Best Friends Forever_A Marriage Pact Romance

by Jess Bentley

  I listened absent-mindedly while Colt talked about adding a third floor, finishing the basement, installing a solar water heater and solar shingles to take advantage of the blistering Texas sun. He talked about a few other eco-friendly add-ons, and I listened and responded just enough to sound halfway intelligent.

  There was still plenty of daylight left, so I agreed to a tour by four-wheeler. Colt fired up the engine then motioned for me to climb on behind him. I slid my camera bag around behind my back and took a seat on a cushioned gear rack behind him, relieved to find handholds on either side of my legs to avoid having to grab onto him.

  We raced in the direction of the barn, and for a moment I wondered how much of the wild little boy was still inside him. There was a time when the Colt I knew would have taken the worn path a little too fast, showing off a little too much for a much younger kid. Now, he was more reserved, like a man who’d had all the risk he could stomach and just wanted… peace.

  “Now, the only way to really appreciate this ranch,” he began when he slid the immense barn door open on its track, “is by horseback. Come on.”

  “Wait, what? I’m, uh...really, I’m not dressed for it,” I said, gesturing to my professional attire and making excuses.

  “You shoulda thought of that before you headed out to one of the largest cattle ranches in the tri-county area!” he teased. “It’ll be fine, I’ve got just the horse in mind for you.”

  Before I could protest, Colt had saddled up two massive horses, one a sleek black stallion and the other a chestnut colored mare. At the risk of seeming sexist in my own choice of horses, I approached the mare with my hand out towards her velvety nose.

  “Nuh uh, Misty’s the jealous type,” Colt said with a hint of caution in his voice.

  “Wait a minute… Misty? As in Misty McDaniels? You named your horse after your high school sweetheart?” I started giggling, and couldn’t stop. Colt stood by, watching me with an amused grin and waiting for me to regain my composure.

  “First off, I didn’t name the horse. She’s a rescue from a farm a good ways from here. But if I had named her, surely you’d agree that it’s fitting. Old Misty was a stubborn, horse-faced, two-timing—”

  “Wait a minute, horse-faced? Nice try, she was the homecoming queen, Colt. I think you’re just experiencing a little revisionist history. And as for two-timing, I do remember a few stories about you and my brother, namely about your late-night trips to go parking behind that old broken down drive-in screen. I’m pretty sure ol’ horse face wasn’t the only one stepping out on her sweetheart.” I let my tone of voice drop all the hints of my accusation and waited for Colt to squirm.

  “I don’t know what you’re implying, but I would never,” he answered, closing his eyes, raising a hand in honor, and looking smugly self-righteous Texan preacher man.

  “Save it, cowboy, the talk was all over the junior high school about you and Allie Hamilton staying out all night that one time, and how her parents pulled her outta school and made her go live with her grandparents after her reputation was ruined.”

  “What?! Are you kidding? That wasn’t me! That was your dear sweet, saintly big brother. I was just the person they called to come pick them up when he ran the battery down on the car playing his ‘mood music’ all night.” Colt laughed, but looked surprised. “I can’t believe you didn’t know that. Bryant was quite the hellion, maybe it’s high time you interviewed your own brother!”

  “I am shocked,” I replied, pretending to be indignant. “I can’t believe you would try to sully the good name of someone who… well… now that you mention it, he was always in trouble, wasn’t he?”

  “Well, it was the good kind of trouble. Bryant was always up to something,” Colt admitted, “but you gotta say this for him: he never got in the same trouble twice! He was always on the lookout for something new to get people riled up.”

  We laughed for a minute, reminding each other of my brother’s most notorious antics. Finally, Misty shifted her weight from one hoof to the other, and Colt turned to stroke her soft nose.

  “I know, girl, you’re ready to go for a ride.” He took the reins and turned to me, pointing to the stallion. “You’re riding Dudley over there.”

  “Dudley? That thing looks like it should be named Thunder, or Blaze, or Monster. Why’d you pick ‘Dudley’?”

