When the Heart Falls

by Kimberly Lewis

  “They’re here,” she announced. “Can I get you anything else sheriff?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m just fine, thank you,” the sheriff replied and leaned back in the arm chair.

  Dylan escorted Misty up the porch steps, released his hold from her hand and opened the door for her.

  “Thank you,” she said and smiled.

  “You’re very welcome.” He smiled back and winked.

  Three pairs of eyes were on them as they entered the living room. Misty felt like they were reading her face and knew everything that transpired between her and Dylan within the last hour. She could feel her cheeks growing warm and took a deep breath to stop the blush.

  Jack took in their appearance and asked, “Get caught in that downpour?”

  Misty looked to Dylan and had to force herself not to smile.

  “Yes, sir, we did,” Dylan confirmed, trying to hide his smile as well.

  The sheriff stood up from his chair with a groan and walked towards Dylan and Misty.

  “Mr. McCoy,” he said, shaking Dylan’s hand. “Mrs. Prescott,” he said and tipped his hat toward Misty. “Why don’t we take a seat and I’ll get to the point of my visit,” he said, gesturing them towards the sofa.

  He let out a huff of air as he fell back into the arm chair and reached for the glass of iced tea on the adjacent table. He took a sip, placed it back on the coaster, and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees.

  “I wanted to visit with you today to let you know that we’ve uncovered new evidence from your accident,” he started.

  Misty shifted uncomfortably on the sofa and Dylan reached over laying his hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Jack noticed the action and looked at the pair of them suspiciously before looking to Maggie, who did not look in his direction.

  “It appears as if this was not an accident after all,” the sheriff continued.

  “What do you mean by that?” Jack asked.

  “After investigating the remains of your car, Mrs. Prescott, it appears that you did not have faulty brake lines.”

  Misty stared at the sheriff with a puzzled look. “Not faulty?” she asked. “I don’t understand then. Why didn’t they work?”

  “They weren’t faulty in the sense that they were bad or worn out. Your brake lines had been cut.”

  Maggie gasped. “Who would do such a thing?”

  “We’re not sure, ma’am. That’s another reason why I wanted to personally visit today. Can you remember anything else from the accident that might help us in catching the culprit?” He directed his question toward Misty.

  Misty sat there in shock and shook her head. “No, I can’t.”

  “How about you, Mr. McCoy?” the sheriff asked.

  “No sir I can’t. It was pitch-black out.”

  “Understandable,” the sheriff agreed.

  “Are you telling me that someone is trying to kill my daughter?” Jack asked with anger in his voice.

  “As the case stands I’m going to say yes,” the sheriff said to Jack in a calm voice. “We still have some more investigating to do, and I’m hoping that I can come back to you and tell you that this was just a case of mistaken identity.”

  “What are we supposed to do till then?” Maggie asked.

  “I would suggest that Mrs. Prescott stay as close to home as possible till we get more answers,” the sheriff advised.

  “I’ve got to be in Colbourne for my divorce in three days,” she said to the sheriff.

  “I wouldn’t suggest taking that trip alone, Mrs. Prescott. Maybe your parents could…”

  “I’ll go with her,” Dylan interrupted.

  Jack and Sheriff Brittingham looked to Dylan with confused looks, and Maggie couldn’t help but smile.

  “That would be very nice of you, Dylan,” she said. “Jack and I are very busy with our ranch and with you accompanying Misty on her trip, well that would be very helpful.”

  “It’s not a problem, Mrs. Donavan,” Dylan said and looked toward Misty, who smiled slightly and dipped her head a little.

  “Good enough,” the sheriff said and stood up from the chair. “Best be on my way then. When I have more information I’ll let you know.”

  Everyone stood up and took their turns shaking hands with the sheriff. “I’ll walk you out,” Jack said and escorted the sheriff to the door.

  “You two hungry or thirsty?” Maggie asked Dylan and Misty.

  “No I’m good,” Misty said.

  “I’m good as well. Thank you, ma’am,” Dylan added.

  “Alright then, well I have some things to do around here. What are you kids going to get into?” Maggie pried, holding back a smile.

  “Actually, I probably need to get back to my ranch. I have some chores that I’m running a little behind on,” he said and grinned at Misty.

  She couldn’t control the blush that filled her cheeks this time. “Well, I guess I better walk you to your truck then,” Misty replied.

  “Ok. It’s was good seeing you again, Mrs. Donovan,” Dylan said and tipped his hat.

  “Good seeing you too, Dylan,” Maggie said and grinned at Misty.

  She watched as the two of them walked towards the back door, and watched as Dylan placed his hand on the small of Misty’s back when she walked through the door he held open for her. Jack waved as Sheriff Brittingham pulled out of the driveway and then turned to walk back to the house. Dylan and Misty were walking across the porch when he approached.

  “Leaving so soon?” Jack asked.

  “Dylan’s got to get back to his ranch,” Misty explained.

  “I see. Well it was good seeing you, son,” Jack said and held his hand out.

