Falling

by Kris Bryant

“Are you making fun of yoga? The same yoga that kicked your ass back there?” She pointed to the room behind her.

  “No, well, yeah, but I meant it. I remember a time when new age music was in.” Not recently.

  “I like a lot of different kinds. I know everybody says that, but I do. It just depends on my mood.” She quickly tied her hair up in a bun, her movements graceful and fluid. I openly watched her. I was too tired to care and she didn’t seem to notice.

  “Marisa and I go to a lot of the outdoor concerts. We haven’t been to any this year, well, because of everything, but I know there are a few coming up I want to see. That’s the thing I love about Denver. It’s cool enough to draw some of the big names.”

  “Have you always lived here?” Piper asked.

  Clifford startled both of us by jumping on the table. We laughed nervously.

  “Yes. I’m the only one left. My parents moved to California a few years ago. My aunt and two cousins moved to Texas. What about you?”

  “I was born in Colorado Springs. I will always live in Colorado. I couldn’t imagine anywhere else being as beautiful. In all fairness, I haven’t traveled a lot, but I’m such a nature nut that this is the only place that makes me happy.”

  “Nature nut how?”

  “A few of the instructors here like to bike and hike, so on long holiday weekends we shut down and go camping and just push ourselves,” she said.

  “That doesn’t even sound like fun. I barely survived yoga one-oh-one. I can’t even imagine what you ladies do.” I scowled at her playfully like her idea of fun was not my idea of fun, which it wasn’t, but I got her to laugh.

  “It’s really not that bad. Maybe when you’re all healed and in shape again, you can come out with us. Our next trip isn’t until Labor Day, so there’s plenty of time to prepare.”

  “Piper, did you just call me lazy?” I asked.

  She blushed. “No, not at all. You’re fine. You look great.”

  I touched her forearm. “Now I’m teasing you. I know I’m not in the best shape, but maybe after two months of your class, I’ll get better. Pencil me in.” I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to go camping. Marisa was going to give me so much shit when she found out.

  “So, you’re willing to continue this torturous form of exercise?” She drummed her fingertips on the table in anticipation of my answer.

  Everything about this, getting close to Piper, reading too much into her actions, anticipating her slight touches, saying things to see her cute smile, was such a bad idea. We were both still healing from the plane crash. I was doing everything I could to have no regrets and feel alive, and I was foolishly banking on getting that from a woman who was still picking up the pieces of her shattered heart.

  Chapter Eight

  Jason opened the car door for me.

  “I’m not sleeping in the bunkhouse,” I said.

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, no. My mother would kill me if I even suggested it. No, you and Marisa will be sleeping in the main house. We have a private apartment on the lower level.”

  Marisa climbed out of the car. “I had her going the whole drive up here.”

  “I’m so happy you both are here,” Jason said. His eyes never left Marisa’s.

  I felt like a third wheel, but I was okay with it.

  “Here, let me grab your things.” Jason took my bag and went around the car to Marisa. He hugged her, then picked up both of her bags. “Let’s drop your bags off and I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

  “This is beautiful, Jason,” I said. The main house was a two-story traditional style home with a large wraparound porch. There were several corrals to the left of the house. Past the corrals were small cabins where I assumed the ranch hands lived. I knew nothing of the workings of a ranch but had seen enough movies to let my imagination run wild.

  “Hello. Welcome to our home.”

  A gentle-looking woman with soft features and salt-and-pepper hair greeted us on the front porch. Jason’s mom was dressed exactly like him in jeans, boots, and button-up shirt, with a pair of leather work gloves hanging out of her back pocket. Not that I expected June Cleaver to walk out of the screen door carrying a tray of lemonade, but I certainly wasn’t expecting this.

  “I’m Virginia. Welcome to the Doogan Ranch. I’m glad you both made the trip.”

  Jason introduced us and she had a different reaction to both of us. She was tender and hopeful when she met Marisa. When she met me, her eyes glistened. She pulled me in for a hug. I was getting used to people in my personal space, so I returned the hug even though we’d just met.

