Aspen's Stunt

by Melissa Grace

  The sound of boots approached the front door. Three powerful stomps against the floorboards of the porches welcome mat were followed by the door being flung open. “That smells great, girls.” Cole hung his Dickies jacket on the hook in the doorway. His balaclava was covered in fluffy white snow.

  “It’s snowing?” Aspen and Wren asked in unison. They ran to the kitchen window to inspect the view. Huge flakes disappeared into the mounds of white fluff that covered just about everything in sight. How had they not seen it earlier?

  “I guess you guys have been cookin’ up a storm. The big ‘ole flakes started hammering us about an hour ago. There’s got to be at least three inches out there by now. It’s not slowin’ down any time soon. Got all the animals safe in the barn and set out extra hay.”

  Wren gave Aspen a look of panic. “We better get going.”

  Cole giggled. “Nothin’ to worry about, Kiddo. Your car will have no problem truckin’ along in this storm. Besides, we gotta eat this farewell breakfast you guys prepared before you leave.”

  “Storm?” Wren peered out the window again. It looked like the large flakes had now doubled in size. She swore some of he clusters were the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

  “Yup,” Cole confirmed. He snapped his suspenders against his chest. “You ever drive in snow before, Wren?”

  “Ah…not really. Not frequently.”

  “It’s okay, Wren. I’ll drive. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Aspen said.

  “I know you won’t.” Wren winked at her, feeling instantly assured that everything would be fine. She realized she had over reacted. “I think I’m just anxious about getting back to L.A. and all.” She didn’t add that things in Christmas Valley felt unfinished and that all she could think about was her first night on Fort Rock with Aspen. Her body throbbed and she tightened her grip on the spatula. If she could somehow redo everything that happened the evening of the parade, she would.

  “We’ll get some food in us and head out shortly after.” Aspen pulled the chair out for Wren to sit down and removed the spatula from her clenched fist. “At least it’ll be a pretty ride back.” She noticed how dark Wren’s eyes looked at that very moment and she couldn’t help but stare. It made her think of the night on Fort Rock when Wren’s brown hair fanned out against the ground and her eyes darkened with each and every touch. Aspen’s body involuntarily trembled and she faltered before anyone noticed.

  Wren sat down and slid her chair in place while Cole got settled in his own seat. Aspen let the spatula slide into the sink before she joined them at the table. She cleared her throat as if it would somehow clear the intense memory.

  Wren smiled at both Cole and Aspen. “Do you guys mind if I say Grace this morning?”

  “Go right on ahead, Kiddo.” Cole beamed. “I’d be honored if you did.” He tipped his head and shut his eyes.

  Aspen watched in awe as Wren gave thanks.

  “Dear Lord, I want to personally thank you for bringing Cole and Aspen into my life. The past few days have meant more to me than I could ever express. Please watch over them and this beautiful home as you continue to keep them safe, healthy, and their bond just as strong as any family member could wish for. As they continue to share their hearts and talents with so many others, please gift them with the same unwavering love and happiness that they so very much deserve. Amen.”

  ~~@

  “It’s still falling in droves.” Wren reached her gloved hand out to catch some of the monstrous flakes. She kept her chin tucked to try and prevent them from building up in her eyelashes. She studied her newly caught flakes closely in her glove. “You think the snow is just little balls of ice, but when you look close, they really have some beautiful and intricate designs.” She poked to separate a frozen clump of flakes to continue to observe their unique patterns, but more flakes piled on top of them before she got a chance to study their designs.

  Aspen raised her chin in the air and stuck out her tongue. “Tastes good, too.” She shook her head back and forth to knock the snow off her face as she loaded the luggage into the car. “Dad went to get something.” She started to turn toward Wren. “Said he’ll be down—”

  Wren took a handful of snow and smashed it into Aspen’s face. “Got you.” She laughed out loud.

  Aspen blinked to knock the flakes from her eyelashes until she could see again. “Oh…you are so going to pay for that one.” She targeted Wren like her eyes were arrows. “Just wait ‘til I catch you.”

