River on Fire (River's End #5)

by Leanne Davis

  “But since the laws have changed… will you do me the honor of marrying me?” Jordan’s voice grew stronger in tone. He seemed as if, by finally admitting his love for Pedro, he grew a foot taller in his height and general presence.

  At first, the wedding guests were stunned to silence. It was a crazy, deep, visibly stunned silence. One that made Joey uncomfortable. After all, it was Jordan. And Pedro. He’d known, worked, and hung out with both men for years. They were decent guys and didn’t deserve the awkward reception they were receiving. Finally, Joey stood up and started to clap, yelling out, “Come on, Pedro, what do you say? Yes or no?”

  Jordan glanced at Joey, a nearly desperate Thank you in his eyes and smiled just slightly. Joey smiled back. What the fuck? Jordan had proposed in a beautiful and bold manner. Why wouldn’t Joey have supported it?

  Pedro finally stepped forward, his face red with embarrassment. He was dark-skinned and quite a handsome, reserved man. He’d already proven himself to be a valued Rydell employee for a half dozen years. His eyes were shining when he nodded his head in the affirmative.

  Jordan’s entire body sagged as he set the microphone down and jumped off the stage to rush towards his love. Pedro seemed stiff and solemn, but a small smile appeared on his face, and he met Jordan with a tight hug. Joey clapped and the crowd, still unsure and bewildered, finally started to clap too. The men didn’t kiss. Joey figured that might be a little too much for this crowd… but it was progress, all the same. The two men split apart, grinning like children, and Joey was the first to start congratulating them. Others followed suit as the reception proceedings carried on. The music began to play and people started to dance. Jordan was speaking with his dad and brother, while Kailynn stood right next to him, holding his hand and offering her support. Pedro was shaking Caleb’s hand. Huh. What a freaking surprise.

  Jazzed and a bit drunk, Joey made his way back to Hailey. He found her smiling at him when he stopped in front of her. She reached up and swept his hair back. “That was really awesome… and I like how you got the crowd to accept their union so fast. That was something, Joey Rydell.”

  He swept her up in his arms and kissed her lips, loud and long. “If you and I can feel this and share it, why shouldn’t they? Who the hell has any authority to oppose it? Come on, dance with me.”

  And they danced the rest of the afternoon and evening away. Many townspeople left as the day wore on, but the Rydell family didn’t. They had a barbecue and ate more food and did more celebrating. Joey and his brothers were soon drunk out of their minds. Obnoxious might be the word to describe their behavior. Shedding their monkey suits and wearing shorts and t-shirts, they prepared to celebrate some more. There was more dancing and volleyball games and a huge bonfire and swimming. Amidst raucous laughter and catcalling, there were plenty of anecdotes and lots of stories about Ian growing up.

  Joey ran across Ben at one point, who seemed all pouty and sad. He was staring out at the darkening river. Joey slapped his nephew-brother-friend on the back. “What could be wrong tonight? Have more alcohol and whatever it is will be fine.”

  Ben smiled but shook his head. “Marcy got pissed at me. She stormed out of here. Took one of the trucks. She’s been drinking… I hope not too much. I have no idea where she went. She said something about me not paying attention to her and talking to Jocelyn. It was about the ranch but that was irrelevant to her. I don’t know…”

  Joey slapped Ben on the back. That was the status quo. Marcy, on a daily basis, seemed to always find something that made her mad at him. But Joey refrained from pointing that out to Ben. Even drunk, Joey was smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut. “It’ll be fine. Just enjoy tonight. Ian’s finally married. You’re not alone. Come on, Ben, have a drink.” He got up and returned with a beer. Ben took it.

  Ben finally smiled. “You’re no help, Jo. You know, she thinks you’re a bad influence.”

  His ass he was. But Joey held his tongue. Marcy was crazy-controlling and jealous. She hated all of them, it seemed, any of Ben’s family and friends who diverted his attention from her. She was crazy with a capital C in Joey’s opinion. But since no one asked, he chose not to comment on it.

  “Well then, blame it on me.”

  He drank and nodded towards Hailey, who was talking with Erin. “She’s pretty.”

