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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 6, 2011 13:14:21 GMT -5
 // I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in[/size][/b][/color][/center]
The tall blonde female opened the door with a jingled and walked into her favorite bar-slash-restaurant. She waved at the bartender as she walked in and gave him one of her usual easy smiles. She frequented the place enough that she knew just about everyone who worked there. No, make that officially everyone, at least until anyone new showed up. In fact, she'd worked as a bartender for them once upon a blue moon, back in senior year of college and a little after graduation.
She scanned the seating, noting that as usual, there weren't many seats filled on a weekday afternoon. She debated between popping a squat at the bar, where she could chat with Benny, the bartender, sitting at one of the cozy booths, or climbing up onto one of the barstool tables for two. She decided to opt for the last choice, picking a barstool table with a nice view of the big flatscreen TV that hung over the bar. Benny yelled over at her, "What can I get ya today Jay?" She gave him another gentle smile and said, "Gimme the usual."
[/b] He laughed, already knowing she'd probably say that. 'The usual' for her meant half a rack of their specialty boneless ribs, an order of fries, and a pitcher of Budweiser. For having a none-too-heavy figure, the girl sure could put it down. While she waited for her order to come, she drifted between watching the TV, a rerun of a football game, and her own thoughts. It only took about 5 minutes to get her food to her. That was her favorite thing about coming when they weren't busy. Waiting wasn't exactly her strong point. Benny brought her plate out and sat it down on the table with a clunk, by which time she'd already poured a glass of ice cold beer. No sooner than he'd walked away did she dig into her food. She took a ketchup bottle and squeezed it all over the fries in a random swirly pattern, and then grabbed a rib and started eating. Of course she didn't notice the barbeque sauce that smeared across her chin, nor did she notice the dap of ketchup that found it's way to her shirt as she grabbed a fistful of fries. Being neat and tidy wasn't really her thing either. She continued eating in the same fashion while watching the football game between bites. She'd already seen it and knew the outcome, but she still found herself randomly yelling out comments from time to time. "C'mon ref, give us a fair call!"[/b], she said with a groan. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 550[/b] words, just for SHANE (FREE)[/b]! PS - Meet miss Jay![/b] [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 6, 2011 16:58:22 GMT -5
Shane had been relaxing at a table for the good part of an hour when the tall blond came in. She took no notice of him, so he was able to fully appreciate her curves in all the right places. She smiled at the bartender, a smile he knew could melt a guy's heart if she turned on the charm. It certainly started his turning a little mushy around the edges. She must be a regular, and seemed to know the restaurant well. The bartender even used her name, 'Jay.' While he guessed that was short for something, he wasn't sure.
'Gimme the usual' was her reply, another indication she was here often. He studied the rim of his glass, wondering if he should walk over. It certainly wasn't frowned upon here, but he wasn't sure. She wasn't sitting that far away, and they were yelling across the restaurant, so it wasn't like he was eavesdropping. Then again, if she had a date or a different random guy took his chance with her, his would be lost.
Indecision kept him rooted to his seat until her food came. Then, he had to admit, the way she ate would keep some avid pursuers away. She wasn't trying to impress, that was for sure. He found himself watching in fascination, knowing if he had a white shirt on, he definitely wouldn't have been as careless with the ketchup and barbeque sauce. Then again, he wasn't such a huge fan of ribs anyway.
She seemed interested in the football game, and seemed to know what was happening. While his TV was rarely used, it was on enough in the background on Sundays for him to know the gist of the game. He wasn't a big TV person. He had to smile as she talked to the ref, wondering if she knew the game was a rerun. If she knew more than him about football, probably. She was just getting into it. Shortly after the foul, there was a timeout. Knowing his frank appreciation of her wasn't going to last long anyway, he decided to make his presence known.
