You Are The Only Exception
Chapter 1 "'Iolani Ranch"
Disclaimer: I only own my made up characters!
Friday, May 31st Megan Kato POV
I talked to one of my best friends Darby and my almost boyfriend, Cade as we waited for my Mom and Jonah to get back from the airport. "So she's coming to help out for the summer?" Darby asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, she just graduated from college with a degree in hospitality management and she wants to relax before finding a permanent job back in Arizona so she's coming here."
"Has she ever been here?" Darby asked curiously. I was about to answer when another person spoke.
"Should we change your name from can do keiki to the nosy keiki?" Kimo, one of the paniolos that worked here on 'Iolani Ranch, chuckled as he and Kit walked up to us. Darby blushed red.
"No!" Darby protested, still blushing. "I was just asking about the girl who's going to be our new guest."
"She was here once, maybe five years ago?" I looked towards Cade and Kimo. Cade had been here for six years and Kimo had been here since he was seventeen. He was about to be twenty six.
"She was the pretty one with the crazy hair, yeah?" Kimo replied. I smiled and nodded at him. Delainey had dyed her dark red hair partially bleach blonde and had black, blue and green in her hair when she last came. Kimo wouldn't admit it but he liked her hair and they had hit it off the last time she was here. "That's the last time she was here."
Jonah's land rover pulled into the yard. "Well here they are!" I said excited to see Delainey again.
…...
Delainey POV
I stepped out of the land rover and saw my younger cousin, Megan. "Meg!" I shouted and ran to hug her.
"Lainey!" Megan hugged me back. I know the last two years had been tough for her with her father dying in the riding accident. It had hit Megan and Cathy both hard. I hadn't been able to make the funeral. "I'm so glad you're here!"
"Me too! It's so good to be back." I said taking in all the green pastures. "Beautiful as always."
"And just think you get to work here for the whole summer." Cathy shook my shoulders. "Delainey, I'm sure you remember Kimo and Cade from the last time you were here." She pointed out a blonde haired boy and a guy who was obviously Hawaiian with his dark skin and black hair. Kimo had grown more since I had been here, more buff. Cade had too. The last time I was here, he was an almost eleven year old abused little boy and now he was almost a man!
"You've grown so much!" I told Cade hugging him. I could feel his stiffness at my affection. "I know, I know, cowboys don't like to be hugged!" I laughed stepping back. "It's good to see you again." I was going to shake Kimo's hand but he hugged me and gave me a kiss on both cheeks. That's right, that's how they greeted people in Hawaii. Jonah and Cathy had done the same to me at the airport and given me a Lei.
"This is Darby, Jonah's granddaughter." Cathy pointed a young pretty girl with straight black hair and blue eyes. She gave me a quick 'Hello' which I returned. "That's Kit Ely, Jonah's new foreman." Kit looked Hawaiian but I knew from Megan he was really from Nevada. He was part Shoshone Indian. He was really cute too, just like Kimo. Surrounded by cute men, could I get any luckier?
"Nice to meet you." I shook his hand. He smiled at me.
"You too, it'll be great to have another person to help us with our guided rides. They're really taking off."
"I can't wait!" I smiled widely. "Riding horses around Hawaii and giving tours? My ultimate dream." I looked towards Jonah and Cathy. "I really can't thank you both enough for letting me do this. It'll help me get experience for a job back in Arizona and I get to spend the summer in this amazing place."
Jonah waved me off. "We're glad for the help. You're welcome at 'Iolani anytime."
"Can we go riding?" Darby asked. "We could take Delainey and give her a tour!"
"Well Delainey might be tired from her flight." Cathy looked towards me.
"Too tired to ride horses?" I snorted. "Never!" So off we went to find me a horse to ride. We settled on Judge, a bay horse that came with Darby's horse, Hoku, from Nevada. I was in the tack room trying to figure out what saddle to grab when I heard a voice from behind me.
"You can use that black one on the top left rack." Kimo pointed out the saddle. I smiled at him.
"Thanks. It's been awhile since I've been here."
