Walk for Christmas

Chapter 2

Vincent POV

My day started like it usually does on the ranch.

We breed the horses used in the rodeo and trails, while next door, they breed the cattle and bulls needed in the rodeo and workhorses. We work well together. I am often over there helping an elderly couple; their only son moved away years ago, opening his own business, and they have three kids.

The only member of the family I frequently see visit and stay for any length of time is their granddaughter, who is one of the boys than any girl I have ever met. They were excited because the son would come today and leave the granddaughter there for a month. She would help with the rodeo that is held each year at this time in our town. That girl can out-ride most of our ranch hands and has a way with animals that comes naturally, not something you can teach. Those animals love that girl.

I fed the animals and cleaned out the stalls, all before breakfast; I was out there before sunrise and well after sunset.

Today, though, I am having a short day.

My parents know I am going to propose to my girl today.

They were not keen on her, calling her high maintenance. She was only with me because I had money to spend on her. It hurt that they felt that way, and Dad said I would have to learn the hard way and that he hoped I knew what I was getting myself in for.

Talking about girls, it is time to go and pick mine up. I have planned a nice dinner at the local restaurant, the only one in our small town. I brought an engagement ring last time I was in town and planned on proposing tonight. I was dressed in a nice button-down shirt and pressed jeans, shaved, and put on my favorite hat, shoes, and a small amount of cologne.

I pulled up outside her house, and before I could reach the front door, she opened it and left.

It was strange that she did not wait for me like she normally would.

Stacy loved to make an entrance.

This was not the Stacy I had been dating.

Stacy did not even shout goodbye to her family; she usually made a big scene of goodbye, so all the family saw her leave with me.

Were they not home?

I glanced up the driveway and saw her parent's car, so they must be home.

Something was off, but I was too excited and scared at the same time as I rehearsed my proposal in my head over again. I just managed to open the car door before she reached me; she had a bounce in her step, making me believe she was pleased to be going out.

Stacy was dressed in a cute pink dress that showed her large chest and her long legs. Her hair was pinned up with pretty shiny clips, her makeup perfectly put on, making her lips shiny and red, and her eyes had a blue on the lashes, bringing out the blue in her eyes; I would stare at her all day and still find something new to look at. She even smelt nice.

'Can I put the radio on?' she asked as she leaned forward and turned on the radio before I could answer. I frowned at this, and she was not acting right. By now, she would be touching me and kissing me, telling me about her day. Maybe I am overthinking this because I am nervous. Yeah, that is it. I am just nervous. She seemed to be happy and excited, so it was me.

Stacy prattled on about some acting course that she was interested in and that she would need to go to the big city to do it, and her Dad did not want to pay for it, and how she was working on getting the money to go. I was confused. I know she loved acting, but not that much. I thought it was just a kid's dream, but it seems it has lingered into adulthood. Will she really go to acting classes in the big city? I was confused; she had said she wanted the same as me, and now she was talking about something completely different; what happened between yesterday when I kissed her goodnight and today?

When we arrived at the restaurant, the waitress walked us to a secluded chair at the back. Candles were burning on the table, and flowers were on the side. It was the perfect setting for my proposal. Soft music was playing in the background, and everything was perfect.

'Hello, my name is Kathy, and I will be your waitress tonight. Would you care for some drinks while you go over the menu?' She asked politely as she laid the menu down on the table. Stacy snatched it up and barked out an order for rum and coke, no ice, and Caesar salad with chicken. I ordered a medium steak with potatoes and a coffee. I did not want alcohol to cloud my mind at the moment; I had thought a quick drink might calm my nerves but changed my mind, knowing no good ever came from drinking under stress.

Stacy barely touched her chicken salad but ordered two more rum and Cokes and virtually sculled them down. By the time I had finished my steak, she was fairly merry and rapidly headed towards being drunk. The waitress took my empty plate and her salad, which I am sure she did not take one bite of. That was a waste of food. I do not like it when she does that, she does not eat what she has ordered when something important to her is on her mind and is trying to work up the courage to tell me what it is, most likely something I will not like.

'Are you okay, Stacy?' I asked softly; she was definitely not being herself; it was not just me and my nerves. I would have to be blind so as not to see something bothering her and playing on her mind.

'Yeah. No,' she said, confusing me. Patiently, I waited for her to decide whether to tell me what was bothering her.

'Vince, I am sorry, but we have to break up.' She blurted out eventually. WTF? Breakup?

'Why?' I whispered back softly.

'I will leave in the morning, catching the train to the city. I have a friend who will take me in so I can do the acting course, introduce me to some directors, and help me get experience by doing small commercial roles.' She was all happy and excited, and the ring that was burning a hole in my pocket a little while ago now felt like a lead weight.

'Do your parents know?' I thought they were against her leaving for the big city.

'Nope, I just left them a note; I am staying at Hanna's place for tonight. They will find the note tomorrow, and by that time, I will be gone.' I did not have time to completely take all this in when she abruptly stood up and kissed me on the cheek.

'Bye, a part of me will always hold you dear to me.' Just like that, she stood up and sashayed out the door, leaving me heartbroken and confused. I did not see this coming; all those promises she made to me, all those dreams we talked about, not once did she mention that she had made other plans, not even last night.

I paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. I looked around the car park, but there was no sign of her anywhere. She must have had Hanna pick her up. It was another jab in my heart to think she went out with me, knowing it was the last time we would see each other.

How long had she been planning this?

She told me she wanted me, and I was a good lad like my mother insisted I be and not bed her till I was married. But that did not stop her from leaving me.

My drive home was not what I expected it to be; I parked the car and walked into the house to see my mother and father looking at me with huge grins until they saw my face and knew something had gone wrong.

'Son?' Dad asked sadly, coming to me to pull me into a hug.

'Son?' Mum rubbed my back.

'I did not even get to ask her; she had already planned to leave town and never come back.' I choked out. My throat tightened up, finding the words hard to speak. I have never been this hurt before; give me a broken leg; that hurts way less than this does.

'I'm Sorry, son. I know it hurts right now, but it will get better over time, and the right girl will come along,' Dad said as he tried to comfort me.

'Did she say why?' Mum asked, sounding as confused as I was.

'Something about the city and being an actress. She is already a great actress to have played me as well as she has.' I croaked out before leaving Mum and Dad and headed to my room. I pulled out the ring box from my jacket and threw it in the drawer.

I took a shower and lay down on my bed, thinking about the past few weeks. She led me on, making me believe we were on the same page. She wanted to marry me and move in here on the farm.

No woman is going to do that to me again. I vow to myself as I drift off to sleep, angry, confused, and heartbroken.

The next morning, I got up, and Mum was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. For the first time, I don't remember how long I was not up before the sun.

'Morning, son. I need you to go next door and check things out. Apparently, their son and family were in a car accident, and it's bad.'

'How bad, Mum?' I asked my hurt to be put aside as our dear neighbor is in need.

'Daughter-in-law died at the scene, their son had a few bruised ribs, and Roxy is in a bad way, on life support, and will know more later.'

I ate my food, but I did not taste anything. Poor Roxy. I hope she pulls through. She was a cute kid, always there to lend a hand and never complaining if she was bucked by a horse or bull and landed in a pile of dung. She just laughed it off like the rest of us and continued on with what she was doing.