Tutus & Cowboy Boots (Part 2) (10 page)

She’s impressed me with how much she’s taken
over Daisy’s care. She’s not doing the internal exams, but she
watches Daisy and informs me if she notices changes in her
demeanor. She also wants to know more about each stage and her
ability to take care of Daisy is amazing. I’ve watched their
interactions and I know she was right when she said Daisy gets her.
It’s almost as if she listens to everything Cadence tells her. I
have to be honest, I’ve caught myself listening to their
conversations and it’s obvious she has a major bond with Daisy and
her soon-to-be-born calf.

I go into town on Thursday for Ms. Mae and
take care of some business for her. Then I make a special stop at
the mall. I am on a mission. Cadence’s birthday is this Saturday,
and I’m almost positive she thinks everyone has forgotten. It has
been fun acting as if there’s nothing special about this weekend
with her. She keeps dropping hints about the weekend, but I keep
playing them off. I want to surprise her with what I have planned.
I know exactly what I’m going to buy her but I’m not sure how she’s
going to take it. I want Saturday to be perfect and I’ve enlisted
help from Ms. Mae, Regina, and Jade. I think we are going to make
this an epic eighteenth birthday for her.

Cadence

It’s my birthday eve and after a late
practice, I get the best birthday present ever from Ms. Lyndsay. No
practice on Saturday! I am so excited that I can just enjoy the
day.

Jade drives me home from
the studio and when I walk in the house, all the lights are on but
Mom and Gran are nowhere to be found. I drop my bag off in my room
and grab fresh fruit from the refrigerator.
I wonder where they might be?
Glancing out the window, I see that Barrick’s truck isn’t at
the barn either. I send him a text letting him know that I’m home
from practice and that I am going to check on my favorite
cow.

While I’m checking on Daisy, I get a text
from Barrick asking what I’m going to do the rest of the night. I
quickly reply that I hope I’m spending time with him. He tells me
he’ll be over soon, so I talk with Daisy for a few more minutes
before I take a quick shower.

As I’m toweling off my
hair, I hear a knock at the door. I hurry to the front door in my
lounge clothes and see Barrick standing in the doorway, handsome as
ever. He greets me with a smile and I hurry back to my room to get
ready.
Wonder what we’re going to
do.

“Hey Barrick, what are we doing?” I yell
from my room.

“Whatever you want to do is fine by me,” he
replies. I slide on a pair of skinny jeans with a cute tank and
ankle boots. The weather, this time of year, still has a little
chill in the air at night. I toss my hair into a messy bun, then
apply my makeup and add accessories before making my way back to
the living room.

I find him on the couch scanning the
channels, but when he sees me, he quickly hits the power button,
stands, and walks toward me. We wrap our arms around each other and
it feels oh so good.

Barrick

Holding Cadence in my arms makes time stand
still. I look down at her and see how perfect she is right now and
I don’t want this moment to end. I may have just lost my man card
in admitting that but I really don’t care. I just can’t get enough
of her. I gently kiss her forehead, and then look her in the
eyes.

“So what’s the plan?” I ask her.

“I don’t care as long as I get to spend time
with you,” she says with a smile.

“There’s a bonfire at Aaron’s tonight if
you’re up for it or we can hang around here.”

“Bonfire? Are they going to dance around it
too? Oh no, not more country music?” She laughs when she sees the
expression on my face. “Dear Lord! I’m right, aren’t I?” I smile
and kiss her lips.

“So you wanna check it out?”

“Might as well,” she says as I weave my
hands through hers and we make our way to Aaron’s.

There are trucks and four-wheel drive
vehicles everywhere when we pull up to Aaron’s. I’m pretty sure
every teenager in Delight is here. I look at Cadence and her face
is priceless.

“Where did all these people come from?” she
questions.

“Use the word
bonfire
and people come
out of the woodwork. Let’s just say we know how to get down on the
farm,” I say before I walk around to help her from the
truck.

We walk down the gravel road toward the back
of the barn. As we round the corner, the flames come into view and
it’s breathtaking. There is something so peaceful about a fire and
how it continues to burn, but that soon changes when I hear Aaron
holler from a distance.

