Page 18 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy

Khalif

I ’ve been outside most of the morning, handling everything on the farm.

In a couple more hours, it’s gon’ be time for Khali to come in from school.

The front door opened, and I saw Remedi come out the door.

She was wearing a pair of jeans along with my t-shirt that I’d given her earlier and some boots.

She didn’t have any clothes here, so I knew she had to have rummaged through Simone’s things and found those pants and boots.

I approached her, and she said, “I found these pants and boots inside. I hope that’s okay.”

Despite Simone being gone for two years, I couldn’t find it in myself to get rid of her things yet. A lot of her stuff was still where she’d left it. I know eventually, I’d pack her stuff up, but for now, it’s staying where it is.

“It’s fine,” was all I offered her.

“What are you about to do?”

“Why?”

“I wanted to see if you’d teach me how to horseback ride.”

My inner mind wanted to tell her hell no, and I don’t think it’s the best idea, but I went against my better judgment and said, “I think I can do that.” It’s the least I can do after she saved Beauty.

When she smiled, it wasn’t just her lips—it was the way her whole face lit up, like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

Remedi has one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve seen since Simone’s.

A lot of her reminded me of Simone. Maybe that’s why I got that familiar feeling ’bout her when I first laid eyes on her.

Only difference is, they don’t have the same hair color, let alone texture, and they were different shades.

The way she smiled after I told her that I’d teach her was as if this was the best thing that had happened to her in a while. Who was I to stand in the way of her wanting to do something she’s never done before? I got the time. Might as well use it wisely.

“You can take Beauty. I’m sure Khali won’t mind.”

“For real?” She clasped her hands together and bounced on her tippy toes.

“Yeah. C’mon.” I led her out to the stable and grabbed the saddles. “I’ll take Ghost.”

“Ghost?” Her brows furrowed.

“Yeah… Ghost.” I nodded toward the all-white horse.

“Ah, I see what you did there.”

Entering the stall where Beauty was, I placed the saddle on her and then walked her out. Once she was outside, I did the same to Ghost.

“You know how to get on her?”

“I think so.”

She gripped the saddle and placed her boot in the stirrup. Remedi pulled herself up, but she didn’t have enough strength to get all the way on her, so I boosted her from underneath by the ass. She glanced down at me over her shoulder before tossing her other leg over to the other side.

I gripped my saddle and hopped onto Ghost. “Since this is your first time riding, I think you should take it easy.”

“How do I get her to move?”

“Keep your posture upright and relaxed. If you give her the slightest indication that you’re scared, she’ll act a fucking fool. Apply light pressure with your leg and shift your weight slightly forward. She’ll catch on.”

Remedi did as I told her, and Beauty began to move. She trotted across the yard, heading for the field with me closely behind ’em.

“That’s it. Just keep that stride,” I instructed her. It’s really nothing to riding a horse once you get the hang of it.

“This is easy,” she tossed over her shoulder. Remedi kicked Beauty a bit harder, and she took the fuck off.

“Remedi!” I yelled behind her. I don’t know who she thought she was, trying to ride her that fast, but she damn sure wasn’t a professional, and she’s gon’ get herself hurt.

Ghost galloped as fast as he could to catch ’em. He pulled up on the side of her, and I gripped the reins, pulling Beauty to a halt. Remedi leaned over, hugging Beauty. I jumped down off Ghost and walked both of ’em back to the stables.

After returning Ghost to his stall, I went over and helped Remedi down off Beauty. She jumped down and fell straight into me. Both of us crashed to the ground with Remedi lying on top of me. She lay there, pouring her soul into my eyes. Her head leaned in my direction. Lips drawing closer to mine.

“Khalif, I—” The sound of Dallas’s voice was what ripped us apart. Remedi jumped to her feet and dusted herself off. She extended her hand and helped me off my back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy. I saw you come in here from across the field.”

“It’s okay. I was just leaving,” Remedi spoke, though we both knew that was far from the truth.

Had Dallas not interrupted, I’m not certain what would’ve happened between us.

I haven’t felt a connection with anyone since Simone.

Remedi is slowly creeping her way inside, and I don’t know how to feel ’bout it.

“I’ll see you later, Khalif. Tell Khali that I said hey,” she told me as she trotted toward the door, tucking her loose strand of hair back behind her ear. “Dallas,” she spoke as she passed her.

