Free Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis

a surge of fondness for her dad.
    “Does
this thing even run?” Scott looked horrified. He hadn’t been too thrilled when
April asked for his help, but had agreed to come along. At least that was
something. Plus, if he was going to marry a farmer’s daughter, he’d better get
used to at least a little bit of farm work.
    “Sure
it runs,” April pulled a knit cap over her hair. “Get in, you’re driving.” When
he hesitated, she smiled sweetly. “Or we can take your car?”
    Scott
gave a gusty sigh and slid into the truck. He slammed the door, only to have it
bounce open. He tried again with the same results.
    “You
have to tie it shut with that bungee cord,” April scooted into the passenger
side and pointed to the yellow cord wrapped around the driver’s door handle.
One hooked end dangled free.
    “Uh
… how exactly?”
    “Hold
the door closed,” she ordered. When he did, she leaned across his legs to grab
the end of the cord, stretch it, and hook it to a bracket on the bottom of the
seat.
    “How
in the world did this pass inspection?” Scott asked.
    April
gave him a blank look. “Why would it need to pass inspection? We only use it on
the farm.”
    “Well,
that’s something new … as is that.” Scott pointed to the two holes in the
floorboards of the passenger side. One was so large a foot could fit through it
and they could see the snow on the ground below.
    “Those
are very convenient if you have to pee,” April said.
    “Are
you kidding?”
    “If
you’re a guy,” she amended. “Girls have a bit more of a challenge.”
    He
looked skeptical. “Don’t tell me you’ve tried it.”
    She
gave him a shameless grin. “Okay, I won’t tell you.” She hadn’t tried it, but
it was fun to see him squirm.
    Scott
leaned away from her, as if she might suggest he try peeing through a hole in a
truck right here and now. “You have got to be kidding me.”
    “That’s
farm life,” April shrugged. “Well, see ya.” She made a move to get out of the
cab.
    He
grabbed her arm. “Wait. Where are you going?”
    “I’m
riding in the back.”
    “No,
you’re not. What if you fall out?”
    April
sighed. “I’m not going to fall out, but if by chance I do, I’ll aim for a
snowbank.”
    She
climbed into the back of the truck while Trevor took her place in the cab and
slammed the door. Fortunately his side stayed closed without the need of a
bungee cord. Scott turned the key and the engine coughed and sputtered.
    “Pump
the gas,” April hollered from the back. She thought she heard him swearing, but
couldn’t be sure.
    When
the engine roared to life, April cheered and pounded on the back window in
triumph. Scott threw her a dark look and started down the driveway.
    They
reached the road and Scott, following Trevor’s instructions, turned left. He
picked up a little speed and loose hay leaves in the bed of the truck caught
the wind and swirled away. April took a deep breath. She felt like a child
again, going off to do the chores with her daddy.
    She
began to hum Ghostriders in the Sky . Her dad used to sing with her on
rides like this – Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Hank Snow were his favorites.
April wondered if he still sang when he did the chores and realized with a pang
how much she wanted to be there to hear him. By growing up and moving away, she
had distanced herself from her family, the farm, Snow Valley, and other things
she had thought to hold dear forever. In the back of the truck, she started to
feel as if she belonged again. She sang louder and began keeping time by
beating on the hood of the cab.
    They
reached the goat barn and April jumped down before the truck had completely
stopped. “That was quite a concert,” Scott said. “I’ve never heard you sing
like that before.” His mouth was pressed into a tense line.
    “I
sing, just not at school,” she said lightly, determined not to let him ruin her
good mood.
    “So
I’ve noticed.”
    A
small black goat lay on her side next