Kayla was enjoying the movie and so far Josh and been very nice. They had talked about music and there school years and Kayla found herself relaxing. After the movie was over. They went to the ice cream parlor and got a soda.
"What's up with that guy is he your guardian?" Josh asked.
"No he bought the ranch when my dad died. I work for him now." Kayla said.
"Oh. What are you doing?" Josh asked.
"Same thing I always did run the ranch." Kayla said.
"I'm going to college in the fall; I want to be a lawyer." Josh said.
They talked for another hour and Kayla looked at the time. It was getting close to 11:00PM.
"I guess I'd better be getting home." Kayla said.
"Okay." Josh said.
They got up and headed for his car.
Kayla noticed that Josh had turned onto a different road than the one that took her home.
"Where are you going?" Kayla asked.
"This place I know, is that okay, we won't stay long if you don't want too?" Josh said looking at her.
"Well Okay." Kayla said.
They drove a few more minutes and Josh pulled up to a grassy little overlook. You could see the whole town lit up from here.
"Wow it's pretty up here." Kayla said.
"Yea." Josh said staring at Kayla.
"Kayla do you want to make out a little?" Josh asked.
Kayla looked at him stunned. Did guys just come out and ask you that?
"Umm Josh I barely know you." Kayla said.
"Well we could just kiss a little. We don't have to do anything else." Josh said.
Kayla just sat there trying to think how to tell him no without hurting his feelings.
Josh suddenly leaned forward and pressed up against Kayla. He pressed his mouth to hers and Kayla felt his tongue pushing at her lips which were tightly closed. He put his hands on her arms and held her still while he continued to try to force her mouth open. Kayla started trying to push him away. He didn't let her go. Kayla struggled to pull her arm free.
"Kayla come on open your mouth." Josh said pulling back a little.
"Josh let me go. I don't want to do this." Kayla said.
"Come on just try it." Josh said and pulled her close to him.
Kayla got her arm free and pulled back and punched him right in the nose.
"OWW Dammit!" Josh said and Kayla watched as his nose started to bleed.
"What the hells wrong with you. You must be frigid or some shit." Josh said holding his shirt to his nose.
Hell Kayla didn't even know what that meant.
Josh started the car and held his nose with one hand and drove with the other.
He stopped at the road that led to the ranch.
"You can walk from here." Josh said.
Kayla got out. It wasn't too far and she was glad to be out of the car. Josh took off as soon as she was out.
Kayla sighed. There must be something wrong with her. She knew plenty of girls thought Josh was cute and would love for him to kiss them. She turned and started down the road to the ranch.
Mark sat on the front porch in the dark. It was well after 11:00Pm. The damn movie couldn't be over two hours. Where the hell was she? Mark wondered. That punk better get her back and soon. Mark saw something moving in the dark. It was Kayla and she was walking. She was walking slowly with her head down. He hadn't seen a car why the hell was she walking? Mark wondered. Kayla looked up as she got close to the house. She saw Mark sitting on the porch swing. Kayla walked over and sat on the steps.
"What happened Kayla?" Mark asked in a calm tone, even though he felt anything but calm.
Kayla sighed.
"I busted his nose. I think he's pretty mad." Kayla said.
Mark smiled and thought about her always quick temper.
* Mark and Rob were setting on the front porch drinking lemonade.
Mark looked up and seen Kayla dragging her feet walking toward the house.
"Here comes Kayla home from school now." Rob said.
Kayla had her head down.
"Hey baby? How was school?" Rob asked.
Kayla looked up and Rob and Mark both gasped. She was sporting a black eye.
Rob jumped up and picked Kayla up.
"Honey what happened? Are you okay?" Rob asked.
Kayla didn't say anything she just handed her daddy the note.
Rob read it and looked up at Kayla frowning.
"Kayla this don't sound like you, says here you threw the first punch and for no reason. Want to tell me what happened?" Rob asked.
"The note is true." Kayla said and looked down.
"Well discuss this later. Want a glass of lemonade?" Rob asked.
Kayla looked at her dad gratefully, at least he wasn't going to punish her in front of Mr. Callaway.
"Yes. Thanks daddy." Kayla said sitting on the steps.
Mark moved to set on the steps beside her.
"How old are ya now Kayla?" Mark asked.
Kayla gave him a mean look.
"Eleven." Kayla said.
"What happened today?" Mark asked.
Kayla sighed. She couldn't tell her daddy might as well tell someone.
"It was Mother/daughter day at school, you know you bring your mom and you do all this junk together. This dumb little bitch started saying I didn't have a mom or either I had one and she didn't care enough to come to school so I busted her nose." Kayla said.
"Why couldn't ya tell your dad that?" Mark asked
"Cause it would make him feel bad and make him miss mama and I don't want daddy to be sad." Kayla said.
Mark lifted Kayla's chin and looked at her.
"You're a real good kid, Kayla don't let anyone tell you different." Mark said.
Rob came out with the lemonade and handed it to Kayla.
"Thanks Daddy." Kayla said.
"Honey, I thought we would go out to dinner tonight and the fairs in town. What do you say girl?" Rob asked.
"Aren't you going to punish me?" Kayla asked.
"They punish you at school?" Rob asked.
"Yea, I got detention for a week." Kayla said.
"So you were punished." Rob said.
Mark smiled. He knew Rob must have been standing at the door and heard Kayla.
Kayla jumped in her daddy's arms. "I love you daddy." Kayla said.
"I love you to girl." Rob said smiling.*
Mark went to sit by Kayla.
"What happened?" Mark asked.
"He kissed me and I didn't want him too, I told him to stop and he would let go of me so I punched him in the nose. He didn't hurt me, I think I may have overreacted a little." Kayla said.
"You didn't overreact if ya told him to stop and he didn't." Mark said vowing to beat the hell out of that punk the next time he saw him.
"He said I was frigid? What does that mean?" Kayla asked looking up at Mark.
"Your not frigid Darlin, he's just a punk." Mark said angrily.
"What does it mean?" Kayla asked again.
"It's a woman who doesn't enjoy sex." Mark said feeling a little embarrassed to be discussing this with her.
"Well then he's right, cause he tried to kiss me and I thought it was gross, he tried to put his tongue in my mouth." Kayla said in disgust.
Mark hadn't realized just how innocent she was up until now.
"Well honey people do that, and it's not gross if ya got feelings for that person." Mark said looking at her.
"If you say so." Kayla said looking unconvinced.
"Kayla are ya sure you're okay? You're not hurt are ya?" Mark asked and turned her to face him so he could see her.
Kayla smiled up at Mark.
"I'm fine really. I think I'm going to bed. I'm tired.
"Okay. By the way, ya got the next two days off, so sleep in." Mark said.
"But I don't need any days off." Kayla protested.
"Little one, no one works 7 days a week. Sunday and Monday is yer days off." Mark said firmly.
"But…" Kayla started.
"I got it covered. Remember Mr. Elmer that used to help your dad sometimes? I hired him to come help out on those two days." Mark said.
"Okay." Kayla said in a resigned tone.
Kayla got up and started toward the stables. She stopped and turned around.
"Thanks for waiting up for me." Kayla said and turned and went to the stables.
"Yer welcome little one." Mark whispered.