by Aria Ford
“I'm not paying for Nics,” I said. “He eats like a blast furnace.”
We all laughed. Nichol actually looked shyly pleased. Cody gave him a shove, laughing.
We all set to work with renewed speed.
While I worked, I found my thoughts straying again to Alex's sister. Those blue eyes, those firm breasts. In my fantasy I was kissing her as she leaned against me, those fabulous curves in my arms...
“Watch it, Jared!” Cody yelled. “You almost got hit just then.”
I looked round with some horror, noting that I was in the direct line of fire for Jeff's dung shovel. I jumped back.
They all laughed.
“Hell! Never saw a body move so fast,” Jeff laughed. “Anyone would think it was poisoned.”
I chuckled. “It's not far wrong,” I observed, taking in a big breath and coughing. They all laughed.
We spent the next twenty minutes gritting our teeth, shoveling dung. Then Cody called a halt.
“Hey, guys. Looks like we're done.”
I blinked, looking around. He was right. We'd managed to clear up the small barn. I wasn't going to think about doing the big one – that could wait until after lunch.
“Right. Let's call it a day.” Jeff stretched.
We all nodded in approval. I flexed my arm, feeling the shoulder aching. One of the great things about farm-work, I admitted shyly to myself, was what it did for the body. I had always been tall and lean, but all this shoveling had added an extra thickness to my muscles, bulking out my shoulders and biceps in a way I'd never have expected. Even after two months, I felt like I'd really filled out.
And the girls seemed to notice.
“Hey, Jared,” Willerby, one of the waitresses in the place we usually ate, greeted me. Jeff whistled and I scowled. He stopped.
“Will you guys leave it alone?” I asked, not particularly angrily, when she'd gone. Jeff gave me an apologetic nod.
“Fine, Jared.”
Our lunch appeared about ten minutes later and I ate with surprising hunger. We always had toasted sandwiches. I had ordered two, as had the rest of us. I was starved after the morning work.
I thought about my reaction to Jeff's whistle, wondering why it had irritated me so. I guess because I wasn't really interested in Willerby. Yeah, she was pretty. She was sexy – I could appreciate that. But she didn't really, well... “connect” was the only word I could think of. Not with me, anyhow.
Alex's sister did.
I almost choked on the sandwich I was eating. I knew that was true. I also knew that Alex's sister was the one girl I could never have.
Alex had saved me. That seemed melodramatic, but he had. He had seen me one day when I was on the street, really messed up. Callum had just died, about a month ago. I was drinking really hard then, barely affording it. In fact, I couldn't afford it. That day, I'd been considering moving on to something harder. I was struggling, because I still wanted to keep my promise – I thought of it as a promise – to Callum. To do something with my life.
I'd just been sitting there, trying to focus my eyes out of a monstrous hangover, when this guy came up.
“Excuse me,” he'd said. “I'm looking for Mitch's repair place?”
I'd blinked at him. He was talking to me? This fancy-looking guy in a suit with neat-trimmed hair and a tie on? Most guys like him would have crossed the street to avoid me. And he wanted to ask me for directions?
“Dunno,” I shrugged. He looked stressed. Something about that got to me. “Maybe that way?” I said. I actually pointed him in the right direction, too. Most often, if anyone asked me the direction to something I'd point them the wrong way, just for a laugh. But this guy really looked worried.
“Thanks,” he said. He smiled at me. “You from ‘round here?”
I shrugged. “Good as anywhere,” I'd said, non-committal. In fact, I wasn't. That particular part of town was pretty cool compared to where I'd grown up.
“Oh. Well, maybe you could help me?” He'd said.
Confused me, that did. Why was he trusting me? I mean, all I'd done was be there, messed up and on the sidewalk, and here he was actually trusting me?
“Maybe,” I said. I was interested.
“I'm looking for a guy to do some painting. You ever painted before?”
I shrugged. I was baffled. What was this guy up to? Why was he standing here chatting with me? I looked at my hands, scarred and muscled, at my bare arms, with one or two bad tattoos. Why did he think I looked like I wanted to be a painter, or anything?
I did want to, though.
“Well,” he said, “if you do, come find me at Mitch's. I'm probably going to be in there for quite some time.”
I stared after him. My head hurt. But I knew deep inside myself, with complete conviction, that I wanted to do as he suggested. I sat there in my aching, messed-up state for about a minute. Then I went to Mitch's.
He was there. We chatted. He told me he had a friend who'd started a business and they needed some painting work. Would I go to their restaurant address on Saturday morning and say Alex sent me?
Sure I would.
I did.
I did painting – not very well, to start with, but I learned. The job took four days in total, and on the last day, Matt, the restaurant guy, had come to have a look. I remember how he'd stood back and looked it over.
“Not bad,” he said. “Actually, good.”
“Thanks.”
I remember how weird it had felt. It was the first time anyone had praised me for something before. It was amazing.
We chatted for a while. He asked me some stuff. My life, where I lived, what I did. I answered him honestly, which was a first in itself.
“You know,” he said, “I dunno your plans, but I've got an uncle who always needs help with stuff.” He told me as we stood looking at the walls. He had his hand on his chin, thoughtful-like.
