Requested Story

Chapter 2, Part 1

Gianna gazed around the tiny town, "That's it?" she asked, hopeful that he was hiding something up his sleeve. Anything. They'd ridden to the end of the road, she'd glimpsed several farms, lots of tiny shops, and the town square-which is where she lived.

He shrugged, "Everything but Hartford Ranch."

"Can I see that?" she questioned. A ranch would be nice, wouldn't it? She was sick of city living, and had seen plenty of ranches in movies and television shows. She just loved westerns.

"Sure, I suppose. Hartford Ranch belongs to myself, and mother of course." he said, she could hear the pride in his words.

He loved his ranch, his job, and his horse. Whom he'd mentioned had been an eighteenth birthday present from his deceased father. She liked sitting on a horse, could get used to it, she was sure.

They'd been riding a long time before they came to a large sign which read, "Hartford Ranch" in what looked like rope. She smiled, exactly as she'd expected! As they rode up the dirt road, she glimpsed the acres of land he kept, and a large ranch style house painted a bright white. "It's beautiful." she breathed.

"And all mine, more importantly." he said cockily.

She glanced at the back of his head, noting this about the man. He wasn't a very personable man, he snapped a lot. When Mrs. Hartford had said she had a son who'd be happy to show Gianna around, she'd hardly thought the man would be this snippy. Obviously he didn't take after his mother, who seemed an angel on earth. "Thank God for that, right?" she asked, monitoring his reaction.

"No, I thank my father for that. He started this place, I keep it up. My father and myself. There is no God, Miss Oakley, or haven't you been informed of that?" he climbed down off of the horse and his eyes held malice.

She swallowed hard, "Oh." was the only response she could come up with.

"Exactly. Now, let's show you around so I can take you back to Mom's, shall we?" he extended his hand to help her down.

"No, no, I think I've seen quite enough, Mr. Hartford. I'd rather go home now." she thought back to the tall building which seemed lovingly decorated. The bright, God-fearing woman who lent her smile and her hand without a question asked. She looked at that woman's son, cynical, sarcastic, and cocky. Sure he was handsome, but was that a filler for arrogance? No.

"Home?"

"Back to the apartment building, I mean. Can't go back to the city." just as she heard her words out loud, she wished she hadn't said them.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked as he climbed back into the sadle and turned the horse back the way they'd come.

"Nothing, just..the city is so busy, loud, and crazy. I'm glad for a change of pace and scenery." she hedged, hoping God would forgive her for lying to the Hartfords, and whomever else she had to.

"I've been to the city a few times, I know what you mean. It's better here in G...well you know, the country."

The air crackled with something she didn't know what, but it wasn't her normal silence. Goodness knew, she knew silence! Better than she knew herself. The rest of the ride was taken in silence, and when the apartments came into view she felt like getting down on her knees and worshipping God. "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Hartford. Goodbye." she said as she climbed down off the horse with as much respect as she could muster. Walking inside, she vowed not to look back at him or his horse. Just her luck, the first man she saw that was her age, was a bad one. Just her luck!

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