Jay, you have ketchup on your shirt. His tone was warm, but decidedly amused. He had the advantage here, knowing at least her nickname and having observed her since she came in. While she probably knew there were a couple guys around, she definitely hadn't singled him out of the crowd or paid any attention to him. He was relaxing pretty close to her, in jeans and a blue t-shirt that barely hid the fact he worked for a living. His hair, as always, was styled by the wind, and his bright blue eyes held her in their bemused gaze. He wasn't old, but the sun and wind had done their work on his face, giving him premature wrinkles mostly around his eyes, where he would squint to see around the sun or, most often, smile. If he admitted it to himself, he didn't like them, but they gave him a more distinguished look, and more respect from the ranchers around him who had been in the business longer than he had been alive. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 6, 2011 17:41:10 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
In the midst of glaring at the TV screen and hollering at the referee's shoddy calls, Jayden failed to notice a rather suave looking prospect sitting in a seat not far at all from her own. One minute he was sitting there out of the scope of her vision, the next his words rang out clear, obviously intended for her. His words startled her, her gaze abruptly turning from it's original focus, coming into a locked position on his face. Her breath caught for a moment and she sat there with a deer in the headlights look, before finally offering a laugh and a sheepish grin. "Oops?"
[/b] she said weakly as she picked up a napkin and dabbed at her shirt. It didn't help. It just made the red blotch get bigger. She sighed and looked up at him and shrugged. "Guess that's what I get for buying a white shirt."[/b] Getting over her initial shock and embarrassment, she regained her composure considerably quickly. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she gave him a not-so-menacing glare. It finally sank in that she'd never met this man before, and she'd met almost everyone who lived in town. That's the beauty of a small town, or maybe it's the curse. She wasn't sure which one it really was. All the guys around already knew her well enough to know what to expect, and half of them had tried, but failed, to date her at one point or another. She looked up at the man before her, who looked sort of rugged and a little older than herself, continuing to give him a cool stare. "How'd you know my name? I don't think I've ever met you before."[/b] Her eyes dared him to come up with a believable excuse as her fingers drummed slightly on the table. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 400[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 6, 2011 18:08:35 GMT -5
He had caught her totally off guard. Hearing her name had her turning around to look, but when she saw someone she didn't know and processed the comment, she just sat there for a minute. As soon as everything computed, she was rather sheepish. He had to chuckle at her, she seemed a bit embarrassed. Either she liked him, or didn't like perfect strangers seeing her a mess. She apparently didn't mind the regulars here, or she would have been more careful in the first place.
She attempted to dab the offending spot. but only succeeded in spreading it around. At her comment, he gave a smile. He didn't own many white shirts, because the dust showed so easily on them. That, and sweat had the tendency to discolor them, even when you used bleach regularly. The only white shirts he had were for special occasions, and he didn't have many.
He chuckled again as her embarrassment faded and she began to look at him like he had stolen something from her. Her glare wasn't scary, although it got across the point she was displeased. Even in her cool displeasure, she looked cute. He tried to somewhat muffle his emotions, knowing laughing at her was hardly a way to get her to at least tolerate him. Jay, hun, your friend behind the bar quite clearly yelled your name when he saw you come in. If I recall, you're response was 'Gimme the usual.' Before she could accuse him of eavesdropping, he raised his hands in surrender. It's hard not to over hear when the two people are across the restaurant and making each other heard.
He was quite relaxed, despite the womanly wrath that would probably fall on him. A herd of steer had a hard time getting out of his loop once he and his ranch hands had cast it, so he had little to fear from a woman. Of course, it was probably that attitude that had kept him from dating all these years. He didn't claim to understand them, or know what made them tick, but he definitely wasn't afraid of them. I'm Shane Parker, by the way, and my brother and I run a local ranch. I don't get off it much, so occasionally he'll force me from my Paints and the constant work it takes to run a ranch. See, right there he summed up what he did, who he was, and why he was here. Why couldn't women be that easy? |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 6, 2011 18:26:49 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
The glare faded from Jayden's face as he surrendered a halfway believable defense. Okay, a very believable defense. He was quite true that she and Benny had been talking pretty loudly across the restaurant and it wasn't his fault he overheard. But still, it ruffled her feathers a little that he so easily picked up her name and used it like they were old friends. "I guess I'll believe you, but I'm not quite sure how you were able to pick up on my name so quickly...unless you already had your attention on me..."
