“I don’t know what came over me.”
Beth put a hand on my shoulder, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through my body. The sound of the fire crackling outside was a soothing lullaby as we drifted off to sleep. “I’m sorry about Joe,” she said, her voice soft and comforting. I was feeling her up and getting bolder. She was sitting next to me, her face etched with concern, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. “I had a great time with you today,” Beth said, smiling at me. Joe’s father had passed away unexpectedly a few weeks before, and the family was struggling to keep the ranch running on their own. First some background. As we pulled away, I looked into her eyes and saw a mixture of emotions – surprise, excitement, and something else that I couldn’t quite identify. “This is amazing,” she said softly. After a few more seconds of consideration, Beth finally agreed. The feeling was like nothing I knew. Sue agreed even though it was a risk of leaving the cattle unguarded for the night. They were tough and determined to move forward but there was a certain sadness that hung in the air.
