A/N - Hi there! Sorry for the lack of updates, been VERY busy with school. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 36 –
Jessie sat under the tree to shade herself from the heat of the sun. Although she was protected from most the light, some of the rays still reached out and caressed her face. The sky glowed a red and orange colour due to the setting sun across the prairie. Canyons seemed to glow as the sun set behind them while the stray eagle occasionally passed through the mountains.
Smiling to herself Jessie thought 'Oh, I have missed this my whole life.' She placed her hand on her necklace and held the pendant. 'Thank you Grandma.' She whispered down with a smile of relief.
Woody rubbed the back of his neck and looked over at Jessie. He wasn't quite sure how to approach her or even tell her about her father. Slowly, Woody began to walk over to her.
When Woody approached Jessie was looking down but could feel a presence due to a shadow being cast over her. Jessie quickly looked up to see the handsome site of Woody in front of her making her stomach loop the loop a little.
'Oh hi Woody.' She smiled letting go of her pendant.
Woody tilted his head a little and sat down next to her.
'He really doesn't like talking much.' Jessie thought trying not to pout. 'What did you want to talk to me about?'
'Oh, um, about – about your father.' Woody cautiously said looking at Jessie.
'Oh, what about him?' Jessie questioned raising her eyebrow.
'Well when I went into work I had a message on the phone and it was from your father.'
'How the heck did he get the number to out here?' Jessie's face filled with shock and worry.
'He said that if I saw you he wanted me to call him so he could come and get you.'
Before Woody could even have a chance to blink Jessie had grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him close to her. 'You can't tell him I am here!' Jessie's voice was panicked and her eyes showed fear and lost hope. 'You can't, please.'
Woody slowly leaned his face away from Jessie's and placed his hands on top of hers before slowly moving them off his clothing. 'That's why I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to know what you wanted me to say to him before I call him back.'
'Tell him you haven't seen me. Tell him you haven't seen me since yesterday, just don't say I'm here.' Jessie's voice began to quiver.
'I won't. I will tell him I have not seen you at all and if I do I will inform him at once. Keep him sweet.'
Jessie looked up at Woody and could feel tears stinging her eyes. Sighing she placed her head in her knees trying to fight back the tears.
Woody sat awkwardly looking down at her. 'Oh gosh what do I say? Usually I am fine with crying women but Jessie seems almost different.'
'Stop crying Jessie! You should be happy that Woody is helping you!' Jessie complained in her mind as she fought back the tears.
Woody looked off into the horizon. It was such a marvellous site. All of his life he had been able to see this whereas Jessie couldn't, he almost felt like he took it for granted.
'Hey Jessie look.' Woody said calmly as he looked off into the distance.
Jessie slowly sat up hoping that tears hadn't stained her face, 'What?'
'Look at the sunset over the mountains, ain't it s'well?' Woody pointed out into the distance to show Jessie.
Turning to look in the direction Woody was pointing, a smile formed on her face as she looked into the distance. 'Yeah, it is.'
Woody looked at Jessie out the corner of his eye, the sun light bounced off her cheeks making her face glow radiantly.
'You know something, for years I looked out of my window trying to get a glimpse of the West, I was lucky if I could see the sun set some nights. And now, now I am here it seems almost too good to be true, it just, just doesn't seem real.' Jessie said relaxing back into the tree.
'You ain't seen half of the West yet.'
Jessie looked at Woody who was staring off into the distance, although his voice sounded sincere and gentle his face was still stern. 'Does that mean you're going to give me a tour?' Jessie tried not to let her eagerness show.
Woody simply shrugged, 'If you want one I'll gladly give you one.'
'I do want a tour, I'd love a tour.' Jessie smiled up at Woody.
'Alright, I said I'll show you round town tomorrow but I don't know when I can show you the rest of the West due to my job.' Woody said still looking off into the distance.
Jessie let out a small giggle which caused Woody to look at her. 'What?' He questioned.
'What you said rhymed 'rest of the West'.'
Woody just stared at Jessie wondering what on earth was so funny about two rhyming words.
'Don't worry.' Jessie quickly said looking back out at the sunset.
Woody to turned back and looked out into the distance still not sure why Jessie found the rhyming so funny.
Jessie looked up at Woody again and smirked a little as she brought her legs up to her chest.
Woody and Jessie sat for quite some time watching the sun set behind the mountains. When they first went out the sun had only just started to set however it was now almost gone behind the mountains.
'So do you wanna talk bout ya family?' Woody questioned.
'No.' Jessie replied bluntly, her face turning stern.
'Okay,' Woody said before mumbling 'Only asking.'
'Yeah and I am only saying.' Jessie said in response.
Woody flinched; he hoped Jessie hadn't heard what he had said. 'Sorry.'
'It's alright. I didn't mean to be so stern about it.'
'Do you want to head back inside now?' Woody said as he began to push himself up.
'Sure, okay.' Jessie smiled as she slowly began to stand up. 'Ah, back ache now.' Jessie complained holding her back. 'Stomach ache too.' She thought.
'You okay?' Woody asked concerned.
'Yeah, just stiff from where we have been sitting for so long.' Jessie said with a stretch. 'Stupid lady problems.' She thought
Slowly, the two made their way back to the house.
A/N - Hope you liked! Over and out!