The Longest Ride

leave this weekend.”

She furrowed her brow, watching him. “Okay,” she finally said. “When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” he said, thankful she’d let it pass. “I’ll drive to Knoxville after I finish up and spend the night. On Saturday night, I’ll start driving back. I’ll get in late, but it’s the first weekend we’re selling pumpkins. I got most of the Halloween stuff set up today – José and I built a great big maze out of hay bales, among other things – but a lot of people always show up. Even with José pitching in, my mom still needs extra help.”

“Is that why she was mad at you? Because you’ll be out of town?”

“Partly,” he said, pushing a bright pink sliver of ginger around his plate. “She’s mad because I’m riding, period.”

“Isn’t she used to it by now? Or is it because you got hurt on Big Ugly Critter?”

“My mom,” he said, choosing his words with care, “is worried that something’s going to happen to me.”

“But you’ve been injured before. Lots of times.”

“Yes.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He didn’t answer right away. “How about this?” he said, laying his chopsticks down. “When the time is right, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“I could always ask your mom, you know.”

“You could. But you’d have to meet her first.”

“Well, maybe I’ll just go out there on Saturday and try.”

“Go ahead. But if you do, just be prepared to be put to work. You’ll be carrying pumpkins all day.”

“I’ve got muscles.”

“Have you ever carried pumpkins all day?”

She leaned across the table. “Have you ever unloaded a truck filled with meat and sausage?” Her expression was victorious when he didn’t answer. “See, we do have something in common. We’re both hard workers.”

“And we can both ride horses now, too.”

She smiled. “That too. How did you like the sushi?”

“It was good,” he said.

“I get the feeling you would have preferred pork chops.”

“I can have pork chops anytime. It’s one of my specialties.”

“You cook?”

“On the grill,” he said. “My dad taught me.”

“I think I’d like for you to grill for me sometime.”

“I’ll make anything you want. As long as it’s burgers, steaks, or pork chops.”

She leaned closer. “So what’s next? Would you like to risk our luck and go to a frat party? I’m sure they’re getting going about now.”

“What about Brian?”

“We’ll go to a party at a different house. One he never goes to. And we wouldn’t have to stay long. You might have to ditch the hat, though.”

“If you’d like to, I’m game.”

“I can go anytime. I was asking for you.”

“What are they like?” he asked. “Music, a bunch of drinking college kids, that kind of stuff?”

“Pretty much.”

He thought about it for a second before shaking his head. “It’s not really my thing,” he admitted.

“I didn’t think so. We could always do a tour of the campus if you’d like.”

“I think I’d rather save that for another time. So you have to go out with me again.”

She traced her finger around the rim of her water glass. “Then what do you want to do?”

He didn’t answer right away, and for the first time, he wondered how different things might be had he not made the decision to ride again. His mom wasn’t happy, and frankly, even he wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but somehow it had led to a date with a girl he already knew he’d never forget.

“Are you up for a little drive? I know a place where I can promise you won’t see anyone you know. It’s quiet, but it’s really pretty at night.”
     

     
    Back at the ranch, the moon lent a silver wash to the world as they stepped out of the truck. Dog, a blur in the darkness, came racing out from beneath the porch, stopping at Sophia’s side almost as though he’d been expecting them.

“I hope this is okay,” he said. “I wasn’t sure where else to go.”

“I knew you were bringing me here,” Sophia said, reaching down to pet Dog. “If it bothered me, I would have said something.”

He motioned toward his house. “We could sit on the porch, or there’s a great spot down by the lake.”

“Not the river?”

“You’ve already been to the river.”

She took in the surroundings, then turned to him again. “Are we going to sit in chairs in the back of the truck again?”

“Of course,” he said. “Trust me, you wouldn’t want