True Horizon

by Laurie Winter

  Nodding in understanding, Heath looked across the pasture, to the horizon line.

  “See, I learned a long time ago,” Bruce said. “To look past the distractions to see the important stuff.”

  Heath couldn’t see the unbroken horizon line because too many obstacles blocked the way. The guilt, anti-social behavior, and his hard heart—all things that stood in his way of a clear view of his future. When he removed those things, he was left with only pure desires. He saw a family of his own, a wife, and children. Peaceful nights free from nightmares. And at the core stood Grace, holding the key to his happiness. With that thought, the whole illusion crashed down.

  “Those are words of wisdom.” Heath’s vision blurred with unshed tears. “I’ll just have to wait to see what’s in store.”

  For years, he’d closed off his heart. Now, by allowing himself to feel again, all his old wounds had begun to fester. After spending so much time running from his emotions, they refused to be ignored and threatened to rip away his new sense of contentment.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Thank goodness, this is the last day of paying off that stupid bet. Grace shoveled another urine-scented load of straw into the wheelbarrow. Earlier in the week, the job hadn’t seemed so bad, only a few hours of hard work. But now, seven days later, her muscles ached and her hair had the impermeable scents of barn, horse, and poop.

  She grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow and walked to dump it onto the pile outside. She’d saved Stargazer’s stall until last. The gelding sure knew how to make a mess. After emptying the wheelbarrow, she had to stop and fill her lungs with fresh air before heading back. Inside the barn was so hot and stuffy, that she struggled to breathe. Grace noticed her boots were covered in horse manure, and her jeans streaked with some horrible green goo. Her shirt was soaked with sweat and stuck like a second skin.

  An hour later, when she was finally done, she walked outside into the bright sunlight and blinked a few times. Was that Tyler’s car parked in the driveway? He was supposed to be in Mexico.

  She saw him standing on the porch, watching her with a wide grin. “Tyler!” She ran toward the house. As he came down the steps, she launched herself into his arms.

  “Whoa, hold on there.” He raised a hand to push her away. “Why are you so dirty? Were you rolling around in the horse barn?” Tyler scrunched his nose and picked a long piece of straw out of her hair, letting it fall to the ground.

  “I was cleaning horse stalls.” Wow. Irritation made her already warm body boiling hot. After two weeks apart, he worried more about keeping his clothes clean than holding her. “Why are you home already? I thought you’d be in Mexico for a few more weeks.”

  “My boss let me have three days off. So I got on a plane to come see you. I missed you so much.” Tyler leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek, keeping a good foot of distance between his body and hers.

  Her throat tightened with sentiment. “I’ve missed you, too. I’m almost done with the horses, so hang tight.”

  “I’ll wait in the house. I’m sweating just standing here.” He went to kiss her hand but recoiled at her dirty work gloves. After a brief scowl, he walked into the house.

  The look on his face left her cold. Standing there in her work clothes, she forced back tears. She’d forgotten that he only knew the cleaned-up version of Grace. The way she looked now was a carbon copy of what she’d been as a teenager. The girl he’d no attraction to.

  She quickly brushed aside her hurt feelings and went to finish her work. After a nice cool shower, she slipped on a baby-blue sundress. She’d washed her hair three times, and it now smelled like wildflowers and honey, a huge improvement.

  As she brushed her straight locks, her mind drifted to Heath. Since the night of the Founders’ Day Festival, he’d been avoiding her. After he’d opened up, she’d thought he’d come to think of her as a trusted friend. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Maybe he felt bad for almost hitting her that next morning in the barn or embarrassed for sharing intimate details of his life. But for whatever reason, he treated her like the plague, and since she didn’t know what she had done wrong, she didn’t know how to fix things between them.

  Although Heath was trying hard to avoid her, she still saw him every day, working around the ranch. Yesterday, when she was scooping out horse manure, she had caught a glimpse of him loading bales of alfalfa onto the flatbed. She couldn’t help but notice he’d put on some weight, mostly muscle. Her heart had skipped a beat, watching him work with his shirt off, muscles rippling.

