So here is a sneak peek of Book One: Hate. Please keep in mind that I'm currently editing so this is really rough yet, but it will give those of you who are interested a better feel for the book. Hope you enjoy it!
To my Grandma Moo who always told me love and hate
are two horns on the same bull.
Synopsis
There’s something about a horse barn
in the early morning hours that makes my heart full. I love walking into the
barn hearing the horses chewing on the sweet alfalfa and feeling their
contentment. This is where I feel most like myself, this is where I am no
longer Paige Vandenberg, daughter of millionaires or the chubby rich girl. I am
just me and I am free.
I
have been raised around horses my whole life. My parents own a large horse farm
in the picturesque small Dutch town of Lynden, Washington. Lynden sits just a
few miles south of the Canadian border and truly is a small town. My family is
one of the oldest families in Lynden and we own or have owned practically
everything. You can’t drive down the main road and not see Vandenberg scrolled
on something. For many people I’m sure this sounds wonderful, but to me it’s a
prison. One in which I fully intend to break free of next year when I leave for
college. I will miss my family and of course my horses but I will not miss the
people, and especially not resident bad boy Cutter Daniels. I hate him.
Prologue
“Hurry up Paige, we are going to
miss Luke Bryan! I can’t miss meeting my future husband!”
One
of my best friends Lacey was attempting to prod me along through the horse
barns at the county fair. Lacey is stunning. She is your classic pretty country
girl, skinny, blonde, blue eyes and energy for days. She is boy crazy and
sometimes just plain crazy but I love her. I however, am more reserved and very
content just looking at the horses. Lacey was at least twenty feet in front of
me and attempting to maneuver through the ever growing crowd. I started to walk
more quickly but still focusing on the horses. I should have been watching
where I was going because I ran smack into something hard. When I looked up to
see what I hit I came face to face with ice blue eyes and the wickedest grin I
had ever seen. They belonged to none other than Cutter Daniels. He was gorgeous
to say the least. He was a farm kid and had a natural dark tan from being in
the sun all day and sun bleached hair that was spiked perfectly in the phohawk.
He wore jeans that were hung low on his hips with a plain navy t-shirt that
accented his dark tan and blue eyes perfectly.
“I’m
so sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going. I was distracted.” I attempted to
retreat quickly but a large hand grasped my wrist. The moment the large hand
touched me I felt a jolt like I had grabbed hot wire fence. Whoa, what the heck was that about?
“You’re
Paige, right?” he asked me like he didn’t already know who I was. Of course he
knew who I was. I was infamous in this stupid small town. I was just about to
croak out a yes and hope to hell he released me when I heard from down the barn
aisle
“Cutter,
what the fuck man! Why are you talking to the Piggy Princess?”
That
of course was Cutter’s older brother Cooper Daniels. He was the devil
incarnate. He had the most obnoxious red hair and thick freckles. He looked exactly
like the mean boy from A Christmas Story
minus the raccoon skin hat.
The
minute I heard my lovely nickname I stiffened and began to walk away swiftly
without looking back. Cooper loved to make me cry and I was not going through
that today, I was not going to ruin a perfectly good Luke Bryan experience due
to that angry red head.
I
finally caught up with Lacey and she was talking to some local boys. I knew the
guys went to the same school as her. Lacey went to public school and had many
friends. I went to private school in the city and had a private tutor to
accompany me at the horse shows. I was reluctant to approach them because I
recognized these guys as friends of the Daniels brothers and any friends of
theirs was for sure no friend of mine. As I approached them I could hear Lacey
saying “I’m only coming if Paige comes.” Oh
great, what was Lacey getting us into now.
Lacey
and I had been friends for years. Her Dad works at our farm training horses.
Lacey and her family live in a house on our sprawling compound so I see her
every day. We ride horses together every afternoon when we get home from school
and we attend competitions together. Lacey is a really talented rider, I think
she is more talented than her Dad, Titus Cunningham. I tell her this all the
time but she doesn’t seem to believe me. Lacey is fearless. She will just hop
on a wild young horse and go for it, no hesitation. She is always telling me to
stop hesitating that it’s going to kill me. She’s probably right. I’m just more
cautious than her. She is wild and I am well, just plain boring.
“Great
you’re here, finally!” I know she is upset I took so long looking at the
horses, but I don’t really care.
“We
are going to the river party tonight. Drake and Carter just invited us.” She
knows I am going to say no but I refuse to have this conversation in front of
the guys so I just smile and nod okay.
“Great.
We will see you tonight.” Drake says before the guys wonder off to find their seats.
Lacey
turns to me and says “Before you say no, I will remind you that it’s my
Birthday and you agreed to do whatever I want. And I want to go to the party so
we are going.” Great, she had me by the
lady balls on this one.
“Okay
we will go, but the first sign of drama and I am out.” I state sternly.
“I
will be right behind you chica. This is going to be epic! What are we going to
wear?” Yeah, I was totally screwed. Thank
God for some Luke Bryan therapy before I dive head first into what I know is sure
to be drama.
After
taking two hours to primp and get dress, we were finally in my black Range
Rover headed to the river. I had chosen to go more conservative than Lacey. I
wore skinny jeans, my favorite Sperry Topsiders and lace top. I had chosen to
do my long blonde hair in loose waves. I was glad I had just had a spray tan
done. As my Mother always said “if you can’t tone it, tan it.” Well yeah let’s just
say my spray tan lady is on my speed dial. Not that I think I’m fat, I don’t. I
guess I just consider myself to have some extra curves, kind of like Miranda
Lambert before the recent slim down. I wish I was tiny like Lacey but I’m not,
I’m just average.