"Five years, yeah?" I grabbed the saddle down from the rack and nodded.
"Yeah, I came for the summer while my parents were away." My smile turned a bit sad. "That's the last time I saw Uncle Ben." Kimo rested his hand on my arm giving me silent support. "How are Aunt Cathy and Megan? I always ask Aunt Cathy but you know how she is with her brave face.."
Kimo sighed. "They're doing a lot better now. I think they're over most of their initial grief and they're finally able to talk about him without breaking down. We swap stories all the time."
"I'm glad they're doing okay. I just feel so bad I couldn't come for the funeral." I had been so deep in finals, I would have failed the semester had I left so Aunt Cathy refused to let me come.
"They understood. They didn't want you to fail college, would have screwed up your scholarship right?" I nodded. I would have lost my scholarship. He was about to say something else when Megan rushed in.
"Did you find your saddle?" Megan noticed the saddle in my arms. "Let's go!" So I smiled goodbye to Kimo and followed after Megan.
…...
After our ride I had laid down for a bit. I was staying in Darby's old bedroom now that she and her mother moved out to their cottage by the foreman's house. Her mother, Ellen I remembered, was filming a TV show somewhere in Tahiti. No one was in the house but I saw a note Aunt Cathy had left for me.
Delainey,
Darby, Megan and I are going into town to pick up some groceries for dinner. Kimo, Kit, Cade and Jonah are here. Cade will be in the bunkhouse studying, Kit will probably be working Medusa in the round pen, Kimo will be watching him. Jonah said he was going to spend time with Luna, the stallion down in the pastures. Make yourself at home, we'll be back soon!
-Aunt Cathy
So I went outside to find the round pen and saw Kimo leaning against the fence. He waved when he saw me and I waved back as I walked towards him. Kit was in fact inside with a gray mare. She was beautiful and you could see why Kit liked her. "So this is Medusa?" I asked Kimo when I got to the fence. He nodded
I glanced over Kimo. He was big guy, not overweight or anything, just sturdily built and in shape. You could see his black hair from under his cowboy hat and his brown eyes watched Medusa trot around. I figured he was the easiest one to talk to so I could catch up on a few things going on around the ranch. "So Cade is still living here? Does that mean his mother is still with that horrible man?
"Yeah, Dee is still with Manny that's why Cade is still here." Kimo said, obviously disgusted at Cade's mother. I had to admit, so was I. My mother had been with a man that got a little too handsy but even she, who could care less about me, broke it off after he put his hands on me. My Dad also would have killed her if she let anything happen to me while I was in her custody. I can't imagine letting any man harm my child, I would protect my child at all costs.
"So is this Kit's horse?" I motioned towards the mare. Kimo smiled.
"Yeah, her name is Medusa. She ran with a wild herd over in Crimson Vale. We had an earthquake and tsunami, displaced some horses. Medusa was one of them and Kit adopted her. He's come a long way with her since he got her but she was a lead mare so she thinks she's boss."
"We're almost partners!" Kit called out as the mare trotted around him. "She's learning I'm not a threat anymore, I'm becoming a part of her herd." Kit stopped working the mare and walked out of the pen. "Would you like to come in and meet her?"
I stepped into the pen and let Medusa look me over real good. She stepped forward as I extended my hand slowly. I gently touched her silky nose. "Hey there beautiful girl, where'd you get a name like Medusa from?"
"Well it was her mane, the looks she gave and kind of Darby. She had been calling her Medusa in her mind and it just stuck." Kit told me. "Trust me if you had met her a year ago, you could have saw the looks she gave me. She was not happy at all about me being near her. I've had to put in a lot of work but it's been worth it."
"Are you riding her yet?" I let Medusa sniff the pockets of my shorts as I talked with Kit. He chuckled.
"I've been on her twice. Both times in the water over at Jonah's sister's place, Sugar Sands Cove Resort. It's an old Indian—and Hawaiian—trick working with horses in the water." I nodded remembering Darby telling me about Hoku's training on the ride.