[/b] She laughed softly and gave him a teasing grin, realizing he was quite handsome, just her kind of guy. The rugged look became him. He looked wise, but still cute with a little boyish charm. Tough, definitely the type of guy who could hold up against a tomboy like herself. She found herself breaking into a smile and blushing a little at the thought. She wasn't the type to pay attention to guys much. But then again, most of the guys around town were either her age and too immature, or older and had known her since she was in diapers. There wasn't much left inbetween, and what there was didn't ever seem to be worth her time. He offered his name and quickly spilled out his miniature life story. She laughed again, not at him but at herself as she compared her own story to his. It wasn't nearly so simple. "Nice to officially meet you Shane, I'm Jayden Mitchell. Just call me Jay,"[/b] she said with a wave of her hand. "Oh wait, you already do."[/b] Her eyes held a teasing twinkle as she inhaled deeply and plunged into her own introduction. "I've lived here basically all my life, with my dad, who owns the local auto body shop. I went to Glencarry University, but I've never settled down with a 'real' job yet. Actually, I've worked as a number of things, but haven't found just the right place yet,"[/b] she trailed off, hoping he wouldn't think she was some kind of lazy, spoiled daddy's girl, "Right now, I, uh, walk dogs. I'm hoping to find a better paying job this summer though. And, I help my dad out a lot too."[/b] She finally quit talking and sat there taking it all in. She always felt like an idiot when she had to talk about herself. She didn't really mind much, but she always got some strange looks when she mentioned the many jobs she'd had. There was also the fact that she was nearing thirty and hadn't had a steady grown-up job yet. Jay twirled a strand of hair around her finger and drummed her fingers on the table again. "So, uh, what do you do on your ranch? You said you have Paints...do you like, raise and sell horses?"[/b] Honestly, she wasn't all that fond of most ranchers, but she was giving him the benefit of the doubt, and found herself hoping he passed her interrogation. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 625[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 6, 2011 19:46:14 GMT -5
She surrendered gracefully, although the slightly annoyed look stayed around for a little longer. He had to say, being annoyed became her. He just smiled at her comment, not denying it or defending himself this time, just giving her his knowing smile, which could annoy the crud out of his brother. While they got along quite well, they had settled for living on separate sides of the house, finding living with each other was a bit much for both of them.
He watched her as she took him in, his look changing once more to bemused. If he was the ugliest guy in the room, and was as fit as he was, he was pretty sure he'd still get attention. It definitely didn't help that he and his brother had both inherited their father's good looks and mother's eyes.
He was slightly confused when she laughed after he told her a bit about himself, but he attributed it to whatever was going through her mind, like he knew what it was. He put it behind him and laughed as she introduced herself. I deserved that. He listened carefully as she talked about herself, hoping to find some glimmer into who she was and what she was interested in. A love of animals and employment ADD was all he got from that. Well, I can always put you to work with the horses or dogs at my place, and there's always stall mucking to do. His blue eyes held a twinkle, knowing work on the ranch probably wouldn't hold much interest to anyone who didn't love the land as much as he did. Or, the Paints as much as he did. He just guessed that ranching was in his blood.
She fell silent, and seemed to be reflecting on how easily she just spelled out her life. He was the simple kind of guy, and he didn't mind that he could sum himself up in a couple sentences. She, on the other hand, might. She wasn't your average girl, especially with the jobs she listed. Helping her dad in his auto shop meant she had to know a good deal about cars, and walking dogs, well, that was just... creative.
