Page 32 of Raised On It

Before he moves away, he looks at me.

Really looks at me.

He doesn’t say a word.

He doesn’t flash one of his knowing smiles.

He just looks at me, and my world starts spinning so fast I feel dizzy sitting in my seat. I almost grab onto him to right myself, but he pulls away before I get the chance.

Whoa.

The intensity of that look sticks with me all the way to the farm. Neither of us speaks and by the time Miles parks the truck, the sky is ever so slowly lightening.

“Ready?”

“Can’t wait,” I say, lifting my camera up in reply.

“Let’s go.”

He gets out and opens the back door to the king cab to let his furry child out of the truck. Lou runs ahead toward the rows of hops.

Joining him in front of the truck, I question what we’re doing. “We aren’t watching from the truck?”

“No way. We can do better than that. Come on,” he says, grabbing my hand.

I don’t pull away.

Besides, I can’t see a thing out here. Safety first and all that.

“Where are we headed?”

“Just a little farther.”

“Miles, this is crazy. We could have just sat in the bed of the truck.”

“Mason, I don’t think you’re ready to be in any kind of bed with me, so let’s not go there.”

I attempt to pull my hand away from his, but he doesn’t let me, thank goodness.

“It was a joke, Mason. Besides, we’re here, and this will be so much better.”

The flashlight on his phone illuminates our surroundings, revealing a huge John Deere tractor. It’s just as I’ve always imagined. That unique green color, big tires, and from what I can see through the plexiglass windows, one seat.

“Miles, we aren’t both going to fit in there.”

“Sure we will.”

He steps up and onto the tractor opening the glass door and climbing inside.

“Come on in, City Mouse,” he says, shining his phone at the rungs in front of the giant tire.

There must be more room in there than I think, so I climb up the side of the tractor only to find I’ve been hoodwinked.

He pats his lap. “See, plenty of room.”

“Miles Montgomery, you are impossible.”

“Listen, there isn’t a better place to watch the sunrise. You’ll thank me later.”

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