by Elsie Davis
The music stopped. Her heart stopped. Kayla opened her eyes and looked at Dylan. Big mistake. No one else existed for the space of what felt like eternity. In reality, it was only seconds.
But it was too late. Nothing could erase the memory of the twist the winding river took all those years ago.
…
Dylan knew from the tears he’d seen pooling in Kayla’s eyes, she had understood the song perfectly, but what she chose to do about it was out of his control for the time being. Just like another sleepless night had been out of his control.
“Morning,” Dylan said as Derek entered the kitchen. He could have sworn it was Saturday, but his brother was never up this early on weekends.
“Good morning.” Derek smiled.
Dylan wasn’t sure what to make of his brother’s behavior as he poured a glass of orange juice and sat down to eat his breakfast as if this were his normal routine. And there was no evidence of the boy who’d claimed to be sick enough to miss school yesterday.
Derek’s chipper attitude had Dylan puzzled. “What’s got you up before the birds?”
“Going for a ride with Kayla, um, if that’s okay with you?” he asked, his voice hopeful.
Dylan did a double take. Asking permission wasn’t normally part of the program lately. The brothers both had Kayla on the brain, but it would seem Derek was the only one making progress.
Out of bed early, mindful of his manners, and suddenly remembering the rules. It was as if Derek had become a different kid overnight. Leave it to a woman to make the impossible possible. And not just any woman. Kayla.
It irritated him to no end.
Dylan had tried everything to reach the kid, and sweet-talking Kayla had waltzed in and succeeded where he was failing. She’d lied to cover Derek skipping school, something he downright disapproved of, but whatever else she was doing was working wonders.
He didn’t have it in him to wipe away the first sign of happiness he’d seen in his brother in a while, but later, maybe after the wedding, they’d have their talk about skipping school. He couldn’t let it slide.
“Just the two of you?” Dylan asked with undisguised interest.
“Yeah. She wanted to go out early and I don’t think she should be riding alone.” It appeared the kid had learned something. Chivalry wasn’t dead.
“I have to agree with you. Thanks for stepping up and looking after her.”
Derek shot him a funny look.
He wasn’t averse to handing out praise, so it shouldn’t be such a shock, but lately, there hadn’t been many praise-worthy actions from his brother to compliment. Contrary to Kayla’s opinion, he wasn’t a heartless jerk.
“Do you like her? I heard you all talking, and it made me wonder.” Derek stopped eating his bowl of cereal to look up as he waited for an answer.
A little truth wouldn’t hurt either one of them. “I do. When she was about your age, she used to tag along and follow me everywhere like a little sister.”
“So why isn’t she like a sister now? And why doesn’t she live here anymore?” His questions held the raw simplicity of youth.
“Because the brother-sister relationship got lost along the way, and something more powerful took its place. But Kayla was restless in the quiet of the country, and her dreams took her far away from Riverbend.”
“Sounds like me. But why would you let her go? I like her, and I want her to stay.”
“I let her go because of the more powerful thing I mentioned. Someday you’ll understand. For me, her happiness was important, and she wasn’t happy here, so I let her go.”
“Doesn’t she like you anymore? Maybe we could make her happy and want to stay,” Derek offered in his innocence.
“No. Unfortunately, we can’t. Only she can make herself happy, but it doesn’t mean her friends can’t give her an extra push to stop long enough and take a good look around. To see if it’s a place she could love now that she’s older and wiser.” He winked.
“Is that what you’re doing? Like that sappy song you did last night.”
“Yeah, but how about keeping that between me and you? Our little secret.”
Derek’s grin warmed him. They were on the same side for a change. For both their sakes, he hoped Kayla stuck around.
“Sounds like a plan. So, um, if you like like her, why don’t you come with us this morning? You never ride with me for fun. It’s always work, work, work. Maybe if you showed her you could be fun, she’d like you better.”
The kid was right. There was always work to be done. The ranch and all the people he employed depended on him. And it was his job to make sure Derek had everything he needed.