Her question introduced him to a subject dear to his heart. They aren't the main business, but yes. If you run in Paint circles, you've heard of me since you live in the area. My horses have excellent cow sense, the ultimate 'pretty' workhorses. They all get trained on my own stock, and go on at least one round up before I sell them. They typically start life out in a herd on the ranch, and then I tame them and train them. If they live up to my expectations, they'll typically stick around for a couple more years, and after that I'll decide to keep them or not. I've learned I have to be picky, or else I'd end up with more horses than steers. he said ruefully, a half smile on his face. The steers are the real money makers, although one of my Paints often get a healthy sum of money. As I mentioned, I've got cattle dogs, and the ranchers surrounding me and I have created our own breed of cattle dog, and I'm pretty sure Sam can trace them all back to the purebreds we've bought over the years to keep fresh blood in our lines. Quite interesting dogs they are. It was clear she hat touched upon a warm subject for him, as he gushed, as much as a guy can gush, and even relaxed further in his chair when the subject came up. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 6, 2011 20:03:24 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
Her attention perked as he began going on about his ranch and his horses. She listened as intently as she could, noticing it seemed to be an important subject to him. She scooted her chair around a bit so she could face him, and picked up her food to continue eating. The fries had grown cold and soggy thanks to the ketchup, but she tried to get through them without a grimace. It wasn't like it was his fault she'd let them sit so long.
He seemed done talking and she tried to sort it all out in her head. "Actually, as much as I love horses, I've never had one, so I can't exactly say that I've been in those circles. But it sounds like you take pride in what you do and I'm sure you do have some wonderful horses."
[/b] She smiled, catching herself before she started gushing about how she'd always wanted a horse and would like to learn to ride better than she could. She didn't want to think she was just using him. He was actually proving to be interesting so far. Way better than all the dolts she usually ran into. "You mentioned steers...you raise cattle too?"[/b] Her smile faded into a bit of a frown, as if she almost knew what was coming. She was a strong activist for humane treatment of animals, which included feedlots. As much as she hated to think he was one of those kind of guys she worked against, well, the odds were that he was exactly one of those guys. It wasn't like she didn't eat beef. No, she'd tried becoming a vegetarian once, but realized she could never give up a good plate of barbeque. She also wasn't foolish enough to think the planet would stay in balance if everyone quit eating meat, but still, she wished cattle and everything else could be treated better. After thinking on the topic, she felt a little queasy, and shoved her plate away, with a couple ribs still on it. Now that she'd thought about the poor cows, she just couldn't bring herself to eat it at the moment. Of course, the building nerves she was feeling about this guy weren't helping anything either. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 450[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 6, 2011 20:33:46 GMT -5
She paid rapt attention to him a she spoke, and he had to admire that. She could tell it meant something to him, and respected that drive that he had. He had certainly warmed up to the subject, and spoken more than he probably normally would. He was generally fairly quiet, but when you pushed the right buttons he could and would talk your ear off.
Really? he couldn't help interjecting as she spoke, but he reined himself in to let her finish. Not having a horse in a town like this was like getting through high school without a crush. It didn't happen. You will definitely have to come find out. I have enough horses you can 'adopt' one of them, and I certainly have enough space for you to ride when you get the chance. Which, if all you're doing is walking dogs and working on cars, I'm sure will be more often than not. His blue eyes twinkled, he had a lot of land in his backyard. He only had a couple pastures for the occasional stallions he would have or horses he wanted to keep close to the barns.
He nodded at her question. They are by far the lifeblood of the ranch. I admit, I'm a little old fashioned and about half of my stock are Angus cows and steers that I raise naturally and those are what I use for my round ups etc. The others are what you think of from a ranch, I have a large herd of cows, and I sell their calves the fall of each year. He saw her push away her plate of ribs, and wondered. Was she one of those who saw ranchers in a bad light? Oh, he had just royally messed this up if she was. There wasn't a whole lot he could do about it, though. He was who he was, and he wasn't going to change that anytime soon. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 7, 2011 12:37:21 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
The blonde's shoulders raised in a shrug of indifference as he mentioned her coming out and riding. Again, she didn't want to seem too enthusiastic or make it seem like she was only interested in him to use him. She knew how that felt all too well.