  “I didn’t. He came that way, too. And judging by the fact that his last owner gave him up for being too stupid to walk in a straight line, it just fits. But I’ve worked with him a lot, and he’s a solid, friendly horse. Come on, I’ll give you a leg up.”

  Before I could even formulate a coherent protest, I was sitting on top of the sleek black horse. And Colt was right about him. He wasn’t bright, but he was the gentlest horse I’d ever ridden. We headed out together and rode just the perimeter of the back acres closest to the house, not even coming close to seeing the bulk of the land, but still I got a sense of wonder from what I could see in the distance.

  By the time I’d taken hundreds of photos and we’d made it back to the main house, my mind was far away from fancy roof shingles and wine cellars. Instead, I was more focused on when in the hell the lanky country boy who’d tormented me as a kid had turned into an environmentally conscious, intelligent businessman who could have walked off romance novel cover.

  Colt saw to the horses while I took the opportunity to sneak a few photos of him working. No matter how much money or property or prestige he had, he would always be the cowboy kid I knew growing up. Watching him groom the horses and put away the tack, watching the gentle way he fed and watered the animals, talking to them while he worked, was like a window into a whole new side of him that I’d known was buried in there but had never seen for myself.

  “Come on, I’ll fix us some dinner,” he said, holding out his hand to me. I looked at it, unsure of what kind of meaning to put to it. I didn’t want to be rude, though, so I slipped my hand into his and let him lead the way.

  “Don’t trouble yourself, I have to get going soon. I was going to get at least as far as Dupont by tonight, and get to working on this article at the hotel.”

  “What about your parents?” he asked, turning to face me with a shocked expression. “Don’t tell me you came all the way down here and aren’t gonna visit.”

  “Oh no, I got in a couple of days ago, and stayed out at their place,” I explained, assuring him I’d had a great time seeing them.

  “You been here for a few days already and didn’t stop by? Meredith, I gotta admit, that hurts a little. I’d have fetched Mama and my brothers, had a whole big get-together… you know, done things right.”

  I didn’t know what to say, so I only shrugged. I’d never been a focal point in our families’ activities together, but more like the extra girl who was just always there. “I’m sorry, but with the drive down here and back, I just didn’t know what kind of time I’d have to socialize. Next time I’m down, we’ll do something. Okay?”

  “Next time?” His voice was rather quiet. “Is it gonna take another ten years? Or do I have to build another project out here to get you to come take some pictures?”

  I didn’t answer, and the sting of his passive accusation hit home. He suddenly brightened though, smiling and turning to walk backwards in front of me. The gesture was so familiar, so like I remembered him.

  “I got it, the solar farm! You have to come back and do another article when it’s all in place. Just this morning I gave the go ahead to rip out part of the hay and put in these giant solar panels on pillars, they’re gonna send electricity back to the power grid. The electric company partnered with me, and they estimate it’s gonna pull in enough power for two counties!”

  We talked some more while he cooked us dinner—which I never could remember agreeing to, but suddenly found myself eating—and all through dessert. It was unnerving how the conversation always turned away from architecture or innovative design, and somehow came back around to our families, our friends, our past
. Every time I tried to steer things back to something useful for my story, he would circle back around and draw me in with another tale of our childhood antics. It all suddenly felt too familiar, too alluring...being back home again with someone I could be forced to admit I’d had a tiny crush on when I was younger.

  “Well, I should head back into town,” I finally said, gathering my recorder, notebook, and camera and shoving them unceremoniously in my bag. “It’s a long drive, and the road out to your place is a bit of a doozy.”

  Colt looked out the wall of south-facing windows and saw it was almost dark. “Now? Is that a good idea? Why don’t I put you up in one of the guest suites, and you can leave first thing in the morning?”

