down to the issue.
“I see,” Trenton started, dropping his hand from hers. “You runnin’ that silly
troubled girls camp and now you’re worrying about me stealing ‘em.”
“And you’re not?”
“Well, it’ll be a ranch for kids soon enough. But not for girls who rather act
like cowboys than ladies.”
“That’s not-“ Jessica started, infuriated that he’d refer to the girls like
that.
He put up a hand in apology. “Sorry, sorry,” he said. “Just mean my uncle left
it to me after he passed and I gotta get back on the horse, if you know what I
mean.” Trenton nodded towards the stables behind him but Jessica was thinking
of another metaphor for getting back on the horse.
“Carol just doesn’t want anyone to come by the camp who isn’t… allowed.”
“Why would I come by the camp?” Trenton asked, but not in a rude way. “I’ll be
busy painting, putting screws in-“
“I know, I-“ Jessica stopped and had the thought cross by her that she had to
find another reason to keep him around. He was the only eye candy for miles
around. “If it’s only you who’s working on the ranch-“
“It is-“ Trenton continued for her.
Jessica quickly finished her thought with, “I could help paint or whatever you
need.”
She was surprised to see him curl up the corners of his mouth. His jovial
manner continued when he crossed his arms as if he was impressed at her.
“And what am I supposed to do?”
“Keep the ranch closed until then,” Jessica said, almost pleading in her voice.
“I’ll have no job,” Trenton laughed.
Jessica was hoping Trenton would say that. “We need a ranch hand for our
horses.”
Trenton leaned in closer, and she noticed that he was actually much taller than
her. Buff, too. She liked the idea that he wasn’t taken aback by her weight.
“Deal. Where should I meet you?”
Jessica was so excited that she regretted being so rash. “I just have to talk
to the camp director.” She almost forgot that Carol would not like the idea.
**
Back at the camp, Carol almost made a huge scene when
Jessica asked if Trenton could help the camp out. Carol shook her head and
stood up.
“He’ll be trouble,” Carol repeated loudly. Some girls stared at their table.
“But,” Carol said quieter, “if you show him what to do and keep him out of my
way, we could use someone. For a little while.”
Jessica beamed. “You won’t have to deal with him. I promise.”
In the infirmary, Jessica and Carol gave out a few ibuprofens, Benadryl and
birth control pills to a few girls. It reminded Jessica that she sadly didn’t
need those pills anymore after the boring life as a pharmacy tech surrounded by
catty girls and old men. No prospects of a relationship there. But at camp, she
felt young again.
When breakfast was over the next morning, Jessica was so
excited to see Trenton again that she sent all of the girls on a hike with
Carol while she set off to the ranch.
Chapter 2
“Bob’s your uncle, isn’t he? You named the ranch after him?” Jessica asked
Trenton in his stable. He only had two horses. And they reacted every once in a
while to the conversation with snorts.
”You’re nosy,” Trenton said, opening a can of beer he had been holding.
Jessica, for a moment, thought he liked her. “Fine. When will you come see the
horses we have, then?”
She didn’t expect Trenton to want to visit the
“I see,” Trenton started, dropping his hand from hers. “You runnin’ that silly
troubled girls camp and now you’re worrying about me stealing ‘em.”
“And you’re not?”
“Well, it’ll be a ranch for kids soon enough. But not for girls who rather act
like cowboys than ladies.”
“That’s not-“ Jessica started, infuriated that he’d refer to the girls like
that.
He put up a hand in apology. “Sorry, sorry,” he said. “Just mean my uncle left
it to me after he passed and I gotta get back on the horse, if you know what I
mean.” Trenton nodded towards the stables behind him but Jessica was thinking
of another metaphor for getting back on the horse.
“Carol just doesn’t want anyone to come by the camp who isn’t… allowed.”
“Why would I come by the camp?” Trenton asked, but not in a rude way. “I’ll be
busy painting, putting screws in-“
“I know, I-“ Jessica stopped and had the thought cross by her that she had to
find another reason to keep him around. He was the only eye candy for miles
around. “If it’s only you who’s working on the ranch-“
“It is-“ Trenton continued for her.
Jessica quickly finished her thought with, “I could help paint or whatever you
need.”
She was surprised to see him curl up the corners of his mouth. His jovial
manner continued when he crossed his arms as if he was impressed at her.
“And what am I supposed to do?”
“Keep the ranch closed until then,” Jessica said, almost pleading in her voice.
“I’ll have no job,” Trenton laughed.
Jessica was hoping Trenton would say that. “We need a ranch hand for our
horses.”
Trenton leaned in closer, and she noticed that he was actually much taller than
her. Buff, too. She liked the idea that he wasn’t taken aback by her weight.
“Deal. Where should I meet you?”
Jessica was so excited that she regretted being so rash. “I just have to talk
to the camp director.” She almost forgot that Carol would not like the idea.
**
Back at the camp, Carol almost made a huge scene when
Jessica asked if Trenton could help the camp out. Carol shook her head and
stood up.
“He’ll be trouble,” Carol repeated loudly. Some girls stared at their table.
“But,” Carol said quieter, “if you show him what to do and keep him out of my
way, we could use someone. For a little while.”
Jessica beamed. “You won’t have to deal with him. I promise.”
In the infirmary, Jessica and Carol gave out a few ibuprofens, Benadryl and
birth control pills to a few girls. It reminded Jessica that she sadly didn’t
need those pills anymore after the boring life as a pharmacy tech surrounded by
catty girls and old men. No prospects of a relationship there. But at camp, she
felt young again.
When breakfast was over the next morning, Jessica was so
excited to see Trenton again that she sent all of the girls on a hike with
Carol while she set off to the ranch.
Chapter 2
“Bob’s your uncle, isn’t he? You named the ranch after him?” Jessica asked
Trenton in his stable. He only had two horses. And they reacted every once in a
while to the conversation with snorts.
”You’re nosy,” Trenton said, opening a can of beer he had been holding.
Jessica, for a moment, thought he liked her. “Fine. When will you come see the
horses we have, then?”
She didn’t expect Trenton to want to visit the
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