The light spilled into the room, and softly illuminated Katy's face, waking from her slumbers. She pulled on old blue jeans, and a blue and white chequered shirt. She tucked her shirt into her jeans and fastened her favourite belt around them. She pulled on socks, grabbed her boots and hat and tip-toed down the stairs and out onto the front porch.
She sat on the porch and pulled on her boots and rolled down her jeans, and then she ran to the stable. She pushed open the door and ran to Flickas stall. She grabbed the hackamore from the wall outside the stall and slipped in. Flicka walked over to Katy and sniffed her before rubbing her head against Katy's chest. She smiled and handed Flicka the apple she had grabbed from the bench. She gently put the hackamore on Flicka and jumped on her back, before walking out of the stall and cantering out of the shed.
She loved the feeling the feeling of flying when she rode Flicka, sometimes it felt as if they were one, two beings that was meant to be one. She let go of the reins – something she constantly did – and opened out her arms, and closed her eyes. She really felt like she was flying. The feeling of the wind lifting her up was amazing, especially with Flicka loping along gracefully beneath her.
Eventually Katy and Flicka found themselves back at the house so Katy turned Flicka into the little yard near the house and took the hackamore back to the stall. As she reached up to hang up the hackamore, she felt two arms pull her back and lips on her neck. She let out a little squeal and a giggle before turning around and hugging Jack.
'Hey Miss Katy', Jack said before giving her a quick peck on the lips, 'thought up the best way to tell the boss about us yet?'
'Well not really, but I was thinking of telling mum first, just so we had some back-up'.
'That's a good idea', Jack said smiling before kissing her again. He picked her up and leaned her against the wall and Katy wrapped her legs around Jack as she stroked his back.
'MMGGGPPPHHHHH' Jack and Katy broke apart at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Both relieved to see it was just Gus.
'I hope you have your will all sorted out Jack, I hate to see you after the boss is finished with you', Gus said before walking off with a grin on his face. Katy kissed Jack quickly before running back to the house.
After making sure that her daddy had left the house Katy walked into the kitchen where her mom was preparing breakfast.
'Mum, I've fallen... I've fallen in... Love.. .' Katy stammered as her mother looked at her from over the stove, a grin on her face.
'Tell me everything; Do I know him?'
'You know him really well; he sits at your table every breakfast, lunch and dinner. He's almost seven years older than me and he makes me happy', Katy said.
'You've fallen for jack haven't you?' Nell said with a smile on her face.
'Yeah' Katy said smiling at her mum.
'Let me guess, you want to know the best time and way to tell your father. What about Howard? Does Howard know?'
'No Howard doesn't know and yes I was wondering if you could help me with telling dad'.
'I don't think you need to worry about telling him Katy'. Mum said looking over Katy's shoulder.
Katy turned slowly and found her father standing in the doorway shaking with anger, a blank look on his face.
'Daddy, I...' she was cut off by her dad yelling 'JACK!' Rob stormed off to find Jack.
'Oh dear' Nell muttered as she and Katy began running after him.
'I swear I haven't touched her boss, besides...' Jack stopped talking as he realised the next thing he was going to say really wasn't going to help the boss calm down when he was currently threatening the employee with a rifle. Nell and Katy found Jack backed up against a wall and Rob aiming the gun at him, whilst Gus was silently trying to think of something to say that might help with the situation.
'Rob! Put that gun down. Now! Let's try and talk this over like civilised people', Nell said with an extended arm, 'Give me the gun'.
Rob reluctantly handed over the gun.
'Alright Gus, Jack, and Katy go to the house, I need a talk with my husband and then we will be talking about this', Nell said, making it clear that Rob was in trouble for obvious reasons.
'Well that went better than expected', Gus exclaimed when he and jack were finally allowed to get back to work. Jack just looked at him. 'You're still with us. Thank god for Nell', Gus clarified.
Jack decided to send a quick prayer of thanks to the lord above that he was still alive. He could have sworn that Rob was about to burst a vein, just judging from the colour of his face. 'I think I got fired at least 40 times', jack finally said with a laugh, causing Gus to give a cheeky grin.
'KATHERINE McLAUGHLIN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DATE JACK ANYMORE, I FORBID IT!'
'I'M EIGHTEEN! IM LEGALLY AN ADULT! BESIDES IT'S MY CHOICE!'
'BUT HE'S ONE OF MY WORKERS, AND WHILE I'M THE BOSS AROUND HERE IT ISNT GOING TO HAPPEN!'
'WOULD YOU RATHER I BE WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T SHARE ANY OF MY INTERESTS? HE LOVES HORSES, HE LOVES THIS RANCH, AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT MEAN SOMETHING AND... And he makes me happy daddy'.
'I... I ... No you're not going to have any further relationships with jack, you can say hello and goodbye but that's it', Rob grumbled at her before turning on his heel and walking to the door. Katy ran to her room and sat on the armchair, tears rolling down her face.
Nell walked in a few minutes later with a tub of ice-cream, and a box of tissues. She sat on Katy's bed and Katy moved to sit next to her.
'It's going to be okay. I'll talk to him, It's just the shock that your old enough to legally be an adult, and that your first boyfriend also happens to be someone we never expected', Nell said as she handed Katy on of the spoons she bought with her and they started digging into the Ice-cream.
'He reacted the way that I knew he would, but I really wasn't expecting the gun, I don't ever think I've seen him this angry, not even the Flicka situation would measure up to this', Katy murmured between spoonfuls of ice-cream.
'When did you fall for jack baby?'
'He stood up for me and Flicka, against dad, the most bravest thing i have ever seen anyone do, probably the most foolish up until when we started dating'.
'Well, I thought that must have been the moment. You really like him?'
'Yes'.
'So do I. He's a good one sweetie, keep him under your hat', Nell sang the last sentence like Katie Brown in Calamity Jane causing them both to giggle.