“Oh?” I couldn't believe it. He was thinking of offering me another job? Now?
“Yeah. Far away, though,” he said.
“How far?”
The thought of going somewhere far appealed to me. Here, I was tied to my identity. My group: Pete, Jake and Bill. I couldn't shake the way I'd been. If I left, I could change.
“Well, far. Like, in Wyoming.”
“Wyoming.”
The instant he said it, my mind filled in a poster of what I imagined Wyoming to be like. Big fields. Bigger skies. Hills.
I loved the thought of it.
“Sign me up,” I'd said.
He'd whistled. “Whoa, dude. I appreciate the enthusiasm! I'll tell my uncle tomorrow. Okay?”
But it was Alex who saved me. He took me to that place, where I'd worked my first ever real job. When I'd done my first day, we chatted some more. He'd told me well done.
We'd become friends of a sort. I still didn't understand why, but he changed my life and I was forever grateful.
I wasn't going to ruin that by getting bad ideas about his sister.
“Jared!” Cody called.
“What?” I snapped my head up as he called my name, aware, suddenly, of the fact that I'd been sitting eating lunch, completely in my own head. The others had all finished. They all looked at me.
“You dreaming?” Jeff asked.
“Yeah,” I said. They all laughed.
I finished my lunch hastily and stood. We paid – each for ourselves, the way we always did, despite the threats for one person to do the lot – and left.
I thought about that conversation, and my realization before it, all the way back to work.
That was what I was doing. Just dreaming.
Alex's sister was part of that crazy dream, like my dream of going to college one day, bettering myself. It was all just that: crazy, impossible dreams.
CHAPTER THREE
Darby
I woke up after the reunion party feeling really mad.
I was here in the middle of Wyoming, at my uncle's ranch. And Alex had talked me into
doing the one thing I really didn't want to do: stay here for another week.
I went into the shower, hoping that a bit of hot water and steam would cool my temper somewhat. It didn't. I came out, dried my flossy blond hair, lamenting how dry it was getting up here in the dry mountain air, and put on jeans and a nice blue shirt. At least if I was forced to stay out in the middle of nowhere I didn't have to dress like it.
Not bad.
The mirror showed me a woman of middling height, with a narrow waist, full bust and an hourglass figure. My hair was fine and spread out around my face in a slightly wavy cloud. I liked my hair. I was glad the dryness hadn't managed to ruin it.
I'll be glad to be home again.
Home was Newton, MA. I missed the charm of the place. Green River was... well... not really charming. I guess there was a charm in the rusty windmills and rural vibe, but I wasn't feeling it. All I was feeling was the frustration of being stuck out here. And my rage was fixed on Alex.
Not to mention that guy, Jared.
“Morning, Darby,” my aunt called out as I came down to the kitchen. My cousins – Shane and Reese – were at the table. I couldn't see my brother, which was a good thing right now.
“Morning, auntie,” I said.
“Eggs for breakfast?”
“Mm. Yes, please.” I nodded. That sounded good. I was hungry. I helped myself to coffee and sat in comfortable silence looking out over the rugged land.
What was it about Jared that disturbed me?
We had, I recalled, had a perfectly ordinary, pleasant chat. We'd settled our differences about the rudeness thing, and I actually quite liked him. So why was there something in those memories that was chafing at me badly?
I think it's because I liked him.
I was mad at myself for the very idea of it. I was a twenty-seven year old junior lawyer. I didn't need to go getting interested in a guy who came from another world to me. Another world about which Alex still owed me an explanation.
“Alex!” my aunt said warmly. I looked up as my brother entered the kitchen. I really needed to talk with him.
“Alex!” I said. “Come and join me.”
He nodded. Came and took a seat beside me.
“Hey, Darbs. You look stressed. Listen, I'm sorry...” he began.
“Don't worry about it,” I cut him off sharply. It was settled now – I'd even extended my flight. There wasn't much good to be had in arguing about it in front of my family: I wasn't about to let them know I didn't really want to be here, now was I?
“Fine,” he said with some surprise.
“Listen, Alex. I wanted to ask you about...”
“Eggs, Darby. I did two. Sunny side up, right?”
“Yes. Thank you, auntie.”
“No problem,” she said with a big smile as she put a plate of delicious-looking breakfast in front of me.
“Now,” I said to Alex. “I need to ask you about Jared.”
“Later,” he said quickly. He gave a meaningful glance at the cousins and I sighed. I supposed he was right. Whatever background story the guy had, he didn't need it aired over morning coffee.
All the same, the frustration ignited in me. I needed to know. It was the least he could do.
After breakfast, I caught up with him in the back yard. He was standing drinking more coffee, watching the hills.
“Okay,” I said briskly. “There's no one around.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
“So?”
“Darby, Jared's a guy who was in tough circumstances. I met him by chance one day. I helped him out. That's the story.”
“Helped him out?” I asked, frowning. “In what way?”
“Dammit, Darby,” he snapped, surprising me utterly. “Isn't that enough?”
