The Promise

By Denise

My best friend Justine came out to the ranch and we went horseback riding. I wanted to tell her about this guy who was living and working at our ranch. It was early afternoon when I arrived back home, and as I approached the house I noticed Antonio and my brothers, sitting on the front porch. So, I took my horse to the barn and then walked to the house; that was when I saw Brett, sitting among them. "Hello everyone." I said as I climbed the stairs up to the porch.

"Well…good afternoon, Miss Cassandra," Antonio said.

I blushed as I looked at Antonio and then looked at Brett. "Brett, what are you doing here?"

He stood up and came over to me. "I wanted to talk to you…if that is all right with you."

"Yes, that's fine." I turned around and we went down the stairs together. "Where do you want to go?"

"Into the barn…like we always did."

I stopped. "No, Brett!"

"Cassie, what is wrong?" He touched my face. "You never turned me down before."

"Brett." I shook off his hand. "I can't do this anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because…" I wasn't sure why. But then I looked towards the house and saw my reason why...I was being drawn to him. "After you attacked me, I am not sure about you anymore…I never thought you would do that to me."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen. I love you Cassie. I wouldn't hurt you on purpose." He stepped closer and kissed me.

At first I accepted his kiss, but it didn't excite me like it use to. Then I saw Antonio's face, in my mind and then I quickly ended the kiss. "Brett, I can't do this." I said as I backed away from him.

"Cassie. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You want that new guy…don't you?"

"No!" I pushed past him wanting to go back to the house.

He grabbed my arm and spun me around.

"Brett…let go of me!"

He released his grip on my arm. "He isn't right for you," he warned as he followed me.

I stopped and faced him. "Brett. How do you know who is right for me?"

"Well…he is older than you and…he has been around."

"Around? What do you mean?"

"I can tell he has been with lots of women."

"Brett." I moaned. "Please leave."

"Can I see you this weekend?"

"No…goodbye, Brett."

"Good night, Cassie."

***

When I walked back to the house I saw that Antonio was the only one still sitting on the porch. "Are you okay?"

"Yes I am fine."

"Are you going to come to my cabin this evening?"

"No." Then I looked up into his eyes and I knew I wanted to go visit him tonight, so I said, "Yes. I will be there."

***

After supper I went to see him, but he wasn't outside yet so I knocked on the door. The door flew open. "Cassie…you are early."

"Am I?" He didn't have a shirt on. Then I noticed the water dripping down his skin. I smiled, as I slowly looked him over, following the hair on his chest down to his pants. I looked up at his face I noticed a few strands of his long curly hair hung down around his face. "Were you bathing?"

"Yes…I was."

"Do you want me to leave, so you can finish?" I reached out touching the drops of water on his chest that ran down his stomach.

"No…you can stay." He smiled as he took a hold of my hand and kissed it.

We sat down on the steps together. Oh he smelled so good. The scent of musk was making me think and feel things I never imagined. I fought back the urge to touch him again. I wanted to touch his face, his lips, his chest and his long curly hair. Oh how I wanted to be in his arms. I didn't know how much longer I could take this. I pulled my legs to my chest folding my arms and laying them on top of my knees.

"Cassie…is there something wrong?" He touched my arm and the moved his hand across my back.

I moaned at his touch and then I began to panic. I leaped to my feet, "I have to go," I said as I started to walk away from him.

"Cassie, tell me what is wrong?"

I looked back at him, "I want to kiss you," I finally said after a long silence.

He came up to me, taking me into his arms. I signed deeply as he held me tightly against his chest and his body. "'I know and I understand."

"You do?"

"Yes."

I pulled away from him. "I have to go."

"Yeah I need to get to bed early, I have a long day ahead of me."

"What are you doing?"

"Well today I learned how to use a rope and tomorrow I am learning how to roundup cattle."

"You sound like you are enjoying this!"

"Yes, I never thought I would…but I do."

"I will see you in the morning." I turned around and walked away.

"Good night, Cassie."

I spun around and said, "Good night." I then ran back to the house.

***

The morning came and I was still awake. I lay awake all night thinking about Antonio. He was there in my mind controlling me with his eyes, his lips and his body. What was he doing to me?

I finally got out of bed and looked out the window when I heard voices coming from outside. I saw Antonio and my brothers getting ready to leave for the day. I wondered where they were going, maybe I could follow them and watch them work. I knew I couldn't go since I had work that needed to be done here at home. I put on a blue striped dress with buttons up the front and a belt that tied in the back. I then tied my hair back with a ribbon. I went downstairs to have some breakfast. I over heard my mom talking to Mary and Irene, whom she hired to help out in the kitchen, so my sisters and I could have time off and to enjoy our summer. So, when I heard my mom say something about taking lunch to the boys, my ears perked up and I said, "I'll do it."

