by Piper Stone
Sawyer planted his feet against the floorboard as the blades began to whirl.
“Didn’t she tell you about her case?”
“We weren’t doing much talking.”
Boone snorted. “I forgot about that. Okay, we’re just about ready. What’s wrong, buddy? You’re looking a little green.”
“I told you. I hate to fly.”
Bursting into laughter, he checked his pre-flight as he eased the earpiece and microphone around his head. “You’re a smokejumper. You jump out of planes for a living.”
“That’s completely different.” At least with larger planes he could feel secure behind the thick metal.
“Flight 425 ready for takeoff.”
Sawyer closed his eyes as the tower connected, giving instructions. What the hell was he doing here? “Where are we going again?”
“Harriman State Park. Spence is thinking about bringing some wild mustangs to a location there to set them free.”
“Mustangs?” He glanced in Boone’s direction. Colton Spencer had been helpful on the arson case involving Katrina and her two brothers. The horse theft ring had supposedly involved some rich Saudi Arabian guy, but the connection was never made. He could sense an odd mood in Boone. Something was on his friend’s mind.
“Yep. He’s dedicated. Granted, I think that’s because of the girl he’s falling in love with.” Boone snickered as he lifted the bird off the pad. “Seems like love is in the air.”
Sawyer resisted countering. “Is this for the same criminal investigation?”
Boone shrugged as he pushed the controls. “Not exactly. The Bureau of Land Management has no love of the wild horses. The great BLM would just as soon kill them off as to relocate them. Spence and his girlfriend have this plan to relocate an entire herd to Harriman. He just wanted me to check out the area overhead. And no, I don’t know the entire story, but you know Spence. When he decides on something he wants, he doesn’t allow any government official to stand in his way.”
“He’s worried about the mustangs being stolen?”
“Maybe. They use illegal tattooing with the mustangs, breeding the mares, but I’m not certain how that plays into what occurred before or with the Saudi operation. We’re not investigators. Remember?”
“Yeah, I know. Just curious.”
“If you ask me, Katrina getting her day in court just puts the shit one step closer to being behind us. A normal life.” Boone snickered. “If any of us can find that.”
“I’m not certain any longer.” While they both remained quiet for a few minutes, he couldn’t get over the feeling that Boone was holding back. “This really needed to happen today?”
He exhaled, his gaze remaining staring out the front glass.
“Okay. I don’t like this. What aren’t you telling me?”
Boone shrugged before issuing a long sigh. “Stasha doesn’t like the danger. After everything she went through, she wants more of a down to earth relationship.”
“Down to earth. Translation means she doesn’t want you jumping any longer.”
“We’ve talked about me switching careers.”
Sawyer knew how much Boone adored Stasha, but his buddy had fought to become a smokejumper. “Back to the rodeo circuit?”
“I… I don’t know. The event in October will tell me whether I’m good enough.”
“From what I saw, you’re good enough.” He studied Boone’s almost cautious expression. “There’s more. We’re not just here to do a favor for Spence, are we?”
He laughed nervously and rubbed his hand on his jeans, keeping his fingers flexed open.
Sawyer caught the move as well as the fact Boone had difficulty sitting still. “He offered you a job.”
Boone darted his eyes in Sawyer’s direction, shrugging again. “He might have.”
“You have to be kidding me? You love this job. I know that. Everyone can see your enthusiasm every day.”
“Yeah, well almost dying a month ago didn’t set well with Stasha.”
“She knew exactly the kind of man she was getting involved with,” Sawyer insisted. “She doesn’t have a right to ask you something like that.”
“Don’t you dare judge her!” Boone snapped then looked away. “That’s not fair. She didn’t ask or demand, threaten to leave me or anything else. She worries. She can’t sleep. I hear her crying in the middle of the night. I love her, Sawyer.”
He shook his head, unable to counter Boone’s words.
“As if you’d know. You haven’t been in love in what, your entire life?”
The statement was biting. “I don’t have to be a man in love to realize that you need to make yourself happy first in order to have a relationship. I don’t care what you do, Boone. You’re always going to be my friend but be content in your choices. If you want to work with Spence, then do it. But don’t make a decision you’ll regret for the rest of your life.” The words seemed to hang in the air.
“And you need a day off. Take that girl of yours out to dinner. I could see the chemistry lighting up the room even from where I stood. Whew, baby. You too were sucking up on the dance floor. Did you really fuck her in front of Blackfoot River?”
The change of subject was needed.
Giving his friend the finger, he could feel a blush creeping up his neck. “We talked. We kissed. We got closer. And that’s all the information you’re going to get.”
“Okay. Fine. She might do you some good, ya know.”
Sawyer grimaced as Boone maneuvered the helicopter, moving up and near the mountains. He bit back a groan as he looked down, studying the forests. So many acres had been lost, burned. It would take years, if not decades to recover. “I like her.”
“Tell me something I couldn’t figure out. You going to see her again?”
“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Dude. What is with you lately? Seems like you’re holding back. And don’t compare what I just told you. I know I have a tough decision to make. Just thoughts. Nothing more. But you. I’ve never seen you so on edge. You’re the quiet one, focused and a ‘go with the flow’ kind of jumper. But the last week or so? You worry me.”
