"Tex! Atlas! Get off of me!" I yelled, as my two German Shepherd Dogs jumped up and licked me a rude awakening. It was Saturday, my only day off this week, home-improvement day. I threw my hair into a messy bun and dressed in a hoodie and jeans, me and the boys, my dogs, headed into town. First stop was the hardware store, where I talked to one of my best friends, Maggie, who works there. "Lauren, do you know that Michael is single, Kyle just got divorced, and I heard that Cory has had his eye on you." She is always trying to find me a man. Sometimes I just want to call her "Maggie the Matchmaker." "Michael's is gay, Kyle has been divorced twice already and Cory gets jealous too easy, I already gave him his chance 3 years ago." I replied.
I paid for my things and left, headed to the feed store. " Frank," I said to the store owner, "I need six bags of show feed." He heads to the back while I write the check out. "How are the Hereford's doing this fall, Lauren." I turned around to face the familiar voice. It was Jackson Williams. "Great!" I said. I show Hereford cattle (year-round). Before Jackson could say anything more, Frank comes up to the front with my feed. I grabbed two bags, Frank two, and Jackson the other two. Jackson and I stayed at my truck and talked about the past few years over the next 10 minutes in the late-September breeze, until Tex and Atlas began to beg to go home. "Hope to see you again soon, Lauren." said Jackson. "You too" I replied. I headed home to work and feed my show cattle, but I couldn't help but think about him the whole time. I sent Maggie a text saying that tonight was going to be a Girl's Night.
~Later That Evening~
Maggie brought me pizza for supper and then we went out for a drive in my old truck. I recapped her on the day's events. "Wow, he sounds really interested in you!" she says. We drive and talk for about an hour, then start heading back to my house. We are greeted half-way from home by a group of four cows in the middle of the road. "I know exactly who's cows these are." I explained. She begged for me to tell her who owned them but, I wanted to surprise her. We pull into a large driveway, with a large 2 story farmhouse at the end of the drive. I walk up to the door and knock. "Lauren!? What are you doing here?" Jackson says, buttoning his shirt. "You have four cows out down the road." I explained with a bit of a chuckle. My truck door slams shut and I hear a voice behind me yell, "LAUREN! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THIS WAS JACKSON WILLIAM'S HOUSE!" I'm pretty sure I blushed at least 7 shades of red. He followed us back to the spot where we had seen the cows and we proceeded to herd the cows back into the pasture. Maggie and I climbed into my truck and I turned the ignition. "Thanks, ladies." Jackson says. "No problem, "We add. "Hey, maybe I need your number just in case I see any red and white in the middle of the road." Jackson flirts. I flirt back with, "I guarantee you won't see my purebred's out with pasture trash, but just in case... 555-923-0634." We both laughed and we went our ways for the night and Maggie wouldn't keep her mouth shut for anything. I tried to sleep but couldn't after what had happened. Then at, 11:12p.m., I get a text:
Unknown--- Hey Lauren, It's Jackson. I wanted
to know if you would like to go on a date with me?
Lauren--- Sure, When?
Jackson--- How about this coming Friday night? Dinner and football?
Lauren--- Sounds great, can't wait!