"What will you do?" she turned to me and asked.

"I will take lunch to the boys," I laughed.

"Well…okay. When it is ready, I will call you."

I filled my plate with food and went into the dining room to eat, when my sisters came running in. "Cassie, can we go with you?"

"Where?"

"Mom just told us that you will be taking lunch to the boys," Leslie said.

"She doesn't want you to go alone," Diana added.

"She did?"

"So can we go?"

"Yes…of course."

***

So, we packed the wagon with food and water then set out to find "The Boys." I laughed to myself. As we rode along Leslie and Diana were whispering and then giggling. I was getting angry at their behavior. "What's so funny?"

"Did he kiss you last night?"

"What?"

"We saw you last night at his cabin," Leslie said.

"No he didn't kiss me." I was annoyed with their asking probably because I had wanted it to happen, but it didn't. "Did anyone else see me?"

"No, I don't think so," Leslie replied.

"We were watching you from our bedroom window," Diana said.

"What do you think of Antonio?" I asked.

"I think he's cute!" Diana said.

"If you don't want him…I will take him," Leslie said.

"I'm not worried about that…you are still too young."

"Do you think he would wait for me?" Leslie said.

"No, because he will be mine," I smiled.

"He will?" Leslie asked.

"Oh yes!" I sighed.

"Ooh…I think she is in love," Leslie teased. "Don't you think Diana?"

"I'm not in love!" I stated as I thought about my feelings. Could I be falling in love with him? Is that why I feel this way? I only met him on Monday…how can I fall so fast?

We finally spotted my brothers and Antonio. Brendan waved and rode over to greet us. Cassie, what are you doing out here?"

"I brought you some lunch…Mom was worried about you."

He rolled his eyes. "Why don't you park the wagon over there along the trees?"

My sisters and I unpacked the lunch and sat it on the back end of the wagon. Mom made roast beef sandwiches, potato salad and beans. I was straightening things out when I heard my sisters giggling. I looked up at them and then felt someone touching my shoulder. I quickly turned around and saw Antonio standing behind me.

"Good afternoon," he said in a deep voice

I sighed as I looked at him. "Are you hungry?" He had on a denim shirt and black pants.

"Yes. It has been a long morning," he said as he filled his cup with water.

"It sure has," I mumbled.

He chugged down the water and then smiled at me. "So, is lunch ready?"

"Yes, help yourself." I stepped aside to allow him to fix his plate. "Unless you want me to help you."

"No, I think I can manage…but I would like to have some company."

I brought a blanket to sit on, so I spread it out on the ground. Leslie and Diana came over to sit with us, as Brendan and Keith sat on the wagon and ate. My sisters sat there staring at Antonio and me as if they were waiting for something to happen. "Leslie and Diana…Why don't you go pack things up?"

"Why?" Diana asked.

"Because I asked."

"Oh…you want us to leave, so you can kiss," Leslie teased.

"No." I blushed as I looked at Antonio. "They know what happened last night. They were spying on us," I said as I glared at my sisters.

"Oh," Antonio laughed, "Your brothers know too."

"They do?" I stared at him wondering who else knows.

"Brendan asked and I told him the truth."

"Hey Antonio, it's time to get back to work," Brendan announced.

He stood up and then helped me to my feet. We walked back to wagon. "Will you come see me tonight?" he asked as he took a drink of water.

His lips were wet from the water. "Yes…I will," I sighed.

"Good." He then mounted his horse and rode off with my brothers. I watched them as they disappeared.

***

Later, after supper, I went down to his cabin and we sat down on the steps together.

"How was your day?"

"I'm beat!" he spoke softly.

"Then I should let you get some sleep."

"Cassie," he said.

"What?" I looked up into his eyes they were so intense.

He pulled the ribbon from my hair allowing my hair to fall around my face. The next moment his lips were on mine. They were velvety smooth like I knew they would be. When he drew back from me we heard giggles coming from the house.

"I think we have an audience," he whispered.

I didn't care as I gazed into his warm sensitive eyes wanting him to kiss me again, but it didn't happen He moved away from me and said, "Now, I want you to go to bed and get some sleep."

"No," I moaned. "I don't want to leave you."

"Cassie, I need some rest…I will see you early tomorrow morning."

I touched his face as I stood up. "Okay," I sighed. "Good night."