  “And older. Did you miss that?”

  “No. Didn’t miss it. Just never saw you giving a shit about anyone before.”

  Joey sighed, his drunken haze clarifying for a moment of serious reflection. “I haven’t. I do her, though. She’s hung up on it.”

  “Maybe she’ll get over it.”

  “She might. But there’s her daughter…”

  “Horny Brianna? Yeah, I noticed.”

  “Yeah, so… not sure what’ll happen…”

  “Don’t give up. If it’s worth it.” He drank and stared out, looking contemplative. But something didn’t ring true in Ben’s tone. He sounded so world weary and yet, he was only twenty-one years old. His marriage didn’t seem to be what he thought or hoped it would be.

  “Is it? Worth it for you, I mean?”

  He sighed. “It has to be. I made a commitment, Jo. So it just has to be.”

  Joey almost argued, but he knew Ben had his father’s rigid sense of black and white, and right and wrong. Any commitment, especially marriage, was meant to last forever. Too bad Marcy failed in that sense of resolve but Ben never noticed the real Marcy. He should have told Ben. But he never dreamed Ben and Marcy would sneak away to get married. So Joey let it go, thinking time would reveal the truth of her personality to Ben. It did too… but it happened too late.

  He and Ben sat drinking and talking for a few more hours, happily reconnecting because Marcy wasn’t there to stop it. Finally drunk, they joined the rest of the crowd and stayed up long into the night, talking and laughing. Remembering. And enjoying each other’s company.

  Ian and Kailynn had long since departed, then Jack and Erin left. Shane, Allison, and even Ben finally decided to go to his apartment. All alone, Ben had to wait for his pill of a wife. Joey grabbed Hailey’s hand and dragged her to his house where they engaged in sloppy, but fun, drunken sex. She was as buzzed and happy as he was. She liked his family, at least, she did while drunk. When they were both naked, in bed, and nearly fading off to alcohol-induced slumber, he mumbled, “I love you, Hailey. The real thing. The forever kind.”

  She sighed, snuggling into him. “You don’t know what forever is.”

  “I know what this feeling inside me means.”

  She didn’t answer, but rubbed her hand along his chest.

  Chapter Eleven

  THE NEXT MORNING, THEY both woke up with hangovers, which they nursed together. By the afternoon, they wandered to the ranch house to find Jack and Erin. They were both looking green around the gills, and hungover too as they tended to the horses’ needs. So was Shane, who kept his sunglasses on. AJ was hard at work as usual, moving around the sprinklers. But Jack called him in so they could all take care of the horses together. Quietly. No loud noises were allowed. When they finally chanced to catch a glimpse of each other’s eyes, they couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of it. However, the late afternoon brought intense heat, as per usual in August, making them all the more miserable.

  “Screw it, let’s go sit in the river. The horses aren’t going to die now that we fed and watered them. Let’s just go relax,” Jack suggested suddenly, swiping a hand across his forehead.

  Joey laughed and agreed. Soon, he and Hailey, Jack and Erin, Shane and Allison, and AJ and Kate were down at the beach, floating lazily in inner tubes and chatting together. Charlie and Cami, always energetic and full of action, were left in charge of Rosie while the rest of them recovered. Once in a while, someone dipped under the water to cool off. Other than that, it was a languid, easy float and they literally basked in the cool water, the sun-drenched scenery and the patter of soft voices and laughter from couples that got a
long much better than most.

  The river undulated, carrying them smoothly away into clear rivulets and diverse currents. Gliding over the multi-colored, round river rocks below, everyone relaxed as they swirled in the sunlight and their reflections and shadows bounced off the river bottom. The sun’s rays burned up the blue sky and the air around them fairly sizzled with radiant heat. Late afternoon brought long shadows over the surrounding mountains that turned nearly purple in the scorching haze.

  Ian and Kailynn showed up. They were holding hands and smiling, blocking the sun from their eyes to see everybody. Wearing swimsuits, they entered the water without hesitation.

  “What the hell are you two doing back here? Aren’t you supposed to be busy honeymooning?” Jack called out as they drew closer. Ian’s wide grin was unexpected and unusual. “Who says we aren’t?”

