Chapter 8

"Ponyboy Curtis! Are you ready to go?" I stepped into the Curtis house.

"Yeah, one second," He shouted from the hall.

"What time do you think that you'll be back tonight?" Darry asked me from the kitchen.

"I'm not sure," I told him, "She lives and hour away."

"Darry, have you seen my jacket?" Pony interrupted.

"No, ask your brother," He said.

"I haven't seen it either," Soda said from the couch right beside me.

I jumped back. "Soda, why didn't you tell me that you were there?" I slapped his arm the best I could.

"I was afraid I'd scare ya'," he laughed, "Jeez, Joy, a little jumpy are we?"

I tried to hit him again, but I missed, so I resorted to sticking out my tongue.

"Okay, lets go," Pony came into the living room, "Bye Darry, see ya' later Soda!"

"Bye." Soda was still laughing as we left.

"Come on, Pony!" I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the car.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," he said.

He opened the car door a let me slide in before him.

"Hey Pony," My dad spoke from the front seat, "Your brother was okay with you coming with us?"

"Yeah, it's fine with him, Mr. Carson."

My great aunt lived a little west of Tulsa. I'd only met her a few times in my life before she had moved to Oklahoma. We were to eat dinner at her house and I had invited Pony over at the last minute, afraid I'd die of boredom if I didn't.

"Joy! Brian!" My aging relative gave up both a kiss on the cheek before letting us inside, "Oh, Brian, is this a friend of yours?" She asked.

"He's a friend of mine Auntie Lynn. This is Ponyboy." I said. She shook his hand and the three of us escaped inside while my parents greeted her.

We sat beside the fireplace for a while, attempting to warm our hands. My great aunt led my mother and father through the house for the 'grand tour' while Brian wandered around, surely pondering how easy it would be to lift something from the ornate tables.

Pony stood up, probably to gaze out the window like I so often found him doing.

"Let's go outside," he said, breaking the silence.

"Pony," I whined, "I just got warm!"

"Come on," he insisted.

"You're crazy," I said plainly, but held up my hand for him to pull me up.

We slipped on our jackets and gloves again before disappearing outside.

My great aunt had a large portion of land. Most of her neighbors owned cattle of some sort, but she was deathly allergic to fur of any kind.

Pony and I walked beside each other and when my arm bumped his he laced our fingers together. We continued walking, slightly downhill. He seemed to know where he was going, so I didn't question him. He stopped suddenly and there was the sound of a stomping hoof against the frosty ground, a sound very unfamiliar to me.

"Pony, what is that?" I backed away.

"It's okay," he laughed, squeezing my hand, "It's just a horse."

"There's a fence there, right Pony?" I whispered in his ear.

"Yeah," He said sweetly. He unclasped his hand from mine to move closer and pet the horse's nose.

"Come on," He grabbed my hand from my side and pulled off my glove.

"Pony, it's cold!" I said.

"Are you scared, Joy?" He asked.

"No!" I said defensively, "Well maybe a little," I shrugged.

He took my hand and placed it on the horse's mane. The animal moved suddenly and I pulled away, but then I placed my hand back where it was and rubbed my fingers through the mare's soft winter coat.

"What are you looking at," I asked him suddenly, realizing that he had been off in space for a while.

He sighed, "The sun's setting."

"Oh," I said, "You like it a lot out here, huh Pony?"

"Yeah, it's so much better here."

"It's quiet, too quiet, even. I can't stand the city much either," I told him, wondering if I'd ever find a place where I'd be satisfied.

As if he was reading my mind he said, "You'll find somewhere to go, Joy."

"And I'll come visit you for Christmas in the country," I laughed.

"I'll teach you how to ride a horse." He said.

"What if I fall off?" I cried.

"I won't let you," he grabbed my hand.

"Good," I smiled.

"Joy! Ponyboy! Mom says to come and eat!" Brian called from the house.

"Let's go," Pony said.

Sorry, it's a strange spot to end it....Very short chapter today....Please Review!

-Red