At First Sight

Chapter nine

*Ring*

I pick up my phone and look at the screen, I see Lee's name and heat rises to my cheeks. I slide the bar over to answer the call

"Hello" I say

"Morning Red, will you be ready in 20?" he asks

I smile at the nickname that seems to be sticking

"Yeah, see you then" I reply, then we hang up

I grab my basket of goods for Ellis and head out the door, figuring I'd meet him at the road I start the long walk down the lane way. Rex tries to follow so I bend down and give him a kiss on his snout before I tell him to stay. 

I wait for a few minutes at the end of the laneway, nerves starting to rise with every second. What was last night? What am I supposed to make of it? We barely know each other, I knocked a man out for him and then he hauled me home with him and kissed me...

I see a black dually drive up the road, then come to a hault in front of me. Lee hops out as I walk over and he opens the door for me with a smile. I can't help but return the smile and hop in the truck. He closes the door and returns to the drivers side, then throws the truck in drive and starts heading back down the road. 

"Eager one this morning" he says

I chuckle and look at him "Yeah well I figured it wouldn't be a great idea to come home with no truck at 2 am then get picked up in the morning by my father's childhood friend's son"

He looks over at me and nods his head as he rubs his beard. I smile and return my gaze to the road, holding my basket on my lap.

We make conversation on the drive, mostly about random things before I muster up the courage to ask the question i've had for a long time. 

"What is it about your family's ranch and Dodges?"

He whips his head in my direction with surprise written all over his face.

"What do you mean?" He asks slowly as he returns his attention to the road

"I'm just wondering with all the money you guys make on the largest ranch in Montana, can you not afford more reliable trucks?" I reply

A laugh bursts out of him, the laugh I heard for the first time last night that hit me to my core. A smile reaches my face hearing it. 

"What more reliable truck is there?" he asks 

"You're joking, right?" I ask "Even my 70 year old truck could drag this thing out of the puddle it got stuck in" 

"Bull shit" he replies, smile still present on his face as we turn into the parking lot where I left my truck last night

"You know, you shouldn't insult those who drive you to your only mode of transportation" He says as he puts the truck in park and opens his door to hop out. I wait for him to open my door, knowing he likes to since he has been doing it every time. 

"Hey" I say as I put my hands up and slide out of the truck "It was just a question, you're the one who took it personally" 

He chuckles and then with one hand on the door, he places the other on the truck beside me and leans in close. So close I can feel his breath on my face, making my heart pound in my chest. The memory of the kiss from last night creeping in my head. He leans into the truck and grabs the basket from the centre console and hands it to me with a grin. I take it from his hand and then he backs up and gestures for me to walk to my truck. 

I walk over, grabbing my keys from my pocket and then I place them in the keyhole to unlock the door. 

"Wow, this thing is old" he says as he takes a good long look at it

With a smile "Yeah, and like I said" I start but I get cut off

"Yeah yeah, we'll have to test that theory out some day" He says with a smile

I roll the window down to let out the stagnant hot air. Then I throw my basket on the bench seat and hop in as Lee closes the door. I pump the gas 3 times and turn the key. Thankfully the truck started first try, considering all the crap I said about this truck out working that Dodge beside it. 

Lee leans his elbows on the window ledge and looks in at me

"You interested in going for a ride this afternoon?" he asks 

A smile rises on my face, "Yeah, that sounds nice" I reply

"Meet me where the properties meet at Blue creek? Around 1?" he asks

"We'll be there" I reply

"Good" he says as he pats the ledge of the door and stands up straight "I'll see you then" 

He backs away facing me with a smile, then he turns and walks to his truck. I sit in my truck for a moment after he leaves, taking everything in before I put the old truck in reverse and head to see Ellis.