Country

by Danielle Steel

  “My husband died four months ago. I just felt like I had to be here…to find peace.” She hadn’t even realized that was why she had done it, but she knew it was true when she said it. He nodded as he listened.

  “That’s a good reason. I’m sorry about your husband.” And unlike most people, he sounded as though he meant it. “Was he sick for a long time?”

  She shook her head as the path got steeper. “No. He had a heart attack on the ski slopes. It was very sudden. I’m still trying to deal with it and decide what to do next.” She felt strangely honest with him, like confession.

  “This is a good place to think about things. I always do that here too. I work in a crazy business, and sometimes I feel like there’s noise in my head all the time. I come here to get quiet.” And after he said it, they both noticed the silence around them, and the sounds of nature that they both loved.

  “Where are you from?” she asked, finally curious about him too, although she didn’t ask about the business. It could have been anything. She wondered what he did but didn’t want to pry.

  He laughed at her question. “Originally Arkansas, from a town of about seventy-five people. I live in Tennessee now. Nashville. It’s a great place, but gets pretty nuts at times. I left Arkansas at fourteen and never looked back. Nashville is home now. I’ve lived there most of my life.” She listened to his drawl and smiled. He sounded like the country boy he was. It was a far cry from her mundane, dull life in San Francisco. “What did you do in Vegas last night?” he asked with interest, curious about her. He didn’t meet women like Stephanie very often, and had noticed the expensive watch, although everything else she had on was very plain. She looked wholesome and serious, and he guessed that she had probably been married for a long time. She was still wearing her simple gold wedding band, although he knew now that she was a widow. And he assumed she had kids but didn’t ask.

  “I walked around,” Stephanie said with a smile. “I went to the casino and won four hundred dollars on the slot machines. I played a couple of hands of blackjack, but I’m not a gambler. I really enjoyed being there, and I went shopping today.” And then she decided to tell him the rest. “I actually took the wrong turn on the freeway, and headed toward Vegas by mistake. I’m glad I did.” She said it with eyes full of mischief, and he laughed.

  “That’s a hell of a wrong turn to take. Where did you start out?”

  “Santa Barbara for the weekend with friends.” He laughed again. She was far off her normal path. She didn’t tell him that no one knew she was there, which would have made her feel too unprotected, but to a limited degree, as best one could with a stranger, she felt safe walking next to him, and telling him the truth. “I’m going back to San Francisco tonight.”

  “Did you go to any of the shows last night? Some of them are pretty good. I love the magic acts myself. I can never figure out how they do it. David Copperfield is the best. The guy is a genius. He lifts people right off the stage, and damn if I can ever guess how he does it.”

  “I saw him once in L.A. He was amazing,” she agreed. “My son kept trying to lift his sister up for about six months afterward. He never did it.” She grinned as she said it, and so did he.

  “What kind of music do you like?” he asked conversationally. They were almost back at the top by then.

  “A little of everything. Ballads. Norah Jones. Alicia Keys, stuff I can sing along to.” She smiled.

  “Country?”

  “Sometimes. Rap when I have to, but my kids have grown past that.”

  “You like to sing?” He had picked up on what she said, and she smiled and looked embarrassed.

  “I used to sing with a choir, but I got too busy and gave it up. I guess I could go back to it now, but it’s been a long time.”

  “Singing is good for everything, the heart, the soul, the mind, like coming here. As long as you don’t take it too seriously. Some people turn it into a nightmare. It’s better if you just enjoy it. Music should always make you feel good, and come from the heart. If it comes from the head, or the wallet, you wreck it,” he said with a grin, and she laughed. He was full of country wisdom, but some of what he said made sense. He seemed like a smart guy. And she noticed that he had paid attention to what she said, even about singing.

  They walked along silently again for a while then, and a few minutes later, they were back at the top, where the view was spectacular. The climb back had gone more quickly talking to him, and they walked toward the parking lot together. There was a big black bus with shiny sides parked nearby, and he glanced toward it, and then back at her.

