Letting Go (Mitchell Family #1)(5)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Still, my uncle was desperate for help, and thought I would be put to good use if I came here to the Carolina’s for the summer. The fields had already been seeded when I arrived, and for the next week there weren’t any chickens to attend to. The last shipment had gone out last week in fact. After visiting my cousin at the hospital and having a meal with Van, I found myself having nothing to do.

Since I still had my uncle’s truck, I decided that it would be fine to stop by the one and only town bar on the way home. It was just about eight in the evening and the beaten up bar wasn’t very crowded. Several people sat around the wooden bar in the center. I found an empty spot at the bar and ordered a beer.

I was just sitting there minding my own business when someone came up beside me and tapped me on the shoulder.

“I thought that was you.” She said. “How the heck are ya Colt?”

I remembered this girl from when I spent summers here as a kid. I was trying to think of her name when she interrupted my train of thought.

“It’s Sabrina remember?” She asked.

Trying to play it off I answered. “Of course, I don’t forget a pretty girl’s face.”

She blushed and gave me a second smile. She signaled the bartender to bring us two beers and turned to face me again. “So what brings you back here?”

“Just helping out my uncle with the farm.”

The red head took a sip of her beer. She had always been pretty attractive, but the problem was that she knew it. I hated cocky girls. “Have you been to see Ty?”

“Yeah, I saw him today. Looks like shit.” I added.

She looked at me with a curious grin. “Was Van there? Don’t tell me, of course she was. So how did that go? You better have been nice to her. Ty’s parents have been horrible.”

“Yeah, she was there. We uh, we had dinner and she told me about everything.” I replied.

She cocked her eyebrow at me. “Were you nice? I know your kind Colt Mitchell and being nice to a lady is not how you roll.” She implied.

I chuckled. “How I roll?” This was the second woman today to accuse me of basically being a dick.

“Yeah. You know exactly what I am saying, so don’t act all innocent. Just tell me you didn’t leave her even more depressed. That girl can’t take anymore. Did she tell you about her own hospital stay?” She asked.

“No. She didn’t. What happened to her?” I didn’t know why I wanted to know, but something made me ask.

She looked straight toward the bartender. Her eyes seemed so serious. As she began to talk she never turned to face me. “She wanted to kill herself.”

“Well hell. She mentioned that.”

“She doesn’t leave his side. It isn’t healthy. None of this was her fault.” She explained.

I lifted my hat off my head and then put it back on. It seemed I did that a lot when I was at a loss for words. “No, I reckon it wasn’t. Why don’t you take her out? Get her to do something. Take her mind off of things.”

“She won’t Colt. I try. I try like every day. I don’t know what to do with her. Tonight is a big bonfire and she refuses to come out. I know since it is the weekend she will be coming home, and even then she just sits around in that house and mopes.”

“Maybe you need to drag her ass there.” I suggested.

She gave me a half smile. “Maybe you could ask her to come?”

“What? Why would she come for me? We aren’t exactly friends Sabrina, in fact the last time I came to town she made it clear that she hated my guts.” I explained.

She pushed me on my shoulder. “That is because you called her a buck toothed boy. You know how much she hated that.”

“Yeah, well in my defense she did look like a boy for a long time.” I added.

She pulled out her cell phone and started texting while she was still talking to me. “Trust me when I say that there is nothing boyish about that girl now. I am sure you noticed if you spent time with her earlier.”

She was right. It was the first thing that I had noticed. That little awkward duckling had turned into a real swan. “Yeah, I noticed.” I said with a sly grin.

Sabrina got quiet. “Call her. Make her come out with us. Tell her you want to go out but don’t know anyone. Don’t even tell her I saw you here.” She suggested. “Please?”

“I don’t see how me calling can make any bit of a difference, but I reckon it don’t hurt to try.”

Sabrina grabbed her gemstone-covered cell phone and started looking through it. “Here is her number.” She said.

I held up my own phone. “I already beat ya to it Darlin’. She gave it to me earlier.”

She started smiling while shaking her head. “Well then get to callin’.” She urged.

I creased my brow while I hit send on the phone. Sabrina continued to drink her beer, while she intently watched for me to respond to the person on the other line.

Hello

Hey, um Van, it’s me Colt.

Oh. Hey. What’s up? Did the Mitchell’s leave and I can come see Daisy?

No. Actually, I was wonderin’ if you would want to come out to this bonfire with me. I don’t know anyone here, but I can’t just sit around in that house.

I don’t think so Colt. I don’t really do that kind of thing anymore.

I don’t think I can take no for an answer.

I can’t Colt.

I am asking for you to do me a favor just like I am doing a favor for you with Daisy. It is just one night Van.

Are you saying you won’t help me if I don’t go?

Maybe I am.

You are an ass**le Colton.

Meet me at the old barn in an hour Van.

She hung up before agreeing, but I had a feelin’ she was gonna show.

Sabrina was busting. “Tell me what she said.”

“She aint happy, but she will be there.” I said confidently.

She started clapping her hands. “Oh yay! Thank you thank you!” She said as she hugged me. Before I could pull away, Sabrina brought her lips up to my ear. “I will personally thank you for this later.” When she pulled away her eyes were focused on mine.

“You have a deal Sugar.” I winked as I got up from the barstool.

Sabrina explained where and when to meet and we parted ways at the bar. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but as long as I had two pretty ladies by my side, I figured it would be an okay time.

Worst case was that I took the pretty redhead home and gave her some good lovin’. She seemed all too eager to oblige anyway. I wasn’t usually that type of guy, but I was single and a grown damn man. The summer was going to be boring enough being by myself.