  Wren darted off behind the car for safety, but Aspen caught up to her within two large strides and one giant leap through the air. She tackled her to the ground from behind, rolled her over, and then straddled her to hold her still. She scooped up a handful of snow and raised it over Wren’s head. “Not thinking that was such a good idea now, are you?”

  Wren giggled and twisted, trying to buck Aspen off of her, but Aspen held on like a professional bull rider.

  Wren grabbed hold of Aspen’s thighs and stopped wiggling. “Okay, I deserve it.” She shut her eyes and waited.

  Aspen ditched the snow, dropped both hands down around Wren’s shoulders and pulled her in. Their mouths connected instantly and their passion-filled kiss deepened.

  Wren gasped from the surprise attack. She pulled Aspen’s hips tighter to her, not realizing she was lifting her own, compressing the two together. She could have sworn the snow blanketing her head was melting the very instant it touched her.

  Aspen sprang up from the ground the second she heard a noise approach the front door of the porch. “That’s what you get when you chuck a snowball at me,” she threatened Wren with a nervous laugh. She bent down to knock the snow off her knees.

  Cole appeared at the doorway and edged the doorway open with his hip. He carried a large piece of luggage in one hand and protected something else in the other. “You girls making snow angels or somethin’?”

  Aspen helped a wobbly Wren to her feet and began to brush off the snow stuck to her back. The clump of snow in her hair would need to be handled with more care.

  “I made the mistake of surprising Aspen with a handful of snow,” she barely spoke. She turned to quietly inform Aspen of her inner thoughts. “If that’s the result of throwing snow at you, I am all for a very long and arduous snowball fight.”

  “Here you go, girls.” Cole caught up to them and handed the girls their own homemade cross, embroidered in white thread. “Your mom made ‘em. I wanted you girls to each have one for you to put on your trees back in LA.” He stood up tall. “A little piece of the farm since you can’t be here to celebrate Christmas this year.” He looked at Aspen. “They’re ornaments, but can be left out year round if you’d like.”

  “Dad, that is so sweet. They are beautiful.” This would be her first Christmas away from her father. She examined each and every perfect stitch united with the others. “We have no trees in our trailers to decorate, but that’s no problem. I have a perfect place to hang it just the same.”

  “What do you mean no trees to decorate?” He said with a raised voice. “Christmas is just around the corner. Gotta have a tree,” he stated as he took off toward the edge of the wrap around porch. He reached around the corner and grabbed two mini pine tree’s no more than a yard in height. “Will these do?” He held them up in each hand.

  “No way. They are so cool,” Wren blurted out. She quickly shuffled through the snow, so as not to slip, and gave Cole a big hug. She hoped she could cheer up the sudden gloomy mood between daughter and father. She grasped one of the trees in her hand and hugged it. “You are so thoughtful. I don’t think I have ever had a tree in my trailer before. I’ll decorate it up nice and pretty and mail you a picture.”

  “Deal.” He handed the other tree to Aspen. “I’m sure you guys can rig ‘em up some way. Just be sure to keep ‘em well watered so they don’t dry up and become some sort of fire hazard.”

  “Will do, Dad.” She touched some of its green needles and inhaled the scent of pine. “Thank
you for the gifts.” She gave him a squeeze, realizing this would be their last embrace until well after the holidays. She knocked off as much snow as she could from its branches and rested it carefully on the floor in the back of Wren’s car, making sure not to get their luggage wet. “It’s going to make the car look and smell a whole lot merrier.” Her smile changed Cole’s distressed demeanor.

  “You got everything, Sweetie? Miss anything inside you need me to grab before you young ladies slide on out of here?”

  Aspen reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “This is for you, Dad.” She handed him her check, thankful it came in the mail prior to her leaving. “I signed it over to you so it’s ready for you to deposit.” She felt unsure of his reaction. He knew she was determined to save their farm and she knew with his deep pride, this would be even more difficult to accept.

