High Hopes Chapter 16 cont
William Carter reached out to take his daughter?s skis and stow them away. Becky-Lou held on to them grimly, but her expression was still unfathomable. She chewed her lower lip.
Sam took a stab in the dark, hoping that if he wasn?t right, at least he?d get a clue as to the correct diagnosis from the form of her denial.
?Crisis of confidence?? he asked her, with the empathic perspective of one who had recently been there himself.
?You could say that.? She answered softly, apologetically.
?Come on, you two, time to go home.? Urged Mrs. Parnell. ?Maybe if you?re both feeling stronger tomorrow, we could manage a celebratory trip to the Opry. What d?you say, Will??
?Good idea!? Mr. Carter concurred. They expected an enthusiastic reaction from their children, but it was as if they hadn?t spoken.
?Are you worried you?ll get hurt like Jill?? Sam didn?t think this was the problem, but he wanted Becky-Lou to tell him for herself.
?Oh no, it?s not that!? she reassured him, ?I just don?t think I?m up to it.?
?Of course not, princess.? Her father put in. ?You need time to convalesce. You know how delicate you are.?
?I don?t think that?s what Becky-Lou meant, sir.? Sam offered and she nodded in agreement. Sam had guessed correctly. Becky-Lou was so scared of disappointing Jill that she was contemplating ducking out. Better to quit now and have people wonder if she might have won, than to go out and fail spectacularly and ultimately let down the person she wanted so much to impress.
?Like falling off a horse, Sam.? Commented Al, and his friend knew exactly what he was suggesting.
?Come on!? ignoring the confused and concerned expressions of the ?adults?, and their protests, Sam grabbed Becky-Lou?s wrist with one hand, and her poles with the other, and led her to the nearest ski lift.
Hank recognized what was going on, and calmed the anxious parents with the assurance that he believed Bobby-Joe knew what he was doing. He bade them take up a position where they could watch what happened next, and to trust that things would work out for the best, before seeking out his own vantage point. Al had himself re-centered on Sam.
Minutes later, the pair had reached the start of one of the practice courses, and Sam had helped Becky-Lou to strap on her skis. He had not taken B-J?s with him, not wanting to repeat the chaotic descent of his first arrival, and using his damaged ankle as the perfect excuse to ?sit this one out?.
William Carter reached out to take his daughter?s skis and stow them away. Becky-Lou held on to them grimly, but her expression was still unfathomable. She chewed her lower lip.
Sam took a stab in the dark, hoping that if he wasn?t right, at least he?d get a clue as to the correct diagnosis from the form of her denial.
?Crisis of confidence?? he asked her, with the empathic perspective of one who had recently been there himself.
?You could say that.? She answered softly, apologetically.
?Come on, you two, time to go home.? Urged Mrs. Parnell. ?Maybe if you?re both feeling stronger tomorrow, we could manage a celebratory trip to the Opry. What d?you say, Will??
?Good idea!? Mr. Carter concurred. They expected an enthusiastic reaction from their children, but it was as if they hadn?t spoken.
?Are you worried you?ll get hurt like Jill?? Sam didn?t think this was the problem, but he wanted Becky-Lou to tell him for herself.
?Oh no, it?s not that!? she reassured him, ?I just don?t think I?m up to it.?
?Of course not, princess.? Her father put in. ?You need time to convalesce. You know how delicate you are.?
?I don?t think that?s what Becky-Lou meant, sir.? Sam offered and she nodded in agreement. Sam had guessed correctly. Becky-Lou was so scared of disappointing Jill that she was contemplating ducking out. Better to quit now and have people wonder if she might have won, than to go out and fail spectacularly and ultimately let down the person she wanted so much to impress.
?Like falling off a horse, Sam.? Commented Al, and his friend knew exactly what he was suggesting.
?Come on!? ignoring the confused and concerned expressions of the ?adults?, and their protests, Sam grabbed Becky-Lou?s wrist with one hand, and her poles with the other, and led her to the nearest ski lift.
Hank recognized what was going on, and calmed the anxious parents with the assurance that he believed Bobby-Joe knew what he was doing. He bade them take up a position where they could watch what happened next, and to trust that things would work out for the best, before seeking out his own vantage point. Al had himself re-centered on Sam.
Minutes later, the pair had reached the start of one of the practice courses, and Sam had helped Becky-Lou to strap on her skis. He had not taken B-J?s with him, not wanting to repeat the chaotic descent of his first arrival, and using his damaged ankle as the perfect excuse to ?sit this one out?.