  Dylan shook Jack’s hand and replied, “Good seeing you too, Mr. Donovan.”

  Jack walked up the steps and stopped before opening the door. He turned to watch Dylan and Misty and noticed Dylan take her hand in his, intertwining their fingers and leaning his head close to hers to whisper in her ear. Jack lifted his hat a little and scratched his head, then proceeded to walk into the house.

  “Maggs?” he called out.

  “In here!”

  Jack entered the living room and saw Maggie peering out the window, hiding behind the curtain.

  “What on earth are you doing, woman?” he jokingly asked.

  “Being nosey,” she joked back.

  Jack walked up and hid behind her, peering out the window as well.

  “Do you know what all that’s about?” he asked as they watched Dylan and Misty standing next to Dylan’s truck.

  “Come on, Jack. Don’t tell me you can’t figure it out.”

  At that moment, Dylan laid his hand on Misty’s waist and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. He smiled, hopped in his truck and waved to Misty as he pulled out of the driveway. Misty waved back, and when she turned to walk back to the house Jack and Maggie noticed that she was wearing the biggest smile that they had ever seen on her face.

  Maggie let the curtain fall and turned to look at Jack. “Well?” she asked.

  Jack smiled and replied, “All I have to say is it’s about damn time.”

  CHAPTER 17

  “Call us as soon as you get there,” Maggie said as she hugged Misty.

  “We will, Mom.”

  “Drive safe son and take good care of my daughter,” Jack told Dylan as he shook his hand and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.

  “Will do, sir,” Dylan said and nodded. He walked over the passenger side, opened the door for Misty and helped her in. Once she was in, he closed the door and waved to Jack and Maggie as he walked around to the driver’s side.

  Misty rolled down the window and shouted, “I love you!” and blew a kiss as they pulled out of the driveway.

  “Think they’ll be alright?” Maggie asked as she waved to the disappearing pickup truck.

  “I think they’ll be just fine,” Jack said and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “He’s a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. H
e’s done a good job so far looking after her. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’d risk his own life just to save hers.”

  “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come down to that,” Maggie said, resting her head on Jack’s shoulder.

  ***

  Dylan drove his truck into town limits and headed toward the highway. He turned to look at Misty, taking in the beautiful sight before him. He never thought she could be prettier than when she was walking around in her cutoff jeans, boots and tank top. But today she proved him wrong. Today she wore a simple sleeveless blue sheath dress that hit right at the knee.

  “Have I told you how pretty you look today?” he asked and sent a smile in her direction.

  She turned her attention from the passing landscape to look at him. She smiled back and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks. I really wasn’t going for pretty today though; just presentable enough for court.” She chuckled.

  “Misty, you don’t have to even try to be pretty. You could’ve worn a potato sack today and I don’t think anyone would have cared,” he told her.

  She smiled at his compliment and took in a soft deep breath. “So, we’ve got three hours till we get to Colbourne. What do you wanna talk about?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Don’t matter to me. You pick.”

  “Ok,” she said and thought about it for a minute. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure,” he said as he fumbled with the radio.

  “How come you’ve never been married? Or have you been married?” she asked and looked at him curiously.

  He stopped the dial on a country station and turned the volume down just a little. “No, I’ve never been married. Came close to it once though,” he told her.

  “What happened?”

  He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music. “We were young. We had dated for about two years and I had planned on asking her to marry me, but I changed my mind.”

  “Why?” Misty asked, intrigued.

  He shrugged. “Didn’t feel right. I was only going to ask her because we had been dating so long and I thought it was the right thing to do.”

  “Did you love her?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “But by the time I had come up with the plan of asking her to marry me, I realized I didn’t love her anymore. I realized that my heart was somewhere else.”

  “Where was it?” she asked and turned her body in his direction, resting her elbow on the back of the seat and laying her head in her hand.

  He smiled at her and replied, “You’ll think I’m crazy.”

  “No I won’t, just tell me.”

  He sighed and said, “It was with you, Mis.”

  “Me?” she asked. “How could it be with me? You didn’t even really know me back then.”

  “I know, I know,” he said. “I told you it would sound crazy. Misty, I’ve been in love with you from the moment I saw you. You don’t know how bad I wanted to ask you out back then, but I was too nervous. And then, I lost my chance,” he said with sadness in his voice at the end.

  She stared at him for a moment, then unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted across the bench seat to sit next to him. She took his arm, wrapped it around her and rested her head against his shoulder. “Well, you’ve got me now. And unless you plan on changing your mind with me, I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that,” he said. “Now that I’ve got you I don’t ever plan on letting go.”

  They sat in silence for a few moments and listened to the radio. They had made it to the highway now and Misty watched as cars passed by them.

  “Blue one!” she said and playfully punched Dylan’s shoulder.

  He was taken aback by the sudden action and jumped a little. “What was that for?”

  “Blue punch buggy,” she said, pointing at the VW bug that was now three cars in front of them.

  “Oh,” he said and chuckled. “Never did like that game very much. Seems like I was always getting the punches instead of delivering them. It’s a shame the rules weren’t different.”

