Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
“Listen, I...”
The front door to the ranch house flies open and Annie bursts through it. “Oh, Dolly, guess what?!”
With my friend’s interruption, Angus turns and slinks back upstairs, back to work on business stuff.
“What?” I say, legitimately surprised by her sudden appearance.
“Red asked me to go to his cabin on the lake next weekend. And he asked me there alone.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Things are getting pretty serious, aren’t they?”
“Oh yes. The best kind of serious.”
I cross my arms and let out a sigh. Something has been building in my mind about how Angus acts, and I’m not sure what to make of it. Maybe his sister will. “Hey, Annie, not to take away from your hot-and-heavy seriousness with Red, but I have a question about Angus. Have you ever seen him with a girlfriend? Has he ever brought any home to meet the family or whatever?”
Annie laughs. “No. He keeps to himself too much. Always gotta be the lone wolf, all growly and grumpy and super serious, too. He was like that before college and I don’t think much has changed since then.”
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to hear that.”
“Why? Are you interested in him?” She slyly raises an eyebrow my way. She pokes me in the shoulder before laughing. “I’ll grill you later, I gotta head out again. Busy day, I told Ms. Nancy I’d help her sew her son’s Scout uniforms and I know it means a lot to her.”
I smile. “Have fun, try not to prick yourself too much.”
“I’m awful at sewing, but hey, I said I’d help and I keep my word.” She darts back out the door as fast as she came in.
At least she’s keeping busy. It’s more than I can say about myself. The house is clean and every other chore I can think of is done. I don’t have to make dinner for a few more hours. Instead of struggling with my thoughts, I decide to bake a cake instead, singing a song as I go. A bit of Loretta Lynn this time, a little ditty about working hard and coming from those who work hard. Singing has always kept my spirits up, even through the most awful of times. The cake, when it is all finished and baked, will definitely help too.
As the timer winds down, a shadow appears in the kitchen doorway. It’s Angus. He’s leaning on the doorframe, listening to my singing. “Hey Dolly,” he says with a tinge of uncertainty.
“Hey Angus.”
“What do you say about me and you heading to the Burly Bar tonight? After dealing with all these numbers I think I could use a drink.”
Is... is he asking me out? I freeze a moment before regaining my composure. “I’m not twenty-one and I don’t have a fake ID, Angus.”
“Fake ID won’t do shit in a small town like this anyway. Besides, you’ll be with me. The Rowdys are still respected around these parts, and no one’s going to give you any trouble just because you’re a little short of the age requirement.”
I nibble on my lip and relent. Maybe I need a drink too. “Okay, fine. I’ll go. Guess I’ll need to change before then, huh?”
I’m looking at the apron I put on to bake, thinking that and the jean shorts and T-shirt I’ve got on under them won’t do if I’m going out with Angus. Going out… is this a date? I’m panicking a bit again. Maybe he does want me? Maybe he doesn’t know how to express it?
“Can’t wait to see what you come up with,” he says before leaving me alone.
It’s all so confusing and I don’t know what to think. But sometimes you gotta take life as it comes, and this feels like one of those times.
7
ANGUS
I don’t like what I overheard when Dolly was on the phone. Not one bit.
Dolly being made to feel guilty about her situation. About living with my family. It isn’t fair. She has been dealt a hard hand and is making the most of it, and taking it like an angel. She’s grateful and willing to do so much to prove her gratitude. Not one complaint out of her, either.
Then her mother treats her like that. I already had a low opinion of that woman, given she abandoned Dolly to her situation in the first place, and this clearly does no favors for her.
I want to hold this girl, to protect her, to do so many other things, but I have to find some way to express this and I’ve never been all that good at that.
After dinner, she comes along to the Burly Bar wearing a cute little pair of cowboy boots and a dress to match. She knows this isn’t the sort of place for a shimmering cocktail dress and heels, it’s a bit too roughneck for that. Everything’s made of wood, the bartender has a curly mustache, and there's about a hundred gallons of ten-gallon hats among the bar patrons.