least if he was, he didn’t remark upon her healthy appetite. When she dipped each bite of her peach cobbler in ranch dressing, he couldn’t hide a cringe. Marisa asked if he’d like to try a bite, but he courteously refused. Go figure.
Soon it was time for the show to begin. It was appropriately titled, “Texas!” They took their seats with Bethany sitting between them. The show was an outdoor musical with the walls of the canyon as the walls of the theater. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, the show started as the sun set with the sound of a trumpet solo and the sight of a lone horseman on the cliffs above riding his horse across the expanse while holding the Texas flag. It was a sight that gave you goose bumps. Bethany ended up moving to her dad’s lap and Josh motioned for her to scoot next to him. Josh looped his arm around her, and kept it there throughout the entire play—making the night even more perfect. The play itself was fabulous with singing, dancing, fantastic scenery, and special effects. It was the story of the early settlers in Texas and some of the plights they faced. It was also the story of a budding romance. The play was patriotic and ended with fireworks that took your breath away. Bethany was wide awake for the entire play and loved it.
“Did ya’ll enjoy it?” Josh asked.
“Yes! It was great!” Bethany chimed.
“Thank you, Josh. It was wonderful,” Marisa answered. Almost as wonderful as him, and that was saying a lot.
It was almost midnight before they were on their way back home with Bethany sound asleep in the backseat, snuggled comfortably with several blankets and a pillow. It was as if it was just the two of them for the next two hours in the close confines of the car. The dark interior and the low hum of the engine made the situation suddenly feel intimate in nature.
He patted the middle seat next to him. “Why don’t you move over here? Then we won’t wake Bethany with our voices.”
Say no more, you don’t have to convince me . She scooted over and fastened her seatbelt. Once they left Amarillo proper, the highway to the ranch was dark and deserted. Josh’s hand left the steering wheel and rested lightly on her knee.
“Marisa, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done with Bethany. It’s only been a short time and I can already see a difference in her.”
“You’re a good father, Josh. She adores you.” And so do I. She rested her hand on his knee as she said it and let her head rest on his shoulder. It didn’t take thought on her part, it just felt natural. His legs were long, so in a relaxed position her hand didn’t quite reach his knee—instead it ended up resting on his thigh, about halfway past his knee. He didn’t object, so she left it there. She liked sitting this way with him, holding each other. It was as if one of her childhood dreams had come true.
“Have you ever had dreams that seem so real, you’re absolutely positive you were really there, that it really happened?” she asked randomly.
“Actually, I used to have this recurring nightmare that all the cattle turned into flesh eating monsters with huge red horns. They were coming for us and they wanted to eat us.” He shivered. “Guess a psychologist would say I have some guilty feelings that are being manifested in my dreams.”
Marisa giggled. “I have a recurring nightmare that I swallowed my mouthwash that I’d just gargled with before I went to bed. I wake up in a panic, sure that I accidently swallowed it. I’m not really sure what that says about me.”
“I’m not sure either,” Josh said with a chortle. A few moments of comfortable silence passed. “Do you remember your parents very well, Marisa?”
“Yes, vividly,” she said quietly, unsure that she wanted to delve into those memories. “They were only five minutes from home when the car accident occurred that took their lives. So close to home, five minutes away, and yet gone forever. Just like your
Soon it was time for the show to begin. It was appropriately titled, “Texas!” They took their seats with Bethany sitting between them. The show was an outdoor musical with the walls of the canyon as the walls of the theater. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, the show started as the sun set with the sound of a trumpet solo and the sight of a lone horseman on the cliffs above riding his horse across the expanse while holding the Texas flag. It was a sight that gave you goose bumps. Bethany ended up moving to her dad’s lap and Josh motioned for her to scoot next to him. Josh looped his arm around her, and kept it there throughout the entire play—making the night even more perfect. The play itself was fabulous with singing, dancing, fantastic scenery, and special effects. It was the story of the early settlers in Texas and some of the plights they faced. It was also the story of a budding romance. The play was patriotic and ended with fireworks that took your breath away. Bethany was wide awake for the entire play and loved it.
“Did ya’ll enjoy it?” Josh asked.
“Yes! It was great!” Bethany chimed.
“Thank you, Josh. It was wonderful,” Marisa answered. Almost as wonderful as him, and that was saying a lot.
It was almost midnight before they were on their way back home with Bethany sound asleep in the backseat, snuggled comfortably with several blankets and a pillow. It was as if it was just the two of them for the next two hours in the close confines of the car. The dark interior and the low hum of the engine made the situation suddenly feel intimate in nature.
He patted the middle seat next to him. “Why don’t you move over here? Then we won’t wake Bethany with our voices.”
Say no more, you don’t have to convince me . She scooted over and fastened her seatbelt. Once they left Amarillo proper, the highway to the ranch was dark and deserted. Josh’s hand left the steering wheel and rested lightly on her knee.
“Marisa, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done with Bethany. It’s only been a short time and I can already see a difference in her.”
“You’re a good father, Josh. She adores you.” And so do I. She rested her hand on his knee as she said it and let her head rest on his shoulder. It didn’t take thought on her part, it just felt natural. His legs were long, so in a relaxed position her hand didn’t quite reach his knee—instead it ended up resting on his thigh, about halfway past his knee. He didn’t object, so she left it there. She liked sitting this way with him, holding each other. It was as if one of her childhood dreams had come true.
“Have you ever had dreams that seem so real, you’re absolutely positive you were really there, that it really happened?” she asked randomly.
“Actually, I used to have this recurring nightmare that all the cattle turned into flesh eating monsters with huge red horns. They were coming for us and they wanted to eat us.” He shivered. “Guess a psychologist would say I have some guilty feelings that are being manifested in my dreams.”
Marisa giggled. “I have a recurring nightmare that I swallowed my mouthwash that I’d just gargled with before I went to bed. I wake up in a panic, sure that I accidently swallowed it. I’m not really sure what that says about me.”
“I’m not sure either,” Josh said with a chortle. A few moments of comfortable silence passed. “Do you remember your parents very well, Marisa?”
“Yes, vividly,” she said quietly, unsure that she wanted to delve into those memories. “They were only five minutes from home when the car accident occurred that took their lives. So close to home, five minutes away, and yet gone forever. Just like your
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