Wilde Horses

by Jannine Gallant

  The preacher patted his shoulder. “Thank you for that, Blake. Let’s all take a moment to pray.”

  Eden tuned him out. When Blake returned to his place beside Priscilla, she clung to his arm while tears ran down her cheeks. Long minutes later, the preacher concluded the service with a solemn Amen.

  After offering Josie’s sister hugs or handshakes of condolence, the crowd dispersed. Most spoke to Blake, but only a few approached the older man. He made a single attempt to speak to Pricilla, and when she abruptly turned her back, he shuffled away. As he passed Eden, she reached out a hand to touch the sleeve of his blue shirt. An empty gaze met hers.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you, but I made my peace with losing Josie years ago. I shouldn’t have come today.” He turned abruptly and headed toward a battered pickup parked on the street.

  When Eden pulled her attention away from the dejected slump of the man’s shoulders, Blake was headed in her direction with Priscilla at his side. Strong emotions flashed across Josie’s sister’s face as she pressed pale lips into a thin line. Grief. Anger. Regret.

  “Eden, I’d like you to meet Priscilla Lewis. Pris, this is a friend of mine, Eden Wilde. We’re currently filming on her family’s ranch.”

  “You have my deepest sympathies.” Eden held out her hand.

  The other woman shook it briefly, gave her a half-smile and muttered what might have been a thank you before tilting her head back to look up at Blake. “Are you sure you can’t spend the night? I’m just…I don’t know what to do with myself.” A tearful rush of breath left her. “I was counting on you staying at least a little while.”

  “I’m sorry, Pris, but we’re filming tomorrow. The jet’s scheduled to fly out of Boise first thing in the morning, so we’ll spend the night there.”

  “Can we at least have supper before you leave? I couldn’t face planning a big reception, but neighbors have been dropping off food ever since—” Her voice broke, and it took her a moment to gather her composure. “I have more food in the house than I can eat.”

  Pity flashed through his eyes before he glanced over at Eden. “Do you mind staying? If we eat early and leave by five, we’ll get back in plenty of time.”

  “Of course.” She gave Pris a hesitant smile. “Thank you for offering your hospitality.”

  “I’m happy to, but I don’t understand.” Confusion filled her eyes. “You have an appointment in Boise tonight? Something more important than honoring Josie?”

  Blake hesitated before speaking, and his lips tightened. “I’m catching up with a good buddy who’ll be in town.”

  “You have friends here.”

  “I do, and I told Bob and Andy I’d shoot a round of pool with them down at the Watering Hole this afternoon and talk about old times. If you don’t mind having a meal around four, we’ll stop by then. I do want to help you, Pris. We can talk about what you have in mind for your own future.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry I pushed. I realize you’re important and have demands on your time, but I don’t know who else to turn to.”

  He let out a sigh then patted her shoulder. “We’ll be by the house a little later. Is your father staying with you?”

  She glanced up, and her hazel eyes flashed. “I told him he wasn’t welcome. Not that he even bothered to ask…” Her shoulders hunched. “I guess I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  With a nod, Blake placed a hand on Eden’s back and guided her across the well-kept grass toward the street. He didn’t say a word until they were in the car and he’d started the engine. “Want to go take a walk? We have some time before we head over to the bar to meet my buddies.”

  “Sounds great. I could use the exercise.”

  “I just need to clear my head. The service was…rough. Then Pris—” He clamped his lips together and pulled out onto the street.

  The other woman was needy and…lost, but Eden sympathized with the situation Pris faced. “You have to cut her some slack, Blake. Her whole life has revolved around caring for her sister. Sounds to me like she wants you to fill the void left by Josie’s death, or at least tell her what to do next.”

  “I know, but I can’t be her savior…or her crutch. She’s going to have to exercise a little initiative. Find a job or take some classes. Whatever.”

  “I agree, but I feel sorry for her. Maybe right now time away from Blue Valley and all the reminders would help her.”

  He glanced over as he turned off the street onto a dirt road. When the low-slung car ground over a pothole, he winced. “You mean she should take a vacation?”

  “Something like that. I doubt she’d be comfortable going to Hawaii or Disneyland or any other tourist destination by herself. My guess is she has little travel experience.”

  “You’ve got that right. I’m not sure Pris has ever left Oregon.”

  “So, low key would be better.” Eden frowned as the ideas floating around in her brain came together. “What if we invite her to the ranch for a week or so? She could finish up whatever she needs to do here then drive to Wyoming sometime soon. She can watch the filming while she makes plans for her future.”

  “You mean stay with me in my bus?” He pulled to a stop near the end of a driveway leading to a white craftsman house and a couple of outbuildings. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea. For starters, she’d drive me crazy.”

  “We have a spare room in the barn near my workshop. She could have her own space there without intruding on yours or feeling awkward, which I imagine would be the case if I offered her a guest room in the house.”

  His brow furrowed. “You think this is a good idea?”

  Eden nodded. “Right now, she has no direction. If you walk away from her this afternoon without looking back, she’s going to feel like a dog that’s been dumped at the end of a road and abandoned.”