  “Wait here a second,” he said, and ran toward the bus in long, loping strides, and she was startled to see the door of the bus open. She watched him disappear inside. She had no idea what he was doing there, and he looked out of place next to the mysterious but obviously fancy bus. It was the kind rock stars rode in, and she wondered if he worked for them. He was back in a few minutes, and handed her something. “I’m playing in Vegas tonight, for the next few days actually. These are comp tickets for my show, if you want to go back. You might enjoy it.” And then with a shy glance, he introduced himself. “My name is Chase. Let me know if you come to the show.” He had handed her two tickets, and she looked surprised. “I’d like it if you’d come. We put on a pretty decent show,” he said modestly. She wondered if he was in one of the opening acts for a more important band. But the bus that was standing by was pretty impressive. She didn’t look at the tickets, but thanked him for them.

  “I don’t think I’ll go back tonight, but thank you.” She was as shy as he was.

  “You got something important to do in San Francisco?” he inquired, and she shook her head. She had nothing to do at all. “Then maybe another night won’t hurt. You came this far on your detour. Things happen for a reason, like your coming here. That wrong turn you took in Santa Barbara was no mistake. Wrong turns never are. What’s your name, by the way?”

  “Stephanie,” she said with a smile. It had been an odd meeting, and she was glad she’d met him, although it seemed pointless to go back to Vegas for another night. But no more so than going home to an empty house.

  “We go on at eleven. At the Wynn, if you change your mind. Don’t lose the tickets. It’s sold out.”

  “Okay.” They exchanged a last friendly smile. “Thanks for walking back up with me.”

  “Anytime,” he said, waved, and then headed back to the bus, and she watched the door open again. He waved one last time, and disappeared when the door closed and they pulled away. She stood watching for a minute and then walked back to the parking lot with the tickets in her hand. She didn’t look at them, and tossed them on the passenger seat next to her, as she started the car, and then glanced over at them again and her eyes grew wide. She felt like an idiot when she read the name. She hadn’t recognized him, even when he said his name was Chase. The tickets said Chase Taylor, he was one of the biggest stars in country music, she had heard his songs a thousand times, and everyone in the world knew his name. She hadn’t recognized his face, particularly meeting him out of context. No wonder his show was sold out. She laughed out loud as she drove out of the parking lot, and headed back to the main road. She had a long drive ahead, back to San Francisco, or she could drive three and a half or four hours back to Las Vegas and see his show. She drove through the crossroads. It was a little crazy to drive back to Las Vegas to see a country music star she had met on a hiking trail, but maybe he was right and it was all part of the detour. She really didn’t want to go home, and maybe it would be fun. Feeling like a drifter, she took the turnoff to Las Vegas. The last two days had been the craziest thing she had ever done. But why stop now?

  Chapter 7

  Stephanie got back to Las Vegas just after ten o’clock, and checked back into the Wynn. They didn’t offer her an upgrade to a suite this time, but they gave her a very handsome room, with the same panoramic view. She felt different after her trip to the Grand Canyon that day, it was
almost like a religious experience. It really was a magical place, and meeting Chase had been a bonus. She felt a little strange coming back to Vegas to see his show, like an overage groupie, but she was aware that she was willing to do almost anything to avoid going home to her empty house. And it made no difference to anyone now if she was there or not. Another day on her wandering path wouldn’t change anything, as long as she had come this far. She’d had several texts from Jean, and answered them, but still didn’t say where she was. They were having lunch on Friday when Jean came into the city for her Botox shots, and she had no way of knowing that Stephanie hadn’t come home. It would never have occurred to her. She called when Stephanie was getting dressed. She had taken a silk top out of her bag, and was planning on wearing it with jeans. She answered her cell phone when it rang and saw that it was Jean.

  “Hi, Steph, did you get home okay? I’m sorry I haven’t called. We’re tearing out the barbecue on the patio and putting in a bigger one and everything’s a mess, and one of my horses got sick, and I spent all of yesterday in the stables with the vet. So how are you?”

