Page 82 of Save A Horse
“Yes, son, love. Do you love her?”
“How do you know that? How did you know mom was the one?” My dad walked inside the house and returned with a picture of his and my mom’s wedding day. He handed it to me, and I studied it, remembering how amazing my mom was.
“When you’re around that person and you want to be better for them, when their happiness makes you happy, when you want to do things for them, when you want to spend all your time with them and when you’re not with that person all you think about is being with them…that’s love.”
I looked back at the road leading to the highway, and I felt a pain in my chest. Daisy was gone. All the words my dad said ran through me, and all I wanted to do was go back and tell her how I felt. I want her to know I love her. I want to spend my life with her. I don’t want to lose her again.
“I don’t want to lose her again, dad. What do I do?”
“Well, son, let me give you some advice my dad once told me. Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse. The summer’s over now, and Daisy doesn’t work here anymore. Go get your girl.”
If I tell Daisy how I feel, she may still decide to stay in the city, but if I don’t tell her, I will live with that regret and the what ifs for the rest of my life. She needs to know how I feel.
“I’ll be back.” My dad nodded, and I think he knew exactly what I was going to do.
I ran to the barn and quickly saddled up Shadow. I kicked him into high gear, and we ran through the yard and down the driveway, heading straight to the highway. I was going to get my girl.
When I finally spotted the truck, I kicked Shadow into gear again. I tried waving my hand, but John didn’t see. I turned Shadow to get him to go to the passenger side of the truck where Daisy was. I waved two times, and then she spotted me. I saw her put a hand on her dad’s arm, and then I saw the brake lights come on. I slowed Shadow and took him off to the side of the road near Daisy’s door. I hopped off and walked closer as I saw her get out.
“Colt! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“No.”
“That was reckless.”
“Daisy, my dad knows. He knew all along.” I waited for her to speak, and when she didn’t, I continued. “I need to get something off my chest. I want to be better because of you. Your happiness makes me happy. I want to do things for you. I want to spend all my time with you, and all I do is think about you when we aren’t together.” John was now outside the truck, leaning against the side. I knew he was listening but trying to give us space, too. “I don’t know about you, Daisy, but this summer wasn’t just some fling to me. Yes, it was fun, but it meant more to me than that... it meant more than rekindling our lost relationship. Being around you means more to me than the entire world. We’re inevitable, darlin’. That’s why we finally had this time together again, after all these years apart.” I took her hands in mine. “I would crawl to the depths of the earth for you. Death couldn’t keep me from you. I did something reckless to get to you before you got too far down the highway, to bring you back to me. For good. You are my perfect reminder thatthrough all the hurt and hard times, there is good. There can still be paradise on the other side.” She looked at me, eyes and ears completely focused. I could tell she was still processing what I was saying. It was a lot. I wanted her to hear me loud and clear. I wanted her to finally see exactly how I felt. “Do you remember when we first went swimming together? We were goofing around, splashing each other with the water, and challenging one another to do dumb crap. You looked at me and I felt it. I just let myself see you, and what I saw...was a girl who could absolutely infuriate me, make me smile and laugh, and hope for the future. A future with you. Daisy, you are my God given solace.”
I watched as her eyes swelled. Then, tears streamed down her face. I took my thumbs and gently raked them across each cheek to wipe the tears away. I left my hands there and raised her head up so her eyes could meet mine. Then, I closed my eyes and let my lips find hers. I could find them in the darkest parts of the world. I could find Daisy in any life. I would crawl to her as I took my last, dying breath. She meant everything to me, and I was so glad she finally knew it.
“I love you, darlin’.”
“I love you, cowboy.”