  “It’s nice to meet you. Both of you.” She looked at Marisa after releasing me from her grip. “I don’t know if you’re hungry or not, but dinner is on the table.”

  My stomach rumbled at the mention of food. I could smell fried chicken from the porch, but my manners held me in check long enough to exchange pleasantries with Jason’s family first. Gary Doogan, Jason’s father, was a tall, lean man. When he came out to greet us, he was followed by two dogs and a little girl eating a biscuit that crumbled the tighter she clutched it.

  “Jason, go ahead and put their bags in their room. Then wash up for dinner and meet us at the table.”

  Jason nodded at his mother and disappeared behind the screen door. I could hear the heel of his boots clomp down the hallway. I focused on Virginia again.

  “That fried chicken smells delicious, and I’ve been eyeing this pretty little girl’s biscuit for the last minute.” I squatted and smiled at the child. She shyly hid behind Virginia’s legs.

  “Let’s go eat, then.”

  Gary held the door open for us. Marisa and I quickly washed our hands in the front bathroom and joined the family at the table. We quietly sat, all of us holding hands, and patiently listened to Gary thank God for all of their good fortune, including surviving the crash. When he finished speaking, everyone started passing dishes. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, white gravy, green beans, baked beans, homemade biscuits, and slices of fruit went around the table. I wasn’t shy. I dug in. My plate was full and I was determined to turn it in clean.

  “Thank you so much for having us,” Marisa said.

  I nodded because my mouth was full. I wasn’t a cute four-year-old destroying a biscuit. I swallowed and reached for my water so I could speak. “Yes, thank you. And this dinner is incredible.”

  “It’s nice to meet the two new women in Jason’s life.”

  I waited for someone to ask about my experience, but no one did. Virginia kept the conversation light and fun. Gary peppered in a few stories about the ranch and ribbed Jason, but it was done lovingly. Jason took it in stride and added a few stories about his parents. I hadn’t been this relaxed around new people in years. Alison, the little girl at the table, was Jason’s niece. Her parents were at a concert in Denver, but we would meet them tomorrow.

  “Jason, give your guests the grand tour before it gets too dark. We’ll clean up here,” Virginia said. She shooed us off when we jumped up to help.

  Jason obliged and started with the lower floor of the main house. They had a library, a formal dining room, the kitchen, his father’s office, a large living room, and the apartment we were staying in. Marisa and I were stunned with the apartment. It had its own entrance, two bedrooms, a small kitchen, a decent-size living room, and two full baths.

  I nudged Marisa. “This is bigger than my place.”

  “I already love it. The décor isn’t really my thing, but the space is great,” Marisa whispered.

  “The upstairs is bedrooms and stuff. Nothing exciting. Let’s head out and I’ll show you the ranch. Tomorrow we’ll go on a horseback ride so you can see all of it better,” Jason said.

  “Um. Horseback riding? I don’t know about that. The last time I was on a horse, I rode in a circle for five minutes while somebody led him by the harness.” I was only excited about the thought, not actually riding them.

  “I’ll put you on my mom’
s horse. It’ll be fine. Betsy is gentle. My niece rides her. And Betsy has never bucked her or anyone else,” Jason said.

  I scowled at him.

  “No is not an option. It’s go for a ride, or bale some hay, or muck the stalls with the workers. Your call,” Jason said.

  I scowled harder. “Fine. I’ll get on a horse.”

  We continued our walk and even though I was borderline uncomfortable because of all of the food settling in my stomach, it was nice to be outside in the fresh air, away from the city. The cabins were really nice. Jason explained there were six tiny bedrooms to a cabin with a kitchen. The ranch hands took turns cooking. Everything about this place was incredible. The barns were impressive. The horses were well maintained. I was looking forward to tomorrow’s tour. This was such an unconventional weekend for me, but I was enjoying myself.

  “When it gets dark, you’ll see so many stars, you won’t even believe it,” Jason said.

