“I guess so. Yes, I will be there.” Jenna smiled. “Pastor, when I first arrived I had no intention of spending even one night in this town. How is it that in less than thirty-six hours, I can’t imagine ever leaving here again?”
“Your heart recognizes this as home, Jenna. You came back to Cathedral Hills thinking with your head, because your heart was broken and it hurt to follow its leading. But now, your heart is in charge and it knows that Cathedral Hills is more than just a small mountain town. It’s home and safety, and…”
“Maybe my future? I want to open up a facility for other kids like me. A private facility that doesn’t rely on the State for funding. Believe me, I’ve seen what that kind of oversight does, and I want a place where kids can go to get help, not just become another paycheck in the facility owner’s pocket.”
“Jenna, I think you can do anything you put your mind to. And I can’t think of a more loving community to base your program out of. I want you to know that you have my full support and I will gladly help you in any way I can. I think you’ll find most of the townsfolk are of a like mind.”
Jenna said nothing as his words sank in. She had a community that cared. Not just about others, but about her! As she waited for Trey to return from the store, she thought about the program she wanted to start and smiled at how perfect Cathedral Hills would be for such a program.
It was located in middle of nature, but not so far away from bigger towns as to be isolated. Pastor Cottrell was correct in that the townsfolk of Cathedral Hills had always been known for their generosity and compassion. If she did this right, the entire town could help play a part in the nurturing and healing of young kids who found themselves in circumstances like her own.
She already knew Pastor Cottrell and his wife would be on board to help, and Missy and the other girls would pitch in as they were able to. Trey was a whiz at financial matters, so he could easily handle the financial aspects of the program. Now all she needed was a co-director. She needed Michelle.
Turning to look at Pastor Cottrell as he started heating water for tea, she asked, “When is Michelle due back home?”
“Tomorrow afternoon if everything goes right.”
“Is there a problem at the camp?” Jenna asked, wondering why Trey hadn’t mentioned it to her.
“No. Michelle is wandering a bit right now. She finished her social work degree, partly inspired by what happened to you, but after working for the State for eight months, she quit and moved back home. She’s disillusioned, and I think heartbroken over a man she’d been dating for several months.
“Her mother and I never got a chance to meet him, and she hasn’t mentioned him by name. We went to see her about a month before she came home, and she received several phone calls from someone that caused her to cry, even though she tried to hide it from her mother and me. She hasn’t offered to talk about the situation, and we’ve been trying to give her some space. Mary thinks she was very invested emotionally in this relationship and it wasn’t reciprocated.
“To make matters worse, she was very distraught about one of her cases. She couldn’t discuss it with us, but I could tell it was destroying her little by little each day.”
“She hasn’t talked about it since coming home?” Jenna asked, wishing Michelle was standing next to her and she could hug her tight. Are you sure she’d welcome your attention? Jenna shook her head and banished the negative thoughts from her mind. Of course she will.
“No. She moved in with Trey, and he’s been trying to get her to open up to him, but so far – nothing. Maybe now that you’re home, you two can help each other heal.”
Jenna started to deny that she was home, but stopped herself. This is starting to feel like home again. It could be if I gave it a chance, I just know it. “I don’t know that I can be of much help, but I’m a good listener, if she wants to talk.”
Pastor Cottrell handed her a cup of water and a tea bag, “Sometimes that’s all we need. Someone to listen. We already know the answers inside, we just have to be willing to let them out.”
“Well, if she’ll talk to me, I’ll do my best.”
* * *
Chapter 17
The rest of the day went by quickly. Trey arrived back just in time to take Jenna back to her parents’ house and meet the girls for lunch. He excused himself from the festivities, needing to head back to the bank and take care of some business matters.
Jenna and the girls headed towards the bridge, and in some ways it was just like old times, only they were all older and rather than planning the elaborate fairytale weddings, they were now discussing plans for Missy’s baby shower and decorating the nursery.
Missy’s parents had gladly taken over the mortgage payments for the house she had moved into with her now deceased husband, until his life insurance had come in. She’d been able to pay off the house, and put some money aside for the future of her unborn child.
Stephanie and Taylor had already ordered the baby furniture, and it was now sitting in the middle of the nursery, waiting to be put together. They were going to tackle the project themselves, but then Trey’s mother had suggested they add that chore to the community service day, which was taking place tomorrow.
Jenna listened in as they discussed the yearly event and how wonderful it made everyone in the community feel to be helped out, and to also be the ones helping others out. The older women were in charge of preparing sack lunches for the work crews, and the community dinner that would follow, after the workday was complete.
The men and able women would split up into groups and scour the community with handyman skills, yard services, and any other needs – like putting together baby furniture, one of their own might be in need of. The women decided that early the following week they would drive into one of the larger cities nearby and purchase the decorative items needed to finish the nursery. Missy had asked for the project to be a surprise, and as she knew she was already having a boy, it would make the shopping trip that much easier.
