by Kim Turner
“I’m good. Loosen up on the reins a bit. He’ll follow.” He slowed Maxus allowing her to catch up on Scout.
“So where are we headed?” She glanced around as the darkened forest opened to them.
He glanced at her and smiled not answering. Here she was at three below zero, riding a horse into the wild unknown with a longhaired biker guy, stunt man, rancher. What was she thinking?
“It’s not far.” He stared at her for a long time as if thinking of the right words. “So…is there a big kick my ass kind of a boyfriend out there I should be worried about?”
After an initial shock, Jenna burst into laughter. So he was interested. Oh, God, she could feel her pulse racing at even allowing this much time with him. “Any particular reason you would ask?”
“No reason.” He shrugged hiding his smile by turning his head to the trail.
“So how did you get into films and television?” She changed the subject, the intensity of this possibly being a date was enough to make her thoughts ramble unsteady across the last two years.
He glanced at her with a nod. “I bid for jobs, but some of the larger ranches can underbid what it would cost me to travel and stay on location. This is a nice stint being it’s close to home and Lily.”
“Your daughter?”
“Yea. She’s great. Smart. Beautiful. Guess I’m kind of addicted to her.” He beamed. “And your son?”
Jenna’s heart melted that he would ask. “He’s a year old, about to walk any day now.”
He laughed but then asked. “And his father?”
All the blood in Jenna’s veins, if not already frozen, chilled further. How was she to answer? “Divorced before Mason was born.” She shook her head, but the need to explain further hung in the air. “He changed over time, not who I thought he was.”
“That how you ended up here, in Montana?” He glanced at her again and slowed his horse.
Well, that was an easier question. “My best friend, Brianna, and I went to nursing school together in Virginia. We started looking at places to move and when we couldn’t decide, we discovered a large sign-on bonus in Great Falls for experienced emergency room nurses. Decision made, though she does have an aunt near Helena or she would have never moved this far.”
It was a moment before he spoke again glancing ahead of them. “We have a lot in common. Lily’s mother checked out of our lives right after she was born. Motherhood…wasn’t her thing. I think we liked the idea of each other but adding a baby to the mix…she was an aspiring actress and we just weighed her down.”
“Life doesn’t always drop a bowl of cherries, but Mason and I do all right.” She was uncertain what else to say but unnerved at the depth of the conversation and what she had shared. That was a first other than Brianna.
He clucked his tongue and led her and Scout around a sharp turn of boulders. “Lily’s well adjusted. I learned a long time ago, some things in life have no real explanations.”
“She’s still an actress then?” She was curious but her nerves seem to frazzle any time she talked of her ex-husband.
He looked at her for a moment and then answered, his tone dropping in sarcasm. “Pamela Beach ring a bell?”
Jenna’s mouth dropped open. Pamela Beach was a household name with multiple motion pictures and her own line of make-up and clothing. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
He shook his head again. “We never were married. She had no interest in Lily and gave me full custody without any fuss. My mother looks after Lily on the ranch. We all live there, my brothers and I, to help out,” he answered. “Watch this incline, lean forward, and hang on.” He headed Maxus up, looking back at her as Scout followed.
“This is steep. Can they see well enough?” She held on tightly and leaned forward in the saddle tempted to close her eyes.
“Scout’s got it. Hang on and relax. Horses see pretty well.” His voice was soft against the quiet dark morning. “Right here is a little tricky, lean forward and press your feet into the stirrups. Scout’s got it, just don’t panic.” He slowed Maxus and showed her how to maneuver a twist of rocks and tree roots, Scout following with ease.
The angle was almost straight up and across rocks that were probably slick. “I’m scared he’ll fall or I will.”
“Go with it…that’s it. It’s not the fall, remember?” He backed Maxus up to watch, smiling at her.
Scout jumped to make the climb and Jenna yelped in fright but hung on as the horse made it to flat terrain.
Aaron rode closer and leaned to whisper. “You can breathe now.”
She exhaled. “I suppose we have to go back that way.”
“Yep. Come on, we’re almost there.” He pulled ahead, and Scout followed with ease. “And what about Mason’s father, what happened?”
She’d thought the climb to change the subject but apparently not. “Uh, he was a politician, not who I thought he was and it just ended.” There was no point in saying anymore.
The sky was beginning to lighten in the distance and as they topped a small hill, rushing water sounded. Searching hard through the denseness of trees, the river unfolded before her, so magnificent she forgot she was still on the horse. The crystal blue water was as beautiful as she’d ever seen.
“This is beautiful.” She held on tightly as they continued to climb higher. It was all right that she had come, wasn’t it and that she had spoken what she did? The ride was nice, but her nerves still rode the edge of her thoughts at having discussed her past.
“Yep.” He stopped Maxus and dismounted, walking to Scout and holding his bridle.
“Loosen your left foot from the stirrup so it doesn’t get stuck and kick over and down with your right.” He made it sound easy as she fumbled her way to follow directions. She remembered the feel but Scout was a big horse, bigger than the one he rode by comparison.
“Okay.” She dropped to the ground, losing her footing and falling back into him.
“Whoa.” He steadied her, his hands on her hips.