"Yeah, Darby told me about Hoku's training on the ride. She said you helped her a lot." Kit looked a bit bashful.
"Well I just gave my advice and helped her when I could. Her and that horse have such a good bond, we just couldn't let it go to waste." Kit shook his head with a smile. "And look at those two now. She's taking Hoku all over the Island with a saddle, a bridle, everything."
Kit went to take Medusa back to her corral with two other smaller horses. Inky and Blue Moon were two yearlings that were in there with her to keep her company. Inky had been a part of Medusa's herd according to Kimo and Blue Moon had kept Inky company before he was with Medusa so they put Blue Moon, Medusa and Inky together.
I walked with Kimo towards the Sun House and dogs ran around our legs. I tried to remember their names but it was going to take awhile.
"So what college did you go to in Arizona?" Kimo asked conversationally as we walked.
"University of Arizona. The number one top ranked in Arizona." I laughed. "And man was it hard getting through those four years. I'm just so lucky that I had a scholarship. I knew people that had to drop out or just go to community college—nothing wrong with that—because they couldn't afford it."
"College is definitely expensive." Kimo shook his head sighing. "I never went, though I'm not really sad about it. I love working here. As long as Jonah doesn't fire me, I'll work here forever."
"I don't think Jonah would ever fire you." I gently bumped into his shoulder. "He talked very highly of you in the car." Kimo's face flushed in pleasure. "Do you want to come in?" I pointed to the Sun House.
"I would but I really should get home. Dad probably has dinner ready and if I want to eat it, instead of the hogs, I should get home." Kimo joked. I grinned at him.
"Another time then." I watched as he left. I still felt the attraction to him I had five years ago. Maybe this summer I'd actually do something about it.
…...
Kimo POV
I laid in bed that night unable to sleep. I knew I had to get some sleep so I wouldn't be late for work tomorrow but my thoughts kept going around in my head. I thought the summer attraction I had for Delainey five years ago had long passed. We hadn't saw or talked to each other since that summer so I didn't get it. I guess one thing is she just got prettier with age.
Her wavy dark red hair hung down to almost past her chest and her hazel(brownish green) eyes were friendly as always but still intimidating to me. She was still in great shape, a little thicker around her hips, and well some of her body parts were bigger but I was in no way complaining, and her tan legs looked great in her shorts.
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. Thinking about Delainey was not helping me try to go to sleep, if anything it was making my situation worse. I groaned and threw my pillow over my head. This would be a long night.
…...
Delainey POV
I woke up the next morning around seven when I heard footsteps upstairs. I had woken up around four, not used to the time difference but fell back asleep. One of my first rides was this morning but I would just be like a person in training. It was Kimo and Cathy going on the ride so I'd ride in the back with Kimo as Cathy lead the group. I couldn't wait! I was so excited to go on this ride. When I got back to Arizona I wanted to find a job either at a dude ranch or a lodge type inn. I didn't love the city too much.
I got up and got in the shower. Jonah must already be outside. I dressed in a bright orange tank top and a pair of jeans. I only had hiking boots right now but Cathy assured me that would be okay for riding until I could purchase appropriate boots. I blow dried my hair and put it up in a ponytail sticking it through the ball cap I put on. I left the house after grabbing a granola bar and ran into Darby, who was coming into the house.
"Oh! You're up!" She exclaimed with a surprised laugh. "Cathy asked me to come in and see if you were awake. She didn't want to wake you up too early since you're probably tired from flying."
I smiled at Darby. "I'm good. I actually woke up at four this morning, but ended up falling back asleep. So let's get out there." I followed Darby out to the ranch yard.
"Jonah wants you to ride a different horse than Judge today." Darby informed me. "He was thinking you could ride Navigator." Darby looked a bit sad.
"Hey, you okay?" I put my arm around her shoulders. She nodded.
"Yeah, it's just I used to ride Navigator all the time before I could ride Hoku. Just a little sad that someone else will be riding him." I gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Well maybe I'll find another horse after Navigator today." Darby shook her head.
