Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“There’s this bonfire happening here in Home tomorrow night. What do you say you come with me and we spend some time together?”
She giggles. “Ironic. I’m already planning on going, Red. But it was going to be with my friend Dolly.”
“So you’ll be there then, even if you aren’t coming with me?”
“Of course. I hope to see you there, Red. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun.” She lets out another little giggle as she goes off with our orders.
I’m not sure what to make of it. I’m anxious, but she’s going to be there. And wants to see me.
Damn, other girls never do this to me. This has to be proof that she’s the one, right?
2
ANNIE
“Red asked you out? Oh my God. I knew this was coming.” Dolly squeals in delight when I let her in on the news.
It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to notice how Redford Rough looks at me when he comes to the diner.
It’s the next morning, and before we can go out to the bonfire, Dolly and I have other concerns. I’m trying to iron out the creases in her dress as she second-guesses her make-up.
The Burly County Summer Fair is a yearly event, and with it comes a Miss Burly Beauty Pageant. It’s usually just for bragging rights alone, Burly County never having been the most affluent of areas, but this year, the winner is going to receive a scholarship to beauty school. Dolly doesn’t have much in the way of family to help her, she’s been living with me and my dad for a while now, so she is counting on this as her ticket out.
Dolly is my best friend, but the last few years have been rough for her. Her mother took off as soon as she turned eighteen, even though she was still a senior in high school. The Rowdy Ranch that my dad runs isn’t doing the best, and has been struggling since Mom passed, but my father still happily took Dolly in, giving her a room and letting her live with us free of charge. Dad is a kindhearted man who, while not always making the best decisions, always makes the right ones.
It did let me have my best friend as a roommate too. And boy, does the gossip flow. “Red’s super well-off, you know.”
“What does that have to do with anything, Dolly?”
“Not much, I’m just saying. That construction business has been going on for decades and has been doing fine. My history teacher said it’s been around as long as the Roughs have been in Home, which is over eighty years.”
I’m flustered by the idea. “I’m not going after a guy because of his money, Dolly.”
“I know, I know, it’s just something to keep in mind.”
Dolly is on her own and has always worried that she’s a burden on the ranch, so I guess I understand her focus on money. “If I consider his advances, it’ll be because he’s handsome. And he always tips me well at the diner.”
“Isn’t that just him being rich again?”
I shake my head. “Hell no. Whenever a suit from Seattle blows in for a meal, I’m surprised if they leave behind a whole dollar bill, regardless of how much their tab is. Red leaves me at least five bucks even if he’s only stopping by for a milkshake.”
Dolly snickers as she runs a comb through her hair. “Ever think it might just be for you?”
“He tips Paula well too, Dolly. Even when I’m not there, he’s generous. He knows we ain’t doing this for our health.”
“I’m happy for you all the same. You deserve the world, Annie.”
I blush. Dolly and I focused on our studies in school and while it could be fun to flirt, we were hardly wild party girls. We both only dated sparsely, and nothing ever got serious for either of us. Even still, Dolly always got more way more attention than I did. She’s absolutely beautiful and has the personality to match. She could have any boy in town wrapped around her little finger if she wanted, but she’s always been a bit picky. I wonder who she’s waiting for.
“Are you ready to go?” I say as I see that her make-up is immaculate.
“You think I’m ready for this?”
“You’re going to knock ‘em dead and win this easily, girl. Come on, let’s go. Dad’s waiting for us.”
She nods, and I hoist up her garment bag. It’s showtime.
She won. And just like I anticipated, it wasn’t even that much of a competition. If it was just about looking pretty alone, the other girls would have maybe had a chance, but when Dolly started singing Patsy Cline? It was all over.
“So you want to become a beautician of some sort, eh?” I ask her as we walk back to the ranch house.