When Stephanie and Taylor suggested Jenna join them, she politely declined on the grounds that she really needed to stick around and get the rest of her parents’ affairs in order so she could move on with her own. After hearing that Michelle was struggling, she wanted to make herself available to help and she couldn’t do that if she was off gallivanting around the countryside looking for diaper bags, bassinettes, and baby swings!
“I’d be happy to help you set everything up when you get back,” she offered as a concession.
“That would be great!”
Lunch continued, and finally Jenna realized that she had yet to hear anyone talk about Brooke. She waited until there was a break in the conversation and then she asked, “So, what’s up with Brooke?”
The women looked at each other and finally Missy spoke up, “Brooke always loved drama and being the center of attention. During our senior year, she went to an open audition and a few months later she got a job offer from a firm out in California. Everyone tried to talk her out of going, but she was determined to make it big.
“She came home every couple of months for the first few years, but then her visits got further and further apart. She moved to New York two years ago, and Stephanie saw her once, but no one’s heard from her other than email in over a year.”
“So, she answers her emails, but won’t pick up a phone and call home?” That doesn’t sound like the Brooke I once knew!
“She really has us worried. It’s so unlike her to just quit communicating or coming home. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago, and her last visit home was pretty rough on her. Mrs. Jameson didn’t even recognize her own daughter.”
“That had to hurt!”
“It did. Brooke was pretty emotional the entire time she was here, more so than normal, but we all chalked it up to finding out about her mom and stuff. That was the last time she was home, and we’re really not sure what’s up with her now.”
“I’m going to try and look h
er up with I get to New York. If nothing else, I can at least put eyes on her and let everyone here know she’s doing all right.”
“What about her father and brother?” Jenna asked.
“Her dad spends all of his time taking care of his wife. He retired from the pharmacy when she got sick, and Tyler’s some big bull rider on the national rodeo circuit.”
“Wow! Things have changed around here. Bull riding, huh? Isn’t that like the most dangerous rodeo event you can do?”
All three women nodded their heads, “It is. He’s had several concussions, and even dislocated his shoulder during a State final a few years ago, but he says it’s in his blood and he can’t imagine doing anything else until his body calls it quits.”
“More like his brain’s going to be too scrambled to think straight before he quits!” Taylor added, a hint of anger in her tone.
“Do I sense a problem?” Jenna asked.
“No. No problem. Just stupid boys who think they’re invincible.”
Jenna chuckled, “I remember my momma saying that little boys grow into bigger boys, and because they’re bigger they just find more dangerous toys to play with. Guess she was talking about something like this.”
The women shared a laugh and then stared as Trey walked onto the bridge, “Hey Trey. I thought you were going to avoid our little gab fest.”
“Ladies, I would if I could. I thought maybe I’d come get Jenna and take her back to the house. Michelle’s home early.”
The somberness of his tone caught everyone’s attention and Taylor demanded an explanation, “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know that there’s anything wrong, per se. She’s got a sprained ankle from tumbling down the side of a slope, but there’s something else going on.”
“She drove down the mountain with a sprained ankle?” Missy demanded, angry at even the thought of Michelle putting herself in danger like that.
Trey shook his head, “No. She didn’t drive herself down. The camp had special guests this week from the rodeo. Tyler Jameson drove her down.”
“Tyler’s home?” Stephanie asked, as the other women echoed her question.
“Yeah, I guess he’s thinking about retiring and starting a rodeo training camp down in Ridgway. He’s also taking over the horseback riding up at the camp and stopped by there to inspect everything. When Michelle hurt herself, I guess he volunteered to drive her down.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but something seems to have really upset Michelle. I mentioned I had a surprise for her,” glancing at Jenna he added, “that would be you, and I’m hoping that seeing you will put a smile back on her face.”
Jenna gathered up her stuff and prepared to leave, “I can’t wait to see her. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s going on. Your parents seem pretty worried as well.”
As Trey helped Jenna into his vehicle moments later, he paused and looked her in the eyes, “Thanks. I know you’ve been through a lot these last two days, but if you can get Michelle to open up to you, I for one, would be grateful. I just can’t seem to reach her, and she arrived home looking as if she’d just lost everything! I think she was even crying in the shower before I headed this direction.”
Jenna nodded her head and then placed a hand on Trey’s arm, “I’ll do what I can. As for the crying in the shower thing, it’s something us women do when we don’t want to burden anyone else with our tears. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time crying in the shower. I’ll see what I can do to get her to talk to me, but I won’t force the issue. She’ll talk when she’s ready, we just have to be there to listen when that times comes.”
Trey reached a hand out and clasped Jenna’s neck, “You’re something special, do you know that?”
“Not really. I’m just me.”
“Well, just you is pretty special and I want you to know that I’m amazed at the strength you’ve shown these last two days. I know its bad timing, but I want a chance to get to know you better. I know I only asked for a few days, until the paperwork arrived from Denver, but would you consider sticking around a bit longer.”
Jenna looked into his warm eyes and felt her heartbeat kick up just a notch, “I might already be considering that.”