  Blake winced. “Knowing Pris, I was afraid this would happen. I don’t want to drag out her dependence on me too long, though.”

  “You said there’s a junior college somewhere around here?” At his nod, she continued, “I’m sure she can sign up for the fall session online. I can help her with that if she’s interested.”

  “Fine, I’ll make the suggestion. This is awfully nice of you, Eden.”

  She shrugged. “I never could resist taking in a stray or helping an injured animal. And that young woman is wounded.” She waved a hand and changed the subject. “Did we stop here for a reason?”

  “Yep.” He pointed down the driveway. “That was my home growing up. Not much when you compare it to my Malibu beach house, but I never lacked for the necessities or support from my family.”

  “That’s what really matters, isn’t it? Not whether you have an expensive car or the latest electronics. Did your parents sell this place when they moved to Arizona?”

  He nodded. “A couple with a young family bought it.” He gestured toward the flowerbeds, bursting with blooms along the cinderblock foundation. “The yard looks well cared for. I hope they’re happy here.”

  “Are we still going for that walk?”

  “You bet. This road dead-ends not far from here. We’ll park there and take one of the trails up into the foothills of the Blue Mountains.”

  She smiled. “Great.”

  Twenty minutes later they’d parked and hiked a half mile to a viewpoint overlooking the valley. Dropping down onto a low rock, Eden brushed shoulders with Blake and enjoyed the light breeze playing across her face.

  “This is nice.”

  He was silent for a moment as he gazed out across the prairie. “I used to bring Josie up here just to hang out.” He slipped an arm around Eden’s waist and squeezed. “Thanks again for coming with me today. You helped make this whole sad situation bearable.”

  “I’m glad.” She glanced up. “Are you okay?”

  He tilted his face toward the sun. “I came to terms with losing Josie a long time ago. Her death shook me a
nd stirred up old feelings and regrets, bringing back the heartache, but the service actually helped me lay my memories of her to rest. I was still a boy when the accident happened.” He shrugged. “Who knows if we would have survived much longer as a couple. At this point, my grief isn’t so much personal as for a life lost far too soon.”

  “I understand completely.”

  His arm around her tightened. When she gave him a questioning look he lowered his head and kissed her. And kept kissing her as she forgot all about young love lost forever and the complication of falling—just a little—for a superstar like Blake. When his lips grew insistent, she opened her mouth for his exploring tongue and kissed him back. One big hand cupped the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. When a little whimper escaped, he finally drew back.

  “God, you’re sweet. I could kiss you all day.”

  She let out a breath. “Kissing comes easy for you. It’s kind of your job.”

  He laughed out loud. “Now that you mention it, you have a point. Still, kissing you here,”—he waved a hand—“all alone with no cameras in sight, is a hell of a lot better than making out on cue with someone I don’t even like much.”

  She put a few inches of space between them. “For me, any degree of intimacy means something. I can possibly justify a make-out session for a good reason…like to get Zane off my back. However, that’s an exception, not the rule.”

  “You don’t kiss just for fun?”

  “Not in a while.”

  He shook his head. “That’s sad, Eden. Life’s short. Today made that point crystal clear. You should enjoy every minute while you have the chance.”

  “Even if kissing you will only blur the lines between fantasy and reality?”

  “As long as we’re both having a good time, where’s the harm?”

  She couldn’t come up with a solid argument, so instead, leaned forward to plant one on his smiling lips. “Fine, I’ll live dangerously.”

  “That’s the spirit.” His grin broadened. “From what I’ve seen, you’re certainly not afraid of a challenge.”

  “No, I’m not, but my risks are calculated, not foolish.”

  “Don’t overthink everything.” With one finger, he tucked a lock of hair that had come loose from her braid behind her ear. “This has been an emotional day. You’re a beautiful woman. Kissing you just feels…right.”

  She hesitated as uneasiness slid through her. “Uh, about tonight…”

  “No pressure.” He punctuated his words with another kiss, this one a feather-light brush of his lips. Completely nonthreatening. “We’re going to enjoy the evening together. I plan to celebrate life by having a great time at the concert—I know Josie would approve. But I certainly have no expectations of taking this any further.”

  Some of her tension slipped away. “Okay.”

  His gaze searched her face, and he gave a nod, apparently reassured by whatever he saw in her eyes. “As much as I’d like to stay right here, I promised to meet my buddies for a game of pool. You’ll like them. They’re both good guys.”

  “I think I’ll pass. Maybe I’ll take a drive while you’re catching up with your friends.”

  His eyes clouded. “You’re sure?”

  “Yep. You can have some male bonding time without me there to make things awkward, and I’ll check out the area.”

  “Fine, as long as you come with me to see Pris. If you don’t, she’ll make it nearly impossible for me to leave.”

  “Got it.” She slid off the rock and followed him back down the trail. When they reached the rental car, she held out her hand. “Keys.”

  He grinned and handed them over. “Can you drive a stick shift?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Tractors don’t come in automatic, and I learned to drive ours when I was about ten.”

  “Show-off. You know where the Watering Hole is?”

  Eden slid onto the driver’s seat and shut the door. When he joined her, she started the engine. “We drove past it earlier. Kind of hard to get lost in a town the size of Blue Valley.”

