Falling for Bentley (Part One) (2 page)

Waiting for my grandmother’s chicken pie to heat in the oven, I pulled out the last of the essays that needed grading. As the timer on the stove went off, I threw the papers off to the side, frustrated. “Did any of these kids read the damn book?” I complained to myself.

After I finished eating, I packed my lunch, placed it in the fridge and finished up the dishes. I dried my hands and walked back into the living room. I’d just sat down on the couch when my phone rang. I checked the caller ID as I pulled it out of my purse, just to make sure it wasn’t Jerad. I smiled when I saw it was my papa.

“Hi, Papa.” I gushed.

“Hi, Haley, I hope I’m not calling too late,” he snickered.

“No, you’re fine,” I said rolling my eyes. Just because I live three hours north from him he thinks there is a time change. “I still have a few papers to finish grading before tomorrow.”

“Are you ready to be home for the summer?”

“I am. This has been the longest ten months ever. Why I ever accepted to teach junior high this year is beyond me.”

“That bad?” he asked concerned.

“Oh, Papa, if you only knew.”

“Grams wants to know when your last day of school is.”

“The students finish on the twenty-fifth, but I’m not done ‘til the twenty-eighth.”

“When do you plan on leaving for the ranch?” Papa asked.

“As soon as possible; I can’t wait. This city life is driving me absolutely insane.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind running the ranch while Grams and I do some traveling?”

“Heavens no. I think I can manage weeding the garden, watering the flowers and pounding a few staples into the fence,” I laughed.

“We are quite sure you can. We just wanted to make sure we aren’t taking you away from anything.”

“Papa, is this your way of asking if I’m bringing a male companion home?”

“No,” he said quickly, “It was your grandmother asking.”

“Sure it was,” I teased.

“It was.”

“Papa, I’ll see you and Grams in two weeks.”

“We love you.”

“I love you both more.”

I BELIEVE, AT one point or another, my mother loved my father, but I think with him traveling all the time for his job, she just got tired of dealing with life all on her own. One night when my dad came home, my mom decided she was going to have a girl’s night out. But my mom’s night out was a little different than most moms’—it’s been twenty-four years and she still hasn’t come back.

My dad tried to find her over the years; he even came close a few times, but my mother always managed to get away. Finally accepting defeat, my dad quit trying. My father hired a nanny so I was able to travel with him until school started, then he sent me to the best private schools money could offer. Once high school came, my dad and I had a long talk about how alone I felt, and I wanted to be with my family. He said he couldn’t quit his job, but maybe my grandparents were willing to let me stay with them.

The summer of my sophomore year, I moved to southern Arkansas and took up residency at my grandparent’s cattle ranch. In my childhood years, I lived to spend every Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas at the ranch, along with my summers. My grams taught me how to behave like a lady and cook with the best of them. Papa taught me to work hard and to have a little fun. I got to stay in my dad’s old room when he lived there. I didn’t change a thing, and to this day I still stay in that room. Even now, as an adult, I can’t wait to get back to the ranch.

“GOOD MORNING, MISS Wells.”

“Morning, Mr. Krept.” I stood from my desk and greeted my boss, the school dean.

“Please, have a seat, Miss Wells.” He motioned me back to my chair as he took a seat in a desk at the front row.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of you stopping in?”

“Just seeing how your year went.” he smiled.

“It was different. I enjoyed it, but I really think I want to go back teaching elementary school.”

“I see you applied for the elementary posting.”

“I did. Kindergarten and second grade are my favorite grades to teach, sir.”

I started getting nervous and wiped my sweaty hands down my skirt.

“Miss Wells, the board has decided to hire a new teacher for that position.”

“But I thought…Mr. Krept, when I took
this
position I was told I would be able to return to teaching elementary next year.”

I noticed my boss shifting slightly in the seat, “Yes, you were, but things have changed.”

“Why?”

He looked around my classroom before standing and walking to my desk. “Haley, your teaching is impeccable and we are fortunate to have you. This is why they chose what they did.”

