Back from the Past

Chapter Fifteen

Hey looks like I'm not dead!! Sorry for the extraordinary long update but for awhile I just could not figure out how to write this chapter and story. So I will try to keep going, and updating. But I can't make any promises. Enjoy the new chapter. Love, ShanaMarj88

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We pulled up outside the barn after a long trip. Steven jumped out and gave Betsy a hand. The pair then began walking towards the barn.

Cody jumped down and turned to offer me a hand, trying to recover at least some of my dignity I accepted the hand and did not die while getting out of the wagon in my floor length dress.

Cody then offered me his arm which I took and we started off after Betsy and Steven.

I was starting to feel very nervous and I started to walk even slower pulling Cody back with me as we fell further and further behind.

"Susan, what's wrong?" Cody asked coming to a complete stop and looking at me with great concern.

"Oh, oh nothing" I didn't look at his eyes, hoping he wouldn't notice my lie.

"I can tell your lying Susan" Damn!

"It's just that I.. I don't really do this kinda thing" My face flushed with embarrassment.

"Why?" He said pulling my chin lightly so I would face him.

"Well back home I used to be picked on by all the people at school they said I was more a boy than a girl. They used to call me ugly and horrible and I hated it! But one time there was a dance at school and my mom dressed me up for it. She put me in a dress and I wore makeup and jewelry. I thought I looked awesome. But when I got to school all the other kids laughed at me. They told me I should stay a boy, 'cause I made a better one then I did a girl. I took there words to heart and refused to dress up again, I became very much the boy they told me I was" I turned my face from him. Horrified that I told him that story, that I made myself vulnerable to what he had to say.

"That's awful!" He exclaimed, outraged.

"It's not that bad" I laughed lightly and unconvincing.

"Yes Susan, yes it is! No one should ever call you ugly! Because you're not Susan! You are beautiful, from the inside out. And don't you dare let anyone tell you different!" He once again turned my face towards his. And I was stuck, paralyzed in the blue of his eyes.

"Thank you" I whispered, still enraptured by him.

"Anytime" He mumbled back. We stood like that, completely still for a couple seconds

"Are you guys coming" We quickly sprang back from each other at Stevens call. Colouring on both our cheeks now.

"Alright we're coming" Cody called back as he once again offered me his arm, which I gladly took.

I was shocked when we first entered the large barn. It was filled with so many people laughing and dancing and having a wonderful time that it took me a minute to take it all in.

A couple of the people looked at us as we stood in the doorway. Some smiling in recognition of Cody and others gawking in surprise of the young lady on his arm.

"Would you care for a dance Miss Susan" Cody bowed and held out his hand with a twinkle in his eye.

"Gladly Mister Cody" I performed a small curtesy and took his outstretched hand with laugh. He gave me a spin and we started to dance to the lively music played by the people on the makeshift stage.

I danced several times with Cody then a few more with Steven before I decided that it was time for a break.

I went and took a seat on one of the chairs provided along the edge of the barn. I sat for a bit and smiled and laughed at some of the antics of the guests.

But then my view of the dance floor was blocked by a black clad figure. I followed the black up to be met with dark, rich brown eyes and a very handsome face. "May I have this dance" The face asked me holding out his hand.

"Why not?" I spoke. Still giddy with the excitement of the night. So I stood and me and this handsome young man began to dance.

"Now what is your name Beautiful" the man asked after a minute of dancing.

"I'm Susan, and what might be yours" I answered.

"Well I am Jack, Susan. And what might a pretty lady like yourself be doing here?" Jack asked.

"I work for the Flying S Ranch. And we were invited" I responded while we continued to dance.

"Your a maid?" He asked with surprise.

"No, I'm a stable hand. I take care if the horses" I said, noticing the shock that registered in his gaze

"Outrages! Why would they make such a delicate little thing like you do such hard, heavy mans work?!" He exclaimed.

I immediately bristled at the comment. "I quite like my job. And was not forced to do anything I did not want to"

"Nonsense! You could come work for me doing proper women's work" Jack's face showed how proud he was of his idea.

"Again, I quite like my job and do not want it replaced" I said forcefully hoping he would drop the subject.

"No, no I insist!" He said, before he inched closer and started to rub his hand lightly up and down my arm. "Besides I can offer much more to you than they can" He whispered in my ear.

At his words I immediately stiffened before saying "You have five seconds to remove your arms before I amputate them both" venom interlacing my every word.

"Feisty! I like that" Before he inched closure to me still.

All of sudden he was pulled away from me by an unknown force. "I think she told you to take your hands off of her" a voice I distinctly recognized as Cody's spoke as he came to stand beside me.

"Stay out of this Anderson! It has nothing to do with you" Jack called as he stood up from where he had landed on the floor.

"Actually it has everything to do with me. It is after all my employee you are trying to seduce" Cody was quick to reply.

"Aw right I forgot that your father owned that joke of a ranch that higher's girls to do all the men's work" Jack laughed at his own words, a horrible, conceited sound.

"At least I don't try to seduce twelve year old girls" Cody bit back.

"She's twelve? I thought her at least fifteen!" Jack exclaimed, surprised.

"It would not have been any better if she had been fifteen. Now Jack Leary I think it's about time you head off. We don't want to cause any trouble here" Steven had stepped out of the crowd just before the boys started to throw punches.

"Alright, but this ain't over" Jack turned and stomped away like a child. Only once he left did I notice that the music and dancing had stopped and that everyone was staring at us.

"Steven, I want to go home now" I said quietly.

"Yes Susan, I think that's a good idea" Betsy walked up and grabbed on to Stevens arm as he spoke. And they started to walk out. Cody and I right behind them all eyes still on us.

God, I can't wait to get home.

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