  “I’m fine.” She felt guilty about where she was as she said it. How could she possibly explain to Jean that she was in Las Vegas to see a country music show, and had been at the Grand Canyon? It sounded incredible even to her.

  “I talked to Alyson. Two of the kids came down with chicken pox, which means the baby will get them next. So she’s been crazed too. So what have you been up to?” Stephanie tried to think of a creative lie to tell her, or just say she was fine, but it suddenly seemed like too much work.

  “I’m in Las Vegas,” she said simply.

  “You’re what?” Jean said, sounding distracted. It was obvious to her that she’d heard wrong.

  “I’m in Las Vegas. I took the wrong turn off the freeway. I just didn’t want to go home, so I came here.” It sounded lame even to her, and impossible to explain. None of them knew what her life was like now, and how hard it was to have no direction in her life, nowhere to be, and nothing to do. No kids, no husband, no job. Even her volunteer work didn’t need her right now. No one did. Her friends’ lives were so well ordered, and she had suddenly lost all the structure in hers.

  “You’re gambling?” Jean was shocked.

  “Not really, except for the slot machines for a few minutes and two blackjack hands. I went shopping, and I went to the Grand Canyon today. I’ve always wanted to see it. It was gorgeous.” Jean felt suddenly sorry for her as she listened, and realized again what her life was like now without Bill.

  “Did you plan that? Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “No. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.” It was one of the few perks of her new life as a widow with grown children. Spontaneity was a new feature she could never indulge before.

  Jean realized that Bill hadn’t been great to her, but he was rock solid and an anchor, and he grounded her. Now she was like a rudderless ship, drifting loose from her moorings. The last place Jean would have expected her to go was Las Vegas, although the Grand Canyon made some kind of sense since she knew that Stephanie loved nature. But she sounded lost, and it made Jean sad for her, and she wanted to help.

  “Poor baby. Are you okay? Do you want me to send the plane for you? We can get someone to drive your car home. I can send one of my stable hands down with the plane.”

  “No, I’m having a good time. I’m going to a country music show tonight.” She sounded more cheerful as she said it.

  “Jesus. Now I am worried about you. Why in God’s name would you do that?”

  “I met Chase Taylor on a hiking trail at the Grand Canyon today. He gave me two tickets to his show.” There was a long pause while Jean thought about it, and then she laughed.

  “If I remember correctly, he is a gorgeous hunk. Better than the Grand Canyon. Stephanie, now wait a minute. Are you having an affair with him?” Stephanie laughed in answer.

  “Hell, no. We walked up the same hiking trail. I had no idea who he was. He’s a nice guy, he gave me tickets to the show, and to be honest, I have nothing to go home to. I’ll drive back tomorrow. This was just kind of a detour for a couple of days. I’ve never done anything like it before, and it’s good for me to try new opportunities open to me now and be more spontaneous. I definitely think this qualifies.”

  “Only if you sleep with Chase Taylor, and if you do, you have my blessing. The guy is amazing.”

  “He’s okay. He didn’t ask me to, and he probably has a dozen girlfriends. I think all those big-time stars do. I didn’t recognize him while we were hiking, until he walked into his rock-star bus waiting for him at the top, and gave me the tickets to his show.”

  “You’re hopeless. Even I know who he is. Shit, he’s one cute guy, and you’re a free woman. Go for it. Why should the guys have all the fun?” She was thinking of Fred as she said it. She had had one affair with a golf pro ten years before, but other than that, she had never cheated on Fred. She didn’t want the headaches that went with it. She preferred to dedicate herself to spending his money.

  “I’m not going to sleep with him. The subject never came up.” She laughed. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to, and neither would I. But it might be fun to see his show. I probably won’t even see him tonight, except on stage. I’ll use the tickets, come back to my room, and come home tomorrow.”