  “Okay,” she said to herself. “Time to pull your mind out of the gutter and go back to your fiancé.” One more image of his tattooed chest and scars flashed through her mind. She slapped her hair brush on the vanity and rose. This obsession with Heath had to stop. Later, when she was snuggled against Tyler on the sofa of the family room, she laid her head on his shoulder.

  He kissed the top of her head and inhaled deeply. “You smell good enough to eat.”

  “Better?” She studied his full mouth and felt only a small stirring of desire.

  “Yes. Why were you working outside? Didn’t your dad hire help for that?”

  Grace considered for a moment telling Tyler about her bet with Heath, but that would lead to the potato sack race at the festival. She didn’t think he’d be happy to hear that story. “I wanted to help. I like getting my hands dirty once in awhile. Everyone’s doing extra chores to get ready for the wedding. I wanted to do my share.”

  “Soon, my love, we’ll be home in Dallas, and you won’t have to subject yourself to ranch work.” Tyler said those last two words with disdain. He took her hand and rubbed it between his palms. “No calluses should be on these gorgeous hands.”

  She liked working outdoors, and Tyler would never understand that side of her. When she and Tyler had children, she hoped they would come here and learn the value of a hard day’s work outdoors.

  “How is your work in Mexico going?” she asked.

  “Good. Our acquisitions department is working overtime to keep up. Which reminds me, did your dad ever review that paperwork I emailed over?”

  She leaned back and narrowed her eyes. “He hasn’t said anything to me. To be honest, I don’t think he’s interested in leasing to the oil company. He doesn’t see the need.”

  Tyler stood and paced the room. “I don’t understand why not. It’s a good opportunity. After looking at the maps, I can tell your family is likely sitting on millions of dollars in profit.”

  “Dad has been clear about our family not needing the money. My parents don’t need a lot of fancy things to be happy.” She waved her hands around the modestly decorated space. “There’s no rush, right? The oil will be here, if and when my dad decides to allow drilling.” The room became uncomfortably silent.

  Tyler stood still, looking out of the large picture window that overlooked the meadow. Hot pink flowers from a bougainvillea plant spilled across a trellis outside, framing the view.

  Moving from the sofa, she went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her lips brushed the small scar her brother had given him when they were fifteen. They had fought over a girl, and Grace remembered Tyler had eventually come out the winner. He’d dated that girl, Colleen Gardner, for the next two years.

  Tyler turned in her embrace and firmly kissed her lips. “Let’s go out and do something fun. You look too pretty to stay home.”

  His kiss left her head spinning. He still had that effect on her, a crazy rollercoaster ride that left her breathless. The feeling reminded her of why she wanted to marry Tyler. He was the love of her life. He was everything she’d ever wanted. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

  ****

  Standing in the shadows, Heath watched as the expensive sports car drove away, kicking up dust. So Tyler was here, staking his claim on Grace. A blazing jealousy filled him. He wanted to be the one she’d looked at with those large, adoring brown eyes, not Tyler.

  A wav
e of sorrow washed over him. Ever since the night of the festival, he’d kept his distance. He was in no position to offer her anything good. So, he decided to go about his life as if Grace Murray didn’t exist. Unfortunately, that plan had been a complete failure. He couldn’t ignore her any more than he could ignore the sun in the sky.

  That morning, for instance, he’d come across her raking out the horse stalls. He had gone into the stable to get a shovel. She’d looked dirty, sweaty, and totally irresistible. Her shirt had clung to her body, showing off all her curves. After Heath had spotted her and regained his senses, he’d stealthily made his escape without being noticed. Guess his Special Forces training was still good for something.

  For a while longer, he let himself brood then hopped on his motorcycle and drove into town. After crossing the Hickory River Bridge, he parked in front of a two-story brick building set on Main Street. Heath took a deep breath and opened the glass door imprinted with the title—Prescott & Garza.