“Hey!” I said, feeling hurt. “You said you'd tell me. That explanation's as bad as no explanation. And why be so defensive? I haven't done anything!”
I surprised myself by feeling tears in my eyes. It wasn't just the shock of my kind, reasonable brother suddenly snapping at me, considerable though that was. It was work pressure, and my confrontation with Jared, and how much he confused me.
“Darby...” he said gently.
“No!” I said. “Dammit, Alex. You seem dedicated to messing me around this week. I knew it was a bad idea for me to go to this thing in the beginning. And I never thought you'd make it harder for me.”
“I'm sorry...” Alex started.
“I don't want to hear you're sorry,” I said hotly, blinking. “I want you to understand that I'm tense and stressed and I trusted you to get me back to work and instead you let us both get persuaded, like you always do.”
“Darby...”
I closed my eyes. When he sounded hurt I couldn't resist it. But I had enough and I wasn't going to have any more. I turned on my heel and walked away.
Luckily, I'd hired a car. All in all, it seemed the easiest way to get from the nearest airport and out to here and back again. That was another problem – I'd have to renew the lease now that I was staying for longer. Or take it back and get a new one. Or just go back with Alex, always assuming his flight and mine were close together.
In any case, the car was a blessing. I hopped in, slammed the door and sped off down the dusty road.
I had been going for about twenty minutes, letting my anger cool, when I noticed something.
A distinctly unpleasant smell. It was coming from the engine.
Moments later, I stalled in the middle of the road.
“Oh, for...”
I wanted to cry. I leaned on the steering-wheel and did a silent scream. I was here, stuck in the middle of nowhere, with an overheated engine and no visible help in sight.
I did have my phone, but what would be better? The help I might get from my uncle, or the help I certainly would get from the AA, but probably after a wait.
I dialed my aunt's number.
While I waited for her to answer the phone, I stared out of the window trying to strive for calm. Of all the places I could have broken down, I guess at least this one was picturesque. I could see the wavering outline of hills, the sun making the sky almost white above them, it was so blue. A haze clung to them, making everything magical and deterring my stress slightly.
I seemed to be stopped near a gateway of some sort, which was good. If I got desperate – if neither my aunt nor the AA was particularly helpful – I could maybe alert someone working on that farm.
I waited for a few more seconds, then hung up. I was about to call again when someone came out of the gateway.
I stared.
The someone was dressed in jeans and a denim jacket. He was on a horse. His muscly shoulders rippled in the sunlight. It was Jared.
I felt my heart jolt and then sink. He had seen me. He was coming over.
He tapped on the window.
“Hey,” he said, quite politely. “You having trouble? I can help.”
I doubt it, I thought. You're part of my trouble.
I smiled tightly.
“Maybe,” I said.
He smiled. “Engine's overheated,” he said. “I'll get some water. Refill the radiator. We'll have it going again in no time. You'll see.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Jared
I couldn't quite believe it when I saw her.
I had noticed the car, standing stalled in the middle of the road out to the ranch. It wasn't a busy road, which was lucky, or it would have been in danger of being in an accident. It was the fact that it wasn't a busy road that made me notice it in the first place.
I rode over from where we were about to head out to the field and had a look. Maybe I could help the guy who'd stalled there. I rode over to investigate.
As the woman at the driver's-seat leaned back, looking out of the window, I saw her full-face and I stared at her. It was her!
Alex's sister.
That was when I'd tapped on the window.
“Can I help?”
“Maybe.”
“Engine's overheated,” I'd said. “I'll get some water. Refill the radiator. We'll have it going in no time.”
She's scowled at me. Not that any expression on that beautiful, gentle-eyed face could have been called a “scowl”. Not exactly. But all the same, this came pretty close. I frowned.
“I'm sorry if I...”
“Don't worry about it,” she said briskly. “You're right. You can help. Thanks,” she added belatedly.
I nodded. “No problem,” I said. “I guess you know the oil's okay too?” I asked. I was showing off. I was hoping to impress her with my knowledge of engines, scanty as it might be. I wanted her to be impressed.
She rolled her eyes. “It's not my car, Jared. But yes. The oil is fine, or so the car-hire people tell me, anyway.”
“Good,” I said. I'd never hired a car in my life before, so how would I know anything about it? But one thing I did know about was overheating.
“I'll go get water,” I said.
She nodded. “Thanks.”
By the time I returned from the barns, a watering-can of water with me, she had alighted from the car and was standing near the front window.
“Oh,” I said. “The hood is up?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I can do that part, I think.”
Her words were acid-sharp, and I should have backed off, but I didn't.
“Good,” I said.
She scowled again. “Listen, mister.”
I sighed. “Sorry,” I said.
She beamed at me. “That's better. Now, let's get this car in working order again.”
I smiled as she waited for me to fill up the radiator, then headed into the car to turn the ignition and check all was working as it should. It was.
“Thanks,” she said. She sounded relieved. And impressed. Well, maybe I was making myself hear that part. But all the same, she sounded impressed to me.
“It's nothing,” I said shyly. I felt awkward. I hadn't exactly had much practice in things like this.
“Well,” she drew in a long breath. “I guess I owe you lunch.”