  Kailynn socked him in the gut playfully. Bashful about anything pertaining to sex, she rarely let Ian even tease about it. “We don’t leave for Hawaii until Tuesday. After we fly straight back to Seattle. We wanted to spend some time here, with you guys. Besides… we’re a little hungover too.”

  Ian grunted. “More like a rock was smashed into my head.”

  Joey, Jack, and Shane nodded in agreement, lifting their beer cans up. “Only one cure for that: hair from the dog that bit you. It’s in the cooler onshore.”

  Ian laughed and returned to shore before quickly pouring the cold beer down his throat and wiping his hand across his mouth. “Best cure.” He stood in the river, which reached his mid-chest. Jack, Joey, Shane, and AJ drifted near him. They started talking about the ranch, Ian’s business in Seattle, and his plans for the foreseeable future.

  Hailey was left with all the Rydell women and she enjoyed it. They talked the wedding to death. From the decorations, to the food and guests. The epic scene with Jordan was a popular subject too.

  “Did you know?” Erin asked Kailynn.

  She nodded. “Yes, they started dating in secret before Ian and I did. Ian always knew, because he caught them together once. He never told anyone but me. Jordan told me two years ago. He was barely able to even discuss it. If you understood my dad…” She stopped and shrugged. “He was scared. But eventually, Pedro got sick of hiding it and Jordan having to be so secretive. He ended it with Jordan about six months ago. Jordan was miserable. He talked a lot to me since I was about the only one who knew. He was so heartbroken. I told him to go for it, and lay it all on the line. He never considered that. Sometimes you have to do stuff like that, whether it’s in front of a wedding crowd or just the two of them, somehow, he had to persuade Pedro that he was there for him and ready for this.”

  “Epic…” Kate muttered. “I always wondered about Pedro. Not once did he look twice at me, in all the times I pranced around the place, you know, trying to get AJ’s attention…”

  Allison laughed out loud. “Not every man fell at your feet. My husband included. He merely wondered why you kept prancing around a working ranch wearing only your bikini.”

  “Strictly for AJ. But most guys tend to look, even if they don’t do anything about it. But not Pedro…”

  Allison splashed water at Kate in a joking rebuttal. Making Kate shriek and the rest of them laugh.

  They turned back towards Kailynn as Erin asked, “So how was your night, anyway, Kailynn? Is it better now that you’re married? Or just the same as any other night?”

  She blushed furiously. “No. Definitely not just another night. But since you already know I refuse to give any details…”

  Erin laughed louder. “Lord, girl, it’s like you’re still a blushing—”

  “Don’t even, Erin,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. Then she smiled at Hailey. “She enjoys giving me such crap because Ian was my first.”

  Hailey smiled back. She sensed genuine affection and friendship between all of them.

  “I got a job offer,” Kailynn added after a few moments of floating in peace.

  Erin squealed. “Are you for real? Where? When? When do you start?”

  Kailynn’s blush showed Hailey it was super important to her. It meant far more than just employment. “Kate hooked me up with the company that does her accounting.” Kailynn again glanced at Hailey, explaining, “I just graduated with my accounting degree. I never thought I’d get out of here, or do something like that. Anyway, they interviewed me a few weeks ago and they just came back with an offer. It’s low level but it’s a generous place to start. And thank you, Kate, for the reference. I know they only hired me because of you but…”

  Kate waved her off. “How the hell do you think I got to where I am? My dad owned the company I took over. Whom you know is often as important as what you know. Just simple facts of life. Seattle’s big, but really, the business world there isn’t all that huge. Having good connections is often more important, but don’t sell yourself short. You earned the right degree and you have a good personality.”

  “Well, congratulations, I know how much this means to you,” Allison said to Kailynn. “Has Erin mentioned her news?”

  Eyes rolled all around the group and Hailey wondered why. Allison must have noticed her confused expression. She sighed and said, “Of course, Erin didn’t. Do you ever?” Erin sunk lower in her inner tube, bowing her head with just the corner of her smile showing. Allison spoke for her. “We finished the last level of the Barton Reading and Spelling System. And so, my dear sister-in-law, what does that mean in plain English?”