  Cole took the check and carefully folded it into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Thank you for this. I’ll take good care of things around here, Aspen.” He wiped a tear from his eye and then patted the area over the protected check. “I’ll get things in order before you get back. I promise.”

  “I know, Dad. I love you.”

  Wren watched the loving exchange, careful not to interrupt the moment. She pretended to reposition the luggage so that the father and daughter could have a moment to themselves. They were now, in a tight hug, with no sign of letting go.

  “You be careful, Aspen. See ya sometime next year.”

  “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Dad. Be talkin’ to you soon. And no doubt, be checking for my letters.”

  Cole nodded. “I always do.” This time he left the tears welling in his eyes as they burst against his thankful cheeks. He waved until the crackling from the tires in the freshly fallen snow could no longer be heard. “I love you,” he whispered.

  Chapter 12 – Hospital

  Aspen’s heart skipped a beat when she walked into the studio and noticed Wren already on the set, talking to JT. They were conversing in the back corner of the studio, so Aspen made her way toward them to say a quick hello before Jasper got in. On her approach, her excitement faded when she noticed the curt faces of the two actors in the shadows. Sensing they were having an argument; she turned in mid-step to head toward her dirt bike in the opposing direction.

  When she heard Wren yell something at JT, Aspen stopped dead in her tracks. Hoping the outburst meant they were acting out a scene, she tentatively pressed on and situated herself in a squat position near the pegs of her dirt bike, listening carefully to the exchange.

  “Don’t touch me!” Wren yelled out.

  Through the gears near her pegs, Aspen peeked at the quarreling duo, disguising her curiosity as a typical dirt bike safety check. If they were acting, the performance surely deserved an Oscar.

  Their voices were muffled once again, but Aspen studied their body language. Wren’s hands waved frantically as she spoke, while JT looked off to the side, arms folded and a smirk on his face. He raised his hands to console her, but Wren stepped back with a firm ‘No!’

  “Don’t be such a tease, Wren.” JT’s request turned from smug to angry. She had never seen him act that way and the revelation of him even having such a behavior shocked her.

  Aspen shot up quickly, watching JT grab Wren by the shoulders and try to pull her toward his lips.

  As Wren struggled for her independence, Aspen found herself running toward them.

  “Let go of me!”

  To her horror, Aspen witnessed the loud slap that echoed throughout the set.

  JT jumped back after realizing what he had just done. “Wren, please. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He looked genuinely stunned at the palm of his hand before looking back at Wren. He started to say something else, but he only got as far as his jaw dropping. It looked as though he were about to cry.

  Aspen reached Wren’s side before the actress had a chance to respond. She wrapped her arm around Wren’s shoulder in a protective manner, eyeing JT with detestation. “What the hell were you thinking, JT?” She snapped at him. She fought the urge to shove him backward. She turned to look at Wren’s cheek, but couldn’t see the damage beneath Wren’s hand, pressed against the side of her face. “Here, let me see.”

  “No.” Wren put her arm up to block Aspen.

  “Wren—”

  “Aspen, don’t. This is between me and JT. Butt out!”

  “But…”

  “Don’t!”

  Aspen turned toward JT and scowled.

  “Wren, I didn’t mean it. It was a horrible mistake. It will never happen again. I swear. Tell her, Aspen. I’m a nice guy. It’ll never happen again.”

  “JT…you just hit me. You hit me because I refuse to be another one of your conquests. I can’t believe you just hit me.” Wren’s incredulous laugh echoed in the high ceiling rafters full of dim lighting.

  “I know. I got caught up in the moment and you’re totally right. It’s not okay. I didn’t mean for it to happen. You’ve got to believe me.”

  “But it did happen.” Wren pulled her hand away from her face, exposing a hand-shaped welt across her left cheek.

  “Oh my God, Wren.” He reached toward her cheek until Aspen stepped between them. “Wren,” she said. “We better go get some ice on that. Here, let me take you.”

  “Don’t.” Wren pulled away abruptly.

  Aspen took a step back.

  “This is none of your business, Aspen. I don’t need—nor do I want—your help. I can take care of myself. Go away!”