  Inside sat a petite receptionist, her red hair in a high ponytail. “Hello,” she greeted. “How can I help you?”

  “My name is Heath Carter. I have an appointment with Mr. Garza.”

  She gave him a warm smile and handed him a clipboard with a sheet of paper attached. “Here is our privacy statement. Please read it over and sign at the bottom…oh, here’s a pen.”

  Heath took the clipboard and pen, and then went to sit on one of the brown leather chairs in the reception area.

  Several minutes later, a tall man came over to greet him. “Hi, Heath. I’m James Garza. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The man’s dark hair was smoothed back. He smiled and extended his hand to shake Heath’s.

  He followed the man to his office and took a seat.

  James seated himself behind a cluttered desk.

  Stacks of papers were piled so high, Heath was afraid they’d topple over. On the tall shelf at the rear of the office stood numerous family pictures—his wife and little daughter smiling happily. Seeing them gave Heath a twinge of envy.

  “So.” James rubbed his hands together. “You said you are working for the Murrays and staying on their ranch. That must be a busy place with the big wedding coming up.”

  At the mention of the wedding, Heath flinched. “Yes, there is really a lot to do. Bruce hired me on temporarily, to help get things ready.”

  James leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know Grace or Tyler personally, but this town is buzzing about their wedding. I’ve played golf a few times with Dr. Ross. He is very proud of his son.”

  Heath scratched at his beard. The room suddenly seemed to be closing in around him. The air felt heavy and thick, leaving him struggling for breath. James must have sensed his discomfort.

  He turned his gaze to the file folder in front of him and cleared his throat. “I contacted the lawyer in Florida handling the estate. They faxed me all the relevant documents. After looking them over, I must say, you’ve inherited quite a windfall.” He whistled as his finger tapped on the sum at the bottom of the sheet.

  “That’s part of the problem. Seven million is too much money for me to handle at this point in my life. I want to establish an investment account. Someplace where it can sit and grow interest until I’ve decided what I want to do.” The weight of being an instant millionaire sat heavy on his chest.

  “That’s a smart way to go. I’ve seen people come into a fortune and treat it like play money.” He turned in his chair and took a business card off the bookshelf. “I can give you the name of a financial planner that I trust. She’ll set up any type of accounts that you need. She’ll also connect you with a CPA.”

  “Thanks for your help.” Another person to make an appointment with. He’d have to deal with the stress of this—sitting through a meeting with a stranger—all over again. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. He wiped them away with the back of his hand.

  “Well, okay then. I have some papers for you to sign now.” James pulled a small stack of papers off his printer. “Then, once all the paperwork goes through the proper channels, I’ll have you return to sign a few more documents, and that should be it.”

  After scanning through several documents, Heath signed his name at the bottom. When he was done, the two men shook hands.

  James led the way to the reception area. “Take care, Heath. I’ll be in touch.”

  Heath made his way out the door. The warm air hit him like a wall, but after being inside the lawyer’s office, the heat felt refreshing. James Garza had been nice and helpful. Heath’s panic hadn’t been the lawyer’s fault.

  He’d spent years living his life on the fly. No plans. No dreams for the future. For the better part of his adult life, he wasn’t even sure he’d live to see the next day, let alone set out a plan for his future.

  I don’t have to figure out everything right now. He just needed to clear his head. Barely noticing, he passed western wear shops and a hardware store. When he passed the café where he’d seen Grace for the first time, he stopped to peer through the window. She had looked so perfect, sitting in the booth with Molly and Jenny, discussing her wedding plans. At that time, he’d figured a fascination with her was harmless since he’d never see her again. Boy, had he been so very wrong.

  Before long, he stood on the Hickory River Bridge. As the strong July wind pushed against the structure, the old wooden bridge creaked and moaned. Back to the scene of the crime. The moment he’d jumped in after her, his heart no longer belonged to him. The adage says that possession was nine-tenths of the law—but Grace would never know how much of him she owned.

