“Party down at the wall tonight. You coming?” Billy asked with a smile.

I glanced back at Emma, and she was no longer looking in my direction.

“Who’s all going?” I asked, not looking at Billy.

“Everyone! Raymond scored some alcohol.”

I looked back to Emma as Michael was reaching down, saying something in Emma’s ear. Emma nodded her head, and as he turned and walked away, she looked over toward my truck.

What game is she playing?

“Is Emma going?” I asked as I watched her get into Margie’s car.

Margie called out for Billy.

Billy glanced back and yelled, “Give me two seconds, and I’ll be right there.” He turned back and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Garrett, don’t stop fighting for her. Margie said she knows for a fact that Emma likes you.”

I gave him a weak smile. “Yeah, I don’t think so, but whatever. I’ll go tonight.”

He said, “Yes! By the way, Emma will be there.”

I started up my truck and put it in drive. “I’m sure she will. Looks like her and Michael just made plans.”

Billy took a few steps back, and I floored the gas, peeling out before making my way home.

I spent the whole night watching Emma talk to everyone but me. I ran my hand through my hair and took a drink of beer. My father was going to kill me for drinking, but I didn’t care. I needed to let loose once in a while. I had been sitting on the old rock wall, watching everyone dance and talk. I even watched some couples make out before sneaking off to probably have sex in a car or in the woods. Wall parties were rare, but when we did have them, everyone would go all out. Booze, sex, and more booze were usually involved.

Billy’s truck was pulled up and parked near the wall, and the radio was blasting so loud that it sounded as if it were right by my ear. I jumped off the rock wall and made my way over to Raymond to get another beer.

“Garrett! Man, awesome playing on the football field tonight,” Wayne called out. He was already on his way to being drunk.

“You driving, Wayne?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nope. Anna is driving, and she knows better than to drink anything, or her daddy will take her precious car away.”

I laughed and nodded my head. I quickly looked around and saw Emma talking to Margie, Peggy, and Billy. I made my way over, and I heard “Love Me Tender” by Elvis starting to play.

“Emma, would you like to dance?” I asked, expecting her to say no.

She smiled and nodded her head. She held out her hand, and I took it in mine. I moved us a little bit away from everyone. I brought her into my arms and held her the closest I’d ever had her.

“Why do you fight me so much, Emma?” I felt her stiffen in my arms.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said as she pulled back and looked into my eyes.

I smiled and pulled her to me again. As I listened to the song, I prayed she would give in to me.

The song ended, and Emma pulled back slightly and smiled.

“Emma…I’ve been in—”

Then, someone started yelling out, “Fire!”

I quickly looked up and saw Hank Hunter running toward us.

He stopped right in front of me. “A wildfire is heading straight toward your family’s cattle ranch.”

“What?” Emma and I said at the same time.

I took off running to my truck as I heard Billy yelling at Margie to get home. I didn’t even stop to think about anything or anyone else. I needed to get to the ranch.

The next six hours were spent fighting the flames to keep them from jumping the river and hitting our ranch. I wasn’t sure how we’d managed to get that fire under control, but we did. I was sitting against a tree when I felt someone kick my boot. I opened my eyes and saw my father standing there.

“I’m proud of you, Garrett. You showed me today what I’ve always known.”

I slowly stood up and smiled. His words meant more to me than my father would ever know.

“I’d rather die than see anything happen to this ranch,” I said.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Spoken like a true rancher. Now, get your butt home. Get yourself cleaned up, and get some sleep. Your mother is probably worried sick, and when she sees your face, she is probably going to get after me for letting you get hurt.”

I nodded as I touched my forehead, and I let out a gasp. I brought my hand down and saw that it was covered in blood. “I didn’t even know I was hurt,” I said.

“Get on home, son,” my father said.

I was not about to stand there and argue. I was exhausted and more than ready to get some sleep.

I made it back to the house and climbed out of my truck. I glanced up to see a bunch of women gathered on our porch. I didn’t even bother to scan them all to see who they were. I just needed a hot bath and my bed.

Then, I heard her laughing. I walked up the stairs and saw Emma doing something to Billy’s arm. I knew he had cut it pretty bad earlier, and my father had told him to head here and have it cleaned up. When I saw Emma place her hand on the side of Billy’s face as she smiled at him, my heart dropped to my stomach. I was frozen, unable to move at all.

She turned, and her eyes met mine. She was still smiling, but when she saw me, her smile immediately dropped. She brought her hands up to her mouth and shook her head. She walked up to me, and she was about to reach out and touch my face when I took a step back.

“Don’t touch me,” I whispered.

She looked confused. “What?”

I looked back at Billy, who looked at me funny.

“Garrett, oh my gosh! You’re bleeding,” Emma said as she reached out to me again.

I took another step back and bumped into someone. The next thing I knew, my mother was all over me. She rushed me over to Emma’s father. She never left my side as Dr. Birk stitched up my forehead.

“Garrett, go clean up, and get some rest,” Dr. Birk said.

I nodded my head. “Yes, sir.” I made my way past everyone and headed into the house. As I began climbing the stairs, I heard the screen door shut.

“Garrett?”

I turned to see Emma standing there.

“I just wanted to say I’m glad you’re okay and that the fire didn’t make it to y’all’s ranch.”

I didn’t have the energy anymore. I smiled slightly at her and said, “Thanks,” before turning and making my way upstairs.

I’d never been so tired in my life.

“Garrett, please go do something with your friends. It’s your Christmas break, and all you’ve done is help your father with the ranch. You need to have fun. Billy called and asked—”