Her cowboy his cowgirl

Chapter 8 Family

Recap:

After about ten minutes the door open and I could hear heavy footsteps and scratching on the floor of nails. After a short time, a man walked in a man I could recognize in seconds. A man I've never seen in years the man who's my entire world.

"Daddy" I whisper unknowingly tears pricking my eyes

" Cassidy?" a stray tear falls down my cheek, my lip quivers

"my Cassy my baby girl," he said quickly striding over to me his arms engulfing me into his arms, my arms quickly go around him my head on his shoulder inhaling his scent his familiar scent the one of my childhood

" Merry Christmas," I say choking on my tears

"Cassy... I.. You're.." he stutters

"here-" I finish his sentence

"yes I'm here daddy I've missed you so much" I sob

"and I've missed you more"

"not possible" I laugh

"so possible you were, are my baby and always will be" he mumbles into my hair stroking it with his hand.

Finally pulling away he reaches his hand up to my cheeks wiping my tears

"stay," he said after a while

"what?" I respond

"stay here in your room live at home again with me," he said looking at me with hope

"Really?... I mean yes" I say quickly

"come, come ill make some food sit. No, go to your room. No uh I uh don't know" he mumbles making me not understand a thing

"how about we make food then I go back to the motel and get my things then I can move back in. Okay?" I ask

"yes uh um let's make some food," he said pulling me towards the kitchen

"uh um what do you want to make?" I have no idea then i remember about Ethan.

"uh, Ethan?" I ask sneaking away from dad who's sorting out the groceries getting no response I walk further into him in the hall pulling on his shoes

"Ethan," I say

"yes" he responds looking up towards me

"would you stay. For uh dinner?"

I ask twiddling my hands behind my back

"uh sure I guess" he says talking of his shoes again running back to the kitchen I spot daddy

"Ethan's staying oh could we make stake have you got stake I loved your stake James's s sucked

" whos, James? "

" ugh he's mothers husband awful I must say"

"don't say that about people Cassidy"

"well he is trying to marry me off to his friend's son who's just butt ugly"

"he's trying to do what?!"

"marry me off like I'm a pawn or something"

"your mothers fine with this?"

"oh shes more than pleased says it will set me straight make me a lady, not a hillbilly"

"I still hate her did you get your cards and the money I sent?" what money and cards

"what cards and money?"

"I sent them every year for your birthday easter Christmas you didn't get them?"

"no," I say shaking my head. He sent me cards he did care about me

"anyway, you wanted stake?"

"yeah," I say jumping up and down

"alrighty then," he says opening the fridge getting the stake than getting oil seasoning and a pan smiling I skip to the counter where the potato is kept from what I remember opening it I'm greeted with a big sack opening it I remove the good looking ones.

Sitting at the table we all eat in awkward silence.

"so Cassidy why did you leave?" Ethan asked breaking the silence

"I didn't have a choice" I replied not looking at him, but at my eaten plate

"John, could we talk?"

"sure thing son"

"Cassy why don't you clean up me and Ethan have to talk"

"kay dad," I said picking up the plates from the dining table and talking them into the kitchen washing them up I was about to step back into the dining room when what was getting said caught my attention

"John I have to take tomorrow off"

"why? Don't tell me, boy."

"but John"

"son it's dangerous"

"I know it is john but it's my life"

"fine but you get half your pay your like family to me son I just got one member back I don't want to have to lose one as well"

"I promise john I won't get hurt"

"Casy I'm gonna go pick up your stuff keep Ethan company" dad called before hearing the front door close

Walking out i pretended not to hear a thing of what just happened

"so Cassidy how old are you?"

"twenty"

"where's your room?"

"attic"

"favorite color?"

"purple"

"first horse name?"

"I didn't have a horse mother took me away before dad could give me one I was planning on calling it if a her Daisy and if a he Ozzy"

"um wanna drink?"

"I have one but thank you so Ethan what's your job?"

"as you know I take care of the animals here race some sometimes but I make most my money from the rodeo"

"but isn't that dangerous couldn't you get killed?"

"well yeah," he said rubbing his neck

"uh I'm going to go see my room see if its the same as I remember," I say

"Uh want help? "

"I'll be fine Eath I've got it"

"okay"

Walking up the stairs I spot the walls bare not a picture in sight heading up the stairs again I'm met with my room door the same as it was when I was little my name on a piece of wood stuck to the door opening it I'm greeted with the sight of my room the room I remember walking towards the bed I run my hand over the sheet it's not dusty spotting my childhood bear I quickly pick him up pulling him to my chest inhaling the familiar scent smiling I walk around the room taking everything in my drawings still on the desk my sketch pad still in the draw my diary still is hidden under the floorboard smiling I laugh snuggling my head into the bear my smile drops when I hear a creaking sound behind me whirling around I'm met with dad holding all my bags

"uh I kept it the same in case you ever came back," he said placing the bags on the floor

"thank you" I mumble

"I'll let you get settled," he said before leaving however he pops his head back in

"Ethan said bye"

"Tell him I said to be safe," I said before he left. Going to my bag I start to put everything away neatly and sorted.

Smiling at the end of unpacking I change into a vest and pair of pants climbing in my bed I feel the comfort of home smiling i fall asleep.