“The drop was further then I thought.” She pulled free of his grasp instinctively, though his gentleness made her suck in a staggered breath.
“We’re on foot from here.” He grabbed the blanket roll off the back of Maxus, tying both horses. “Grab your bag.”
She untied her bag and tossed it over her shoulder. The chill near the river was degrees colder, her breath hanging in the dark air. He took her gloved hand in his own to lead her. She glanced down having not expected the warmth that wove its way through her once more. She followed him along the trail, on the edge of the rocks wishing now she hadn’t opted for gloves. It was incredible, the water falls spraying down layers of brown and gray rock all the way to a canyon hundreds of feet below them. “I didn’t realize this was here.”
“Come on.” He climbed up the steep rocks next to them, assisting her to maneuver the higher ones.
At the top of the flat rocks there was an overhang of earth and vines, covering the area they’d stepped to. It was still dark but getting lighter and the ring of rocks for a fire sat ready. So he had planned this and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
He bent and used a striker to light the wood, which took right away, glowing orange and yellow across the rocks.
“You must come here a lot.” She smiled a bit nervous as she moved closer, hoping the fire would make things warmer.
“It’s a nice break from the set. They may film a bit here coming up. I fish in the canyon pool. You like trout?” He pushed the logs of wood around, glancing up at her.
“I love trout, but I thought you’d rub sticks together for a flame.” She set her bag by the blanket he’d dropped to the rocks.
“I can do that if you like, but this is faster, more modern.” His grin was contagious as he held up the striker and flicked it. “Just think, if I would have had this in the day of cavemen, I would have been king.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “If you were a cave man, the dinosaurs would have eaten you or
you would have frozen to death.”
His laughter echoed through the canyon, and he leaned to spread the blanket, sitting and patting the spot beside him.
She sat, looking into the fire as it continued to come to life. So he had planned on her and this fire. She removed her gloves, setting them aside, holding her hands up to warm them, the heat warming her instantly.
“How does a nurse end up on the set of a western television series?” He grabbed the thermos from her bag and poured the tin lid full. God he’s so handsome up close.
“Well.” She took the cup from him. “I’ve worked the emergency room for a number of years and saw the series was being filmed locally and submitted my resume. I was hoping with it being Monday through Friday, I would have more time at home with Mason, regular eight-hour days. I miss so much working twelve hours, it’s his whole day.”
“And?” He waited.
How did he know there was more? “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“Promise.” He crossed his heart with his fingers and shifted closer to her.
“I’ve written western historical stories and scripts, novel-like stories for a while. I thought being a nurse consultant could teach me more about the business, allow me to make connections.” She shrugged. It wasn’t a far-fetched dream with what she was already learning on the set.
He sat forward and stoked the fire with a long thin stick. “Sounds like a plan.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure. This business is all about who you know.” He continued with the fire, glancing at her.
“Well, my friend Brianna loves my stories but fusses because I write so much.” She shook her head. It was true.
“Gotta have dreams.” He sat back again, close enough that his body rested against her, the heat of him warming her further.
Good Lord…he was so intoxicating she wanted to touch him, but fear plagued her. This was so hard. “And what do you dream about?”
He was quiet for a long moment, then took a deep breath and tossed the stick into the fire. “Our ranch is small for the most part, forty-six acres. We’ve about eighteen horses and board a good number more. I’ve been thinking of purchasing the land that’s attached, across the river. One-hundred acres. Promise you won’t laugh?” He raised his eyebrows, waiting, but his smile was teasing her.
She crossed her own heart in mimic. “I promise.”
“I want to build a ranch for foster boys, the older kids that might never get families.” He continued looking out across the ridge, lost in thought for the moment.
“Really?” How admirable what that? Was this guy way too much or what?
“My brothers and I are adopted.” He glanced at her again. “Amos and Sarah took us when Gabe and I were twelve and Jeremiah eight.”
“So you aren’t biological brothers?” she asked, having wondered of Gabe’s silky dark hair and eyes and Jeremiah’s total lighter features of light brown hair and blue eyes.
“Nope. We were in a group home together. I was a little rough around the edges, rebellious, and when the group home closed, we were separated. I got a nasty set of drug-using foster parents. The man accused me of taking money, and I got the beating of my life, ended up in the hospital for weeks.” He shook his head and continued. “Clarice, the social worker, pulled me from there, and I stayed with her until she brought me to meet Amos and Sarah. I acted tough like I needed no one, and when Amos talked to me about living at the ranch, I informed him I wasn’t coming without my brothers. I thought if he knew I had brothers, even though at the time we weren’t tagged with each other, he wouldn’t want me. The plan backfired.” He laughed the glow from the fire sparkling across his eyes. “The very next week Clarice took me back kicking and screaming, and when we got there, Gabe and Jeremiah were waiting. Apparently, Amos asked who they were, and Clarice had the answers. Took some doing but she got it all done.”
“That’s an incredible story.” In spite of her fear, she placed her hand in his. He was so easy to talk with, and it had come naturally, though her nerves still played havoc inside her. She thought to pull her hand back, but he held on tightly.