  He was proud of his place, and rightfully so. He and his older brother would run it after their father retired. Gary and Virginia already had a place in Georgia and would retire in five or ten years. Jason had roots here, and that hurt my heart because Marisa loved the city and her job.

  Jason’s parents invited us to sit in the living room with them. Jason scooped up Alison and held her until she fell asleep. We talked for several hours about our lives, but not once did we discuss the plane crash. When his parents excused themselves and took Alison with them, Jason, Marisa, and I moved out to the porch. I wasn’t going to stay long because I knew they wanted time alone, but I didn’t want to just leave them and be obvious I was giving them privacy.

  “What do you do for fun?” I asked Jason. I was genuinely curious. There wasn’t a lot out here. For a brief moment on our drive, I was scared I’d missed a turn and we were driving to nowhere.

  “I read. A lot. And Cheyenne isn’t that far away. There’s tons to do there,” he said.

  “What do you read?”

  “I like mysteries and cop stories.” He looked at Marisa and winked. “And I like movies. We watch a lot of movies up here.”

  “What happens in the winter? What do you do?”

  “We feed the livestock and keep them alive. Winters up here are brutal.”

  Jason told us how when it was really cold, they kept the cattle together so it was easier to knock the icicles off their noses. Cows couldn’t breathe through their mouths. He was sensitive enough to not tell us the hardships of owning a ranch, but we knew it wasn’t easy.

  “Okay, I’m getting sleepy, so I’m turning in.” I looked at Marisa. She winked at me, so I knew it was the right decision. I hugged both of them and headed inside the apartment.

  I wasn’t tired, so I picked the bedroom farthest away from the rest of the house and unpacked. I crawled into bed with my Kindle fully charged and was ready to start a new book when my phone dinged. I quickly sat up when I saw that Piper texted me. I couldn’t help but smile.

  Did you make it okay? There isn’t much between here and Cheyenne.

  Oh, this place is gorgeous. Yes, we made it safe and sound. I added a smiley face and stopped myself from barraging her with text messages. My heart was pumping faster than it should have. I was definitely crushing on Piper. I held my phone in both hands and waited as the bubbles of her next text lit up my screen.

  That’s great news.

  I was sad that there wasn’t more. I waited an appropriate ten seconds before responding. And Jason’s mom cooked us the best meal ever. I didn’t eat much today so I *might* have embarrassed myself at dinner.

  Well, you’ll burn that off in yoga this week. Two classes. TWO.

  No problem. Easy peasy! I added a wink because we both knew I was full of crap. Just to keep the conversation going, I added, What’s your weekend like?

  I have three classes tomorrow and Sunday is my day off.

  Big plans? I couldn’t imagine she was ready to date, but I still held my breath.

  Clifford and I are cleaning Sunday. I might go over to my sister’s house. Nothing concrete. I could use some sun though and she has a pool.

  I still need to stay out of the sun, but I miss it. My doctor said my scars would be worse if I exposed them to the sun this early in the healing process. My vanity had me taking all the necessary precautions.

  Be sure to borrow a cowboy hat or wear large sunglasses and wear long pants. And suddenly I’ve turned into your mother.

  LOL. You’re nothing like my mother. But thank you for the reminder.

  We ended up texting for over an hour. When she told me her first class was at seven I scolded her for staying up so late and wrapped up our conversation. I stopped for a moment. It was the first time I’d thought about Marisa. I wondered if she was in her room. I wanted details.

  Piper wrote, Have a good weekend.

  You, too.

  I plugged in my phone and opened the door just as Marisa was about to knock. We both yelped. I pulled her into the room and shut the door quietly.

  “What happened?”

  She sat on the bed and pulled me with her.

  “He kissed me. Several times. It started off innocently enough, but then it got heated by one of the barns. I couldn’t get close enough to him. I practically wrapped my legs around him.” She groaned.

  “What did he do?” I grabbed the pillow and hugged it to my body.

  “He untangled himself and said he wanted to take it slow with me. That he respected me too much. And then he joked that his mom was probably watching and if he misbehaved, she would not be happy with him.”