Trey looked at her with a smile, “Really?” He waited until she nodded and then he leaned a bit closer, “That’s good. That’s real good.”
Jenna could feel herself leaning into him, and once again found herself wishing he would take her in his strong arms. She could smell his aftershave, and she could see where he had nicked himself that morning while shaving, but none of that really was as important as the fact that he was looking at her with such warmth and…caring? Affection? She couldn’t quite place the emotion she saw in his eyes, but it made her feel all gooey inside and she didn’t want him to ever stop looking at her like that.
Trey watched her watching him and longed to take the next step in building a relationship with her, but he held himself back. It’s still too soon. Kissing her on the forehead, he released his hold on her and then stepped back, “Good. I hear there’s a harvest party next weekend over at the high school. Would you go with me?”
Jenna was still trying to process the fact that Trey had just kissed her. Not romantically on the lips, but on the forehead. Nevertheless, it hadn’t felt platonic, and he wasn’t related to her. She gazed up at him and silently nodded, her eyes straying to his lips before moving back up to his eyes.
Trey could see the question on her face, and whispered softly, “Slowly, Jenna. We’re going to take things slowly and step by step. You’ve been through enough heartache, I won’t be responsible for adding to it.”
Jenna thought his comments were the sweetest thing she’d ever heard. Her experience with romance was almost non-existent, and the role models she’d had the last few years weren’t any kind of recommendation for building strong relationships. She mentally flashed back to the way her parents had been prior to her mother’s death. They had been completely devoted to one another, and focused solely on caring for each other in a way that she had recognized was special, even as a young girl.
That was what she wanted in a relationship, and whether or not Trey was the man to explore that with, she wasn’t sure. As she watched him jog around the front of the vehicle, Teresa’s words from that morning came back to her – Don’t be afraid, and trust in God’s plan for your life.
As they headed back to Trey’s home, Jenna said a silent prayer asking God to give her wisdom and the strength needed to help her friend. Jenna was already starting to heal, and now it was time to help Michelle do the same. Her future in Cathedral Hills, and possibly with Trey, was still up in the air, but for the moment, she was at peace, knowing that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She’d leave tomorrow in His capable hands!
* * *
Epilogue
“Michelle?” Tyler Jameson asked, trying to keep the shock from his voice.
Michelle heard someone call her name and whirled around, almost dropping the paperwork she held in her hands. She scanned the area around the fire ring until she placed the voice. Tyler? Oh God, what is he doing here?
“Tyler.” Michelle was proud of herself for keeping her voice nice and calm. “What brings you to Camp Red Bird?”
“I’m taking over the horseback riding program and thinking about retiring.” Tyler looked Michelle over, narrowing his eyes as he took in her too-slim figure and the dark circles beneath her eyes. “Have you been sick?”
Heartbroken? Yes! Physically ill? No! “Not really, I just haven’t been getting a lot of sleep.” There is no way I’m going to admit how badly you hurt me. I’m made of stronger stuff than that!
“So, the camp seems to be going well.”
“It is. I thought you were still competing. I didn’t realize you had decided to retire.” You couldn’t even call and tell me that our last fight was pointless after all? Michelle swallowed back the tears that were threatening to fall. She shuffled her feet, anxious to get
away from him before she made a complete fool of herself.
Tyler and she had been dancing around their attraction to each other since they were seniors in high school. Then he had taken off on the rodeo circuit, and she had gone away to college. She’d run into him at a rodeo on the eastern slope two years earlier, and the two had reconnected.
He had still been traveling on the circuit, but Colorado Springs had been an easy jaunt from Denver in-between competitions. He had come to town at least once a month and she had rearranged her schedule to spend as much time with him as possible.
When the State finals had been in Denver, she had driven down to watch and been horrified to see the top bull rider on the circuit have his neck broken when his glove had gotten caught up in the ropes. Before they’d been able to free him, his neck had snapped and he’d stopped breathing. The medical team had worked on him for hours, but he had finally been declared dead the next day.
She had pleaded with Tyler to stop and find something else to do. That same rodeo he’d dislocated his shoulder, requiring a surgical fix, and three months of therapy before he was released to start riding again. Michelle had been sure he felt for her the same way she felt for him. They had discussed coming back to Cathedral Hills and starting a rodeo training school and a therapeutic riding program for kids, but once he’d received his doctor’s release, he’d been off and running.
The last time she’d seen him, they had argued fiercely over what she viewed as his defection and lack of feelings for her. He tried to explain to her he just needed one more successful season, but she hadn’t been willing to listen. When he drove away, she mourned his loss, sure she would be mourning him for real in the very near future.
Tyler watched the emotions on Michelle’s face, knowing she was remembering the way he’d left a year and some ago. He hadn’t handled her fears very well, and had accused her of wanting to control him and steal his dreams from him. The accusations had been unfair, and he had acted out in a very juvenile fashion, driving away and nearly getting himself killed that weekend when he drew a bull he knew he couldn’t ride and not withdrawing.
A New Start Page 14