He went on to talk about the cattle on his ranch and she grimaced. Great, just what she'd been hoping he wasn't. She tried to hide a frown from him, not wanting him to back off just yet. Curiosity was getting the best of her and she had to cave in. "Oh...you raise cattle for meat,"
[/b] she spoke in a soft undertone, eyes shifting away from him for a moment. Never the one to beat around a bush or hide her true feelings, she mustered up her courage and decided to be frank with him. "Well, I can't say I like that. I'm a pretty big activist for humane treatment of animals, especially feedlot animals,"[/b] she spoke as she attempted to smile. "I really just think the situation they're in is pretty awful. No offense, but I don't exactly admire a guy who runs a beef cattle operation."[/b] Her eyes searched his, trying to read him. He seemed harder to read than some guys. Maybe that just meant his mind was more complicated. She laughed lightly at the thought. Lord knows she'd love to meet a guy who had both brains and brawn. Not a complete geek who couldn't throw a ball to save his life, but not a mindless jock either. She decided she'd forgive him of his occupation, for now. Bantering with him a bit might be fun, and it had been awhile since she'd enjoyed a truly entertaining conversation. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 400[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 7, 2011 14:06:57 GMT -5
She didn't seem very interested in his offer to come out and see his horses, which half disappointed him. She had seemed a little interested, but he guessed it wasn't enough to get her coming around more. Maybe it was for the better; he figured she would be the type to spoil a horse rotten. While a couple horses could be spoiled and not change from it, he had a couple who would demand to be spoiled after getting a taste of what it was like. They were working ranch horses, they couldn't turn soft.
He nodded at her statement, gaze sharpening a bit as she looked away. This was something to be ashamed of in her eyes? Before he could note that only half of his stock went to feedlots, she spoke again, confirming what he had guessed. Her looking away had signaled a fall in her estimation of him, and he almost wished he had a different job. Almost. I understand your viewpoint, but I don't run a feedlot. I do sell half of my stock to one, but if I didn't my ranch would go under. He hesitated. How best could he put this? If people shut down feedlots, and forced ranchers to raise all their beef naturally, we would not have as much food. I'm not trying to defend them, but without them more people would go hungry than now. And with the human population growing at such a steady rate, I'm afraid there will have to be more things like this to feed us. It's a lot like the organic/non-organic food feud. We can produce so much more food non-organically that we can feed millions of people. If they were forced to only grow organically, people would starve. I'm all for organic food or free raising cattle, but I understand the need for something else. Does it mean I wholeheartedly support it? No. But I still sell my calves to them each fall. Ranching is what I do. I do my best at what I do, and you can't put all the blame of what other people do with my cattle once I sell them.
He was slightly disappointed at this turn of events, because he really liked this woman. It wasn't everyday he met a woman he clicked with, and he wasn't getting any younger. He still had time, but he wasn't sure he wanted to wait very much longer. His yearning was for a wife, and with all his work, there just wasn't much time for him to be out looking. While she hadn't turned him away yet, he had the feeling it was heading that way. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 7, 2011 14:26:55 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
She sighed to herself as he talked and her mind felt like it was spinning. He'd seemed like everything she looked for in a man until she found out the dirty truth. But he had a point and she knew it. She wasn't dumb, and she'd already accepted the fact that feedlots and other such things could never be shut down, but some of them had conditions that were just horrifying. That's all she really wanted, better conditions and regulation of things. So no, he wasn't really the bad guy. Even if...in a way, he supported what she fount against.
He'd been done talking for a few moments and she sat there silently battling her own will. She was stubborn, incredibly so. It was hard for her to admit defeat. But a nagging voice in her head told her if she didn't step down and cave in a little, she might never see him again. That certainly wasn't what she wanted to happen. So she looked back up at him, her pale eyes begging forgiveness. Her voice was humble as she spoke. "I know, I know. You're not the bad guy. I mean, I do eat meat, and I don't stick completely to organic. I just wish more ranchers would care about which feedlots they choose, so the worst ones would get ran out of business."