  As he watched the brown water of the river swirl below, he imagined what his life would be like once he left Liberty Ridge and the ranch. What could he see himself doing for the rest of his life? The Army had given him many skills, some of which would be marketable in the workplace. Maybe he could start his own business. He liked building things. Many times in the remote locations where his Special Forces team needed a firebase, they would have to construct the facilities from scratch. He could take a few business classes, learn about licensing and insurance, and start his own construction company.

  He’d make that decision another day. Now, he had the power to shape his own destiny. As long as he could stay emotionally unattached from the people around him, he was free to go anywhere.

  For the first time in a long time, he felt something other than rage and hate. After John’s death, revenge held his mind hostage. He couldn’t wait to get back to Afghanistan and kill those responsible. The fire consumed him. When he’d stepped onto the transport plane to head straight into the fight, rage burned deep in his soul.

  During one mission, his unit had fallen under attack from a group of Taliban militants. The firefight had lasted hours, with both sides pinned down. Heath had pushed for close air support. He’d argued with his commanding officer, making the case they needed the bombers to end the stalemate before an American soldier lost his life.

  Now, as Heath stood on the bridge, he relived that day. He could hear the rumble of the bombers flying above. The shockwave of bomb blasts vibrated through his body.

  The bombs had left a large hole where the enemy had taken position, and Heath went along with his unit to survey the area. His stomach lurched at the memory of what they’d found. One of the bombs had hit an occupied hut. The bodies of its victims were strewn across the dirt.

  Hot tears stung his eyes as those images flickered through his mind, like a horror picture reel. The worst image was of a young boy, maybe three years old, lying in his mother’s arms. Both dead.

  After pushing back those memories for so long, they were now crashing over him like tidal waves. He grasped the wooden rail of the bridge for support, and a splinter dug into his palm.

  He had wanted revenge, and innocent people had paid the price for the fulfillment of his desire. Heath’s chest constricted to the point he could hardly breathe. Dealing with so many emotions at once overwhelmed his body. He closed his eyes and focused
on taking long, deep breaths.

  “You’re not jumping, are you?”

  A gentle voice broke his fragile meditation. He opened his eyes and turned to see a petite woman standing next to him.

  “I’m not.” Although he was grateful for the interruption, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Another busy-body.

  “Good, because you got that vibe goin’ on here.” She stared with an intense gaze.

  The woman was pretty, in a girl-next-door kind of way, with big blue eyes and fair skin. Her shorts, athletic top, and lime green shoes hinted she was probably in the middle of a run.

  “Colleen Gardner.” She held out her hand. “And you are?”

  He glanced at her outstretched hand, finally giving it a quick shake. “Heath Carter.”

  “You work for the Murrays, don’t you? Alex told me how you saved Grace when she fell in the river.”

  He nodded, unsure about this tiny woman who had just appeared. “I’m working there temporarily. The Murrays are a good family.” Heath took a step toward the end of the bridge. As he walked, back toward the downtown shops, Colleen’s steps echoed behind him.

  “You looked like you were in serious trouble just now. I don’t mean to be nosy, but are you all right?” She touched his arm.

  He involuntarily flinched. Not wanting to be rude, he took a deep breath before answering. “I’m sorry, but it’s really none of your business.” His chest knotted with tension while he continued walking, with Colleen falling in line beside him.

  “Just a second.” She stopped at the entrance to a book store. “Please just wait here. I’ll be right back.” She ran inside.

  Heath waited, thoroughly perplexed.

  Several seconds later, she reappeared, pen and paper in hand. She scribbled down a few lines, and then handed it to him.

  His gaze snapped up to meet hers. “What is this?”

  She stood with a hand resting on her hip. “I’m a Clinical Psychologist. When I approached you on the bridge, my spidey senses tingled. I practiced for several years by the Army base in Killeen and recognize that look from a mile away. Former soldier, right?”