Jade greets us and steals Cadence away for a
few minutes. Aaron and I talk while I watch Cadence make her rounds
with Jade. She doesn’t say much, and as someone offers her a glass
jar full of liquid, I’m curious if she’ll take it. I’m shocked when
she doesn’t, but talks for a few more minutes and then moves
on.

Aaron and I stand around and when I can’t
stand to watch Cadence from a distance any longer, I excuse myself
and make my way to her. She smiles and her face glows from the
light of the fire.

As the radio from the barn begins to play a
slow song, I take her in my arms and dance like we’re at The Loft.
When the song ends, I place my forehead on hers as she smiles.

“I think I could get used to this bonfire
thing,” she whispers.

“Why’s that?” I question.

“That’s easy. I get to be here with you.
Even though there are people around, I feel as if it’s only me and
you under the stars,” she says as I lean in to kiss her lips.

Chapter 16

Cadence

Today’s my birthday! I lie in bed
reminiscing about my magical night with Barrick. He just makes
everything better. When my alarm clock rings, I get dressed, slide
on my paisley galoshes and head to the barn.

Barrick is already here and I’m excited that
he’ll be the first sight I see. When I open the door, I’m shocked.
The entire barn has been decorated with balloons and streamers and
Barrick steps out from a stall with a bouquet of flowers and a
wrapped present in his hand.

“Happy birthday, Cadence,” he says with a
smile and I start to cry. If this is the beginning of my day, I can
only imagine what’s to come. “Are you okay?” he says, hurrying to
me and I nod my head. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just shocked. When did you…” I
start to say as Mom and Gran appear and it all begins to make
sense.

“I might have had a little help,” he says
with a wink.

“Thanks,” I say with a smile as he hands me
the flowers and then the box. I look at Mom and Gran, who are
smiling from ear to ear. “Mom, will you take these?” I ask as I
pass her the flowers.

I unwrap the present, and
my heart beats out of my chest.
What could
he have gotten me?
As I begin to pull the
lid from the box, an overpowering leather aroma tickles my nose.
I’m speechless when I look at the gift.
Boots. He bought me a pair of boots?
I take them from the box and look at them. Oh my gosh, these
are the boots from Buckle. They cost a small fortune.
Boots?

“What do you think?” he asks.

“Barrick, they’re too much,” I say.

“No, they’re not. I know boots aren’t really
your thing, but if you’re going to hang around here you can’t wear
those galoshes out in public.”

“Do you think I’m country enough to wear
them?” I ask hesitantly.

“How ‘bout you hold onto them, and wear them
when you think the time is right?”

I start to laugh because he’s exactly right.
Boots aren’t my thing, and I’m not sure I’ll ever wear these. The
thought behind this gift means more to me than the actual gift
itself.

I place them back in the box and look up at
him. “Thank you so much, Barrick.”

“You don’t like them, do you?” I don’t want
to hurt his feelings.

“No, I like them. You knew that when we
looked at them in the store, but I’m not sure I’m ready for this
step.”

“Step?”

“Yeah, like, completely signing up for this
country girl stuff,” I say, looking up at him. He starts to
laugh.

“It’s okay. I get it, but one day, you’re
gonna rock those boots,” he says and I can’t do anything but hold
them in my hands while I quickly kiss his lips.

He kisses me again, but
quickly retracts when we hear someone clear their throat.
Gran.
I look over at her
and she shakes her head.

“Y’all two. You’ins forgot we were even in
here. You better watch those two,” she says to Mom.

“I think everything’s fine,
Mother,” she says before giving me
the
mom
stare
. “Let’s
get these cows milked, shall we?” Mom says as they move toward the
milking station. I look at Barrick and he pulls me in for another
hug before we get our chores started.

As we finish up, I take a few minutes to
talk to Daisy. I show her my new boots from Barrick, and even ask
her opinion. She moos and I assume that means she likes them. I
take a minute and look around the barn. I want to remember this
moment, surrounded by the people and cow that I love.

“Watcha thinkin’?” he asks.

“How lucky I am,” I say.

“Nah, I’m the lucky one,” he says as he
stands behind me and wraps his arms around me. We don’t say a word
for several minutes and I wonder where the future leads and if I’ll
ever become a true country girl.