He looked down and gripped her hand even tighter. “If I could manage to get the money together, I can do right by some of the kids out there. I’ll have what I need for a down payment on the first forty acres shortly.”
Jenna sat amazed. “That’s really special, Aaron.” Oh God, she shouldn’t have taken his hand, touched him. She shouldn’t let him think she was ready for any kind of relationship because she wasn’t and likely never would be.
He pointed. “Look ahead at the top of the cliffs in the distance.”
She tracked her gaze that direction. The sky began to lighten from a dark gray to a crystal light blue. He tugged the blanket around them and chills ran the length of her body, but it wasn’t from the cold. The warmth of him radiated down her side and the only sound was the rush of water as the sky began to brighten.
The edge of the cliffs turned orange as the sun began to rise. Little by little the graying brown of the forest was highlighted, giving the corpses of sleeping trees life. Finally, the full round sun freed itself from the cliffs and hung bold in the cold blue sky. Blinking, she glanced at him, and before she knew what was happening, he leaned closer. He was going to kiss her. No, he couldn’t, not yet. She wasn’t ready. But she wanted the kiss, didn’t she? Oh God, his breath was warm, and his lips tender as they softly met her own. She closed her eyes forcing away the dormant fears that tried to return and let his warmth spread through her, wanting what she’d done so long without.
Chapter Four
Aaron pulled from the kiss, touching Jenna’s face with one hand, gazing into her amber eyes. He really hadn’t planned to kiss her, but the moment had caught him off guard. It had been a long time since he’d been so consumed by a woman he couldn’t breathe. Her lips had been tender and the sweetness of her breath intoxicating.
“That was breathtaking,” he whispered.
“The…sunrise was…beautiful?” Her voice wavered so slightly.
“I’m not talking about the sun.” He gave her the hint of a smile, brushing back a strand of her hair and placing his lips to hers once more, tender and soft, losing himself in the feel of her as he wrapped his arms around her to pull her against him.
Suddenly, she pushed him away and struggled from the blanket taking off on a run away from him and the fire, leaving him at a loss. What the hell?
He jumped up to follow, calling to her. “Jenna? Jenna…wait.”
But as fast as she’d run, she stopped, uncertain of her direction. He caught her and touched her arm, as out of breath as her. “Jenna?”
“I’m sorry, Aaron…it’s not you. I can’t.” She leaned her shoulder against a large tree, but she didn’t look at him as she sniffled.
“Jenna?” he whispered, easing his grip but not letting go.
She didn’t say anything, but the rushing of the falls covered the sound of her tears, which made his gut clench. What the hell was wrong?
“Look, if I’ve overstepped some boundary…” He stepped closer, close enough to smell the strawberry scent of her dark hair. In spite of thinking she might turn around and sock him one, he tugged her gently to him. She resisted at first, but he held tightly, not releasing her.
“Shhh,” he whispered trying to soothe her. She was shaking, but he now understood that it wasn’t from the cold. After a moment, she collapsed into him, and he sat them both to the ground, cradling her between his knees and against his chest.
She wiped her eyes and spoke through gasps of catching her breath. “It’s not…you, really. You didn’t, overstep…anything.” She glanced at the river. “I’m not ready. I mean I thought I was, but—”
“It was just a kiss, Jenna. I had no other intentions.” Though that kiss had been a hell of a lot more than that for him, maybe he’d rushed the moment. It dawned on him then that if her son was only a year old; she’d not been long from any re
lationship. Maybe things weren’t over for her yet.
She looked up at him, her eyes red and smeared with mascara. “But my first since…” She turned back to face the river and it was some time before she spoke. “It’s just too soon.”
He sat stunned for the most part. Her words were sincere, but while the kiss was a surprise for him too, he hadn’t meant to upset her. He’d been right in guessing it was fear he’d seen in her eyes and it now made sense.
“You must think I’m a case.” She shook her head. “We should head back. You didn’t deserve this.”
He took a deep breath. Kissing her had been powerful for him. She was gorgeous, smart, and everything he hadn’t been looking for and he wasn’t going to let her off the hook that easy. “No, I don’t think that, but don’t shut me out, Jenna.”
She pulled from him, standing up as he rose behind her. “It’s probably best, Aaron, I’m not going to be any good at this. I mean Brianna has encouraged me to meet someone again, but I’m not even sure how to do that anymore.”
He turned her to face him. “Look, I don’t have any expectations here, other than to share time and get to know you. I didn’t even plan to kiss you, but you were just so damn beautiful watching the sunrise.”
Jenna gave him the hint of a smile, wiping her eyes again. “You are so sweet, Aaron, and I do want to try, but I’m so…afraid.”
He touched a finger to her lips. “It’s okay to be afraid, but not of me. You are worth it. Of that I have no doubt.”
Her sad amber eyes searched his face. “I want to be worth it.”
He took her by the hand. “Come on, you need to warm up by the fire. You’re shivering.”
She followed, holding onto his hand so tightly he glanced down where her knuckles were turning white. She sat and tugged her gloves back on one by one. He led her back to the fire, pouring her more coffee and handing her the cup.
She sipped, her hands trembling. “It’s been nearly two years but it’s still very raw. I didn’t expect to react the way I did…”