Page 1 of Burning for the Truth

Thirteen years old…

The sun is quickly setting beyond the rolling hills of my family’s ranch, the Valley B, and I know I’m in so much trouble. My horse, Buttercup, got spooked by a snake as we reached my favorite hilltop, and when she did, it was game over for me—well, my ankle anyway. As I landed with a jarring thud, she rolled over my foot and ankle, effectively crushing it. Now, unfortunately for me, I find it’s swollen and purple after taking off my boot and sock, proving to be the most unpleasant sight I’ve seen in all my thirteen years.

Luckily, when Buttercup spooked, she also stomped the snake before throwing me and rolling. Unlucky for me, she took off like a shot and ran for the hills…literally. I’m not worried about her because she knows the way back home. What Iamworried about is darkness falling before someone realizes I’m gone and comes looking. The thought sends shivers over me, and my eyes prick with unshed tears.

In the distance, I can hear a coyote yipping and I know I have to try and move. I search around my immediate surroundings for something I can use as a makeshift crutch. I see nothing that will help hold my weight. I pound my clenched fists on the ground in frustration. I’ve always been quick on my feet. I have an answer to any problem. I may be young, but I’d say I’m pretty hard to break. But today, I let Dean Warren break my heart because of my pathetic crush on him.

I know I’m younger than Dean, who’s the same age as my brother, Sterling, but I can’t change my feelings for him. He may be my brother’s best friend, but he’s my friend too. He’s always included me in their plans. We’ve shared silly nicknames forever and the last few months…secret glances. Well, it’s what I interpreted them as. They both recently turned sixteen, and suddenly their plans no longer include me.

Dean and Sterling were in Sterling’s bedroom earlier this afternoon makingBriella-freeplans. I snuck to his door and listened as they talked about some party they were going to and suddenly Dean blurted out he has a girlfriend. Sterling asked who it was, so I peeked through the crack in his slightly open door to find Dean smiling from ear to ear. He then answered and told him it was Ivie Davis.

My stomach dropped and heat washed over my body with embarrassment and anger. I caught a quick glance of Sterling’s face, and it was sheet white. Poor Sterling has been crushing on Ivie for some time and hasn’t told a soul apart from me. It sounds like he waited too long to make his move. I feel sick for him having to watch his best friend date his secret crush and I feel angry at myself for having a crush on my brother’s stupid best friend.

I silently snuck out of the house and down to the stables, then saddled up Buttercup, but not before making sure Tate was with Grandy and Daddy. Grandy is my grandfather, Grady. I’ve always called him Grandy. Tate Marks is a family friend, and he spends every summer here with us, learning all about the ranch. He’s a year younger than Sterling and Dean and he loves it here—most days, so do I. Today, not so much.

That brings me full circle to my predicament now. Stuck in the dark, probably a couple miles from home with coyotes and no telling how many other nocturnal beings I have no business being in close proximity with and no way to run. Essentially, I’m what you’d call a sitting duck. When we burst out of the stable earlier, Buttercup and I rode hard and fast, letting the wind dry my tears and the beating hooves drown out my wounded heart.

What seems like hours pass. I hear howling, hooting, chirping, and rustling all around me. Fear has slowly taken over my anger from earlier. It may be summer here in Tennessee, but summer nights still get cool—a fact I’m remembering all too well. I’m shivering from head to toe as I try to let my eyes adjust to the darkness in the distance, looking for any sign someone is coming.

Suddenly, I hear the rumble of a four-wheeler and start to yell while waving my arms, hoping I’ll be heard or at least seen in the headlights. And ha! It worked! The four-wheeler is heading toward me. Relief cascades over every inch of my body. It stops in front of me, blinding me in the lights and its driver hops off before rushing to my side.

Surprise.I’m face to face with none other than my crush, now my ex-crush, Dean. His beautiful stormy eyes are the first thing I see as he searches me for injury. He’s saying something, but blood is rushing to my ears and the sound is muffled. When I don’t respond, he puts his hands on my arms and squeezes gently. “BB! Can you hear me? Come on, superstar! Answer me! Are you hurt?” Dean’s voice finally becomes clear, but I still blink at him wishing it’d been Sterling or Daddy to find me.

