It totally wasn’t my fault.
I made sure there was gas in the tank before we left, the battered old truck having a few new gauges bolted to the dashboard that helped me keep an eye on that. I was out under the hood, checking connections while the rain poured down. My hair was already plastered to my forehead and my shirt was beginning to cling to my body.
“Try ‘er now” I called, pulling my hands from the compartment. I heard the starter whir and click as AJ turned the key. I shook my head and slammed the hood shut as I popped back into the cab.
AJ was just as soaked as I was, having taken her turn trying to get her truck to start from its stall. “Everything look good?” she asked, her blonde hair slicked back from her face.
I nodded. “I’m no mechanic like you or Sunset, but it sounds like the fuel pump is shot. It’s not even trying to turn over.”
The farmgirl I loved sighed and put her head on the steering wheel. She muttered something under her breath.
“What was that?” I said.
“Ah said you were right,” she said with a meek smile, glancing at me. “We shoulda taken your car.”
Normally I’d gloat about getting such an admission from AJ, but her beloved pickup stranding us halfway to the lake was not something to be happy over. I scooted over and wrapped her in my arms.
“It’s ok,” I said. “I’ll just make sure to be wrong later.”
She laughed at that. “So what are we gonna do?” she asked.
I shrugged. “The cabin is only a couple more miles down the road, and we dropped out luggage off there earlier.” I glanced at the groceries behind the bench seat. “Nothing here that can’t wait till tomorrow to get. I say we make a break for it.”
“It’s coming down pretty hard, Dashie,” she said, picking at the soaked blue shirt she had on that was clinging to her like a second skin.
I raised an eyebrow at her and picked at the shoulder of my white tee, the outline of my undershirt and bra starting to show through. “No kidding,” I deadpanned.
She giggled. “Well, Ah reckon we can’t get any wetter,” she said, grabbing a small packet and revealing it to be a watertight bag. “Toss in anything you think we might need in there while Ah set out the cones.”
AJ slid out of the cab and pulled out a few collapsable road cones from the toolbox in the bed while I started to tuck our wallets, loose cash, and a few other things into the pouch. It didn’t have space for much, but I managed. I kept a few things on me, the baggy pockets of my cargo pants coming in handy. I also hopped out, slinging the strap for the bag over my shoulders as AJ reached in and grabbed her keys from the ignition.
“All set?” she called over the din of the rainfall.
I gave a thumbs up, and we started strolling down the lane, holding hands as we walked.
It was a summer rain, the kind that chased away the oppressive heat and gave us a few blessed moments of relaxing cool. We may have been soaked through, but it was a warm rain. After a few minutes, we barely noticed the damp.
I tilted my head back and grinned. I hadn’t done anything like this in a while. I used to go on rain walks when I was younger, before I worried about getting sick and missing out on practices. There was something relaxing, peaceful about rain. I could never put my finger on why.
“Penny for yer thoughts?” a voice broke in.
I smiled, looking up at the taller girl. I hated to admit at times that I’m the shortest one in our group of friends. Even Twilight was taller than me. What’s up with that?
“Just thinking,” I said. “I used to go out on rainy days and think. Plan my next training session, or come up with silly songs.” I looked away when I felt the heat rise into my cheeks. “Think about a certain friend,” I finished softly.
She squeezed my hand. “And this time?”
I felt the item in my right leg pocket start to burn me with its presence. I had planned on asking her in a more romantic situation, something fitting to our relationship. The cabin had an overlook near it, trees lining the edge and a great view of the valley and lake below. It was perfect for it.
“Well,” I said, chuckling. “Wondering how we managed to catch ourselves in a freak rain storm with no coats.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Annnnnnd?” she drawled.
She's too good at reading me, I thought. The sound of the rain falling among the trees gave me an idea, though. I grabbed AJ’s other hand and spun her around, sliding my arms p and around her neck, forcing her into a slow, swaying motion.
“What’s this about?” she asked through a smile.
“Never danced in the rain before?” I asked.
“There’s no music,” she protested.
“Sure there is,” I said, placing a hand over her eyes. “Listen.”
I closed my eyes too, the sounds of the wilderness filling my awareness. The soft hiss of rain hitting the leaves, the quiet rustle as the wind moved the branches. A few chirping birds could be heard, and the pitter-pat of rain on the asphalt
“There’s music all around,” I said, sliding my hands back around her neck. “If you know how to hear it.”
After a moment or two, she laughed and stopped again. “This is silly,” she said. “Dancing here in the middle of the road in the rain. What would our friends think?”
“Since when have you gotten caught up on what others think?” I challenged, stepping back slightly.
“It’s just…” Her face burned red, the freckles splayed across her face thrown into sharp relief. She sighed, smiling at me. “Ah never know what to do with you,” she finished.
“I’ve an idea along that front,” I said, fumbling in my pocket for the small velvet box. “It’s not exactly how I planned it, but that pretty well sums up our relationship, doesn’t it?”
She frowned. “What’re you on about?”
“Well, this whole weekend was supposed to be one big romantic getaway that was going to end with a really nice sunset overlooking the whole place,” I said, feeling the box slide out of my fingers as I fumbled for it.
“It still can be, ya know,” AJ countered, crossing her arms.
I pulled the box out and grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, but I can’t think of anything better than this though,” I said, holding it up as I saw her eyes widen.
“Dash,” she stammered. “What’re…”
I took her left hands in mine, the box pressed against our palms. “Look,” I said. “I’m big enough to admit that I’ve screwed up from time to time, but I don’t think I went wrong in asking you that night on the cruise.”
“After having me explode at you, ya mean.”
I winced. “Yeah,” I said. “Not my greatest memory. But here we are, three years later, still going strong despite not getting to see each other as much as we may like.” I looked down at her hands, strong and accustomed to hard work, running my thumbs along her knuckles.
“I just, well,” I looked into her eyes, not sure if all the wetness I saw there was rain or not. “How’d you like to see me every night when we get home?” I said, cracking the box open to reveal the simple ring inside.
“It’s not much,” I immediately started. “I don’t know much about jewelry, and I know you don’t want something big and bulky while working on the farm, but at the same time…” She kissed me and silenced my rambling.
“Sometimes, ya just don’t know when to shut up,” she whispered in my ear. I grinned as she stepped back and smiled softly at me.
“Well, then,” I said, butterflies in my stomach. “Suppose I should do this right.”
“Might be a good start,” she said as I knelt down, ignoring the wet asphalt of the road.
“Applejack, will you marry me?”
“Dang nabbit,” she said with a laugh. “Git offa that road and kiss me already.”
I stood up and obliged her, slowly swaying to the music of the rain as we did. When we broke for air, I leaned my head back a bit.
“Was that a yes?” I asked.
My shoulder ached the rest of the way to the cabin.