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“I don’t know exactly…sometime in the morning.”
I started walking again and he fell in step beside me. “Afternoon,” I said reluctantly. I could see the pleased look on his face out of the corner of my eye and I pressed my lips together.
After a minute, he said, “Seriously, though, you should be careful. There are bobcats on this mountain.”
I sighed. “Bobcats are the least of my worries.”
“You think so until a hungry one is standing right in front of you. Then it becomes your biggest problem real quickly.”
I made an amused, agreeable sound. “And what exactly would you do if a bobcat stepped into our path right now, Kyland Barrett?”
He looked surprised. “You know my name.”
“It’s a small town. I know everyone’s name. Don’t you?”
“No. I make it a point not to. I don’t need to hear anyone’s story, and I don’t need to know anyone’s name.”
I tilted my head as I looked over at him. “Why not?”
“Because when I win the Tyton Coal Scholarship and get out of here, I don’t want to carry a bunch of useless information from this useless shithole with me.”
My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. “You’re trying to win the scholarship?”
He raised one eyebrow at me. “Yeah, does that surprise you? Don’t you see my name on all the top academic lists?”
“I…I mean…” Suddenly, Kyland grinned. I stumbled slightly. I’d never seen him smile like that, not once, and it transformed his face into something…utterly beautiful. I gaped at him for a moment before gathering myself and increasing the speed of my steps. He sped up beside me. I shook my head, feeling unsettled and attempting to remember what we’d been talking about. Right—the scholarship. Yes, I was surprised. I had seen Kyland’s name on academic lists, but I didn’t imagine that he had applied for the Tyton Coal Scholarship. He’d never shown up at any study groups or prep courses. It was always me, Ginny Rawlins, and Carrie Cooper. I knew they had applied for the scholarship because we’d discussed it. I thought they were my top competition. Kyland, despite his good grades, always seemed so…disinterested?
“How are you going to win the scholarship when I’m going to win the scholarship?” I asked with a lift of my brow.
Kyland looked over at me quickly, amusement on his face as he shook his head. “Not a chance,” he said, smirking. “But it does make things more interesting, doesn’t it?”
I snorted softly. I didn’t need interesting. I needed that scholarship. But I could hardly believe Kyland had much of a chance of winning it if I hadn’t heard about him applying until just now. I didn’t figure there was much cause to worry.
We walked in silence for a few minutes before I said, “Won’t Shelly be mad knowing you’re…protecting another girl from bobcats?”
He looked over at me, confused. “Shelly? Why would she—” He chuckled. “Oh, right.” He shook his head and ran his hand through his golden-brown hair. I noted that it was thick and glossy and it curled up at his neck. “Me and Shelly, we’re just friends.”
I let out a small disbelieving chuff which was enough of a comment on that. I had bigger things to worry about than who Kyland Barrett was kissing. “So, where will you go if you win that scholarship?” Not that you will.
“Away from here.”
“Yeah,” I said simply. Kyland looked to the left as we walked past the light blue, wooden house set back from the road, the forest looming large behind it, not a single light on. When he met my eyes again, he was wearing a small frown. “Well,” I said when he remained silent, “thank you, Kyland. It was very chivalrous of you to walk me up the mountain, you know, despite the fact that you got me fired from my job, ruined my only pair of shoes, and stole my birthday.” When he continued walking beside me, laughing softly at what I’d said, I looked up at him questioningly. “I’m just right up the road. I don’t expect there are any bobcats between here and there.” I smiled a nervous smile. I didn’t know if he’d ever seen my trailer, and I didn’t especially want him to.
But he just kept walking next to me silently. “So, Tenleigh…the job, are you going to be okay? I mean…is there something I can do?”
What was he going to do? He had an ill mama at home as well. For all I knew, he was worse off than me. “No. I’ll survive.”
Kyland nodded, but when I glanced at him, the worried look hadn’t vanished from his face.
When we arrived at my trailer, I stopped and gave him a small, tight smile. “Well, good night,” I said. Kyland looked at where I lived for long moments as color rose up my cheeks. For some reason, standing there with him, it looked even worse than it usually did. Not only was it tiny and rickety, but the paint was peeling and rusted and there was a dirty film over the windows that I never could clean no matter how much vinegar I used. His home wasn’t much better, but I still couldn’t help the shame that filled me as I studied my home through Kyland’s eyes. He looked back at me, and my embarrassment must have been evident on my face because something that looked like understanding came into his expression. I spun on my heel and walked on shaky legs to my trailer.
