CHAPTER 9: I LOVE YOU
They took only one saddle horse.
If they succeeded one of them would ride the mustang home.
It should have been uncomfortable riding double with Nashua but it wasn t; it was actually cozy. Nashua in front Zella in back.
They ponied the stallion toward the hot spring.
Zella had her arms around Nashua s waist. She had only rode with him once when they were little and he had tensed up when she had wrapped her arms around him. Now though it didn t seem to bother him at all actually it was almost as if he liked her doing that.
The stallion pranced by Cherry the red roan mare they took.
Cherry s ears shot back in annoyance as she watched the mustang beside her show off; trying to get her attention.
We should name this horse, Zella suggested as Nashua turned Cherry toward a path with a lot of brush.
Like what? he asked suddenly ducking.
About when she was going to ask why he ducked a branch almost smacked her in the face. She gasped ducking just in time.
There s a lot of those, Nashua warned, straightening.
She did the same, Well, we can t keep calling him horse, mustang, and stallion, Zella said, noticing her grip on his waist was really tight. She loosened her grip. She was surprised he hadn t said any thing about it.
As they rounded a corner she saw the spring. Stem was coming from it.
Wow, she whispered.
The spring was about 4 feet deep, perfect for this.
Who s going to try first? Zella asked as they dismounted.
You, since he knows you better, Nashua said, giving her the stallion s reins.
Thanks a lot you turkey, she said, taking the reins, hands shaking, What if he rears? she asked, her voice cracking.
Their eyes met.
I won t let him hurt you, Nashua promised.
Zella walked the mustang into the water. She looked back toward Nashua. He gave her a thumbs up.
The stallion snorted and pranced away from her with a snort as Zella persuaded him to go in the water.
C mon boy you can do it, Zella chided.
Taking her several minutes she finally mounted him. Smiling as she swayed back and forth as he clomped out of the water.
Dismounting she saw Nashua wink. Still smiling she walked over to him soaking wet she was freezing but happier then she d been all day.
You cold? Nashua teased getting punched in the arm by Zella as they walked toward the spring.
The mustang follows them as they faced each other in front of the spring.
Zella, I have to tell you something about this morning. I--, Nashua broke off embarrassed.
She knew he meant the kiss. Zella blushed glad it was dark.
Nashua scuffed his boot toe in the snow, I know this is really random but I I love you, Nashua paused scratching his head. I don t know what you feel toward me but I hope you feel the same, he said, sounding serious.
She let out a shaky breath trying to calm her nerves.
When I saw you and Blake at the corral the other I suddenly knew something happened to me, Nashua said softly.
The mustang nudged Nashua in the back making him stumble into Zella.
Zella screamed as she fell backward into the spring, Nashua falling in with her.
Oh darn it! I m all wet, Zella complained.
Sure are, you look like a drowned rat. Ha ha! Nashua joked.
Zella gave him the death glare.
Nashua really didn t think she looked like a drowned rat actually she looked beautiful but he just liked to tease her to make her mad.
Before Zella could reply the mustang nickered sounding pleased with himself.
Would you look at that? He acts like he just accomplished something great, Nashua laughed, He s trying to play Cupid, he helped her out the spring.
That s it! Zella yelled surprising Nashua making his eyes get wide.
What s it? he looked at her as if she were crazy.
Cupid! It fits him perfectly! Zella said.
Yea it does, Nashua mused.
They heard a coyote howl not far away. Zella shivered at the sound.
We better get back home. No tellin what might be lingering around here at this time of night, Nashua said, mounting Cherry.
Zella mounted Cupid. She could feel Nashua watching her. Ready, she called out to him.
Cupid snorted and craned his neck around to look at her.
What? Zella stared back at the stallion, Don t you be looking at me that way, Zella said, laughing.
Cupid snorted, and then turned around.
If they succeeded one of them would ride the mustang home.
It should have been uncomfortable riding double with Nashua but it wasn t; it was actually cozy. Nashua in front Zella in back.
They ponied the stallion toward the hot spring.
