As soon as I woke up my mind was racing again. I knew I had gotten myself into a predicament more complicated than I was prepared for. Before last night everything had seemed complicated, but now that all seemed like nothing. I had wanted Casey, and I just needed to figure out how to make that happen. But after what happened last night with Amanda, I didn't even know what I wanted anymore. I still didn't even really know Amanda, but the sex had been unbelievable. One thing I did know, was that I wanted to fuck her again. But I still hadn't talked to Casey yet.
I shook my head in frustration as I got dressed for the day. I had told Casey how much I wanted her, but she said no. Well, she didn't say no, but she said not now, which didn't feel very different than a no. I had basically broken it off with Amy, which was probably for the best, although she did demand that I find her someone else. But that was a problem for another day. Right now I had to figure out where my head was at. I had expected Amanda to be a stupid little city girl. I figured since she was Derrick's sister she would be awful too. But I enjoyed every second I spent with her. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think now. I knew I needed to talk with Casey, but I had no idea what to say. I walked downstairs with my head spinning. I didn't even look around as I walked toward the door.
"You aint gonna have breakfast?" Daddy's voice said, snapping me out of it. I stopped walking, and looked over to see daddy and Jenny both sitting at the table eating. "Your momma made pancakes," daddy said, and nodded at the food on the table. I didn't say anything, but walked over and sat down. I began piling food onto my plate, and tried to keep to myself. But I could feel the way daddy was staring at me. I looked up, and he frowned at me.
"So what happened with the city slicker," daddy asked, taking a big bite of pancakes. "The one that hit that nice girl?"
"What nice girl?" Jenny asked, sounding alarmed.
"Howard's daughter," daddy said through a mouthful of food. "The one your brothers sweat on."
"Someone hit Casey?" Jenny said, her eyes going wide as she looked from daddy to me.
"Ya," I nodded. "A guy she knows from back home, or wherever. Their dads are friends. I guess she's known him since they were little."
"Why did he hit her?" Jenny asked. "Casey is the nicest girl ever. Why would anyone hit her?"
"I guess he tried to get a little handsy with her," I said, trying not to lose my temper as I spoke about it. "And she stopped him. I don't know all the details, but he slapped her in the face, real hard."
"Oh my god, is she ok?" Jenny asked.
"Ya, she's ok," I sighed, cutting into my food and taking a bite.
"And you aint done nothin', right?" daddy said seriously.
"No," I said. I knew I couldn't tell him about what I had done, or any part of the plan. If he knew I fucked another rich city girl he would lose it.
"So what are you gonna do?" he asked, taking another big bite.
"I don't know," I said. "If I hit him I'll get in trouble. Too much trouble. And I'm not sure how else to handle it. I'm still thinking. But I'll do something."
"Casey really likes you," Jenny said with a smile. "She talks about you all the time."
"Jim knows he can't go runnin' off with that girl," daddy said, giving me a look that practically dared me to contradict him. "They can like each other all they want, but until they're older that's all they're gonna do."
"Why," Jenny asked. "They're both single, and its not like they're kids or anything."
"Of course they are," daddy said, and Jenny quickly looked away. "But that aint the point. You two work for that man. If he finds out Jim is runnin' around town with his daughter what do you think he'll do?"
"I don't know," Jenny shrugged. "Maybe nothing. Jims a good guy. And Mr. Howard seems to like him. So does Mrs. Howard."
"Well they aint gonna like him if they find him with their daughter," daddy said angrily. "And that man can make life very hard for all of us if he wants. Jim doesn't get to ruin things for the whole family cause he's sweet on some city girl that aint even gonna be here after summer."
"Well I think its nice that they like each other," Jenny said, and dad put his fork down with a loud clank. He glared at Jenny, but she didn't stop. "And I think they would make a nice couple."
"That's enough Jenny," mom said as she walked over. "Your father doesn't want Jim to mess around with Casey."
"That's right," daddy nodded, and resumed eating.
"Well what about what Jim and Casey want?" Jenny said. I appreciated what she was trying to do, but she was just going to make things worse for me.
"Right now I just want to go to work," I said before daddy could start yelling at Jenny. "And I want to figure out how I can get Derrick back for hitting her."
"Don't get yourself in trouble," daddy said seriously.
"I cant believe someone hit Casey," Jenny said sadly.
"Ya, well, he did," I said, getting up from the table. Mom took my plate, and walked back to the sink. Daddy gave me a look that said not to fuck around, and I nodded. I gave Jenny a little smile of thanks, and then left. I walked to my horse, and started off to the Howard ranch. When I got there, I saw that both Amy and Casey were home, but I rode off to the fields, purposefully avoiding them. I didn't know what to say to either one of them. I made sure to stay far away from the house as I worked. When lunch time came around I kept on working. Eventually I had to go in though. It was close to three in the afternoon, and I had to eat something. I couldn't help thinking I should have brought a sandwich or something along as I rode down to the big ranch house.
As I rode up, and got off my horse, I saw that Amy's car was gone. I tied my horse to a post, and headed inside. I didn't hear anything at first, and hurried into the kitchen. There was no sign of Casey, and I quickly went about fixing myself a sandwich, hoping I could get back out without seeing her. It felt weird trying to avoid her. I had spent the last few months trying my best to be around her as much as possible. But I knew what she was going to ask me, and I didn't know how to respond. Just as I was finishing up, I heard someone come in behind me.
"Hey," Casey said. "Where have you been all day?" I turned around, and saw her standing there, looking as beautiful as ever. She had on a tight white t shirt, and she was wearing her daisy dukes again. Right away my head bent back into a pretzel. I still wanted her more than anything.