  “Fine,” Aspen said in a low and deep voice between clenched teeth. It’s all she could muster, for she knew if she said what was really on her mind, tears of pain would follow. She turned and adjusted her chest guard as she stomped toward her dirt bike. She didn’t care that JT and Wren were staring at her. She yanked her helmet over her head and tugged at its chinstrap to secure it in place.

  “Don’t be stupid!” Wren yelled out, but the ringing in Aspen’s ears made it impossible to make out the words. With one kick, the bike roared, and she did a wheelie over to the platform.

  Wren started running toward the bike, but Aspen didn’t notice. She cracked her neck from side-to-side and then pressed down hard on the throttle. She kicked the clutch into gear and sped toward the jump.

  “Aspen,” Wren called out.

  Before she decided which aerial maneuver she would perform, Aspen had already left the platform. She attempted a Cliffhanger, but when she removed her arms from the handlebars, the bike instantly pivoted downward. She never cleared the second jump before she smacked hard into the vertical side of the ramp.

  “Aspen!” She heard Wren yell out as her body collided with the compacted dirt beneath her and her bike toppled on top of her. She felt a searing pain in her chest before her world went dark.

  ~~@

  Aspen didn’t want to awaken from her dream. She watched her parents and younger brother collecting dandelion greens in a grassy pasture. Dandelion greens were one of her family’s favorite side dishes and her mom always knew how to cook them up with just enough butter and salt. Her mouth watered.

  Butterflies danced and floated around her family members’ heads as they bent to collect the large roots from the soil. Her brother’s little hands would grasp at the weed, but in his struggle to tug it from the earth, he would lose his footing and land on his behind and laugh. She watched, awed by how happy they were together as a single butterfly floated down and landed on her arm. She continued to look down her arm to find a hand lovingly clasping hers. Her gaze trailed up from the sweet embrace and she smiled when she recognized its owner. Wren was smiling back at her, as the bright sun circled her head like a halo.

  Aspen thankfully tightened her grip and looked back into the fields while her family continued to collect the tasty greens for dinner. Mom? Dad? Connor? Her heart warmed when her mom waved at her and little Connor giggled. Then her face suddenly sank when the scene started to fade and she realized h
er dream would soon be over. She tried to pull the image of her family back to its recent vividness, but their faces were now faint and distorted. “Mom!” She yelled.

  “Aspen, it’s me.”

  “Mom?”

  “No, it’s Wren.”

  When Aspen opened her eyes, she was laying on a hospital bed with Wren at her side, holding the same hand she had just been holding in her dream. She searched the room for butterflies, but there were none. Her family no longer stood in the grassy field, but instead, pale green walls surrounded her with a single television mounted high in the air in front of her.

  Wren stood up, hovering over Aspen. Protecting her. “It’s okay, Aspen. You’re going to be okay.”

  Aspen’s weakened body ached from multiple bumps and bruises. The inside of her right leg stung. She remembered the accident. “Did I break anything?”

  “Just the dirt bike.” Wren smiled. “Thank God.” Her cheek was covered in a thick layer of make-up to mask her own bruise. “You are one tough chick, Aspen. You have an assortment of colorful bruises all over your body and a second-degree burn on your leg, but other than that…they say you’ll be just fine.” Aspen wasn’t sure where the sudden twinkles came from in Wren’s reflective eyes, but it made her heart work harder.

  “Aspen!” Cole entered the room and ran to her side. He hugged her gently. “You had me so worried. Are you okay?”

  “Dad?”

  “It’s me, Sweetheart. Wren called me and flew me in last night. I’ve been here since the limo dropped me off.” He gave a slight giggle. “The doc says you were one very lucky lady.”

  Aspen looked at Wren. “Thank you.” She released her grip from her hand and Wren sat back down at her side, folding her hands in her lap.

  “Can I get anything for you, Sweetheart? Are you hungry?”

  Aspen wanted to say that she craved her mom’s dandelion greens. “So I’ve been knocked out since yesterday?” Her voice still weak, she cleared it in order to get the words to project.