The Runaway

The Hill Top

It takes me a minute but like Austin said, I caught on quick and was soon basically an expert. After a few minutes, I realized we were on the dirt road leading away from the ranch.

"Where are we going, I thought you were going to show me around the ranch."

"Yeah that's what I said but the ranch is pretty boring. Basically the house, the barn, the fences around the ranch, and a bunkhouse thing that is for when other family members that have a bigger family stay. Oh and a thing that I don't know what it is called but it is like a porch but not attached to a house."

"Well, then where are we going?"

"You see that hill over there." He points far to the right and by far I mean far.

"Yeah, it's kinda hard to miss."

"Well, we are going to the top of it."

"All the way up there?" I questioned

"To the very top," he says with a smirk.

"But that will take all day, what are we going to eat,"

"I came prepared I have food in the pouches of the saddle once we get there we will have some lunch before heading back down. If we make good time we will be back before the rest of the family eats dinner."

"You better be right."

"Of course I am right. I have made this ride several times before as long as you don't drag us down we will make it."

"Whatever you say." The ride was long and somewhat tiring. I have never sat on a horse for this long before and my butt was starting to hurt. But the only thing that kept my mind off my butt pain was Austin. Every once in a while he would tell me about how much longer until we got there or he would ask me a pointless question. Which I would answer because... well, I'm not sure at least not completely. Ok maybe that is a total lie but anyway we have pointless conversations which are actually nice as it is a relief from what it was like for me at home.

"Just a few more minutes."

"And then we can eat?" he laughs at my exclamation.

"Yes, then we can eat."

"Thank Chuck."

"Chuck?"

"Yes, you wouldn't understand it is a reference from a show." he gives me a look that says something along the lines of you are a weirdo. "Just let me be who I am," I exclaim loudly.

"Alright, we are here." I hop off my horse and take him over to where Austin is tying up the other horse. Once both horses are tied up he grabs a few bags of food out of the saddlebags and tosses me some which I scarf down almost immediately.

"Wow, I did not know a girl could eat like that."

"There is a lot of things you don't know about girls and some you wouldn't because you date a prissy pink princess."

"Harsh but just so you know I broke up with Brianne weeks before school ended. Not that is any of your business." I wait for him to finish eating In silence which Is a little awkward, just sitting watching the guy you like but can never have eat. Once he finishes he takes care of the thing putting them back in the saddlebags.

"So are we just going to head back now?" I ask

"Do you want to sit on the horse for the extended amount of time right now?" he asks in return.

"No."

"Well, then there's your answer I have it so we can stay here for another 45 minutes or so. Now the question would be what do you want to do. There is a boardwalk thing that has an incredible view."

"Really where."

"This way follow me." He leads me over to where there is a wooden walkway that goes out off the edge of the hill a few feet and at the very end, there was a bench.

I was skeptical about walking out onto it but Austin reassured me saying that the wood was replaced a few years back and it wouldn't break.

I walked out to the very end and looked over the edge like Austin had said it was an incredible view. I sat down on the bench and just enjoyed the beauty of everything. Austin joined me a minute later.

"It's beautiful isn't it."

"Yes, it is."

"Can you see that little spot over there."

"Yeah what about it, is it a place I must never go."

"No, it is the house and the barn. And Lion King really."

"It's the house we have gone that far away. And yes Lion King." We sat there looking at the view for a minute before Austin spoke.

"I spy with my little eye something green."

"What are you doing."

"Playing I Spy what does it look like."

"Why."

"What else are we supposed to do." I stayed silent having no response. "So I spy something green."

"Is it the trees."

"Which tree?"

"That one." I point to a big oak tree over the edge of the hill.

"No, I was thinking of the one that is a few feet away from that one to the right."

"That tiny maple tree."

"Yeah, that one." I glare at him, " What this is I spy not I see an obvious object."

Whatever. My turn, I spy with my little eye something grey."

"Grey?"

"Yes, Grey."

"Let's see, is it the clouds."

"Which cloud."

"So that's how this is going to be."

"Yes it is, so which cloud is it?"

"That one over there."

"Which one are you pointing to?"

"That one." he points to a cloud but I can't tell which one.

"Which one."

"That one." He grabs my hand and uses it to point to a cloud. It was then that I realized our close proximity and how close his face was to mine when I turned to look at him. Our noses were almost touching, we held eye contact for a minute maybe more before he speaks.

"Is that the cloud." I can feel his breath against my skin and my breath hitches in my throat which I hope he doesn't notice. I quick glance at the cloud he has my hand pointing to before turning to look at him and responding.

"Yeah, that would be the cloud," I say barely above a whisper. He lets go of my hand and we are both silent before he speaks again.

"Are those clouds looking dark to you?" he points at clouds off in the distance

"Maybe a little." we sit watching them for a moment when all of the sudden there is a flash of lightning from the clouds.

"Well, I think that is our cue to get moving."

"Yeah let's go," I say and we hurry to the horses so we can get back hopefully before the storm reaches us.