He was only one person, but it didn’t stop the guilt as he tried to figure out the easiest way to say no. Maybe, just this once, he could say yes. It wasn’t like the ranch hands wouldn’t take care of what needed to be done, but for him, shrugging responsibility didn’t come easy.
There’ll always be something else unless I make a change. Riding out with Derek and Kayla sounded like as good a time as any to play hooky. Not to mention Derek made a good point, if he joined them on the ride, it would give him another opportunity to press forward with his plan to show Kayla what she was missing. Using his brother to get closer to Kayla had never occurred to him, but it certainly would make things easier. Kayla wouldn’t back out on Derek.
Maybe he wouldn’t be having that talk with his brother at all. “Okay.”
“Really? You mean it? Thanks.” His brother’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning and Santa had delivered his number-one request. Something as simple as a ride. Something his father had never done with Dylan. It was always work, work, work.
And in the end, Dylan had rebelled to get his attention. The Fearless Five all had their reasons for stirring up trouble, but all Dylan had ever managed to get was a switch and more chores. No time. No praise. No love.
Exactly like his mother had never felt loved. Steeped in tradition, had he ignored the truth and carried on like his father instead of making a change? His father had died working, and Dylan couldn’t remember a time when he’d seen him happy. Did he want to be like his father? A man who drove his wife away from the ranch that imprisoned her?
Like he’d driven Kayla away five years ago, terrified to watch her wilt away as the ranch sucked the beauty and joy from her life. In the end, wasn’t it the same thing? They’d both driven away the woman they loved. For the first time, Dylan saw his life differently, and he didn’t like what he saw. He’d become his father.
…
Two riders approached on horseback, their figures dark against the backdrop of the breaking dawn. One tall and proud, confident in the way he rode, the other shorter and not quite as smooth. Dylan and Derek.
Yesterday, Dylan had made it clear his brother wasn’t her concern, but Kayla couldn’t believe he would go so far as to join them on the early morning ride because of his lack of trust in her abilities. Grateful he hadn’t taken the ride away from the kid, she would tolerate his presence. Barely.
The pleasure on Derek’s face last night had been genuine when she’d invited him to ride out this morning. It felt right to try and bring even a smidgeon of happiness to the boy’s life, even if she had to endure Dylan riding shotgun.
Derek hadn’t liked her condition that he ask Dylan for permission, but she’d held her ground. And the price of her insistence came in the form of the man himself. As much as she didn’t want Dylan around, his presence would be like whipped cream on an apple dumpling treat to his little brother.
“Morning, Kayla,” Derek called out excitedly before they reached the barn where she waited. “Hope you don’t mind, but I invited my brother.” A wide, crooked-tooth grin on his face won her over.
“Of course not. Good morning to you both.” She couldn’t keep her gaze from traveling to Dylan.
“Good morning, Kayla. It’s going to be another hot day.”
Weather was always a safe topic. “And dry from
what I hear,” she added.
“I’m sure Sophia won’t mind the dryness this afternoon,” he said. “Although maybe if it rains it’ll be considered a good luck omen for their marriage, considering the drought.”
“I’ll have to agree with you there.”
“Music to my ears.” He steadied his horse as he pawed at the ground, anxious to be off on the morning ride.
Another cryptic comment. One she wasn’t about to let slide. “What do you mean?”
“You agreeing with me on something. Maybe we could make it a habit.”
She’d fallen right into the trap, and damn if he hadn’t delivered the smooth-talking line like it was rehearsed. But it didn’t mean she had to take a bite of the apple he offered.
“Speaking of weddings, we need to ride. We don’t have much time before we have to get back.”
Derek looked back and forth between them, his brow creased in a tight frown. “I think it’s cool you’re both in the wedding. Maid of honor and best man.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more.” Dylan cast a sly smile her way before he spurred his horse forward, cutting off any chance of a reply.
