Cody

I called ahead and ordered dinner from the diner, and stopped at the liquor store and picked up some wine before heading out to our destination.

"Can you tell me now?" She is so impatient.

"Fine, I have a piece of property I like to go to when I want to be alone, and sometimes the guys come up here and we mess around on the quads.  There's a great view of the valley.  I thought it might be inspiring." I said. I pulled down the dirt road, and followed the fence up to the top of the hill.

"This is it." I said.

"It's beautiful." She looked around.

"You haven't seen anything yet." I hopped out, and she soon followed.

"Amazing." She looked all around her, and saw how untouched and natural the green hills are against the blue sky. 

I grabbed a horse blanket I just bought and laid it out.  "I'll be right back." I said.

I went for the rest of the stuff, but she followed and helped me carry everything.

"Sandwiches and potato salad.  Sorry, it was the best I could get last minute." I apologized.

"No, this is perfect." She said.

We ate our sandwiches, and she asked questions about the tour.  I told her she will be considered part of our band and have full access and warned her about groupies and the press. 

"When do you get to see Jessie?" She asked.

"We skype every single day, and I fly home here and there, but June never brings her out on the tour.  I've tried, but I've had no success, she won't budge." I explained.

"Your daughter has never been to one of your concerts?" I asked.

I shook my head no. "June says it's too chaotic.  I don't have much to do with any decisions at home." I said.

"That's too bad.  It would be quite the experience for her when she gets older." I watched her rub her hands together.  The talent in those tiny delicate hands could never be truly measured.  Eventually, she grabbed her guitar and started playing.  I can't believe she doesn't share that voice, she's amazing.  Matthew Harper is an idiot.  He had everything, and just threw it all away.

I clapped when she finished, and she blushed.  She's adorable.  We worked on lyrics, and I played my guitar as she wrote.

"One word to explain what you feel right now.  Look over that valley and say the first word that comes to mind." She said then bit on the cap of her pen.  I didn't even have to look at the valley, I can look at her.

"Contentment," I answered, and she smiled as she wrote it down.

"Let's take a break, maybe a walk?" I asked.

"Sure." She hopped up, and we both put our guitars in their cases.

We walked down the side of the hill which was a bit rocky.  I jumped down, then lifted her down.  "Thanks."

June would never do these things with me.  She's only interested in attending events and fancy dinners.  We walked down a log and I balanced perfectly then jumped down and watched her do the same, but I lifted her down.

"This is fun." She giggled as I helped her off another rock.

Finally, we made it to the creek, and I started skipping rocks. 

"Let me try." She did it first try, and she laughed and tried it again.  We walked across some rocks both laughing as we tried to balance.  "We used to come to a place like this when we were kids.  Dad would fly fish and he taught us.  I was actually good at it, but I haven't been in years." She said.

"You like fishing?" I asked.

She nodded.  "Yeah, it's peaceful, and I love eating the fresh fish I caught myself.  Dad and I would have so much fun back in those days,  I never see him now." She said.

I laughed.  "You cleaned the fish too?"

"Sure, it's all a part of it." She seemed a little shy about it.

"What else do you enjoy other than music?" I asked.

She sighed.  "Music is such a big part of my life.  I like fishing, and of course helping mom with the rescue dogs and riding horses.  I still have my horse at moms, but I feel guilty for not spending enough time with him.  What do you like?" She asked.

I cleared my throat before I spoke. "I miss the ranch back home. I did some bull riding, I enjoy riding horses, and I played baseball in school.  I still like to catch a game if I have time while on the road. Dean and I fixed up an Oldsmobile, and did some dirt track racing in high school." I said.

"What do you like to do now?  It seems like everything you said was in the past, except the baseball games." She asked.

I skipped another rock and thought about it.

"I like writing songs with cute brunettes." I said.