Lacey
chose to wear a sundress with a giant cutout in the back and cowboy boots. Oh
and lets not mention it was like two sizes too small for her, it was
practically painted on but she still looked amazing. Something told me I would
be returning to the farm by myself regardless of Lacey’s earlier vow. She was
looking to party and I was just looking to hopefully go unnoticed.
“Relax.
It’s going to be fine. No one is going to say anything to you. I promise.”
Lacey gave me an encouraging smile as we drove down the gravel road to the
river bar.
It
was packed. Trucks littered the river bar and a giant bon fire was in the
center of all the vehicles. I could see a group of girls dancing in the bed of
a lifted truck next to the bon fire. Country music blared from its speakers. I
was so glad it was dark and packed with people. Hopefully I will just blend
right in. Lacey and I headed toward the party. I needed to just to relax and
breathe but my brain was on high alert.
We
have been here a couple of hours and no one has seemed to notice me. I was
actually enjoying myself. I was sticking close to Lacey and chatting with some
of her friends from school. I was just starting to get comfortable when it
happened. I heard the hyena type laughing first and then I saw him, Cooper Freaking
Daniels. He was making his way through the crowd headed straight for Lacey and
I. As the crowd parted to let him through I could tell he was drunk and his
little brother, Cutter was right behind him. Oh Gosh, I’m so screwed.
“Is
that Piggy Princess? What are you doing here Piglet? Who invited you?” I
started walking backward as quickly as I could. Like retreating from a
rattlesnake, I knew better than to turn my back on Cooper. If I did he would
strike and who knows if I would survive. I looked for Lacey as I was retreating
but couldn’t find her. It didn’t matter, I just needed to get to my car and
quickly. “Where are you going Miss Piggy? I want to talk to you. Wait up.”
Screw this, it was time to run.
So
I did. I ran through row after row of trucks until I spotted my Range Rover.
Thank God! I knew Cooper was still pursuing me I could hear him making his way
toward me. I clicked the remote start and clicked the unlock button. Shit.
There
was someone leaning against my door. He had a lit cigarette in his mouth he was
dressed in dark jeans and black hoodie. He had a on a baseball hat low on his
head so I couldn’t see his eyes. Crap,
crap, crap. What am I going to do now! It’s probably one of Cooper and Cutter’s
friends making sure I can’t escape. I may have to jump in the passenger side
and crawl over to the driver’s seat to avoid him.
“Where
are you running off to?” The dark stranger asked me.
“Umm…
I’m leaving, like now. If you’ll excuse me I need to get in my car.” Get out of my way asshole I will push you if
I have to! This is a code red situation!
“Why
do you let them treat you like that?” He asked me.
“I don’t. They just treat me like that and I
choose to not be around them.” I can’t
believe this dude wants to ask me about they why’s of this situation right now.
Can’t he tell I am like full on panic attacking right now?
“Well
you choose how you let people treat you.” Seriously!
I am getting a self-esteem lecture right now, really? Who is this guy?
“There
you are Piglet!” Cooper called. Oh Hell!
Cooper
has caught up to me thanks to Mr. Questions over here. And surprise Cooper and
has brought a little group with him including his hot brother. God what is wrong with me? How can I think
Cutter is hot when he is practically leading this lynch mob? I am so messed up.
“Enough!”
Holy hell Mr. Questions is telling Cooper to stop, this should be interesting.
“Leave her be Coop and get back to the party.”
“Oh
come on Jasp we are just having some fun, lighten up.” He slurred.
“I
said enough, now leave her alone.” Oh
hell, Mr. Questions is Cooper’s best friend Jasper Callaway. Why the hell is he standing up for me? This
is odd.
Well
whatever the reason is I am thankful because it stopped Cooper. Cooper and the
rest of the group sauntered back towards the party leaving me standing against
my car dumbfounded. Jasper stood across from me making sure the little group
headed back towards the party which was thankfully happening except for Cutter.
He just kept starring at us. He looked so angry. I could feel his hate.
“You
too Cutter, leave her be.” Jasper rasped at Cutter. Cutter hesitated like he
wanted to say something but nodded instead and then followed the others.
“Thank you so much.” I said to Jasper.
“It’s nothing. Just sick of hearing this shit
from them. You need to stand up for yourself. I might not be around next time.”
Jasper was right of course. I just nodded in agreement and he walked off. Lacey
came rushing towards me looking concerned and pissed.
“You okay?” She asked.
“Yeah
I survived it. But I’m ready to go home, you coming with?” I knew she wouldn’t
say yes but I always asked anyways. I never worried if Lacey would make it home
okay. She was smart and a spitfire. I honestly felt bad for the person who
dared to mess with her.
“I’m
going to stay. You should too. I heard Jasper defended you. Everyone is talking
about how crazy that was. I think he likes you.” Just what I needed more gossip starring yours truly.
“No
thanks I’m exhausted. I’ll see you at home?” She knew I was not having any of
it.
“Okay. I love you! See you at home.” She said
as I climbed in the Rover.
I
got half way to the main road before the tears really started flowing. God I can’t wait until I’m out of this town,
I hate it here!