They fell into an easy canter, side by side, with Kayla in the middle. Heading east, the rising sun crested the horizon in full streaks of red, painting the edges of nearby clouds.
“Wow, it’s breathtakingly gorgeous out here this time of the morning,” she said.
“I have to agree.” Dylan wasn’t looking at the sunrise.
Kayla chose to ignore the comment, but it didn’t stop her heart from pounding. Traitorous organ.
A compliment from Dylan was like the first few drops of rain in a storm. Exciting. But if they continued, they could lead to a flood of emotions she wasn’t prepared to handle. She’d been a fool to think she could come here and not have old feelings rise and bite her in the derriere, and if last night’s performance was any indicator, she was in trouble. For whatever reason, she was back on Dylan’s radar.
Many women admitted they never got over their first love, but most moved on to live happy lives.
“Look, Kayla,” Derek exclaimed. His hand shot forward and pointed to a place where three deer grazed in the distance.
“They’re beautiful. Good eye.” The kid beamed under her praise.
For the next hour, they talked and rode. A sense of peace settled over her like a well-worn pair of faded jeans. Soft and snug, almost caressing. This was her home. Her land.
Well, her parents’ land, anyway. Someday it would be hers, but the million-dollar question remained. What would she do with it? Rich with family history, generations of Andersons had been born and raised here, creating the very essence of the land. Home.
And other than the man riding next to her, home felt good.
A little action would help keep her mind off the guilt she felt for leaving in the first place, and now, for the regret simmering at the surface. It wouldn’t do any good for regret to worm its way into her heart. She’d made her choice, and there was no turning back.
“Race you guys to the grove of trees over there,” she said, pointing to a spot in the distance off to the left.
“What’s the bet?” Derek asked in excitement.
“Sign of true cowboy. Gotta have a bet,” Dylan added with a grin, his words earning him an award-winning smile from Derek.
“Losers take care of the winner’s horse when we get back?” Kayla offered.
“That’ll work. But it’s probably not fair, because Kayla hasn’t ridden in a while. Maybe we shouldn’t bet,” Dylan said. His lips twitched, trying to keep a straight face. She knew what he was doing, but damned if she could shut her mouth.
“I can ride. Just because I haven’t ridden in a while doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing. Challenge accepted.”
Dylan was sure to win anyway, and Kayla figured it was a safe bet. One that would leave her and Derek brushing down Dylan’s horse.
“Fine. You call the start,” Dylan said, nodding toward her.
“Yes!” Derek’s excitement was contagious as Kayla readied herself to take flight with Dizzy. The mare was getting older, but Kayla was determined to make the race look good for the boy’s sake.
“Three. Two. One. Go.” They all took off like a shot, Kayla getting a head start as she rattled off the words, lickety-split quick, catching them off-guard.
Exhilaration filled her. On and on, the horse’s hooves pounded the ground in a fast rhythm. Her hair whipped around her face. Kayla peeked back to check her lead, dismayed to see them both close on her heels. So much for a lead.
“Come on, Dizzy girl,” she said, leaning forward and becoming one with her mare, working together. Just like old times.
Seconds passed. Dylan’s massive horse pulled up close and then surged ahead after he tossed her a brief challenging cat-got-the-cream grin. Kayla looked around for Derek, surprised to see him pull neck and neck with her. Miniature Dylan was going to give her a run for the money, although Kayla had every intention of letting him beat her anyway. Every kid needed a confidence booster now and then, and today was Derek’s lucky day.
As they neared the trees, Dylan was in the lead, positioned to win. Kayla slowed slightly to let Derek move ahead. At the last second, Dylan pulled up on his reins no more than fifty feet from the finish line, and Derek shot forward to claim the win. It all happened so fast, Kayla was still in shock as she reined in her mare.
Her worry for Dylan’s horse superseded the price of losing the bet. She raced to his side. “Is he okay? Did he come up lame?” Kayla jumped off her horse and ran her hands down the gelding’s legs.