"No 'Gator deserves to be ridden too. Now that I ride Hoku, I don't ride him as much." I found Navigator with Darby and Megan's help and saddled him up. I swung up into his saddle and rode him around the yard a bit just trying to get used to him. He was a wonderful horse, of course all Jonah's horses were good.
I dismounted and Megan showed me how to put a neck rope on Navigator then told me just to loosen his cinch since the guests would be here in a bit. I was looking for Aunt Cathy in the office when my phone went off. I had finally turned it on last night when I was all alone and it had went off twenty three times. Fifteen text messages, five missed calls and three voice-mails. It had been fun sorting through that crap. I looked at my phone, it was a text from Adam, my ex-boyfriend.
Please call me. We need to talk! I rolled my eyes and threw my phone on the desk. What was there to talk about? We were over and I wasn't talking to him. Screw you, I thought to myself shaking my head. After dinner Aunt Cathy had brought me out to the office to show me how to work the computer, the software and how to get the paperwork ready for the guests. I was printing out the paperwork when a shadow came across the door. It was Kimo.
"You must be a hard worker, starting all this on your first day." Kimo grinned at me. I felt my face heat up a bit.
"Well I'm not here to be a guest, I'm here to work so I might as well learn as quickly as possible." I told him with a grin back. "So we have a family of six, two parents, four kids. A family trying to blend together." I mused as I read over Aunt Cathy's notes. "A nine year old, a ten year old, thirteen year old and a sixteen year old. All girls but the sixteen year old."
"He'll certainly be happy with you on the ride." I looked up with raised eyebrows at Kimo's words. He motioned towards my torso. "That shirt fits you like a glove. At that age I noticed any girl and all of her."
I chuckled at Kimo. "Do you think I should change?" I liked that he been looking at me enough to see how well the shirt fit.
"Nah, let him have a little fun. He can go back and tell his friends he got to ride with a beautiful girl in Hawaii that had great, uh.." Kimo cut off, blushing a bit. But I had an idea of what he was going to say.
"Kimo, are these the kind of thoughts running through your head?" I grinned, a bit flirty, at him. Kimo gave me a once over and shrugged. "You are very bad." I laughed and smacked him with the paper.
"I just like to make the girls smile." Kimo winked as he left. I waved the paper by my face, I was feeling flushed and it wasn't the warm Hawaii air that made me feel that way.
Just as I finished the paperwork so it'd be ready for the guests, I heard car doors slamming. They must be here. "Aloha!" I heard Aunt Cathy greet them. I knew she loved having these horses and guided rides, she had missed everything since she left the mainland and her job there working in a travel agency office.
I walked out to make sure all the horses were ready and I tightened Navigator's cinch so he was ready to go. I spotted Kimo tightening the cinch on his horse, Baxter, and he winked at me as he caught my eye. I looked away quickly and didn't notice the way Megan and Darby stared at us. Was Kimo flirting with me? Maybe he hadn't forgotten the summer I was last here. We both had been attracted to each other that summer and had carried on a bit of a flirtatious banter but of course Uncle Ben was there to make sure it was nothing more since I was seventeen at the time.
Now Uncle Ben wasn't here and I wasn't seventeen anymore. I also wasn't looking for anything more serious than a friendship since I'd be headed back to Arizona once the summer was over. Maybe we could still have that kind of banter again and so what if it lead to more? As long as it stayed simple and casual.
I greeted the guests and helped them fill out the required paperwork. The boy, Tyler, wasn't too happy about having to wear a helmet but his father told him it was required. We got everyone mounted up with Kimo and I bringing up the rear. Tyler stayed back towards us, grumbling that he'd rather be playing video games.
"You didn't want to come on the ride?" I asked him and I caught up with him. He looked over at me sheepishly like he was embarrassed for me to hear him. "It's cool, some people would rather be home playing, wait let me guess, call of duty: black ops two?" He threw me a surprised look. "I just graduated college. To relax my friends and I would get together and play."
"Yeah, they're only doing this ride because they're trying to blend us." Tyler snorted and rolled his eyes. "Like riding horses through Hawaii is going to make me stop wishing my parents would get back together."