[/b] She sighed then, feeling like she'd really screwed things up with him. She wasn't really looking for a boyfriend or anything, but he seemed like he'd be a fun guy to hang out with, even if nothing ever came of it. Without waiting to hear his reaction, she flagged Benny down at the bar and called out to him. "Check, please."[/b] He glanced at Shane, cocking an eyebrow in a puzzled expression, but then he simply nodded his head. Obviously, he'd seen something between the two of them two. She couldn't bear to look Shane in the eyes again, but a few seconds later she finally spun around to face him again. She wasn't usually like that. She was usually the outspoken one, not the one to care what anyone else thought of her. Definitely not the type to get hung up on a guy after talking to him for five minutes. She cleared her throat, trying to think of a way to smooth things over. "So, uh, look. I guess we got off to a rough start. If you can't tell, I can be a tad opinionated at times."[/b] At just that moment Benny walked up and laughed. He winked at Shane and said, "Between you and me, she can be more than a tad opinionated. But she means well. Don't let her ruffle your feathers man." Jayden gave Benny a loathing glare and then pulled a few bills out of her back pocket and plopped them onto the table without counting. She at the same thing all the time, so she had the price memorized. Then she stood up casually and walked over to Shane's table, taking a seat. She wasn't letting him get away just yet. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 610[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 7, 2011 14:55:27 GMT -5
After he had finished, the silence hung in the air. It wasn't a comfortable silence, more like something to fear. But then again, she wasn't firing back a response. She wasn't making him regret what he did. He wasn't sure which was better, the accusations or this haunting silence. He shifted in his seat, not wanting to break the silence, but at the same time needing it to end. He wasn't that patient.
When she finally broke it, she seemed subdued, humbled. While he wanted to get his point across, it was like he had utterly defeated her, and that's not what he wanted. Her spirit was what he liked about her. She called for the check, and he felt the disappointment sink to his gut. She was leaving, and he would go back to his ranch none the richer for knowing her. Shane's eyes connected with the bartender, and he just gave a shrug. Like they'd ever know what went on in her head.
She fiddled with her things a bit before clearing her throat and turning to him again. He had to smile. Yes, she could be opinionated, but you had to be in this world. You had to stand up for what you believed in to get places. While he had been defending what he did, he was also standing up for it. If he swayed like the wind, he wouldn't have had much to do in the line of work, because everybody had problems with something.
He had to laugh at Benny's comment, but what she had shown him was that she thought things through and picked her stance clearly. That she knew what she was fighting for and what she was fighting against. Opinionated? Just a tad. But he could live with that. Then again, he was just letting her walk out on him. There wasn't a whole lot to do, because he doubted cornering her for her number would do anything but inflame the situation. She seemed like the gal who would kick him where it hurts and walk away. No, he was better off going his own way and hoping their paths crossed again.
As soon as she got up, he offered a wave. Then she sat down at his table. He couldn't stop the shocked expression, and after a second he managed to lower his hand to keep from embarrassing himself further. If he had had the advantage when first saying hello to her, or, more like you have ketchup on your shirt, she definitely had it now. He managed a grateful smile to hopefully wipe the shock off his face, and looked over at Benny for some kind of help. But the way he had commented about her made him think Benny thought she would leave too. Um. he managed, pausing to think of something he could say. Do you want to come see my horses? He had been done with his meal when he walked in, had just been hanging out before heading back to the ranch. She was done, had paid, and... well, was now sitting at his table. He truly was at a loss for words. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 7, 2011 15:22:03 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
Jayden smiled as she realized she'd made him nervous. Who's mister tough guy now, she thought to herself as she sat there almost enjoying the awkward silence. She knew she'd surprised him, but his reaction also told her he still cared. At least he hadn't glared at her and told her she wasn't welcome to sit with him. Yes, things were certainly looking up. Maybe for once putting her foot in her mouth hadn't ruined everything.
She glanced around the building, waiting for him to speak. She'd made the move to come over, now it was his job to talk. The place had cleared out except for them and one old guy over in the far corner booth. It was easy to see why Benny did most of the work himself on weekdays. The place was pretty slow.
Finally Shane began to speak and her face lit up just hearing his voice. He didn't sound mad, that was a very good sign. In fact, he didn't even sound all that frustrated with her. She laughed as he invited her to come see his horses. As much as she loved them, she didn't want to further embarrass herself by showing him just how much she was lacking when it came to riding skills. She glanced at the flimsy menus stacked in the rack on the table and pulled one out. "Actually, you see, I didn't finish my meal so I'm still kind of hungry. You up for dessert?"
