Deadly Inheritance (completed)

Chapter 13

"I heard from the grape vine you were entering the pie contest. So which one are you entering?" Natalie examined each pie. I can see she wants a taste.

"All of them. I can enter four. I thought you were busy today?" I ask as I pour us both some lemonade and pull out the sample of the apple pie and cut us each a slice.

"I was, but Sarah came around and I couldn't work with her and not want to rip her hair out, ya know? Ooh yum. Thanks." She says as I give her a piece. "Then Baxter called said he was here helping out Ryan with a fence, so I thought I'd come over and help you out, but you look more annoyed that I'm here. Do you want me to go? I can go? But only after I eat this cause it's really good." She kept talking as she picked up her plate and started backing out of the room.

"I think I'm in love with Ryan." There I said it. It may not be to him I said it to, but the words are out there. I can't take them back. I don't think I want to.

Natalie's eyes got big and she started to smile then stopped. "You're telling me because you aren't sure or because you're scared?" She walked back over to me, pulling me with her she nudged me into a chair and sat down next to me. Taking my hand, she knew this wasn't that simple of a conversation for me.

"Both and what if he doesn't feel the same way? Am I being ridiculous or have I lost my mind? What do I do? What do I say? How do I...... everything now?" I just want to be told what to do for once. Does everything change now that I feel this way? How do I act around him now? Shit! I'm so going to mess this up!

"Did you tell Ryan?" Natalie asks and I frantically shake my head. "Okay! Well, that's kind of the first step." Her voice stays very calm and soothing. I'm trying to focus on that, while inside I'm freaking out.

"No! God, no! I can't tell him. You can't tell him either, please Natalie, promise me! I'm begging you. Not until I figure things out for myself." What am I doing? Oh this was wrong, I know I messed this up.

She held her hands up in surrender and laughed softly at me. "Okay, okay! I won't say a word. It needs to come from you though." Natalie agrees. "How does he feel? Do you know?"

Ryan

I got out to the far field and there were six of us to get the downed fence repaired. We worked in pairs, pulling wired, hammering posts, removing the old and putting in the new. It took hours. By noon we were done, but it was hours we hadn't planned on. Other things still needed to be done before we could go to the festival. Baxter and I worked to load the trucks up so we could get headed back.

"Thanks for coming over to help, man. I appreciate it." I tell him. Ever since we were kids, Baxter would come help out when he could during breaks and weekends. He never asked for a paycheck, he just loved getting his hands dirty once in a while. He always said a little hard work did him good body, mind and soul. I understand that.

"No problem. Nat said she was going to go see Charlie while I was here, so we could ride to the festival together." Baxter said and I paused. Setting my shovel aside, I frowned looking over at him and knew I was going to need to address this. "I can already see it on your face, Ryan. You don't approve of me and your sister."

"I don't want her hurt. Can you honestly tell me you've changed? I don't want to kick your ass because you break her heart, man." I explain to him. This is actually easier than I thought.

"You changed when you met Charlie. I've always loved, Nat. I just fought it. I don't want to fight it anymore. Give us a chance, man. If I fuck it up, you've got my permission to kick my ass. The last thing I want is to hurt her. Trust me." Baxter pleads. I've known him my entire life, he's one of the best friends I've ever had. I trust him with my life and now he wants me to trust him with Natalie.