calling out all the 30+ yr old simmers..

Teddy stood up and helped Josie to her feet

Teddy: Well in that case I better let you go. Looks like I’ve also got some costume planning to do.

Josie: You’ll be there? You don’t mind hanging out with my friends for the evening?

Teddy: I can’t wait to meet them, or to spend more time with you.

Josie: Well alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Teddy Keating.

Teddy: Until then, Josie Hazelwood.

They lay together for a while, going between sharing more kisses and enjoying a comfortable silence. Eventually and reluctantly, Josie turned to Teddy.

Josie: As much as I don’t want this afternoon to be over, I actually need to leave soon.

Teddy: You do? Do you have to?

She couldn’t help but feel a little pang in her stomach at the disappointment in his voice

Josie: I really do. I promised Dani I’d go to their house to sort out our costumes for tomorrow.

Teddy: Wait, costumes?? What’s tomorrow?

Josie: Really? You’ve been up in these canyons for too long, Keating! It’s Spooky Day tomorrow!

Josie: Why don’t you come with me tomorrow?

Teddy: Really?

Josie: Really. Dani is dying to meet you properly, and I’ll miss you too much if I don’t see you again soon.

Teddy: Do I need to wear a costume?

Josie: Oh, you for sure do. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

And darlin’, this is more than anything I felt before

You’re everything that I want, but I didn’t think I’d find

Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now I found the one

Teddy: I’m sorry Josie, that’s so unfair. I can’t believe they would be willing to lose you over that.

Josie sat up, her face just inches from Teddy’s.

Josie: It’s fine, their loss right? Plus, I have a feeling I’m going to be very happy in Chestnut Ridge.

Teddy let out a low, husky chuckle.

Teddy: Oh you do? And why might that be?

Josie: Well you know, its beautiful here, Dani is my best friend, and the nectar is so good. Plus there are so many riding trails to explore!

Teddy: Mmhmm, nothing else?

Josie: Maybe one other thing…

In an instant, Teddy closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Josie.

Teddy: One other thing?

Josie: Are you really going to make me say it?

Teddy, Oh, absolutely I am.

Josie: You, Teddy. I think you are going to be the reason I’m so happy here.

Teddy: What about you anyway? How does a girl like you end up in Chestnut Ridge? Hopefully its a happier story than mine?

Josie: I just… needed a change, it seems silly now in comparison to what you went through. I didn’t get on with my family. They had all these plans for me and it wasn’t what I wanted.

Josie: They expected me to join the family business, marry a nice local boy and live happily ever after. I felt trapped by it all, so I saved every penny I could after high school and when I had enough I packed my things and left. They haven’t spoken to me since.

Josie: I… Oh Teddy I don’t know what to say

Teddy: It was rough. I couldn’t stay at the trailer on my own but I didn’t have anywhere to go. Dale tried to get his parents to take me in, but I didn’t want to go back to that ranch, and I don’t think they wanted me around as a reminder either. So I ended up staying with my friend Morgan and his family in Strangerville. They were so good to me, treated me like their own even though they had every right to kick me out. I didn’t deal with things in the best way back then.

Teddy: It was actually getting back into riding that saved me. I didn’t get on a horse for a long time after what happened. When I turned 21 I got a small inheritance. It wasn’t a lot, our trailer wasn’t worth much, but it was just enough to buy this place, and my horse Sierra.

Josie: He was your best friend?

Teddy: Yeah. There was an accident, when I was 16.

He sighed deeply, then continued.

Teddy: He was an incredible horse rider, the best I’ve ever known. I still can’t understand how it happened. I was at school, and he was training a new horse that day…

…They think he was thrown from his horse and hit his head on a rock. That wasn’t what killed him though. It was right before Winterfest and it was freezing, he was the only person on the ranch that day. We don’t know how long he was out there for.

He paused for a long time, and when he spoke again his voice was thick with emotion.

Teddy: I always used to go to the ranch after school. I was friends with Dale, the owners son, and we used to hang out in the evenings. That’s where I learnt to ride as a kid.

We were the ones that found my dad. There was nothing we could do, he was already gone by the time we got there.

They talked for a while, eating the picnic and sharing some nectar

Josie: Have you always lived in Chestnut Ridge?

Teddy: No, I’m from Strangerville originally. But I should save that story for another day, it’s not a very happy one…

Josie: You can tell me, if you want to that is?

Teddy: Well, my dad raised me. Mom left as soon as I was born. They were young and she wasn’t ready for a kid. My dad got us a trailer and worked as a ranch hand for a family here in Chestnut Ridge. We didn’t have a lot but we were happy. He was my best friend.

Teddy: Can I ask… what changed your mind?

Josie: What do you mean?

Teddy: Well, at the festival yesterday when I first came over to speak to you seemed ready to tell me to woohock off, and now you’re here. What changed your mind?

Josie paused for a moment to think

Josie: Well, if I’m honest when we met I thought you were just after one thing. Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course! But I could tell if I got to know you I was going to want more, and I didn’t want to get hurt…

Josie: And then yesterday, I realised I’d misjudged you. You actually seemed like you wanted to get to know me too. So it was that. Well, that and the advice of a good friend helped me change my mind. I’m not going to let things in my past hold me back anymore.

Teddy was quiet for a moment, taking in what Josie had just told him

Teddy: So… when you say you knew you’d want us to be more than just a bit of fun, does that mean you like me?

Josie blushed, realising how much she had given away

Josie: Don’t push your luck, Keating. I wouldn’t go that far!