I made a sympathetic sound. "My parents divorced when I was fifteen. It's rough."
"I mean Gemma isn't a bad person or anything and her kids are okay, a bit annoying though, but I just don't get how my parents gave up." His voice trembled a bit and you could see through his moody mask, he was upset.
"That's what I thought too but when you get older you start to understand and it'll get better with the family blending too." I reassured him. "It's really hard at first especially in the middle of trying to plan a wedding. I didn't like my Dad's wife at first either or my stepfather. But we all get along now."
"So there's hope to be normal again?" Tyler's voice held a familiar childish hint to it that made my heart hurt and his eyes were sad. I reached over and gave his shoulder a pat.
"There's hope. Just hang in there. Blending families together is hard and it's even harder on them because it kind of make or breaks your relationship." Tyler nodded.
"I'll try then." I smiled at him and he went to catch up with the rest of his family. I watched as he started talking to the woman, Gemma, and then I felt a warmth next to me. It always felt good to make a bit of a difference in a kid's life.
…...
We all stood and watched as the family drove away. "That was a great ride." Cathy sighed happily then turned to me and Kimo. "I don't know what you two did to Tyler but his father says he would recommend us to everyone just because of how happy and involved we had Tyler. He says it was great to have him talking to his to be stepmother and he left this for all of us.." Cathy flashed a hundred dollar bill. "Thirty three and some change extra for us!"
Kimo and I smiled together. "It was really Delainey. She got him out of his grumpy shell." Kimo bumped my shoulder. "Or maybe it was her shirt." He said walking towards Baxter. He flashed his grin at Aunt Cathy and I.
"Kimo!" I almost yelled his name and put my arms over my chest as everyone else laughed. "You said it was fine!" Kimo just shrugged and gave Baxter a carrot. I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed the carrot Darby held out for me to give to Navigator. The big brown horse lipped it up eagerly and then walked off towards the other horses.
"Let's go get some lunch." Megan threw her arm around my shoulder and Darby's. "You can tell us all about your first ride."
We just ate peanut butter sandwiches and I explained how I talked to Tyler about my parents divorce, telling him to hang in there.. "So it was most definitely not my chest that earned that tip!" I said a bit indignantly as Kimo walked in with Kit and Cade.
"Whatever you say, keiki." Kimo chuckled along with Kit and Cade. I looked at Megan.
"Did he just call me kid?" Megan nodded and I felt a bit triumphant that I remembered a few Hawaiian words but annoyed he called me a kid. I was twenty two, only four years younger than him. My phone started buzzing on the counter and I looked at the caller ID. Adam. It kept buzzing and buzzing but I ignored it.
"Isn't that your boyfriend? Aren't you going to pick up?" Megan spoke and Kimo's eyes locked on me. I gave a bitter laugh.
"That'd be ex-boyfriend." Megan and Darby's eyebrows rose up. I guess it was a little surprising. We had been together for three years and I never spoke of any problems between Adam and I.
"When did you two break up?" Megan asked, her voice rising. "You two were just together! He was perfect!" Perfect, ha, what a joke!
"A week ago and he's not perfect." I shrugged, it really honestly didn't bother me. Megan opened her mouth. "Don't ask why Meg." She shut it promptly. I finished off my sandwich and grabbed a bottle of water. "I think I'm going to check out the pastures if no one minds since our next ride isn't 'til later." I walked out of the silent room, away from the questioning eyes of Megan and Kimo. I put the water bottle in my pocket and started to jog to the pastures. I should have went for a run this morning but I was just so tired. Oh well, there was always tomorrow morning.
…...
Megan POV
I stared at Delainey's phone laying on the counter. "Staring at her phone won't tell you why they broke up, Mekana." Cade poked my arm and used my Hawaiian name. I looked at him with a frown.
"I know.." I sighed. "It's just her reaction makes me so curious!" Darby nodded in agreement. Cade shook his head.
"If she wants everyone to know, she'll tell us." Cade said simply. I threw my hands up in the air surprising Darby and Cade.
