each, lay forgotten on the ground.
It hadn’t been necessary to cut so much, but Schoolmaster Robinson was mean by nature, and Ridge bet he had cut that much on purpose.
“Anyway,” Ridge said, feeling the shyness returning, “I bought somethin’ for ya, ta sort of show ya I really am sorry.”
Georgiana’s eyes lit up immediately as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small brown paper package. He handed it to her and waited for her to open it. As she tore the paper away, two long, bright blue ribbons fell to the ground. She quickly bent to pick them up and examined them lovingly.
“Oh, Ridge, they’re perfect.”
“I was thinkin’ maybe they would match that blue dress you’re always wearin’,” he nervously added.
He noticed her cheeks glow pink again, so he turned and started walking once more so she wasn’t embarrassed. She folded the ribbons up, putting them in her apron pocket, and hurried to catch up with him. When they got to the turnoff to her family’s ranch, she stopped and turned to look at him.
“I forgive you, Ridge, for bein’ a rotten apple to me, but I will say one thing.” She took a step closer to him so her face was mere inches from his. His heart began to race. She was so cute, and he wondered what it might be like to kiss her, in a year or two anyway. But then she narrowed her eyes at him. “If you ever . . .” She poked her finger into his chest then and tapped it with each syllable she spoke. “I mean, if you ever try to pull a prank like that on me again, Ridge Carson . . .” She paused for emphasis while she stared into his eyes. “I can promise ya, you will wake up the next mornin’ shaved as bald as the day you were born.”
Stepping back, she gave him a broad grin before turning and skipping down the road to her house.
Ridge smiled at the memory again. The girl had a lot of spunk, and he believed she’d do exactly what she had threatened that day if he crossed the line again. He hadn’t pulled another prank. Jeremiah and Jonas had pestered him for months before they finally started to believe he had been reformed.
He really did possess a bushelful of fond memories from his childhood. They had been good friends, Georgiana and himself, after she’d forgiven him. When Samantha finally forgave him too, they became an inseparable threesome and had spent many fun times together. After Georgiana’s father had been trampled and killed, both he and Samantha had been there for her. Then, suddenly one day, her family was gone.
Ridge pulled a blue ribbon out of his pocket for a moment and stared at it. The color had faded some, but it still felt soft between his fingers.
“Well, hello there, lad.”
Ridge was startled from his thoughts when Angus walked up and leaned against the bunkhouse wall beside him. Discreetly, he folded the ribbon and slipped it into his pocket again.
“Thought it might be ye standin’ out here all alone,” Angus said.
“Figured everyone had hit the hay long ago. What brings ya out so late this evenin’, Angus?”
“Ginger should be birthin’ her new colt any day now. Thought it’d be best if I looked in on the old gal once more tonight before I turn me old bones in.”
“Wouldn’t mind keepin’ a closer watch on her, if ya like. I seem to be up a bit later these days,” Ridge offered.
“Been havin’ trouble sleepin’, have ye now?”
“Seem to be.”
“Wouldn’t have anythin’ to do with that pretty girl of mine, now would it?”
Ridge looked over at the old man, who wore a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
“Aye, she’s been gettin’ to ya, hasn’t she, now? I may be old, but I ain’t blind. Been seein’ how ye set me girl off huffin’ more than yar fair share.” He let out a soft chuckle. “If there be one thing that girl of mine inherited from her da and old Irish grandparents, it be her Irish temper.” He chuckled again and continued, “And you, me lad, are right grand at
It hadn’t been necessary to cut so much, but Schoolmaster Robinson was mean by nature, and Ridge bet he had cut that much on purpose.
“Anyway,” Ridge said, feeling the shyness returning, “I bought somethin’ for ya, ta sort of show ya I really am sorry.”
Georgiana’s eyes lit up immediately as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small brown paper package. He handed it to her and waited for her to open it. As she tore the paper away, two long, bright blue ribbons fell to the ground. She quickly bent to pick them up and examined them lovingly.
“Oh, Ridge, they’re perfect.”
“I was thinkin’ maybe they would match that blue dress you’re always wearin’,” he nervously added.
He noticed her cheeks glow pink again, so he turned and started walking once more so she wasn’t embarrassed. She folded the ribbons up, putting them in her apron pocket, and hurried to catch up with him. When they got to the turnoff to her family’s ranch, she stopped and turned to look at him.
“I forgive you, Ridge, for bein’ a rotten apple to me, but I will say one thing.” She took a step closer to him so her face was mere inches from his. His heart began to race. She was so cute, and he wondered what it might be like to kiss her, in a year or two anyway. But then she narrowed her eyes at him. “If you ever . . .” She poked her finger into his chest then and tapped it with each syllable she spoke. “I mean, if you ever try to pull a prank like that on me again, Ridge Carson . . .” She paused for emphasis while she stared into his eyes. “I can promise ya, you will wake up the next mornin’ shaved as bald as the day you were born.”
Stepping back, she gave him a broad grin before turning and skipping down the road to her house.
Ridge smiled at the memory again. The girl had a lot of spunk, and he believed she’d do exactly what she had threatened that day if he crossed the line again. He hadn’t pulled another prank. Jeremiah and Jonas had pestered him for months before they finally started to believe he had been reformed.
He really did possess a bushelful of fond memories from his childhood. They had been good friends, Georgiana and himself, after she’d forgiven him. When Samantha finally forgave him too, they became an inseparable threesome and had spent many fun times together. After Georgiana’s father had been trampled and killed, both he and Samantha had been there for her. Then, suddenly one day, her family was gone.
Ridge pulled a blue ribbon out of his pocket for a moment and stared at it. The color had faded some, but it still felt soft between his fingers.
“Well, hello there, lad.”
Ridge was startled from his thoughts when Angus walked up and leaned against the bunkhouse wall beside him. Discreetly, he folded the ribbon and slipped it into his pocket again.
“Thought it might be ye standin’ out here all alone,” Angus said.
“Figured everyone had hit the hay long ago. What brings ya out so late this evenin’, Angus?”
“Ginger should be birthin’ her new colt any day now. Thought it’d be best if I looked in on the old gal once more tonight before I turn me old bones in.”
“Wouldn’t mind keepin’ a closer watch on her, if ya like. I seem to be up a bit later these days,” Ridge offered.
“Been havin’ trouble sleepin’, have ye now?”
“Seem to be.”
“Wouldn’t have anythin’ to do with that pretty girl of mine, now would it?”
Ridge looked over at the old man, who wore a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
“Aye, she’s been gettin’ to ya, hasn’t she, now? I may be old, but I ain’t blind. Been seein’ how ye set me girl off huffin’ more than yar fair share.” He let out a soft chuckle. “If there be one thing that girl of mine inherited from her da and old Irish grandparents, it be her Irish temper.” He chuckled again and continued, “And you, me lad, are right grand at