  “True.” He pushed the seat back then settled in for the short ride.

  Controlling the powerful convertible was intoxicating as the breeze whipped strands of hair around her face. Eden was tempted to stomp on the gas just to see how fast the car could go. She squashed the urge as they sent up a cloud of dust behind them on the dirt road then slowed to turn onto the paved route. “When do you want me to pick you up?”

  “Give me an hour, and then we’ll head over to Pris’s place. Since we skipped lunch, I’m definitely down with eating before we leave.”

  “There was food on the jet. You devoured at least three muffins and a pound of strawberries.”

  “That was hours ago.” He smiled as she turned into the gravel lot in front of the only bar in town. “I need sustenance.”

  “I’m sure Pris will be happy to feed you. How old is she, by the way?”

  “Twenty-seven. She’s three years younger than Josie was.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

  Eden shrugged. “Just curious. We’re the same age, but she seems a lot younger.”

  “She hasn’t had much life experience.” He climbed out of the car and slammed the door. “You’re sure you won’t join me?”

  “Positive.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you in a while, then.”

  “Have fun.” When he stepped back, she accelerated out of the parking lot. An odd day all the way around. Eden didn’t mind having a little time to herself to decompress. Those kisses… She gave her head a shake. Probably best not to think about how they’d made her feel. She didn’t need that kind of stress.

  She drove with no real destination in mind. When she approached an old pickup pulled over to the side of the road, she slowed. Something about the scrawny figure standing beside the raised hood looked familiar. Pris’s father. She braked harder and stopped.

  “Need some help?”

  “My truck overheated. I have a slow leak in the radiator.” He ran a hand over his thinning brown hair and let out a breath. “I could use a ride back to the gas station to pick up a gallon of fluid, but it looks like you’re going in the opposite direction.”

  “I’m just driving around, killing time.” Eden gave him a hesitant smile, wondering if she was an idiot to offer a ride to a stranger. Still, it felt wrong to leave the man stuck on the road the day he’d buried his daughter. “Hop in.”

  “If you’re certain…”

  “I’m sure. It’ll only take a few minutes to get back to town.”

  Hazel eyes identical to his daughter’s held a hint of relief as he nodded then opened the door. “I appreciate the ride. Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Eden executed a three-point-turn on the deserted road and headed back the way she’d come. “Are you on your way home?”

  “If you can call it that. I live in Salem. I hope my truck makes it that far.” He was quiet for a moment. “You were at the service earlier. Did you know my daughter when she was young? I’m afraid I don’t recognize many of her old friends.”

  “No, I didn’t. I came with Blake Benedict. But from what he’s said about Josie, she sounds like she was a lovely girl.”

  “A sweet, loving soul. That damned deer and Hank Wadsworth’s criminal inattention tore our family apart. The car crash took my wife and both my daughters from me.” He shrugged. “These days, I just go through the motions.”

  “Priscilla—”

  “My younger daughter wants nothing to do with me. After the accident, I couldn’t be around Josie the way she was. It hurt too much. I wanted to take her off life support, but my wife couldn’t do it. Pris won’t forgive me for leaving them.” He clasped his hands in his lap. “Don’t know why I’m telling you my problems. I guess because you seem like a compassionate young woman.”

  “Sometimes we all need to share our feelings, even if it’s with a stranger. Maybe that actually makes it easier.” />
  “I suppose.”

  She glanced toward him as she turned into the gas station. “We’re going over to Priscilla’s for an early dinner in a little while. I’d be happy to give your daughter a message, if you like.”

  “There’s nothing I can say that she wants to hear. I just hope she’s going to be all right, but I do worry.” He opened the car door and stepped out. “If you don’t mind waiting…”

  “Not in the least, Mr. Lewis.”

  “Call me Marlon. Thank you.”

  As he walked away, Eden leaned one elbow on the steering wheel and let out a sigh. So much tragedy and grief, she couldn’t begin to imagine. She also hoped Pris would be okay. And Marlon. He’d deserted his family, and maybe that was unforgivable, but the man was so beaten down she couldn’t help empathizing with him. His pain made her heart ache. If life was reflected in your choices, his had certainly come back to haunt him.

  Chapter 7

  “There we are down at the river.” Pris hung over the back of Blake’s chair and pointed to one of the photos in the album open on the table. “Do you remember that day?”

  He actually did. He’d been annoyed because Pris had tagged along with him and Josie on their date. But she’d felt sorry for her little sister, who’d looked miserable when they were leaving, and had asked her to come along. “I do remember. It was blistering hot, and we spent almost the whole time in the water. We all three ended up sunburned.”

  “That’s right. My nose peeled afterward.” Pris leaned in closer to tap a picture of the three of them bundled up in front of a snowman. “How about this one? I think it was the Christmas before you left for college.” She touched a photo with a ramshackle barn in the background. “Ooh, there we are out at the old Jansen place. Remember how all the kids thought the barn was haunted?”

  He glanced across the kitchen table at Eden, sitting quietly while Pris reminisced over the photos. She’d been a rock, not taking offense, though she was excluded from the conversation.