  Erin finally raised her head with a small smile and a wink. “I can freaking read.”

  Allison nodded with satisfaction. “She is no longer illiterate. Although she still can’t quite believe it. Neither can I. But that’s all history now.”

  Kailynn suddenly jumped toward Erin and dumped her inner tube, with her still inside it, into the water. “How the hell do you not lead with that? Erin! What is wrong with you? Sing it from the rooftops. Yell it from the mountain tops. Holy crap, Erin.”

  She came up sputtering, coughing out water and rubbing her eyes. They caught the attention of all the guys now. They were watching Kailynn’s uncharacteristic freak-out. Allison nodded. Kate wolf-whistled in support.

  “Because I don’t read fast yet. It’s still slow and choppy. I mean, I can’t go to college or anything. I’m like… maybe someday, I can read at high school level…”

  Her entire face was red. “We’re working on that next,” Allison said calmly. She floated behind with her head laid back. Obviously, she was playing a significant role in Erin’s education, whereas Erin seemed skeptical that she could accomplish anything. Allison lifted her head up, meeting Erin’s gaze. “Then? Who knows? We’ll see. Sky’s the limit then.”

  Erin stood now on the sandy bottom with her hands on her hips. “Oh, for God’s sake! I’m not that capable. I can almost read a grocery list now. Big difference than what you four… well, I assume Hailey is college-educated, aren’t you?”

  Hailey was startled at Erin’s adamant tone. She nodded in the affirmative. Erin scoffed. “See? Everyone here is. Doesn’t mean I’m suddenly—”

  “Not stupid? Yes, again, illiteracy isn’t any gauge of your intelligence. But I’ll keep telling you that for another six years, twenty years, or whatever it takes. If Allison says the sky’s the limit for you, then so do I. Has she been wrong yet?” Jack came up behind Erin, unbeknownst to her. She was hot-faced and embarrassed, nearly yelling at them. But it was a sweet, almost break-your-heart tirade about her inability to learn.

  Jack hooked his arm around her waist and she clasped it with her hands, leaving it there. She hung her head. “It’s just odd. And I think Allison rates my reading skills much higher than what they truly are.”

  Allison didn’t move or seem riled at Erin’s near freak-out. She glanced toward Hailey with a small smile. “She does this about once a week. You’ll get used to it.”

  Kate nodded. “Yes, she does. She’s used to thinking that she’s stupid. We’re all trying to convince her othe
rwise. She’s a work in progress. But I like that. We should help Erin go to college. So here’s to the sky.” Kate held up her arm with a beer in her hand.

  Kailynn smiled and with no drink, raised her hand in a silent support of cheers. As did Allison and Shane, AJ, Joey, and Ian.

  “Fuck yeah,” Shane called out. “My wife can take you there.”

  Erin sunk down, trying to hide in the water, but Jack was right behind her, holding her up. She scoffed and hid her face against his chest. But not before Hailey managed to catch a glimpse of a glance between them that seemed to speak volumes. Something really huge swelled in Hailey’s chest. Wow. This family. These people. She glanced at Joey, who was already staring at her. The way they all seemed to celebrate each other’s successes and nurture each other’s faults and quirks. The way Jack and Erin loved each other… she didn’t think she’d ever felt that way. No. Not like that. Not with Brent. Joey held her gaze, and his face was unsmiling, even serious and intense. She slowly raised her hand up too, unsure of why she joined in. She wasn’t one of them or part of them… but this weekend was so rare. And wonderful.

  Joey came up towards her and took her hand. She blinked back the tears that surprised her when they filled her eyelids. She was thinking about her family. Her broken, messed-up family. It wasn’t like this. It never had been. Joey noticed. “Thinking about your kids?”

  “I was. I always do. I miss them so much. It’s hard to be happy or feel whole when they aren’t near me, even though I’ve had an amazing weekend.”

  “Me too. Better than ever before because you were here with me. I wasn’t the sixth wheel tagging alongside them all. Do you understand now, why I would have done that before?”