Straightening up she looked at the young man before her, bare-chested he was quite a sight to behold. Pulling her lustful thoughts back under control she looked around and then started to step out of the water. As she moved forward Cowboy offered her his hand for support. She realized that his gesture was not one of pity or even superiority, it was a gesture of kindness, chivalry. His actions so far have been purely altruistic, for her benefit alone. Yes, he did look at her when she was naked but what guy wouldn’t under these circumstances.
“Thank you” she offered as she accepted his hand.
Smiling at her, he shifted his gaze around the pool of clear water. “Have you seen anyone else?’
“No, just you. Why are you here?” she replied.
“Your mom called and told me that you were stranded and needed help. She said that the flooding was preventing them from getting to you and they asked if I could help” Cowboy answered.
“You rode a horse to help me?” she inquired looking at Smoky standing patiently at the edge of the clearing.
“Yes, my truck can’t swim and I had to cross the river to get to you” Cowboy stated.
“My god, you are just as stupid as they say aren’t you. You know everyone in school thought you were weird” she told him bluntly then felt an immediate regret as she watched his kind gentle face turn somber and hurt.
“Yeah, stupid. That’s me” he mumbled and turned around heading for Smoky.
“Where are going?” she asked desperately as tears welled up in her eyes.
“Nowhere” he answered without turning around to look at her.
“You’re leaving me here? Alone’ she cried as she followed him.
“I’ll be back if I’m not too stupid to find my way,” Cowboy said as he swung into the saddle without looking at her and turned Smoky hard spurring the horse back into the woods.
She watched in shock as he rode away, obviously hurt by her awful words. Oh crap, what was I thinking she thought to herself. The only person I’ve seen in what feels like days, the only person who came to find me, the only person who has ever risked their life for me, the only person I wished would come back was riding away because of me. Maybe he was weird, what kind of person risks their life for someone who has never treated them well.
to be continued
Captain Jack's words of wisdom. 