As we walk into the house, we head straight
to the washroom to wash our hands and get ready for breakfast. When
we walk into the kitchen, I do a double take when I see my favorite
croissant on the table with a candle in it.

“Mom! How’d you get that?” I say, pointing
toward the table.

“I had Lauren’s mom buy them and express
mail them,” she says and it makes me happy to know they’d do that
for me.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m
digging in,” I say and as my fork is about to touch the flakey
goodness, Mom stops me.

“Not before we sing.” I shake my head, but
there’s no use. They all begin to sing “Happy Birthday” to me and I
even have to blow out the candle on top. The ooey-gooey goodness is
well worth the wait.

We sit around the table while Mom and Gran
tell Barrick stories about me as a kid and embarrass me to no end.
Then Gran gives me the rest of the day off, and tells Barrick he
can leave after lunch. Today is going to be an amazing day.

I veto not working at the barn the rest of
the day. Instead, I go and help Barrick because the sooner he
finishes, the sooner we can celebrate. I lead Daisy into the
pasture when we finish, and ask Barrick how much longer she has
until she delivers. I’m shocked when he says any day now, and
questions start to flood my mind about what will happen once the
calf arrives.

Barrick

I can see the wheels turning in Cadence’s
mind about Daisy’s delivery. It’s going to be an experience for
her, to say the least, but one that I believe will make her fall
hard for the country way of life. There’s something about seeing a
new life being born. It will change her.

Once we finish, I tell her not to worry and
to go and get ready while I run home to change. We have a
fun-filled day ahead, and I can’t wait to get it started.

Arriving at my house, I shower, shave, and
get ready. I feel like there is so much more riding on today than
just Cadence’s birthday. We haven’t been on a date in so long, and
I just want her by my side. I know the competition season isn’t
over, but at least we don’t have to worry about it tonight.

Sliding on my jeans, I take a moment and
scan my closet for the perfect shirt and I have no doubt when I
select the shirt that Cadence insisted on buying me. I grab my ball
cap and slide it on before stopping by my sister’s room.

“Jade, you in there?”

“Whatcha need, Bare?” she questions as she
pulls the door open, and I’m shocked to see she’s dolled up.

“Where are you going?” I ask her.

“Helloooo. You didn’t think that after
planning this whole shindig, I’d let you take all of the credit?” I
should have known. “Nah, I’m just kiddin’. I’ve got a hot date with
Aaron.”

“It better not be too hot,” I state, giving
her the protective brother look.

“No worries. We’re going to supper then will
meet you later tonight. That’s still the plan, right?” she
questions.

“Sure is,” I say.

“So what did you need?” she asks and I
suddenly realize why I had walked to her room in the first
place.

“Does this shirt look okay?” I ask, needing
confirmation.

“It’s bad ass. You didn’t pick it out, did
you?” she questions and when I don’t reply she has her answer.
“She’s got great taste. Hello? Did you see what she bought me for
Christmas? Now get out of here and go have fun. I’ll see you later
tonight.”

Shaking my head I walk out of my sister’s
room, say goodbye to my parents and walk out to my truck.

Chapter 17

Cadence

After I get ready, I spend some time with
Mom and Gran. They figured I’d be out late tonight and decide to
give me their gifts early. I’m super excited about the new dance
apparel and shoes. Gran also gives me a hairpin that was her
mother’s. It looks like old yellow gold with a line of pearls. It’s
breathtaking and when she tells me the story about how her daddy
gave it to her mother, I love it even more.

I ask her to help me place it in my hair,
and when she takes a step back I see her eyes glisten.

“It’s beautiful just like you, Cade,” she
admires.

“Thanks, Gran.”

As I wait for Barrick to arrive back at the
house, my stomach flutters as I wonder what he has planned. I think
back to our trip to Asheville and how much fun it was. Excitement
runs through my veins when I hear a knock on the door. I glance out
the kitchen window hoping it’s Barrick, but it’s a mail carrier
instead. Gran opens the door and then I hear her mumble under her
breath. This can’t be good. She walks toward me and hands me the
small package. Looking at the handwriting, I know it’s from
Dad.