“Were you two about to…”

“You ain’t see nothing.”

Dallas pursed her lips.

“Uh, I forgot that my truck isn’t here, so you’d have to take me back to it,” Remedi said from behind Dallas.

“I can run you that way. I need to make a stop in town before I grab Khali from school.” I turned my attention back to Dallas. “Was it something important?”

“Not really. You can gone and handle that. I’ll talk to you whenever you get back,” she said and disappeared out of the stable.

“It’s really no trouble. If you have something that you need to do, I can just get a taxi to take me back to my truck.”

“I just told you that I have to go into town anyway. I don’t have a problem taking you to yo’ truck.

I’m the one who brought you all the way out here anyway.

Let me grab my keys,” I told her and headed for the house.

She stood there, waiting by the truck for me to come back out the door.

The only thing she had was her purse and phone when I brought her here.

The nigga had torn her clothes up. I’ll never understand why niggas thought they needed to take pussy from a female when there are several of ’em out there that freely offer it.

Shit, if he was that desperate, I’m certain he could’ve found a prostitute and got some for a decent price.

I hit the fob on the truck, and she climbed inside before I even reached it.

Remedi placed her seat belt on while I started the truck.

I backed out the driveway, and the ride was silent all the way to Moonshine Junction.

As I pulled into the parking lot, she finally turned to me and asked, “How did you know where I was last night?”

That should’ve been a question she asked at first. “I was across the street at the store when I saw him take you into the room.”

“Why did you risk yourself to save me? What if he had had a gun?”

Lifting the front of my shirt, I showed her my pistol resting in my waistline. “I ain’t afraid of no gun.”

“But that’s not answering my question. What made you save me?”

“I got a daughter. If something bad was ’bout to happen to her and I’m not around, I’d want someone to save her.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

That was half the truth. The moment I saw her with him and saw that she wasn’t in her right mind, it angered me.

Remedi was sweet as fuck from what I could see.

She ain’t deserve no shit like that. I’d hate myself if I just walked away and didn’t do anything and something seriously happened to her. I had to intervene.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said, opening the door and jumping down out the truck. I hit her with a head nod, and she shut the door behind her. My truck didn’t move ’til I saw her get into her truck and pull out of the parking lot.

The stop I needed to make was The Front Porch Kitchen.

Ma was at work today, and I’d promised Khali a slice of apple pie.

Not just any apple pie either—Ma’s apple pie.

She’d asked for some the night before, and I’d told her that I’d come by and get her some today.

Had I called Ma and told her that she wanted that pie, she would’ve gotten up, made her an entire pie for herself, and brought it straight over to her.

Anything Khali wants, my baby girl gets.

People really be moving mountains for her.

Hopping out my truck, I entered the restaurant. It was still lunchtime, and people were crowded in there. No one in town could resist my mama’s cooking.

“Hey, Khalif,” Manda, one of the waitresses, said as she passed me with two plates in her hands.

Ma stood behind the counter with an apron ’round her. She has a smudge of flour on the corner of her chin. The corners of her mouth curled upward when she noticed me approaching.

“What are you doing here?”

“Your baby has been asking for apple pie. I had to come and get her some.”

“Oh. You’re lucky. I just pulled one out of the oven. You can take that one to her.”

“She doesn’t need a whole pie, Ma,” I told her and took a seat on one of the barstools.

“My baby can have whatever she wants.” She disappeared into the kitchen and seconds later came back with a pink box. She was really ’bout to give Khali this entire pie. “Make sure my baby gets it too.”

“I will.” She slid the box onto the counter and then leaned into it with her hands.

“What’s this I hear that you broke some guy’s jaw?”

“He deserved it.” I should’ve known that the incident was gon’ end up all over town.

I fucked that nigga up so bad last night after I got in that room and saw how Remedi looked.

The way she lay on that floor, helpless as hell.

It angered me even more. He’s lucky that he was able to walk out of there after that bullshit he pulled.

Honestly, he should’ve been in a body bag like my first mind told me.

“I’m sure he did.”

My phone chimed. I removed it from my pocket to see who it was.

Creed: We got a problem.

Turning my attention back to Ma, I lifted to my feet, gripped her by the back of the head, and pecked her softly on the center of her forehead. “I gotta run. I’ll make sure she gets this.”