“Thank you,” I gritted out.

“I hope you stay with us; however, if you choose not to, I will personally write a letter of recommendation, as well as one from the school. I smiled at him, knowing once again, I got screwed over.

“Will you be attending the staff BBQ tomorrow night?”

“No, sir. I am heading home to the ranch. My grandparents are traveling this summer, and I told them I would tend to their ranch while they are away.”

“Well then, I hope you have a terrific summer; keep in touch and let me know what you decided.”

“I will, and thank you again, sir.”

“WHEN I SAY move. I fucking mean MOVE!” I yelled to the high school football team I help coach.

“Coach, come on. It’s our last practice before summer, do we really need to be pushed this hard?” my little brother asked while hunched over his knees trying to breathe.

“Do you want to win the state championship this year?”

My brother, Travis, stood, “Of course.”

I got in his face, “Then move!”

I admit, I ran the boys harder than necessary today, but damn it, I want my team to be strong. “All right, since your quarterback is being a whiney princess, everyone down and do one hundred burpees before you leave the field.” Travis looked at me as if he was ready to pounce. I just rocked back on my heels and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Working the boys a little hard, aren’t you, Bentley?” asked Coach Dudley.

“Maybe a little, coach, but I don’t want them thinking just because my brother is the quarterback I’m going to be soft on them.”

“Setting the pace?”

“Yes, sir.” I acknowledged.

“Fair enough.” Coach slapped my shoulder and walked away.

Once the boys finished twenty-five burpees I yelled, “All right boys, hit the showers. Once you’re cleaned up, meet back in the gym. Coach Dudley wants to have a word with you.”

“GOOD PRACTICE OUT there boys. I’m impressed with how football camp went this year. Once Coach Knight and myself review a few things, we will do call backs at the end of July so we can start practices in August. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make the A or B teams ‘cause all that can change quickly. I have a few house rules that need to be followed and there will be no exceptions, I don’t care who you are. Do I make myself clear?” asked Coach.

“Yes, sir!” The gym echoed.

“First, all grades must be kept up; nothing under a C+. So if that means you need to get friendly with the nerds, then I’d suggest you start now. Second, anyone that is caught drinking will be instantly cut from the team. Third, everyone is expected to do twenty volunteer hours in the community throughout the year. Fourth, absolutely no hazing.”

We heard a few groans and someone muttering, “What’s the point of being on the football team?”

“Good question,” I answered. “Being a part of a team is banding together as brothers. You are here to back each other, support each other. Work hard together, and play even harder together.”

“If my house rules are too much for you, then by all means, leave now and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out,” the Coach continued. “Last house rule. Don’t get anyone pregnant. Is
that
clear?”

“Yes, Coach!” the boys roared in laughter.

“All right then, Thunderbirds on three,” Coach chanted.

“Thunderbirds!” the team shouted.

“Oh, one last thing. As you all know, we are in need of new uniforms. I’m pleased to announce we have ourselves a donor that will cover all new uniforms, provided we help him on his ranch this summer. There is a sign-up sheet outside my office. I expect all of you to put your time in. Dismissed.”

Travis and I walked out to the truck, “What was your problem today, Bentley?”

“No problem.”

“You were acting like a jackass.”

“Jackass or not, Travis, when I am on that field, I’m your coach. I will run practice as how I see fit. If you don’t like it… then quit,” I offered.

THE RIDE THROUGH town was quiet. I knew Travis was pissed off at me, and I felt bad, but I wanted to let him know he wasn’t able to walk all over me. Travis is eight years younger than me. We are close, sometimes a little too close with the shit he can convince me to do. But I figured this is what big brothers are for. When I left high school to play college football our bond grew even stronger. My dad got hurt on the farm, so I stopped playing and came home. Since then, I showed Travis how to fix his truck, we’d go fishing every Saturday morning, and he would do my football drills with me every night to stay in shape.