Zella had her arms around Nashua s waist. She had only rode with him once when they were little and he had tensed up when she had wrapped her arms around him. Now though it didn t seem to bother him at all actually it was almost as if he liked her doing that.
The stallion pranced by Cherry the red roan mare they took.
Cherry s ears shot back in annoyance as she watched the mustang beside her show off; trying to get her attention.
We should name this horse, Zella suggested as Nashua turned Cherry toward a path with a lot of brush.
Like what? he asked suddenly ducking.
About when she was going to ask why he ducked a branch almost smacked her in the face. She gasped ducking just in time.
There s a lot of those, Nashua warned, straightening.
She did the same, Well, we can t keep calling him horse, mustang, and stallion, Zella said, noticing her grip on his waist was really tight. She loosened her grip. She was surprised he hadn t said any thing about it.
As they rounded a corner she saw the spring. Stem was coming from it.
Wow, she whispered.
The spring was about 4 feet deep, perfect for this.
Who s going to try first? Zella asked as they dismounted.
You, since he knows you better, Nashua said, giving her the stallion s reins.
Thanks a lot you turkey, she said, taking the reins, hands shaking, What if he rears? she asked, her voice cracking.
Their eyes met.
I won t let him hurt you, Nashua promised.
Zella walked the mustang into the water. She looked back toward Nashua. He gave her a thumbs up.
The stallion snorted and pranced away from her with a snort as Zella persuaded him to go in the water.
C mon boy you can do it, Zella chided.
Taking her several minutes she finally mounted him. Smiling as she swayed back and forth as he clomped out of the water.
Dismounting she saw Nashua wink. Still smiling she walked over to him soaking wet she was freezing but happier then she d been all day.
You cold? Nashua teased getting punched in the arm by Zella as they walked toward the spring.
The mustang follows them as they faced each other in front of the spring.
Zella, I have to tell you something about this morning. I--, Nashua broke off embarrassed.
She knew he meant the kiss. Zella blushed glad it was dark.
Nashua scuffed his boot toe in the snow, I know this is really random but I I love you, Nashua paused scratching his head. I don t know what you feel toward me but I hope you feel the same, he said, sounding serious.
She let out a shaky breath trying to calm her nerves.
When I saw you and Blake at the corral the other I suddenly knew something happened to me, Nashua said softly.
The mustang nudged Nashua in the back making him stumble into Zella.
Zella screamed as she fell backward into the spring, Nashua falling in with her.
Oh darn it! I m all wet, Zella complained.
Sure are, you look like a drowned rat. Ha ha! Nashua joked.
Zella gave him the death glare.
Nashua really didn t think she looked like a drowned rat actually she looked beautiful but he just liked to tease her to make her mad.
Before Zella could reply the mustang nickered sounding pleased with himself.
Would you look at that? He acts like he just accomplished something great, Nashua laughed, He s trying to play Cupid, he helped her out the spring.
That s it! Zella yelled surprising Nashua making his eyes get wide.
What s it? he looked at her as if she were crazy.
Cupid! It fits him perfectly! Zella said.
Yea it does, Nashua mused.
They heard a coyote howl not far away. Zella shivered at the sound.
We better get back home. No tellin what might be lingering around here at this time of night, Nashua said, mounting Cherry.
Zella mounted Cupid. She could feel Nashua watching her. Ready, she called out to him.
Cupid snorted and craned his neck around to look at her.
What? Zella stared back at the stallion, Don t you be looking at me that way, Zella said, laughing.
Cupid snorted, and then turned around.
~C~S~
They got back around 4:00.
The next morning Zella was almost late for school.
Zella! Hurry up and get ready for school you only have five til the bus gets here! Matlock yelled, knocking on her door.
Zella groaned getting up. She almost missed the bus.
Her whole day was miserable.
Carla and Cody kept torturing her at school and she didn t see Nashua any where at school. She was missing him really bad. Where was he? She wanted to cry she was so miserable.
Darrelle asked her about ten times what was wrong.
Nothing, Zella just said.
Yeah there is, Darrelle insisted.
Lay off it, will you?! Zella snapped running to the restroom.
Zella? she heard Darrelle call.
Oh Nashua, where are you? Zella whispered