Chapter Eleven
When Nathan pulled to a stop in front of Carli’s house, she looked like a young schoolgirl rocking in an oversized porch chair and scrolling through her phone. Her head raised and he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He'd been looking forward to spending the day with her all week. In one smooth motion, she stood, slung a huge tote bag on to one shoulder, skipped over the porch steps, and jogged to his pickup truck.
“Hey,” she said, bringing with her a radiant smile of sunshine, eyes sparkling with laughter, and the smell of something sweet mixed with musk. She wore her Grandma Jean’s turquoise boots with her pants tucked in the high tops. Fringe swung from the sleeves of a brown suede jacket as she stepped up into his pickup truck.
“We need to talk.” The smile suddenly disappeared, and the tone of her voice dashed any hopes he had of the day ending with kisses.
Nathan hesitated for a moment. There was something he needed to tell her too. “Yes, we do. I have something to ask you.”
She settled into the seat beside him. Dug in her oversized leather bag and swiped her lips with gloss before placing the tote in the back seat because it wouldn’t fit in the floorboard next to her feet. Why in the world would she need to bring a purse that big for an afternoon in Amarillo? Before stepping on the accelerator, he looked over at her. She turned to face him, pulling one leg onto the seat.
“Don’t tell anyone…” They said in unison and then laughed.
“Ladies first,” Nathan said.
“Okay.” Carli looked down at her lap and cleared her throat. “Have you told anybody about my birth father?”
Nathan slowly let out the breath he'd been holding. At least this wasn’t going to be a "let’s be friends" talk. “I meant to ask Dad, but honestly I forgot about it.”
“Good. Don’t say anything. I’m doing the research on my own and you’re the only one who knows the name. I want to keep it to myself for a while.”
“Not a problem. I can keep your secret.”
“Now you.” Carli turned her full attention on him, piercing him with those hazel eyes, making him forget what they were even talking about. He studied her face for several moments.
“You had something you wanted to say?” she reminded him.
Nathan put the car in drive and slowly accelerated. “I haven’t told Dad about my interest in taking my metal work to the next level. Actually, no one in my family knows how important it is to me. Don’t mention it to anyone. I’d never hear the end of it, if they all knew we were spending the afternoon in a gallery. And, by the way if anybody asks, this was your idea.”
The sound of her laughter filled the pickup cab and made him smile despite the seriousness of his request. His father had his future already mapped out. As the oldest of five kids, Nathan never wanted to disappoint his father, but the responsibilities of being an Olsen sometimes felt like an anchor around his neck. She nodded her head and spun around to face forward in her seat. “Don’t worry, if anybody asks, I’ve got your back. This reminds me of a Country song. That’s your story and you’re sticking to it.”
“Good to know I can rely on you, Carli.” Nathan wanted to say they could be even more but didn’t. He was afraid to push her away before they'd even begun. “I’m impressed you know the words to a Country song.” They both chuckled. He could get used to the sound of her laugh.
“How can life be so simple and so complicated at the same time?” she added.
Nathan agreed. “That’s an understatement.” He knew what was tossing his insides into such a jumble. Nothing new. He’d been walking a tightrope his whole life. He knew his dad expected him to do the ranch business, take it over, be the head of the family when his parents were gone, and carry on the Olsen legacy. But Nathan wanted to do other things. Pursue his own dreams. The ranch was his dad’s dream. More and more he noticed that every minute he spent at the Rafter O made him even more resentful, but this was his lot in life. The only solution he could see was to keep his thoughts to himself and do the work expected of him.
Driving to the Art Museum of the Texas Plains, Nathan felt her watching him.
“You’re like a kid on Christmas morning,” she said.
It was true. He'd been waiting months for this event. “Some of my favorite artists may be there.” He told her about the different sculptors he followed, how they started out in their careers, the obstacles they faced, and the success they eventually achieved. Even though he had never met any of them, he felt they were his kindred spirits.
Nathan glanced at her face for any signs he might be blowing his chance to spend many more dates like this with her. But Carli’s occasional nods and questions encouraged him to keep going. Once he started talking about his passion for metal work, he couldn’t stop. Most girls could care less, but Carli genuinely seemed interested.
“Sorry if I’m boring you, Carli. Thanks for coming with me.” After talking her ear off for the first hour of their drive, he finally asked, “How are things at the Wild Cow?”
“Things are good. Which reminds me, opening day of the riding school is the first Saturday of April. You should be there. Did I tell you I spread the word through social media? I’ve had some great response. Even got a few release forms filled out and spots reserved.”
“This all began with the crazy girl in the coffee shop,