“Briella!” he shouts this time, panic clearly taking over his emotions.

I snap out of it and answer, “I think I’m okay, but my ankle is probably broken. Buttercup got spooked by a snake and well…” I gesture toward my bare foot which seems to have gotten impossibly larger and more bruised since the sun went down.

He takes in my foot and ankle with furrowed brows. “Can you put any weight on it?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Already tried and it’s a no go.”

He stands and runs his hands through his black hair, blowing out a puff of air. “You gonna help me up or stand there huffing and puffing, D-bag?” I ask, now even more irritated at myself and the situation.

He opens one eye and lifts a brow quizzically. “Excuse me, D-bag?”

“That’s right. Don’t you have some party to be at and a girlfriend to go see?” I snap at him. He looks guilty as sin. There’s no doubt he was aware of my silly little crush, and if he had any question, I just confirmed it.

“BB, you can’t be upset. I really like this girl.” He pauses, staring at me with his eyebrows drawn. “Me and you, we’ll always be friends. You know that. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. I promise. I care about you.” He appears so sincere I almost chicken out from what I’m about to say.

“First of all, I know I’m younger than you, but I think you know this changes everything. Second, stop calling me BB like I’m a baby. And third, if you’re here for me and you care, then get me on the four-wheeler and back home so I can get to the hospital, and you can go see your new girlfriend. Otherwise, I’m not sure what else we have to talk about.” My heart is pounding furiously in my chest. Hewill notsee that he’s the first person to ever break my heart. As silly as he must think my feelings are, they certainly aren’t silly to me.

My words work, because he lifts me easily onto the four-wheeler and secures my discarded sock and boot to the rack behind us before swinging his leg over, and then he grabs the handlebars. He pauses before we take off and picks up the walkie we carry on our four-wheelers and lets everyone know he’s got me, and we’re headed to the house. “Hold on, Bree. Don’t let go.” After that, he lurches into the night toward my house.

We ride in silence, with me clutching his waist and resting my head on his back. I know this will be my last few moments alone with him before everything changes. I take it in while my heart beats so close to his.He’ll never be anything more than my friend.As soon as we park, my childhood crush is over.

As we come to a stop in the driveway, he hops off and I turn my head to see Mama running out of the house, relief evident on her features until she spies my foot. He surprises me by lifting me off the four-wheeler and then takes me to Daddy’s truck. In the distance, Sterling’s, Daddy’s, Tate’s, and Grandy’s four-wheelers top the hill making their way back.

Mama turned back to the house—probably to grab her purse—after noticing my foot and the fact Dean was carrying me to the truck instead of inside, so we have but the briefest few moments left. After he perches me on the seat, he glances down and huffs. I clench my teeth, willing myself not to let him see me cry. He glances up and I see devastation all over his handsome face.

“I’m truly sorry, Briella. I never meant to—”

I stop him. “Don’t, Dean. Don’t you dare apologize for following your heart, because I’ll certainly never apologize for following mine.” I keep my eyes trained on his as a wretched tear betrays me. He doesn’t turn away. He’s never backed away from any of my challenges and evidently not my pain. This time, he simply smiles sadly and wipes the lone tear from my face before leaning in to kiss me gently on the cheek as everyone heads toward us with surprising calm, or perhaps time is just slowing down in this moment—the moment before everything changes for me and Dean.

Everyone begins hopping in Daddy’s truck except Sterling, Tate, and Dean. They’re staying behind as Mama, Daddy, and Grandy take me to the emergency room. Dean closes the door and I watch him as we back out of the drive. I hear them asking me questions about what happened, but all I see is Dean standing alone in the driveway watching us leave as Tate and Sterling head for the house. My ankle is throbbing, but right now all I feel is the burning kiss on my cheek from the lips I hoped to one day share my firstandlast kiss with. Oh, what a silly girl I am for dreaming such a childish fantasy. But the fantasy is over because his lips burned the truth into my heart…Dean and I will never be more than friends.

Present day

“Hey, superstar! Looks like we beat everyone else to it this morning!” Dean chuckles in a deep throaty tone, the one known to melt my insides, making me jump out of my skin, cueing me to roll my eyes at him.

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