American Honey

“They’re beautiful.” Her steps are painstakingly slow as she walks down each stair to me. With her standing one step above, she’s almost my height and my instinct is to wrap my arms around her and carry her to my truck. It dawns on me right there that a night in town at a restaurant where people can see us just won’t work for me. I want to be alone with her, surrounded by what’s brought us together.

“Can you wait right here for a minute?” I thrust the flowers at her, causing her startle slightly. “Shit, sorry,” I mumble as I climb the stairs two at a time. As soon as I get to the door, I turn to see Savannah admiring her flowers and I can’t help smiling.

Rushing into the house and right into the kitchen I find Aunt Sue taking an apple pie out of the oven. It’s hotter than blazes outside and she’s in here cooking, God bless her.

“It smells delicious, Aunt Sue,” I say, inhaling the smell of applies and cinnamon. I’m surprised Uncle Bobby doesn’t weigh three hundred pounds with all the cooking she does. I know I would if I ate here every day.

“It’s on the table,” she tells me without looking in my direction. My brows furrow in confusion as I look at the table and find exactly what I’m looking for.

“How’d you know I wanted the picnic basket?”

She stops and turns. “I saw her gettin’ dressed and you aren’t a boy who likes fancy dinners. It’s all in there.” I walk over to the basket and lift the lid to find fried chicken, green beans and cornbread. Surprisingly, there’s a bottle of wine even though we’re still underage. The fact that she’s okay with it shows me that she’s okay with me pursuing her niece.

My head shakes slightly. “I’m going to take her over to the pond. I think she’ll like it better than going to some stuffy restaurant.” Picking up the basket, I head to the back door. “Thank you.” Aunt Sue nods and moves on to her next pie, leaving me with too many thoughts running through my mind.

I hustle to the barn and saddle Sundance. She has a fondness for Savannah and won’t mind if we ride tandem. I have to transfer the basket that Aunt Sue put together into some saddlebags. Not ideal, but there’s no way I can strap down a picnic basket onto the saddle. I pull a blanket out of the tack room and make sure it’s secure before leaving the barn. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but I’ll improvise.

Leading the horse around the front, I find Savannah sitting on the steps, twirling her flowers around. Honestly, I’m surprised to find her still sitting there, but she’s waiting for me just like I asked.

“Hey, sweetheart.” She looks up and her mouth drops open. “So I had this big fancy dinner planned in town, but that’s not me.” I shrug, hoping that she’s okay with this. “Truth is, I don’t know what type of date guy I am, but horseback riding out into the sunset seems like a pretty good date to me.” I look over my shoulder before looking back at her. “I have some dinner here and thought we could ride out to the pond.”

I pull my hat off and run my hand over my hair. “I think I have everything for a –” Savannah is in front of me before I can finish my sentence and places her fingers over my lips.

“It sounds perfect,” she tells me with a smile. When she removes her fingers, I take advantage of the moment an

d kiss her.

“I’m really nervous,” I add for good measure so she doesn’t think I’m a fumbling idiot.

“Why? I’m just me and you’re you. This date sounds perfect.”

I shake my head. “It’s not that. To me, you’re this beautiful woman who has captured my heart with the force of a thousand thundering bulls. I’m trying so hard to impress you, but I know the usual wine and dine isn’t going to work with you. You need special, but I don’t always know what special is… at least I didn’t until I met you. When I look at you, Savannah, all reasoning doesn’t exist. You’re not your typical girl, you’re so much more and I want to do everything I can to make you happy and see you smile.”

“Well, you’re doing a damn good job with that, Cowboy.”

I try to hide the devilish smirk, but to no avail. She lightly punches me in the arm and starts laughing. “I only know Sundance; am I riding her?”

“Do you remember how to ride?” I ask, moving Sundance’s reins in my hand.

“I do. I rode her the other day.”

“You did? Where was I?”

“I’m not sure,” she says as her hand trails down the horse’s neck. Savannah steps closer and rest her head against the gentle mare. Sundance moves her head slightly, acknowledging Savannah.

I clear my throat. “I was hoping we could ride together.”

She nods. “Yeah, I’d like that,” she says seductively.

It doesn’t register what she just said until I see her mount Sundance. I quickly move and heave myself up behind her. Still holding the reins, we trot off toward the river that we have to cross to get to the pond. I’ve known this land for most of my life and I still haven’t been to every part.

Savannah leans back against me, allowing me to guide our way. Having her in front of me like this, it’s indescribable. I can’t get enough of her and I know it’s dangerous, but right now I’m willing to accept the consequences.

When we get to the river, I feel her freeze. I stifle a laugh, as Sundance knows just what to do and starts walking across.

“It’s so beautiful out here.”

“Nothing’s as beautiful as you.”