“Relax. He’s fine. He stumbled, and I pulled up to be safe.” Dylan stood next to the massive Quarter Horse, but he didn’t seem nearly as concerned as he should be.
Which could only mean one thing. “Did you just throw the race?” She stood and looked him straight in the eye.
“Hardly. Why would I?” he said, a look of pure innocence. Cat-got-the-cream innocent. She didn’t trust him, but her answer was cut short when Derek pulled up next to them.
“Congratulations, Derek,” Kayla said.
“Great run. You’ve gotten pretty good since I last rode with you,” Dylan said.
“It has been a while, but thanks.” Derek beamed, his cheeks flushed with pleasure. High praise from Dylan meant the world to the kid.
“How about I see what I can do to change some things around, so we can do it more often?”
“Really? You mean it? That would be awesome. Winning is pretty awesome, too, because you two get to brush down my horse when we get back, and for once, I can get out of a chore without getting in trouble.” He laughed.
“How about that? Miracles do happen.” Dylan’s laughter matched his brother’s.
The rat. He’d done it on purpose. How ironic. She’d let Derek beat her for a confidence booster only to find out Dylan was thinking the same thing, but she was certain his reasons weren’t nearly as altruistic as hers.
Chapter Eight
“See you later,” Derek said, handing the reins to Dylan and taking off for the house like a jackrabbit. The kid was quite pleased with himself, if his grin was anything to go by.
Dylan came to stand next to her, his nearness sending shivers down her spine even though it was eighty-five degrees outside.
“How do you want to do this? Each do our own and then brush down Jezebel together?” he asked.
“I guess. I’m still thinking you lost on purpose, and I haven’t forgiven you yet, so I might let you do Jezebel all by yourself.” She would never back out on her part of the bargain, but there was no harm in taunting him.
“I plead the Fifth, but I can’t believe you would welch on a bet just to avoid me. I don’t bite.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Kayla was in over her head and had no idea how to swim in the sea of emotions threatening to drown her. It was easier to stay focused on Dizzy, each pull of the brush delivered wit
h precise, long strokes. Anything to keep her mind off Dylan standing less than ten feet away.
She stalled as long as possible, to the point Dizzy nudged her shoulder as if to urge her on. The mare wanted her reward and was impatient. Kayla took the lead and led Dizzy back to her stall where fresh hay and an apple would be expected.
Dylan had already started on Jezebel, but it was only fair since she thought he threw the race. They hadn’t said more than ten words while they groomed their horses, leaving Kayla to wonder what he was thinking. It wouldn’t be as easy to ignore him when they worked side by side, but for her peace of mind, she would try.
“’Bout time you got to your end of the deal. Figured you were moving at a snail’s pace to make sure I did all the work,” Dylan said. His eye-crinkling, sexy smile melted her resistance to fight back.
“I was, but since I consider myself an honorable person, I couldn’t not help. No matter how much it pains me to work with you.” She had to remember the reality between them. She had to stay strong against the charm he wore like a second skin.
“Kayla. Stop. It doesn’t have to be this way between us.” He stopped brushing, one hand on the mare’s head to hold her still. His gaze seared Kayla with its intensity, but she kept stroking Jezebel. She wasn’t about to let him see how much he was affecting her.
“Yes, it does. I’m glad you walked away, but it didn’t make it hurt any less at the time.” There. She’d said it. Maybe saying it would finally put an end to the mind-numbing hold strangling her emotions.
“I’m sorry. I would have given anything not to hurt you. Sleeping with you was a mistake, and it made it ten times harder to let you go.”
“A mistake,” she said, her voice tight. “That’s what you’re calling it?”
Her pile-of-crap meter overflowed.
“You don’t know the flipping meaning of a mistake,” she continued before he had a chance to answer. “Just like you have no idea how much your mistake cost me. Us. You walked away and never looked back. It took me years to get over your betrayal and the pain of rejection, and all I ask for now is for you to leave me alone. I can’t go through it again.” Her voice was a strangled whisper and foreign to her ears.