  “What kind of rule change did you have in mind?” she asked.

  He grinned. “Well, how about instead of you punching me when you see one, you kiss me instead,” he said and playfully raised an eyebrow.

  “Ok,” she said and leaned up to place a long soft kiss on his neck right underneath his ear. “Blue one,” she whispered in a husky voice into his ear and then gently grazed her teeth on the bottom of his earlobe.

  He took a ragged breath and had to calm the desire that ran through his body at that moment. “Maybe we better go back to punching.”

  ***

  Misty met her lawyer at the front of the courthouse and then they proceeded to the judge’s chambers. When they entered, Brad was sitting in one of the green leather chairs across from the large dark wood desk where the judge was seated. He turned his head when she walked in and whispered to his lawyer before standing up from his seat.

  “Hello, Misty,” he said with a smile that was intended to be warm and friendly.

  Misty ignored the gesture and replied stiffly, “Hello, Brad.”

  Before she had a chance to sit down Brad asked, “Misty, can we talk for just a minute please?”

  She looked at Brad with irritation and confusion. With a deep sigh she replied, “Alright.”

  “Excuse us for just a moment gentlemen,” Brad said in his smooth voice.

  Brad escorted them to a private area in the hall and turned to look at Misty. “Did you have time to think about what I asked you?” he asked in a hopeful tone.

  “Yes, Brad, I did.”

  “And?”

  “The answer is no,” she said firmly. “I can’t forget everything you’ve done, Brad, and I’m not going to forgive you that easily. You lied to me for years.”

  Brad’s jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. “It’s that guy from the hospital, isn’t it? He’s brainwashed you.”

  Misty looked at him confused yet amused. “Brainwashed? Are you being serious right now? I mean, do you really hear these words as they are coming out of your mouth? No one brainwashed me, Brad, except for you. You brainwashed me into thinking that you loved me all those years that we were married. You made me think that we would one day have children.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m not doing this anymore,” she said calmly. “There is a room full of men waiting to finalize this divorce and I’m going in there so it can be done. With or without you; you choose.” She stared him in the eye for a moment and walked past him.

  “Misty, I still love you,” he called out after her.

  She turned in his direction. “That’s not my problem anymore.”

  ***

  Dylan sat in the truck, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel while he waited for Misty outside the courthouse. A glare from that direction caught his eye, and he noticed the door of the courthouse open and Brad walk through with his lawyer. As they walked down the steps of the building he saw Brad look in his direction and give him an evil glare. Dylan stared right back, but couldn’t hold back the smirk on his face. As Brad continued to walk towards the parking lot, Dylan saw the door open once more. Misty walked out with her lawyer and stopped once they reached the bottom of the steps to shake hands. When she turned to walk to Dylan’s truck, he noticed that she had this glow that wasn’t there this morning. It was the glow of a free woman. He hopped out of the truck and rounded the front to open her door for her. Before he had a chance to open the door, she had flung her arms around his neck and kissed him like she hadn’t seen him in years.

  “What was that for?” he asked when the kiss ended.

  “That’s all I could think about while I was in there,” she said and kissed him once more, short and sweet.

  “I take it things went well then.” He chuckled and opened the door.

  “Damn straight it did. I…” She stopped right as she was about to hop in the truck when she noticed the simple bouquet of wild f
lowers sitting on the seat. She turned to Dylan and noticed for the first time that he had changed his clothes from the blue jeans and t-shirt he wore on the drive there this morning, to black jeans, black boots, and a white western cut shirt, topped off with a black cowboy hat. He was smiling at her, and the sight was so unbelievably beautiful that it pulled at her heart and made her want to cry.

  “I thought since we were out already and seeing as how you look so pretty, well, I figured I could take you out on a formal date,” he explained.

  “I’d love that,” she said and let Dylan help her into the truck. She picked up the bouquet and breathed in the wonderful scent as he walked around to enter the driver’s side. Her first few moments of being Misty Donovan again were the most amazing moments she had had in a very long time. As she watched Dylan get into the truck and start the engine, she wondered if things would always be this wonderful with him. A warm feeling filled her body, starting from her heart and extending to her fingertips and toes. Without a doubt, she knew that this is how life would be from now on.

  ***

  “Can I interest you two in dessert this evening?” the waiter asked as he cleared the plates from the table.

  Dylan looked to Misty and smiled. “Yes I think we will have dessert, but can we get it to go please?”

  “Very well, sir. And what would you like?”

  Dylan handed Misty the dessert menu and after a moment of scanning it she had decided to go with the chocolate cake with chocolate covered strawberries.

  “Excellent choice, miss. I’ll bring it right out,” the waiter said and walked away.

  After the waiter had brought them their dessert to go in a brown bag with a handle, Dylan escorted Misty to his truck. Once they were in and seated Misty asked, “Where to now?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Dylan winked.

  She scooted her way across the seat and curled up next to him as he drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road. Soon they were out of town limits, and Dylan turned off of the main road and headed down a tree lined dirt lane.