  I fell back onto the bed and sighed. This was better than any romance book. “Tell me more.”

  She fell back onto the bed beside me. “He’s a really good kisser. And there’s not an ounce of fat on him. He’s all muscle.”

  I held her hand. “I’m so happy, Mar. He’s great and so are you. I hope there’s something there.”

  “I do, too. I mean, I know our lives are completely different, but it’s so new and exciting and it feels like it’s meant to be.”

  We sat in silence. I knew she was replaying the barn scene in her head. I was thinking about Piper and our exchange.

  “What did you do while I was gone?”

  Guilt washed over me even though I didn’t do anything wrong. I hadn’t even told her I was taking Piper’s yoga class. She knew me well enough that she would call me out and give me shit.

  “I piddled around on my phone and started Elisabeth Keaton’s new book.” I did scroll to the first chapter.

  “You know what we’re going to do?”

  “No. Tell me.”

  “We’re going to find you someone. Forget about the bars and blind dates. Maybe we should put you on a dating site,” she said.

  “Are you kidding? No way. I’ll try it the old-fashioned way. I’ll just fall into someone. That works, right?”

  “Not in real life.” She squeezed my hand supportively. “Look. We’re in this together. We’re going to get married at the same time and have babies at the same time and our daughters are going to grow up and be as close as we are.”

  “Watch, your daughter will marry a woman and mine will marry a man,” I said.

  She laughed. “I’m glad we came. I’m having a great time.”

  I was, too, but it was because I got a little closer to Piper.

  Chapter Nine

  “Your horse doesn’t like me,” I yelled at Jason. He was a good fifty feet ahead of me riding alongside Marisa. Betsy, sweet, adorable old Betsy, was walking at a leisurely pace, leaving me to literally eat their dust. “And all this dust can’t be good for my tender lungs.” I was pouting. I had no idea what being on the back of a horse would be like. It was hard on the ass and my thighs were already sore. I was going to be a wreck when we finished the tour.

  I decided I should text Piper a photo of me on a horse. I texted Marisa. Hey, send me the pic of me and Betsy.

  She responded immediately. Why?

>   Because I want to post it. I wasn’t going to admit the real reason.

  A second later, she sent a photo. I squinted and zoomed in on my face. I looked good enough. My makeup, although light, was spot-on. The scar above my eyebrow was hard to see because of the hat I wore. I looked sexy. Before I obsessed about it, I sent it to Piper.

  This is happening right now. I feel this will destroy me like yoga did.

  Oh my gosh! You look cute. The horse! She followed her words with several emojis with heart eyes.

  Apparently Piper liked horses. Are you done with your classes? It was eleven and I knew her first class was at eight.

  One more left, then I’m free!

  I didn’t want to be a total creeper so I left her alone.

  Wait. Are you texting and horsing? Is that legal? Piper included a smiley face.

  The horse they put me on is following Jason’s horse. I dropped the reins a long time ago. I’m just here for the ride. And for lunch. The food here is delicious.

  Jason pointed at things and told us fun stories about the ranch. I tried to pay attention, but my mind was stuck on the text thread. Every time I felt my phone vibrate, I knew it was Piper and I tried hard not to smile. Marisa quickly figured out something was up.

  What are you doing? Marisa’s text sounded accusatory.

  Why?

  Because you look guilty as fuck, that’s why.

  I knew I was busted. I came clean. I’ve been texting with Piper.

  She whipped her head around and gave me a stern look.

  I shrugged like it was beyond my control. It was innocent. I liked Piper as a person, and I knew she liked me as a friend, too. Would I date her? Hell, yes. But I also knew not to go down that rabbit hole. I stopped myself every time I started to daydream about her.

  I’d gone this far so I decided to fess up. Just so you know, I’m taking her yoga class, too.

  Marisa was less likely to yell at me in front of somebody she was trying to impress. Her silence was painful after my confession. I would hear all about it on the drive home.

  “There’s the lunch bell. Are you hungry?” Jason asked as he slid off his horse. He helped Marisa off her horse with ease.