He thought about what to say to his best friend. “I think it’s time to retire.”
“What?” His question was half yelled. He gripped the controller, the action forcing the helicopter to change course.
“I’m serious. Just my time. I’ve been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you have, or the rest of the team.” He gripped the dashboard, groaning. “And just fly. Okay? I don’t want to die today.” Not today, or any day for that matter.
Boone wrinkled his brow and headed over the mountains, the grip remaining firm. “You’re forty-five. You’re in great shape. The guys love you. There has to be another reason and I doubt it has anything to do with the female attorney.”
There always was. “Just been doing a lot of thinking. The past won’t leave me alone. You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I get it, but everything is different now. We have a great team.” Boone inhaled. “Does this have anything to do with the captain?”
“What do you mean?”
He groaned as he shifted, lifting the bird higher. “He’s retiring, and rumor says it’s in September. Is that what’s making you think you should go? You don’t want to work under Antonio?”
“Antonio isn’t right for the job. You and I both know that.”
“Yeah. I think the entire team agrees, but what choice does the captain have? I mean…” Boone allowed his words to trail off. “Hold on. Captain Phillips asked you to consider taking the helm. Didn’t he?”
“He…” Shit. The last thing he needed was Antonio finding out a damn thing. He wasn’t ready for any additional tension.
“He did! That’s fantastic. Everyone would be on board with that, Sawyer. You’re perfect for the job.”
“Maybe not everyone. Just keep this to yourself and I mean it, Boone.”
“Not saying a wor
d, buddy but I have no idea why you’d be thinking about retiring yourself with this opportunity. Happens maybe once in a lifetime.”
Sawyer knew Boone was right, but he wasn’t ready to think about either set of consequences. They both remained silent as Boone crossed over the mountains but seeing the scorched areas, the very location where they’d all thought they were going to die wasn’t building his confidence level in any manner. The fire rollover on the mountain had been the single most horrifying event of his life and while they’d all recovered, at least according to the shrink the captain had hired for obligatory visits, he continued to have nightmares.
Maybe the moment in June had accelerated his desire to leave. That and thinking about Steve. He hadn’t even told Boone everything about his past and wasn’t going to bring it up at this point. Damn, if he didn’t feel very much alone.
“You’re not going to mention the job offer. Right?”
Sawyer snuffed. “Of course not. But think carefully before you make any decisions.”
“Same to you.”
The two men nodded, the silent understanding solid. They were both at a crossroads in their lives.
“I talked with Riker on the course today. He finally admitted, under threat of kicking my ass if I said anything, that Landen and Shannon are trying to get out of town in a couple weekends. They really plan on eloping. Least we can do is throw a bachelor party.”
“And Shannon would handle Riker’s threat herself.” Sawyer grinned.
“Eh. Yes. Unless we can get the girls to do the same.”
“Hey. If you want to be a party planner while you’re homeless. Go right ahead.”
Boone snarled then dipped the helicopter before chuckling. “Don’t like birds, huh?”
“I swear to God, Boone!” He gripped the handle over the door and did everything he could to stop the vomit threatening to force him to hurl.
“Hey. Just making you more comfortable. Wow. Would you look at that?”
Sawyer held his stomach as he looked out the window, a smile crossing his face. There had to be hundreds of horses running toward the trees, their manes flowing as they raced away.
“I have to get closer.” Boone throttled down and took a slight dive, heading right for them.
“Be careful! Don’t get too close. The BLM uses helicopters to drive the horses to an area for capture.”
“And I thought you didn’t know anything about the wild mustangs.” Boone pulled back, keeping a distance.
“I know enough. Lived in Missoula all my life. Remember?” He blinked several times in an effort to get a closer look at the incredible racing horses. The beautiful mustang he’d seen had never left his mind and for some crazy reason, he knew he was going to see the horse again.
“The tried and true rancher out of all of us.” Boone moved down further, still keeping his distance.
“Wait. Look at that.” He pointed and sat up in the seat.
“What exactly are you looking at?”
“Can you touch down?”
Boone scoffed then darted a glance in his direction. “Here? Why?”
“I just need to get close to them.”
“Them?”
Sawyer nodded. “I have my reasons.”
“Might scare them away if I do.”
“I’ll take that chance.” Sawyer could see the horse and he knew in his heart and soul that the beautiful white steed standing just away from the rest, his majestic head tipped, his gaze pointed was studying them, watching their approach.
“You’re really not yourself lately, buddy. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’ll land. Be prepared. They’re going to scatter. Just hold tight.”
Sawyer nodded but in truth was paying little attention except to the horse. He had a corral full of them, several he considered his babies, but this was different. This was a calling.
“They’re going to run. Trust me. They do not like humans.”
“I don’t either and I heard you the first time.”
“O-kay then.” Boone laughed again. “And I will agree with you there.”
As the helicopter flew into the canyon, moving closer to the herd, the horses began to scatter. But the white horse remained.
“What are you trying to find out?” Boone asked as he secured a location, landing with a single jump.