  Of course you have guest suites, I thought ruefully, but instead I smiled and shook my head. “Sorry, but I’m on a bit of a deadline with this story as it is. And if there’s any chance of seeing my family before I have to drive back, I’ll need to get started right away. But thanks for dinner, and for the ride…and for the conversation. It was really great.”

  “Well, if you’re sure. I just hate the thought of you trying to find your way out of here in the dark, especially since I got a glimpse of what I assume you consider a car. Why don’t you skip the coyotes that are waiting out there and have a drink instead?” He smiled, and if it had been anyone else the invitation would have been a little creepy. But this was Colt, he was practically family. Surely just one more glass of wine before staying in the safety of one of the guest suites couldn’t hurt…

  No, Meredith! I argued with myself. You don’t actually know this guy, not anymore, no matter how far back he and your brother go. Do your job and get yourself outta here!

  I shook my head, thanked him for the amazing dinner, then all but raced out the door to my Volkswagen. I swore I could feel his confused gaze pressing against my back as I walked to the car and climbed in. I climbed behind the wheel, tried a few times to get the old vehicle to turn over, then smiled with relief when it finally started.

  Colt lifted his hand wanly to say goodbye as I whipped the car around in the driveway then turned back in the direction of town. My breathing only steadied when I felt the first lurch of a pothole in the dirt road, telling me I was heading back to the comfort of lonely civilization.

  What is wrong with you, Meredith? I thought angrily as I drove away. That had to be the least professional assignment in my entire career, all because I practically swooned over a long lost unacknowledged crush. I could only hope there was something useful stored in the camera, and that I had enough notes to pull a good story out of the air.

  The farther I drove, the calmer I became. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. I had gotten quite a few really awesome shots. And the rest of the story was all in the digital recorder. It’s gonna be okay, I reminded myself, it’ll work out, you were just nervous about seeing…

  CLANG!

  There was a sudden grinding noise from underneath the hood of my poor old car, and then red and yellow indicator lights lit up the dashboard like a Christmas tree. The car wheezed for purely dramatic effect, then rolled to a stop and died.

  “Nooooo! No, don’t leave me out here, baby!” I cried, begging the car to rise from the dead while I tried repeatedly to start it. After more than a few minutes of trying in vain, I reached for my cellphone, hoping I could give the roadside assistance driver adequate directions to where I sat.

  “No service?” I shrieked, staring at my phone’s screen. “How could you do this to me? And how is it possible that there’s a spot left in America that doesn’t have service? New Jersey even has service, you know!”

  I tossed my phone angrily back onto the seat, and weighed my options. It had been a good twenty to thirty minutes’ drive on this terrible road to get out here in the first place, so it could have easily been around thirty miles back to town. I’d just come from Colt’s house only a few minutes ago. The walk couldn’t be that bad, could it?

  Full dark had set in, but it couldn’t be more than a mile or two back to the house. I gathered up my bag and my expensive gear, then headed back in that direction.

  Chapter 5

  Colt

  I watched Meredith pull out of the driveway and was struck with a really strange feeling. She'd been out at my place for only a few hours, but the second her old car disappeared around the bend, I had this sudden empty feeling come over me.

  That's weird, I thought, suddenly missing the sound of her voice. Yeah I had enjoyed her here, had probably flirted with her a little more then her brother would have liked. But while doing it I had never considered it more than just the first beautiful woman I had entertained in a long time. I didn’t really see it as Meredith I was attracted to, but that luscious, curvy woman before me. I was having a hard time reconciling the two in my mind.

  For better or worse, I didn't have long to wallow in my thoughts. I'd just finished washing up our dishes and putting things away when I heard a deranged banging on the front door, followed by someone yelling my name.

  “Colt! Help! Let me in!” Meredith screamed, still pounding on the door. She was using both fists from the sound of it.

  I raced across the kitchen and through the foyer. Once I threw the door open, I ended up catching her when she fell against my chest. My arms instinctively pulled her close to keep her from falling, but I held her even closer when I realized she was shaking uncontrollably. I looked down at her tear-streaked face, her eyes wild with fear, and kept both my arms around her.

