sick to his stomach. What if Elena died? What if she didn’t come back to him?

***

When Ho
lton was finally in the air, he called Cheryl and let her know his flight time. He assured her that he would get a rental car and make his way to the hospital as soon as humanly possible. Cheryl informed him that Elena still hadn’t awakened, but she did tell her that he loved her. Holton closed his eyes and thought about Elena…

5 years ago

“Holton, Elena’s on the phone,” Holton’s mother, Moira, called from the other room. “She says it’s important.”

Ho
lton took a deep breath and went into his room and picked up the phone. “I’ve got it.”

“Okay, honey,” his mother said, hanging up the receiver.

“Hello,” Holton said and sat down on his bed. He was exhausted. The day had been excruciatingly hot. One of the hottest days of the year in Dallas. The weather predicted record highs for the next 7 days.

“H-Ho
lton?” Elena stammered.

Ho
lton always liked the sound of her voice; it was a mixture between sweet and sultry. He had to remind himself often that she was only 17 years old.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Well, I was wondering…”

“Yes?”

“Do you carry your wallet with you all the time?”

Ho
lton laughed. “What kind of question is that? Do you need some money, Elena?”

“No! I mean,
no. I don’t need any money, Holton.”

“O-kay, well, is that all?”

“No, I…well, you didn’t answer my question.”

“No, I don’t always carry it with me. I mean, I guess most of the time I have it on me, why? Planning a robbery?”

Elena laughed nervously. “No…”

“Okay. Everything alright, Elena?”

“Yeah, everything is great. I’m just…well, I’m 17 now.”

Ho
lton didn’t need the reminder. The girl was a killer to his libido. “I know. How’s that going for you?” Holton asked, and then winced.

“You don’t have to make fun of me,” Elena said softly.

“I’m sorry, Elena, I’m not…Did you want anything else?”

“Uh…”

“Elena,” Elena’s mother yelled loudly. Holton could hear it on the other end. “Time for dinner.”

“I guess I better go. Maybe I’ll call sometime?” Elena finished.

Holton closed his eyes and thought about saying something to her, but changed his mind. “Have a great weekend, Elena.”

“Yeah, you, too,” she said
solemnly.

Holton looked out the window as they passed through some clouds. The flight wasn’t a long one, but it seemed as if it was taking forever. His lip trembled. He just got Elena in his life, and now he was going to lose her. A single tear fell from his eye, before he closed them once more.

Eight years ago…

“Holton, can you help me with a school project that I’m working on?” Elena asked Holton as he arrived for dinner. His family and her family had dinner every Thursday at her parents’ place.

“Sure,
brat, what kind of project?” Holton asked as he walked over to the kitchen. Elena put out her hand and grabbed his, leading him to her bedroom.

“Come on, my p
roject’s in here,” she said. Holton looked uncomfortable as he followed, but didn’t say anything.

“What’s this thing about?” he asked. She pointed to her desk chair and offered him the seat as she sat on her bed.

“It’s a project on me. I’m supposed to get five of the most important people in my life and interview them about me. All you have to do is answer some questions and fill them out so I can put them on this project board. And then, I’m supposed to get a picture of us together and I’ll put it on this.” Elena smiled as she got out a sheaf of notebook paper and started numbering down the side.

Ho
lton thought it was odd that she didn’t already have the questions ready, but didn’t say anything.

“Okay, sure. I can do that,”
Holton said.

“Great!” Elena exclaimed, smiling. “So, first question,” she said, biting her bottom lip, “What’s one thing that you like about me?”

Holton smiled at the question and playfully tapped his chin before answering. “Hmm… this may take a while,” he replied. Elena slapped him with one of her bed pillows.

“Hey!”

Holton chuckled. “Okay, brat. One thing I like about you. Okay, I like your hair,” he said as he picked one of her strands up and tugged it, before letting it go.

Elena smiled and picked up her pen, “Okay, you love the way my hair looks, all flowing and gorgeous down my back,” she said as she wrote.

Holton’s eyes widened. “I did not say that!”

Elena smiled, “B
ut that’s what you meant, right?”

Ho
lton rolled his eyes and laughed, hoping that Elena was joking. She was 14 for God Sake! “Next question.”

“Okay, if you and I were the same age, where would you take me to dinner?”

Holton laughed. “Is that really an appropriate question?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I would probably have to borrow money from my parents and then we would go to lego land or something.”

Elena’s eyes rounded. “That’s not what
I meant! And, I’m 14, not 4, Holton!”

Ho
lton laughed. “Okay, where would I take a 14 year old. Maybe the DQ?”

“No, if I was your age and we were on a date!” Elena whined.

Holton felt like this was not a safe zone of questioning, but he didn’t want to hurt the girl’s feelings. “Okay. I’m sorry, Elena. I would probably take you somewhere really nice. Probably Lento’s—that Italian place in Grencion County. I know how much you like Italian food. I would order you a glass of merlot and buy you a dozen roses.”

Elena smiled widely. “What color?”

“What color, what?”

“The roses?” Elena asked. There was something different in her eyes that s
ent warning signals all over Holton.

“Red,” Ho
lton swallowed. “I would buy you red roses that match your gorgeous hair.”

“Elena, you can leave Ho
lton alone now!” Elena’s mother yelled from the other room. “It’s dinner time.”

Elena smiled at Ho
lton and took a deep swoon-like breath. “Thank you, Holton. I would love to go to Lento’s some day with you.”

Ho
lton swallowed and nodded, not knowing what to say to this 14 year old tease.

***

“Che
ryl, how is she?” Holton asked, worriedly. “Has she woken up yet?”

“No,” Cheryl cried. “I’m really worried. Her heart rate slowed, too, and the doctor said that she doesn’t look too good.”

Holton felt the bile rise up in this throat. He put his hand over his mouth and made his way back to the airplane restroom. Minutes later, he apologized to Cheryl and made his way back to his seat, praying for the first time since his mother’s death.

“Doesn’t my little girl look beautiful?” Elena’s father asked Holton as he came to the house to see Elena in her homecoming dress.

Ho
lton looked at a very grown up looking Elena and tried not to show his feelings toward her. It wasn’t right; he was way too old for her, but he couldn’t help it. She was breathtaking.

Elena walked over and rolled her eyes. “Nice, Dad. Nothing like you embarrassing me in front of this old
guy,” she joked as she poked Holton in the shoulder.

Elena’s father smiled and walked back toward the barn, leaving them alone.

“Old huh, brat?” Holton joked back.

Elena laughed. “So, I got an A on my project. You know, the one where you said you would take me to Lento’s…”

“I can’t believe they made you ask me those questions.”

“They didn’t really, Holt.” Elena grinned. “I made that all up.”

Holton looked over at her and asked why.

“Don’t you know, Holt? I’m in love with you,” she said dazedly.

Holton smiled at the thought of this teenage Elena falling in love. “You’re years too young to be in love, Brat.”

“What?” she asked, crestfallen.