This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 10

Madison

I was going to go back to the house, I really was, but for some reason I had to make sure she made it down that hill okay. When she had first stumbled, I almost went running after her, but she steadied herself and made it down. I watched her small figure disappear as I took another long drag off of my cigarette, before turning my attention towards my family's land. I took in everything around me, knowing that this was no longer my future.

I had promised my grandfather that one day, I would take over for him, but once I started my senior year, things changed. Granted I had just graduated and I still had time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, but I kind of already knew.

I had been playing baseball for as long as I could remember, and in high school I only improved. I loved it. When I was out there on that pitching mound, everything else ceased to exist, except for the batter and me. I was really good too. My senior year at least a dozen scouts came out to see me. I never really expected it to go anywhere, but when I was approached by one of the scouts for Arizona State University, I couldn't pass up meeting with them.

I was lucky enough to turn eighteen before I graduated, so I didn't need my grandfather's permission to meet with anyone. I told the scout that I was interested, but it would take me a bit to get out there to visit the campus. I had a part time job, but I wasn't making enough to pay for a trip to Arizona. When the scout told me that they would fund the trip, I was in shock. Of course the first person I wanted to call was my grandfather, but I just couldn't bring myself to break his heart just yet. It had to be a sure thing for me, before I would even bring it up.

It turned out to be one of the best trips I had ever taken, and that was saying a lot. My dad used to take me on amazing vacations as a kid. There was never any expense spared. I mean when your gambling and winning thousands of dollars in one night, why not spend it all. I laughed knowing I would never be like my father. As much as I loved him, I wanted so much more for my life and that didn't include drugs, gambling, or stealing.

My future was sealed that weekend I spent in Arizona. The school was amazing, the people were awesome and the coaches were some of the nicest I had ever met. I took my trip the weekend before I came to the farm to help out. I didn't want my grandfather getting suspicious, so I told him that my band had a gig that weekend, but I would still make it out in time.

Knowing this would be my last summer here, I made sure to tell my grandfather that I couldn't stay the entire length of it. I didn't necessarily lie when I told him my band had gigs, but I also didn't tell him the full truth. I was expected to report to camp by the last week of July. As much as I didn't want to leave or even cut my time with them short, this was what I had to do.

So here I sat against this old damn tree stump against the far end of the open land, staring out at the middle of nowhere, contemplating the decisions I have made thus far. I had practically been on my own since I was fifteen and saw no reason to seek out any guidance now. I lifted the cigarette I had been holding between my fingers, when I heard a loud girly giggle, echo through the night. I wasn't sure if I really heard it at first, but when it happened again, I knew it had to be her. Hell, she was the only girl besides my grams and her grandmamma that was around.

I sat still, smoking my cigarette, paying her no mind, when I saw her tiny frame wobbling up that damn hill. A slight breeze had picked up and her long brown hair blew across her face as a hint of strawberry assaulted my nostrils. It was heavenly and exactly the distraction I needed from my own head. As much as I didn't want this girl to get in my head, somehow or another she had found her way there, despite how hard I tried to ignore it.

She finally made it up the hill and I watched intently as she pulled something from her pocket and then flung herself on the ground. I muffled my laugh as I watched her try to light her cigarette. She was the cutest thing I had ever seen. I still made no attempt to move when I heard her melodic voice carry through the night. I wasn't sure if she was talking to herself, but there was no way she knew I was here, so I could only assume that was the case.

I put my cigarette out on the patch of grass next to me, trying to make as little noise as possible. I had been hiding out this long and I didn't want to scare her, so I just kept quiet and listened to her rambling on and on. I couldn't make out much, but I think I got the gist of what she was saying. She was definitely mad at someone because I had never heard so many curse words come out of such a sweet looking mouth. The only name I caught in all of her ranting was Wren, whoever the hell that was.

I was just about to get up and head back home, when my cell started ringing in my pocket. I let a string of curse words fly out of my mouth that would make my dead momma blush, as I frantically searched for the damn thing. As soon as I got it out of my pocket, I quickly hit the side button to stop the ringing. When the sound finished echoing off of the vast open land, I held my breath waiting to see if she was going to say anything. After a few minutes and no response, I thought it safe to start heading back, but then her voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"You know you don't have to hide in the dark to be around me. I won't bite. Well, not unless you ask real nice." A small giggle followed her putting-it-out-there sentence and I just stood there in shock.

My mind was telling me to answer, to say anything, but for some reason my lips refused to move. I took a few steps in the direction of my grandparent's house, when she spoke again.

"That's okay, I don't need you, just like I don't need them."

I heard her let out a loud sigh and I instantly felt like a prick. Once again, against my better judgment and my grandfather's warning, I did something I knew I shouldn't, but I just couldn't help myself any longer. I walked right over to where she was laying down, and stood directly above her. I looked down at her beautiful face in awe. It all seemed a little wrong, given the fact she was just barely seventeen, but I was drawn to her.

Her eyes were closed as I traced every facet of her face with my eyes, committing it to memory. Suddenly electric blue was staring back at me, unfazed by my close proximity to her. She slowly blinked and I caught a glimpse of her tongue dart out and wet her full bottom lip. My pants tightened and I knew I was in some serious trouble if this pretty little thing stayed around much longer.

"Can I help you, Madison?" The sarcastic emphasis she put on my name made me burst out in laughter. "What is so funny?" She shouted as I continued to laugh.

"I'm s..or..ry." I stuttered through my laughter. I put up my finger for her to give me a second, as I tried to catch my breath and calm down my laughter that was apparently starting to piss her off. "You really don't like me do ya?" I croaked out.

"Well whatever would've given' ya that idea, cowboy?" She sneered.

"Oh I don't know, how about that from the minute you laid eyes on me, you have done nothin' but give me dirty looks. Or, how about the fact that you wouldn't even say more than one word to me?" I sat down next to where she was lying unmoving. It was obvious that she wasn't going to be moving anytime soon. "Honestly, I should've known that a pretty, little princess wouldn't want to speak to me anyway. I didn't really think she was a princess, but her reaction to the word, was worth it.

My last sentence must've really gotten to her, because she was sittin' up right quicker than shit.

"I'm sorry and who the hell do you think you are, judging me when you have no f*ckin' clue about anything about me." Her words were coming out a bit slurred and I could almost bet by the amount of smoking she was doing, that she was on something. "And why are you just staring at me like that?"

I swear if she were standing, she would be tapping her little foot against the ground, with her hands on her hips. The vision of this made me want to laugh even more, but I held it in as to not further piss this little firecracker off.

"Well, are you even going to give me enough respect to answer me?"

I wasn't quite sure how I was looking at her, but I figured I should apologize to calm her down, if anything. "I'm sorry if I offended you in any way sweetheart. That wasn't my intention. I was honestly heading back to the house, when your voice caught me off guard. I thought I was still alone out here." That was a lie obviously, but she didn't need to know that.

"I'm sorry too. I'm just a little tightly wound at the moment."

I watched as she struggled to cross her legs in front of herself, but this time there was no laughing. I could tell she was in a lot of pain, so I just sat back on my arms, legs crossed in front of me with my head back.

We sat in silence for what felt like hours, but in all actuality, was about ten minutes. I only know because I kept checking my watch. I finally came to the distinct conclusion that the conversation was probably over, so I sat forward brushing my hands off on my jeans. Just as I was about to get up and head to bed, she spoke. What came out of her mouth next, was nothing I expected to hear from this amazingly beautiful girl, or any girl for that matter.