Forever Country Read Online Free PDF Page B

Savannah
Mae.”
    Abel
    I stand in the field,
looking at the old schoolhouse longer than necessary. I want to see
if Savannah Mae was leaving with her son’s daddy. She didn’t. He
kept watching me when she disappeared into the house. Me being me,
I just watched him back. I don’t even know
that girl. Why would I have cared if she left with him? She didn’t say her husband or boyfriend. She did
say, Sawyer Jackson’s daddy. Maybe she’s
divorced.
    While running, I push the thoughts of
Savannah Mae far from my mind. I’m here only for the holidays, and
I’m not looking to hook up with a country girl. Even if she is
beautiful. The girl from the bar last night was also beautiful.
Megan Rose. This area sure does have some pretty girls.
    I run around the local streets of Rose Farm
before I run on the back roads. It’s been awhile since I’ve been
here, but it doesn’t take long for me to remember where the back
roads take you. The air is cold and crisp, and it feels good
pumping in and out of my lungs. I think about being back in Rose
Farm, and I also think about Savannah Mae. If anyone else ever
called me “Abel Lee,” I think I might have been angry at them. But
not Savannah. It sounded like honey coming from her sweet
mouth.
    After completing my run, I force myself not
to look in the direction of her house on my way to my parents’
farm. My body deceives me. As soon as I turn the corner, my eyes
dart straight to her little white house with red shutters and her
yard with a white picket fence. The house is dark with only a
single dim porch light lit. Turning in the direction of the farm, I
walk up the mile-long driveway to my parents’ house. It’s dark and
the barn light is still out. I chastise myself for not fixing that
earlier today. Even though I had only a few things to do, I
couldn’t get everything done. Tomorrow, I’ll do all of the chores,
and then I’ll complete my workout.
    I see Levi’s truck and it makes me feel even
worse. He helped on the farm this morning, went to work, and still
had time to come back and help out on the farm again. Momma and
Pops need help and I feel like I let them down. I hang my head in
shame as I walk through the kitchen door.
    The house smells of food and the sound of
laughter fills the air. Momma looks up at me and smiles. “There he
is.”
    I smile. It feels good to be home. “I’m sorry
I’m late.” I look over at Levi, who is standing at the refrigerator
door. “How was work?”
    “ Good, I could use some
help feedin’ the animals, you game?”
    “ Ready whenever you
are.”
    “ We’ll be back.”
    Momma turns to stir a pot on the stove. “By
the time you finish, dinner will be done.”
    I smile and nod before shutting the door
behind me. I feel resentment against Levi for being here helping
Momma and Pops. I know it’s misplaced anger. Why would his helping
them bother me? It makes no sense. Maybe I feel bad for not doing
what needs to be done today.
    “ Something wrong?” he asks
as he walks into the barn to get some feed.
    “ No, nothing. I’m just glad
you’re here to help.”
    “ Wouldn’t have it any other
way.”
    When we return to the house, Mia is standing
in the kitchen with Momma, and Pops is adding more firewood to the
fireplace. Levi smiles and rushes over to Mia. “I missed you.”
    Mia stands on tiptoes and kisses him. “I
missed you. How was your day?”
    “ It just got a heck of a
lot better.” He smiles.
    Tonight’s dinner consists of soup beans and
hamhocks and homemade cornbread with peach cobbler for dessert.
    During dinner, Mia and Momma plan the
Thanksgiving Day menu. Dad listens intently. Thanksgiving will be
on the farm. For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving dinner has
only been on the farm. My parents always host the dinner. I think
it’s because Momma likes to cook, and it’s easier to have it here
as opposed to transferring all the food to another location.
    After we eat dinner and
clean up the kitchen, Levi