  “Well, you certainly are leading an interesting life,” Jean said with a tone of approval that surprised Stephanie. She had thought that Jean would be horrified, but clearly she wasn’t, far from it.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be back home tomorrow night, cleaning out closets and doing laundry, in my very exotic life.”

  “Don’t rush back,” Jean encouraged her.

  “Don’t say anything to Alyson. She’ll think I’m nuts.”

  “Probably. She’s too busy dabbing chicken pox with calamine lotion to talk to you anyway.” They both knew that this was much too far out for Alyson, who wouldn’t understand. Jean was more open-minded, and had been encouraging Stephanie to go out with men now. Alyson would have been content to see Stephanie mourn Bill for years, which was what she said she would do if Brad died. Jean was older, wiser, and more realistic. And she thought an affair with a country music star was just what Stephanie needed. “Well, call me tomorrow and tell me what happened tonight,” Jean said with a lascivious tone, and Stephanie rolled her eyes.

  “Nothing is going to happen. I’m just going to a concert.”

  “Then try harder,” Jean scolded her. “I’m planning to live vicariously through you. Don’t be so boring. If I want to be bored, I have my own life for that. Go have fun!”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” Stephanie promised, relieved that Jean wasn’t appalled by what she was doing. It was nice to have her support. She finished dressing, put some makeup on, and slipped into the high heels she had brought with her. She was at the concert hall right on time, as an usher led her to a seat in the front row, and whispered to her that her ticket included backstage passes for after the show. She didn’t think she’d take advantage of them, but Chase had given her the best seats in the house, and she felt guilty that she hadn’t used the second ticket, and the seat next to her was empty.

  She hadn’t come to see the opening band, since he had told her to come at eleven, and a few minutes later the theater darkened, and his band started playing, and a moment later the man she had met on the hiking trail exploded onto the stage with one of his most famous songs. The audience loved him. He played everyone’s favorite country music and after a while, sat down on a high stool and played some ballads, as Stephanie watched him, mesmerized. They cheered and screamed at the end of the show, and he played two more songs, and looked straight down at her with a broad smile before he left the stage. She hadn’t been sure until then, but he had seen her. And as soon as the curtain came down, an usher came to her and told her that Mr. Taylor was expecting her backstage. She felt shy about going to see him, now that she knew who he was, but she felt
that she ought to thank him for the tickets.

  Feeling nervous about it, she followed the usher to a door at the side of the stage. He used a code to open it, and a moment later she was in a long dark hallway and walking up a flight of stairs, until she found herself standing at the back of the stage, with all the instruments and sound equipment and the roadies and technicians packing up for the night. The usher led her past them, into another hallway where all the dressing rooms were. He knocked on a door, and suddenly she was in his dressing room, surrounded by people. Chase was damp with sweat in the red plaid shirt he’d worn on stage, and was happy to see her.

  “I’m so glad you came,” he said with a broad grin. “I hope you liked it.” He seemed shy again as he said it.

  “I loved it!” Stephanie said honestly, beaming at him. “You were fantastic. I felt like a total idiot when I saw your name on the tickets after you drove away. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you today. I just wasn’t expecting to meet a major music star on the hiking trail.”

  “I like that better,” he said modestly, and then turned to introduce her to a beautiful, very young blond girl standing right behind him. Stephanie saw that she was one of his backup singers. She instantly assumed she was his girlfriend. She had a lush figure but a childlike appearance, and appeared about eighteen years old. “This is my protégée, Sandy.” She smiled at Stephanie and looked even younger when she did. “One day she’s going to be a big star. We’re grooming her for that.” He was proud as he said it, and Stephanie could guess that “protégée” was another word for girlfriend, like “niece.” He was about thirty years older than she was, but Stephanie wasn’t surprised. It was the nature of his business and of men who were as successful as he was. At least he had an excuse for it, more than men like Fred, who just liked young girls because they were sexy. The girl gazed adoringly at Chase when he said it, and then she walked away.