8 Out on The Town

…AUSTIN POV…

It seems like a certain Mr. Young does not have respect for a woman again. Now I know what I want to do to his disrespecting ass, but if I can is entirely a different story. But believe me, I am not letting it pass, so with utter annoyance, I turn to where he is sitting at the table behind me.

"Good morning Raymond. Don't you think that you should have your morning coffee before you are claiming Ms. Knightley?"

"Why don't you mind your business Pierce and go play with your baler?"

"Why should I go play with my baler if I can irritate you?"

"Then, keep your opinions to yourself and carry on minding your business."

"Nah, my business has minded itself. Now tell me about Ms. Knightley being yours; I did not see she was on auction Sunday that passed."

And did I hit a nerve. Raymond here thinks that the town's women should bow down whenever he walks into a room? In fact, he wants every man to do, as well. He thinks the fake money that he flashes around makes him some god in his little universe. Well, I am about to burst that perfect bubble for him.

"I don't think Ms. Knightley will show interest in you if you paid her."

"And she will find interest in a man like you?"

"You will have to be a bit more specific; what kind of man are you referring to? I did not know you get different types of men?"

"There you go and make fun of everything again; you never take anything seriously."

"That is far better than having a broom up my ass."

Now I have bruised the man's giant ego; he rises from his chair and steps closer to me. I get off from my chair and step two steps closer to him. As he comes to a stop right in my face, I laugh at how small this so-called powerful man stands like an ant in front of me. While I look down on him, I see him question his position. When he finally backs off, I mockingly speak to him.

"Now that we have established who is the biggest, you shall be wise to refrain from putting yourself in the same sentence as Ms. Knightley."

"I fail to see how you can lay claim to her?"

"I am not laying claim to Ms. Knightley; I would like you to show her some respect."

"I do not listen to anyone, least of all you. Now, if you shall excuse me, I have better places to be at."

"What? Like playing with that ridiculously overpriced car. You know what they say about compensating for what you are lacking."

He grunts, or should I say he squeals like a pig as he takes himself outside the door. The man seriously has one big problem. What makes him think that he has Summer? Is there something going on that I have not heard of yet? Mr. Knightley will easily pawn his daughter off to a man like Raymond. And yes, there are two different types of men; there is Raymond, and there is me. I cannot see what Summer would see in a man like him.

As I turn back in my seat, I can see a grin on Mr. Sinclair's face. He has been watching this thing unfold, and I can safely say that he has no time for Raymond either. It is men like him that give this wonderful town a bad name. If he is so powerful, why is there not a line of women standing behind him? Not that I like to blow my own horn, but I have a reasonably long one behind me. Raymond is up to no good, and I can see someone is getting hurt.

I bid Mr. Sinclair a farewell and make it towards the door, but before I step out, he calls after me.

"Are we seeing you tomorrow?"

"Do you think she will be here tomorrow?"

"I cannot guarantee it, but it is worth a shot."

"Then, I shall see you tomorrow. I hope you have a great day."

And with that, I am out the door. My mood has been dampened for today; I was planning to take a horse ride up to the little cabin in the woods. Now all I feel is like climbing into bed and sleep the time away until tomorrow morning comes around again. I am hoping deep inside that I shall see her again.

I decided against my better judgment to take a stroll into town. The possibility that I bump into Lucy is relatively high, but I am in such a bad mood; she shall turn around and walk away. Well, that is what I would like to think, but then as I turn my head...

I see her come walking up the street. Should I say hello or walk straight past. Some women I still do not know how to react around yet. But as she comes, I can only say one word.

"Howdy."

"Hey, Austin. Strange to see you in town?"

"Came for some of Mr. Sinclair's cocoa."

"Yes, he always loves this time of year. Not only the Christmas decorations but being a bit busier than normal."

Now Sammy is one of the very view girls I have taken out on a real date. There was a time that I thought that we would become serious, but our interests did not align. She is an active socialite but not one that is as vain as Lucy. The city life appeals to her, as for me, I would never go back there. So we decided to remains friends. We go out for the odd drink, but she has become very serious with another guy in town since the last time.

Maybe I should ask her for a coffee to pass the time. What harm would that do, only if Summer has to be in town for some reason? The last thing I want her to see is me with another woman. But my common sense says no; I think we have already established that I am in a bad mood. So I stand for a few moments and chat with her.

After catching up on the news happening in town, I take very long strides past the salon. If one of them sees me, then my ass is seriously getting hounded today. And not a minute too soon, Lucy, with a bunch of curlers in her hair, appears in front of me.

"Morning, Austin."

"Morning, Lucy. See, it is your daily trip to the salon."

"Ag, this is nothing. Just having a little manicure and getting them to style my hair."

"What? Can't you do it yourself?"

"They do it so much better than I do."

"Yeah, on second thought, I agree."

"So, what about coffee?"

"You drink an awfully lot of coffee. And I would not want to be seen dead with you looking like that."

If I thought that Lucy was plastic, I know now that she is even more plastic than those curls. Not that I was looking, but I am a man, so they did catch my eyes. But now my eyes hurt, for I have never seen breasts that as obviously fake as hers. So time to put her down as easy as I can.

"Lucy, I need to go. But good luck with all that plastic."

With that, I walk further into town, just minding my own business staring at the trees decorated in all the red and glitter that Christmas brings. Then I hear a very familiar sound, maybe not familiar, but a voice that I have not forgotten.

As I turn my head to the right, that is when I see her. Fuck, she is even more beautiful than she was before. Her long blonde hair is blowing in the breeze, and I can almost smell the sweet honey of her shampoo that lingers in her hair. She walks as if she is floating in the air, but she is swaying those hips as they are on purpose. Those skinny jeans are hugging her perfectly, and for a second, I need some re-adjusting.

I hear her laughter, how I wish I were closer, her voice is so alluring, and everything about her is intoxicating. How I wish it were my arm she was hooked into. I cannot see her face clearly, but I know that she is radiant. But there is something about her laughter; she sounds forced; I wish I knew more about her.

Then she turns her head...It feels like I just died...As her eyes meet mine, my heart skips two beats, and all the air is knocked from my lungs. I smile the biggest smile my face has ever seen...And tip my hat...