  My instincts kicked in and I was instantly on alert, all muscles of my body tightening hard around her.

  “Shhh, Meredith, you’re all right. What happened?” I finally asked, trying to calm her.

  “There were… animals… and my car… and then I started running…” she managed to say between gasps. She looked back over her shoulder once, only calming down after I closed the door behind her.

  “What animals? What happened? Start from the beginning, and go slow…” I said, leading her over to the sofa and lowering her gently. I grabbed the only thing handy, a paper towel I’d dropped on the table as I passed, and held it out to her since she was still crying.

  “My car broke down, and I couldn’t get it to start, and I couldn’t call anybody because there’s no damn service, and so I decided to walk back here to use your phone, but when I started walking I heard some growling, and then I heard things walking in the grass near me, and I shined my phone at them and their eyes glowed! I started screaming and running all the way here, and I swear they were chasing me!”

  It took all my strength, but I stifled the urge to laugh when I got another look at Meredith’s panicked expression.

  “Probably a chupacabra,” I said as seriously as I could manage without laughing.

  She glared at me, not appreciating my joke.

  “Honey, you grew up here. When did you go and turn all prissy on me? If you heard anything, it might have been a coyote or two, but you know good and well that they’re more scared of you than you are of them!”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure,” she answered, glaring fiercely for a second before tearing up again. “I can’t remember the last time I was this scared...of anything!”

  “It’s okay, you’re safe now,” I said. I moved from sitting on the coffee table across from her to right next to her. Taking her into my arms, I continued to soothe her.

  She melted into my embrace, leaning her head against my chest. I could feel the rise and fall of her breasts as she settled herself down against me. I leaned my chin on the top of her head and again breathed in her sweet scent. Again I had to remind the reaction in my pants that this was Bry’s little sister.

  “You don’t need to be setting off at this time of night anyway, even without chupacabras and old junk heaps.”

  “Hey! You will not talk about Beatrix that way!” Meredith said forcefully pushing off me, but I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood after her crying jag.

  She took a deep breath and let it out, th
en a sudden shift in her expression settled on her face. She looked embarrassed more than anything, and even that look changed to horror as quickly as it had come on. “Crap, I must have dropped my bag when I started running!”

  “Your camera bag? I’m guessing that was pretty important?”

  “Yeah, it had everything. My camera, my notes, the entire interview, all the pictures I took!” She covered her face with her hands and leaned forward until her elbows rested on her knees.

  “Hey, it won’t be so bad. You just sit tight right here and calm down some more, honey. I’ll go look for your bag. It was a big ol’ black backpack, wasn’t it?”

  “You’d do that? Oh Colt, thank you! Everything is in that bag! There’s no article without it!” she sighed, relieved.

  I nodded my head and smiled, then patted her knee gently before standing up.

  “I’ll just grab the four-wheeler, it shouldn’t take too long. Stay put and I’ll be right back.”

  I left Meredith on the couch and bounded down the front steps after flicking on some more of the corner floodlights. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her coyote story for a minute. On the contrary, those pesky little suckers have been known to come right up to the house. One night, a couple of them had stolen food right off my porch when I’d stepped inside to grab another beer.

  But they’re harmless, and if Meredith remembered anything about her home, she’d know that, I thought, a little bewildered about how she could have turned so skittish. The whole time I was overseas, all I could think about was getting back here, coyotes and all.

  Maybe there’s a reason she doesn’t want to remember, stupid...you ever think of that? The sudden internal tongue-lashing was pretty odd, and it just about raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

  I climbed aboard the wide off-roading vehicle and turned the key, then revved the engine. When its lights flicked on, I jumped a little at the sight of multiple sets of glowing eyes scattering in every direction. It takes a big man to admit when something’s a little unnerving… and that was some scary crap. It wouldn’t take too much imagination for a terrified city girl to wonder if they’d been waiting outside the house for her to come out.