"But what if she needs support? I could give her support, we're cousins!"
"Cade's right." Darby sounded reluctant to agree with Cade. "If she needs support, she'll come to one of us." At her words, a grin appeared on my face.
"What is that look for?" Darby asked, a bit suspicious.
"Maybe she'll be looking to a certain paniolo here at 'Iolani for that support." Darby caught on and Cade just looked between the both of us.
"Who are you talking about and what are you talking about?"
"Delainey and Kimo were flirting with each other earlier, you haven't noticed?" Darby made it seem like it was obvious. Well I guess it kind of was...if you weren't a boy who could care less.
Cade shrugged. "Can't say I've really been watching them. But your point is?"
"Maybe they like each other." I told him. I looked around quickly to make sure no one was around. "When Delainey came years ago, I know you weren't really worried about anything else then," I tried not to look at him sympathetically because he'd get uncomfortable since we were talking about after he had came here with his broken jaw. "But the whole summer they flirted with each other, sneaking glances and I'm sure there were some kisses but my dad was very much against them having a summer romance since Delainey was seventeen. I think maybe they're gonna pick up where they left off."
"And where will they be when the summer ends and she goes back to Arizona?" Darby and I both glared at Cade.
"Can't you just let us dream a little?" Darby said and I nodded in agreement. Cade chuckled and put his hat back on.
"Well you girls sit and here dreaming about Delainey and Kimo, I'm going back to work." Cade ran his hand across my shoulders as he left and I smiled. Cade and I were getting somewhere too.
…...
Delainey POV
The second ride went even better than the first. It was an older retired couple who was here for a vacation and they loved seeing the scenery. I listened to Aunt Cathy tell them about the Island and some of the history, I loved hearing all about the Hawaiian history and stories.
I was thinking about going out to explore a bit but didn't want to alone. I'd probably just wait another night. "Hey Nani, what are you doing tonight?" Kimo came up behind me as I walked towards the Sun House. Nani?
"Everyone is going over to a Memorial weekend barbeque at Babe's, Jonah's sister, place." Kimo smiled at me then nodded towards his truck. "You wanna ride with me?"
"Uh, sure." I smiled back at him. Cathy had said something to me earlier about a barbeque, I must have forgotten all about it. "I want to shower first if that's okay."
"Of course. I have to take one too then we can head out together. Everyone else is getting ready to leave." I could see Darby and Megan, dressed in shorts and t-shirts walking out of the upstairs apartment together.
"Okay, well I'll see you in thirty minutes then?" I looked back at him. He nodded.
"I'll be waiting." He walked off towards the bunkhouse to grab a shower and I dashed into the Sun House. I would have to find something to wear, something nice. As I threw my suitcase open, I sighed. I guess I would be getting to meet some new people there too. That was always good right?
…...
A/N: Hey readers! This is my new PS: Wild Horse Island Fanfic! It's my first one for WHI, so go easy on me ;)
I just re-read the WHI series and the idea just popped up in my head and it will not go away. I have three chapters pre-written so I can update other stories and this one at the same time so you readers aren't waiting for one! I hope you like it and will want me to continue writing it( I really am liking the story myself so far!). As you know from my other stories, I will be updating my stories every few days/weekly. I will be posting pictures soon for my characters. So review and tell me how you like it! I'll post the next chapter if I get at least a couple of reviews. I want to make sure people like it!
For those who don't know, according to a Hawaiian website, Nani(pronounced Nanny) means beautiful in Hawaiian.
Title may change. Not sure of it just yet!
I do have to say that right now it's rated T. This will have some flirtation that could be a bit more mature(like Kimo and Delainey joking in the office about her shirt and basically her boobs), it's not going to be little to no romance like the regular series. There will be romance(kissing, dating, etc). Possible lemons later on but I always warn readers before hand and usually do a separate one shot for any lemons I write. I will warn before any more than regular kissing or anything scenes(non-lemons just more mature) so you can decide whether to read it or not!
Thanks for reading! -Quinnandseth'sgirl15