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Chapter Four *Deny, Deny, Deny*

Lucas wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. The Texas sun is beating down on him as he loads up the hay bales on the back of his truck. It's ridiculous how hot it gets there, but he doesn't mind. He has always loved working on this farm. He loads up another bale as Zay walks to him.

Zay had just got done mending the fence that surrounds the goats. "Do you need help?"

Lucas nods his head towards the other bales and Zay picks one up to throw on the truck.

"So you and Riley, cuddling this morning, what was that about?" He asks Lucas, hoping this means they will be together.

Lucas sighs as he loads up the last hay bale. "We were talking last night and looking at the stars. We fell asleep together and I guess we just woke up that way." He doesn't really know what to say about it. When they woke up like that Riley moved so fast, but they all caught them anyway. He knows she loved it, and he knows he loved it too.

Zay gives him a look. "I'm your best friend. You need to do better than that."

Lucas rolls his eyes at him. "Okay so we were cuddling before we went to sleep." He admits.

Zay smiles big at him. "So does that mean you two are a thing?"

Lucas gets in his truck and Zay follows. "We have always been something, but no we are not together officially. Riley is not going to let it happen." He turns the ignition on and he drives down to the stables. "She has a lot on her mind and so do I. I guess right now just isn't the time."

Zay shakes his head at him. He gets out of the truck with Lucas and they start taking down the hay bales. "Riley would let it happen. She may be in denial, but me and you both know you could get her. I think you should keep trying."

"It's funny because Josh told me to do the same thing."

"You should listen to us then. We know what we are talking about."

As Zay says this, Riley and Maya walk out of the stables.

"We just cleaned the stalls and gave them all some water. What else do you need us to do?" Riley asks, trying to avoid making eye contact with Lucas. She can't believe she cuddled with him last night. She doesn't know what she was thinking. She couldn't focus, with his amazing smile, musky cologne, and those blue eyes. She shakes her head at herself. She needs some self control.

Lucas notices her demeanor and smiles to himself. He is getting to her. He eyes her getup, jeans and boots with a t-shirt. Her hair is pulled back and she has dirt caked all over her. He tries not to think about how attractive she looks right now, but it's hard. "You could work on the garden. I believe there are some vegetables to pick."

She nods at him and saunters away, feeling his eyes on her as she does.

"He is staring at you." Maya says. "I mean really staring at you. He might even be drooling. Those wranglers must be doing it for him." She points to the jeans Riley has on.

Riley and her had went shopping for some clothes to wear on the farm. She didn't think her dresses and Maya's wild outfits would cut it. "He is not looking at me."

Maya laughs, which echoes around them. "You even see him so shut up. You still haven't explained yourself about this morning."

They reach the garden and Riley grabs a basket. She grabs some gloves also before turning to her best friend. "There isn't anything to explain. We woke up cuddling. I'm a cuddly sleeper. It happens." She shrugs her shoulders as she says this to try and make it more believable.

"Funny, because your sleeping bags weren't near each other when I was asleep."

"Well we talked some last night. He needed some comfort about Pappy Joe. He is thinking about staying here." Riley starts down the first row of the garden, picking the vegetables that are ready.

Maya starts down the second row, but pauses when she hears her say this. "He is going to stay? What about becoming a veterinarian?"

"He is worried Pappy Joe won't be able to take care of the farm, which is understandable. This farm is a big deal to this family." Riley finishes the first row and starts on the third. It makes her sad just talking about it.

"Are you going to stay with him?" Maya asks.

Riley, surprised she would ask her that, looks at her with disbelief. "Why would I stay? I have to go to Yale and it isn't my place to stay at. He will have Zay here to help him."

"I asked that because maybe you should stay here. Riley, when you are passionate about something you talk about it all the time. You always have a big smile. But when Yale is mentioned, you are down. I don't think you want to go there." She points out to her. She just wants her best friend happy and that school isn't what would make her that way.

Riley finishes the last row and starts walking up the path, leaving Maya behind. "I want to go to Yale!" She yells back to her. She keeps walking until she gets to the house. She spots Pappy Joe on the porch, sitting in his rocking chair, staring at the view ahead of him. "Do you need anything while I go inside?" She asks him.

He turns his head and looks at her. He smiles brightly and shakes his head. "Don't worry about me I'm just enjoying the summer sun. It's nice out ain't it?"

Riley nods in agreement. "Yes it is. I think I will get you some water though. I'll be right back."

Before she can walk inside though, Pappy Joe stops her with his words. "I meant it Riley. I'm glad he has you in his life. That boy may be strong as a horse, but it's always good to know he has someone to fall back on if he needs it. I know you are the reason he was able to get through being in New York. I also know you are the reason he is getting through all of this now. Thank you."

She smiles as tears begin to well in her eyes. "I'll always be there for him. I'm going to put these vegetables up and get you some water." She opens the front door and shuts it behind her once she gets inside. The air conditioning hits her just as the tears she was holding in fall down her cheeks. She takes a couple minutes to let it all out before composing herself. She wipes the excess tears, puts the vegetables up, and grabs an ice cold glass of water for him.

She walks back on the porch and hands him his drink. "If you need anything else just let me know okay?"

He nods at her and she walks back onto the farm land just as Maya begins to walk up with her basket of vegetables.

He smiles out, watching Riley head to Lucas and his face lighting up seeing her. He knows they love each other. He has known all along. He also knows that they will be together. He has prayed many nights about this and he will keep praying. They maybe in denial now, but that love is going to consume them one day, unexpectedly.

Maya steps onto the porch and smiles at Pappy Joe. "Are you enjoying the view?"

He watches Lucas place a hand on Riley's cheek before she backs away. "Yes I am."