“See the white horse?”
“The one giving us the death rays? That’s very odd he’s just standing there, as if daring us.”
“Yeah. He’s special and I saw him at the fire.” Sawyer unbuckled his seat belt and was out of the helicopter before the blades even slowed. Every step calculated as well as even, he walked toward the white steed.
Boone caught up to him, flanking his side, keeping his voice low. “Are you trying to tell me that the horse you’re staring at was at the fire we just helped extinguish?”
“It’s feasible.” Yes, there were miles between the two areas, but he’d know this horse anywhere.
“Yeah. I guess. They usually stay in the same location unless they’re forced away, but if they cut through the pastures, the horse could have made it here. I still don’t get this.”
“Look at him. He’s amazing.” He was shivering, a rush of current shooting into his muscles. The other horses seemed to be calling to the majestic steed, but the mustang ignored the cries.
“Sawyer. You’re really scaring me,” Boone said, his voice strangled. “He’s going to bolt.”
Sawyer continued walking and he could feel the connection, the electricity shared between them. “He’s magnificent.”
“That’s amazing. He’s just standing there. Are you sure this is the horse you saw from before?”
“I’m certain.” He took two additional long strides until he was within six feet of the horse.
Whhhaaa…
The horse whinnied and stomped his hoof on the ground, his eyes never leaving Sawyer.
“It’s okay, boy. I’m not going to hurt you,” Sawyer whispered as he took another step.
Boone wrapped his hand around Sawyer’s arm. “They’re wild. Keep that in mind. You don’t know what he’s going to do.”
“I understand. I know horses, Boone. Very well.” Pulling away gently, he walked even closer, holding out his hand.
The horse dropped his head, issuing a snort.
Sawyer was captured by his beauty, by the way the steed carried himself as the leader and he realized he was shaking. A shift in the wind brought a cry toward them, a beckoning whinnying from the wild as if acknowledging their existence.
After locking eyes, time standing still, the horse took off, galloping in the direction of the other horses, who stood on the outskirts, waiting. Watching. Seconds later, the steed turned around, rearing on his hind legs.
A rush of understanding enveloped his body.
“Wow,” Boone whispered. “I have no words.”
He knew in his gut that he’d see the horse again. He only hoped this wasn’t a sign and one laced with tragedy.
Chapter 6
“So. Spill it, girlfriend. Is Sawyer everything I told you and more?” Stasha swirled her coffee cup, her face full of mischief.
“He’s spectacular,” Reese said casually, then laughed, her hand floating absently to her lips, heat cresting along her jawline. She wanted nothing more than to think about the concept of a positive move forward after the nasty morning in court.
“And I heard you two found dangerous, blazing chemistry together?” She held her hand over her mouth but couldn’t stop laughing.
“Great. Who told you? Is it all over town?”
Nodding, she swallowed before speaking. “Pretty much.”
“Fantastic. My life is complete.” She took a sip of coffee, wishing like hell it was wine. Or bourbon. Or both. Everything in her life was topsy-turvy. At least the jury had different expressions when the case ended. Indignation as well as confusion. She had no doubt they were going to find Walker guilty of every ugly murder. Relief w
as right there. Just waiting. Unfortunately, the jury would be out for at least two days, maybe over the weekend. That’s how these cases worked.
“Hey. I’m happy for you. Sawyer deserves a good woman.” Stasha lifted her cup.
After the escapades from the previous two nights, she was no longer certain if she could be classified as anything but a vixen. “He’s very different than any man I’ve ever gone out with.”
“Please do not compare Sawyer Lincoln, a smokejumper and a hero to a conniving womanizer like Christopher Sampson.”
Surprised at the vehemence in her friend’s voice, she was momentarily taken aback, a cough thrusting past her lips. “I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t even try with me. I’m a smart cookie,” Stasha chortled as she pointed her index finger to her forehead. “We’ve had four lunches near your work at your call, and every single time he just happened to be there, hovering like an obsessive vulture. And you couldn’t resist flirting with him during the middle of your salads.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I just…” How was she supposed to counter the truth?
“Nothing to be sorry about. Except for your taste in men.”
Reese cringed and rolled her eyes. “We’re finished, so it doesn’t matter. What we shared was…” As if on cue, she noticed Christopher standing just outside the window. Snuggled against him was a better looking version of the picture she’d found at his home. “Totally finished.”
Stasha snorted, her gaze following Reese’s. “As I said, womanizer. Marcy Sampson the wife. She’s a powerful woman in her own right. I definitely wouldn’t get on her difficult side and I hope to hell she has no idea of your involvement with the asshole.”
“Chris isn’t that bad,” Reese scoffed.
“Uh-huh. I read the papers, watch the news. Missoula is merely a stopping ground for all his political aspirations. Judge or congress first? The question remains.”
She couldn’t help but study the way Marcy clung to him, her face shimmering with joy, both very animated as they walked hand in hand. “Good for both of them.” Congress. If that was the case, he’d be challenging Richard Tatum’s seat. Why not have the man’s son convicted. She stored the information in the back of her mind. Why? One never knew.