[/b] She winked at him, back to her usual self of not caring what anyone thought of her. Some girls would pass on desert even if they were starving, just to impress a guy. Jayden figured if a guy couldn't accept the fact that she ate as much or more than he did, he wasn't worth her time. She perused over the menu for a moment, knowing full and well they only served a small variety of desserts. Apple pie, homemade by one of the locals, some kind of really rich chocolate cake, and her personal favorite - brownies al a mode. She flipped the menu so he could see it and pointed at the picture. "They bake a mean brownie and you can't beat good old vanilla ice cream on top. Wanna share one, or am I gonna have to call you chicken?"[/b] She laughed softly again as her eyes twinkled with delight. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 500[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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Post by free3 on Jun 7, 2011 16:34:26 GMT -5
Being the one with the advantage suited her, and she bounced back quite quickly. Obviously, faster than he could get over the fact she was now at his table. She didn't do him any favors to help bail him out. She just enjoyed the fact she threw him off balance. He had to admit he had it coming, having totally thrown her at the beginning of their short acquaintanceship. Then again, he didn't particularly like being the one on the receiving end of these things.
When she asked him whether he would care for some dessert, he nodded. I've always been a fan of dessert. He mentally kicked himself after that comment. It sounded like he was trying too hard to dig himself out of the hole she had placed him in. He grabbed another of the menus, looking for the dessert section. When he finally found it, he saw only three desserts. The apple pie seemed most appealing to him, but there were many ways you could make an apple pie, and he didn't know how they made theirs.
He looked over as she pointed at the picture, smiling at her comment. Well, if you think I need pictures, you'd better go ahead and order for me. he teased, smiling at her. And you can call anything chicken, but it doesn't mean it tastes like it or acts like it. he added. Rattlesnake did not, contrary to his brother's word, taste like chicken. He learned that the hard way. He was glad they seemed to have found balance again, teasing one another and being on generally good terms for two strangers.
He motioned to Benny. Miss Mitchell here would like to order for me. he called, still messing with her about the menu thing. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, expecting either a glare or a whack with the menu she still held in her hand. Or both, knowing as little about her as he did. He relaxed again in his seat, crossing his arms as he turned back to face her. His look was again an amused smile. He hadn't talked this much to one person in months, and for once was glad his brother ran him off the ranch occasionally. |
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Post by jaydenmitchell on Jun 7, 2011 17:07:00 GMT -5
// I'M A WILDFLOWER\\
growin in the sunshine, soakin up the way of life i was raised in
[/size][/b][/color][/center]
Blue-green eyes sent the rancher a hint of a warning glare before turning back to Benny and rolling her eyes with a smile. "See, he thinks he knows me already!"
[/b], she said, feigning an exasperated tone. Benny gave her a warm smile and said, "Well, if my memory serves me right, you weren't that hard to get to know..." He was cut short by a glare Jay directed at him and a slight shake of her head. Ugh, men. They never seem to understand bad timing. Before Shane could notice anything, or so she hoped, she quickly cut in. "Mr. Parker here will have, um..."[/b] she trailed off as she debated ordering something really strange for him, but decided she should play nicely. "He'll have the brownie al a mode. And I will take a spoon so I can steal a couple bites."[/b] Okay, so not too nicely, she thought as she grinned at Shane, clearly gloating at making him look like a pig. Benny promised to have the dessert right out and Jayden gave Shane her most innocent look. She almost felt a twinge of guilt. After all, the guy had seen her with food smeared on her face and ketchup down her shirt, and he'd still given her a time of day. She found herself wondering if he thought she was attractive despite that, or if he just didn't pay attention to looks much. She didn't wear hardly any makeup and her clothes, while fairly tasteful, did nothing to accentuate anything. Deciding it was probably time to play it nice, she flashed him one of her melting smiles. "Ah, Mr. Parker, are you ready to call a truce yet?"[/b] Her eyebrows raised with the question and her cool and confident demeanor told the world she wouldn't give in unless he did. [/color][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]
runnin barefoot blooming in a summer shower, ponytail dancing
\\I CAN'T HELP IT, I'M A WILDFLOWER//
[/size][/font][/b][/center] COMPLETE [/b] with 410[/b] words, just for SHANE[/b]! [/color][/size][/center] |
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