Just an Ashley Love story

Chapter 3
Christine’s POV
The show was a success. All My students placed high in the ranks, pulling nothing less than a 3rd place. Not bad for their first Rated Grand Prix. I couldn’t be more proud, but I am exhausted as usual. And with all the work I’ve done prior to, during and after, I’m ready to climb into a hot bath, and then head to bed. I have a killer crew of farm hands so I don’t have to worry about much and all lessons were canceled until Tuesday so I could have Monday off.

I set the bath with my favorite lavender scented Epsom salts, a little music on the radio and dimmed the lights. I laid back as the warm water washed over me, thankful that the long weekend was over. As I let my thoughts drift, I went back to Friday, and the gorgeous man I ran into. He’s texted me a couple of times, promising to keep his promise. Kinda cute actually. It just worries me that I’m gunna get all caught up in him, to find out there is something wrong with him, or that he really doesn’t want me for anything but some toy.

“Sorry dude, not gunna happen!” I said aloud. I’ll be ready for any game he might try and play. Is it bad that I hope he won’t, and that this is real? That someone like him could even want someone like me? Either way, I won’t get my hopes up, I won’t get my hopes up, repeat mantra.
After soaking all the pain and stress from the weekend away, I went to bed. Eager to have the morning to sleep in for the first time in a long time. My dreams floated off to horses and the brown eyes of Ashley Purdy.

I woke up all twisted up in the sheets. I don’t remember being restless, as far as I know I slept pretty damn good. I looked at the clock, or at least I tried. My eyes didn’t want to stay open long enough for me to actually see the time. Finally I caught a glimpse, and it said 9:00. Well, I got to sleep in, time to get up a guess. (Normal wake up time, is usually around 6. Barn work starts pretty early)

I made myself some coffee, sat down with my phone and started checking on any emails I might have missed while at the show. I had a message. It was from Ashley.

“Hey, I was wondering if we could get together, maybe get some lunch today, if you’re free.”

Smiling, I looked at the time, again. Yeah, I guess I could. I replied:

“Sure, that would be great, where and what time?”

Next thing I know, my phone rings. Looking at the I.D. and seeing its him, my smile grew.

Me: “Well hello Mr. Purdy. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

Ash: “do you always answer the phone so formal?”

Me: “no, it’s only for you”

Well, that was real smooth. I cringe at what I just said. I don’t wanna seem like the creepy stalker type. Hell, this is the first time I’ve really spoken to him since Starbucks. Other than a few quick texts.

Ash: “well, ok then, I was calling to inform you that I would like to meet with you at the café, across the street from where we had our first…..meeting, say around 12:30? I also made a promise, and promises to that promise, that I would call.”

I could hear the smile in his voice, and the fact that he played along with my formalities just made me laugh

Me: “I can see that. It sounds good to me. I’ll see you there.”
Ash: “See you there.”

Holy hell, what do I wear? Yes I’m not girly but I still wanna look, you know, good. At this point I called down to the barn using the intercom, in almost a panic I screamed through the thing “ANGEL, I NEED YOU UP AT THE HOUSE, ITS AN EMERGENCY!!”

Angel is not only the best farmhand I could ask for, she is also my best friend, and I don’t think I could do this without her. Nope, definitely couldn't do this without her. The age difference never seemed to bother either of us, she was 20 with the maturity of a 40 year old. She's been with me since I opened this place 4 years ago, and now lives in the small apartment above the garage, she pays her own bills but she lives rent free.

“Oh my god woman,” she was completely out of breath from running the almost 1/4 mile from the barn to the house. It must have been full speed too because she got up here fast!! “What in the world is going on? You nearly gave me a heart attack. And look your standing here, just fine. So if you’re not dying, what the hell is wrong?”

Laughing at her “I have a date, and I need your help. I don’t know what to wear, I don’t even know if I HAVE anything to wear. And I need you to talk to me, and remind me what I can and cannot say. I haven’t been in the whole dating scene, loop...thing, in a long while.”

“A date? With who?” Oops, guess I forgot to tell her.

So as I explained the whole story to her, she picked out my outfit, after telling her where we were meeting. She made me go simple. Skinny, stonewash jeans with a few rips and tears to add some character and a nice, black, slim fit tee, along with my black Ariat western boots. I put my hair up in its usual way, high up almost to the top of my head. Even from there, it reaches down to my lower back. I put on some makeup, and stopped to look in the mirror.

It’s me, a dressier me. (Yes, that is dressy for me.) But me all the same. I look a bit better off than the last time Ashley saw me. I’m not so tired and run down, and my jeans and boots are covered in mud like I’m sure they were that day.

I look at the clock, it’s about 11:45, time to leave so I’d make it on time. My heart is pounding, and my stomach is in knots with those nervous little butterflies. UGH, please let me survive this.
I decided against taking my truck into the L.A. downtown district. Instead I take the 68 mustang fastback I just finished painting. She’s my baby, my first build on my own. And the sound of her rumble calms my nerves. Well, I hope she can calm my nerves today. Cruising down the stretch of highway headed towards my destination, I can’t help but wonder how he’s feeling. I sure hope he’s as nervous as I am.

Notes

Getting close to their second meeting. i hope i still have all of your attention. i know it seems to drag on right now but i promise, it will keep getting better. like i said in my summary, this is not gunna be a quick story. like the whole, they meet, fall in love that night and have babies or what not within the week. but we are getting close to some smutt, i promise you wont be waiting to much longer.