And Then You Fly Read online

  They didn’t stay at any of the parties very long, although showing up was expected of them. Bullet and Lyric were the only ones who stayed until the wee hours of the morning. Bullet was there to help Lyric with Rodeochat as much as he was to help with Flying R.

  “How’re you doing?” Ben asked Jace. “You’re a helluva lot younger than me, yet you don’t seem to be having too much fun. All the partyin’ getting to you?”

  It wasn’t the partying Jace was having trouble with. It was Bree. He hadn’t been able to reach her, and from what Tuck said, Blythe didn’t think anything out of the ordinary was happening with her. At first he was afraid she was ill, but after the reassurance from her sister, he realized he was back on the same roller coaster ride with her he found himself on too often.

  If she was going to pull away from him every time they weren’t physically together, there wasn’t any chance a relationship would work between them. No matter what happened between them, he’d have to travel, in the same way Billy, Tucker, and Ben had to. They didn’t want to be away from their wives and families, but they didn’t have a choice.

  He looked up and realized Ben was waiting for a response. Before he could answer, his phone rang, and it was Bree. He breathed a sigh of relief. “I need to get this,” he told Ben, and walked outside.

  “I was just thinking about you,” he answered.

  “You were?”

  “Yep, but I always am, so I’d say that no matter when you called.”

  “Jace, I need to talk to you.”

  She’d started one other conversation this way, he couldn’t accept this was a repeat. “Bree, tell me what’s goin’ on darlin’.” This time he’d listen rather than jump to any conclusions. He’d learned at least that much.

  “It’s about Christmas.”

  “Christmas?”

  “I’ve had a change of plans, I’m not going to be home for Christmas.”

  “Okay. Tell me.” Jace was trying hard not to allow any emotion to creep into his words. If he could keep it light, just listen to her, maybe this wouldn’t circle down the drain.

  “I’m going away.”

  “What about Christmas with Cochran, and your family?” And me, he wanted to add.

  “Something has come up, and I’m going to be in Idaho.”

  He could hear her voice catch. She was struggling; he heard it.

  “Tell me why you’re going to Idaho.”

  “It’s just something I need to do, I don’t know if I can explain it.”

  “Come on darlin’, don’t shut me out. What’s this about?”

  “Zack,” she hesitated. “It’s always about Zack.”

  “I understand,” he told her, although nothing could be further from the truth. “I’m disappointed.” He waited for her to answer, but was met with silence.

  “Can I call you?” he asked.

  She told him he could; she’d like it if he would, and then ended the call.

  Jace watched as men and women spilled out of the hotel’s shuttle bus. The buses ran non-stop from one rodeo event to another. Once the bus was empty, the line of people waiting would pile on, headed where the last people came from. The line was long, full of cowboys and cowgirls, most feeling as tired as he was. He focused on one couple specifically.

  The man stood behind the woman, his arms around her waist. She leaned back, so her head rested against his chest. Jace watched as the man lowered his head, and kissed the woman’s neck. Her eyes were closed. She smiled, and then turned her head. When she did, the cowboy kissed her. She turned in his arms, and their kiss deepened.

  Jace knew he should look away. Their moment was private, even if they were in public. He couldn’t bring himself to stop watching. When their kiss ended, she rested her cheek against his chest; Jace could see the cowboys arms tighten, pulling her closer. He sighed, envying their moment, their closeness, their obvious love.

  He turned around to go back into the hotel, and saw Billy leaning against the wall, watching him watch the couple. His head was at an angle, his hat sat low on his head, but Jace could see his eyes. He wasn’t smirking, like he often was. Good thing. Jace wasn’t in the mood to take any of Billy’s shit today. He had enough of his own.

  He was tempted to turn around, catch a cab to the airport, and head back to Montana. He’d spent the last few days counting down to the day he’d be with Bree again. Instead of winding down, the count had just spiraled up. He had no idea how long it would be now.

  Jace walked up to the revolving door that would take him back into the casino. He kept his eyes averted as he passed Billy.

  “Hold up.”

  Jace kept going, ignoring Billy. He walked straight to the bar and ordered a shot of bourbon. “Keep ’em comin’.” He downed one and shoved the shot glass in the bartender’s direction. Billy stood next to him at the bar, but hadn’t said anything.

  After his third, he turned the shot glass over. Getting drunk was pointless; it would only make him feel worse.

  “I want out,” he said, without turning to look at Billy.

  “You’re out.”

  That made Jace look. “That simple? Huh. Must be I’m not as important to this whole venture as I thought.”

  “You’re wrong.” Billy still hadn’t turned to look at Jace. He stared straight ahead. “But nobody’s gonna force you to stick with this if it isn’t somethin’ you wanna be doin’.”

  “So I can just walk away?”

  “Sure ya can. We all can. Nothin’ tyin’ any of us to this deal ’cept money.”

  “I walk away, I lose my money. Fair enough.”

  “Hell no, I’ll buy you out. I got no problem doin’ that. I don’t think anyone who’s part of this deal would screw you outa’ your investment.”

  Jace didn’t know what to say, but then what had he expected to hear? What would he have said if Billy dropped the same ball?

  “All right then.” Jace held out his hand. Billy didn’t shake it.

  “We’ll do it after the first of the year. Cleaner that way from a tax perspective. Plus it’ll take that long to draw up the paperwork.”

  “If that’s that, I think I’ll see about catching a plane.”

  “Where ya headed?”

  “Goin’ home. Back to Montana.”

  Billy turned so he was facing Jace. “Home huh? Your operation up there is still part of all this. Or you plannin’ on askin’ your mama and daddy to buy you outa that too?”

  Jace hadn’t gotten that far. He hadn’t expected Billy to accept him walking away from the rough stock business without argument. Maybe he should give up the place in Montana, although that wouldn’t be fair to his parents. They’d invested in it for him, not for themselves. They couldn’t sell now and expect to make any money on the deal.

  He couldn’t seem to make a good decision for the life of him. And that life seemed nothing but pointless. When it looked as though any kind of permanent relationship was out of the question, Jace turned to work. Now he was walking away from the one thing that gave his life any purpose at all.

  He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it with the weight of his tension. “Hell if I know,” he finally said.

  He watched Billy motion to the bartender; he held up two fingers. The man set two shot glasses in front of them, and poured. Jace studied the glass in front of him.

  Billy threw the shot back, and waited for Jace to do the same. He was already light-headed from the three shots he had when he walked up to the bar. He wasn’t sure he could stand another one. He pushed the glass in Billy’s direction.

  He studied it, and then looked up, into Jace’s eyes. “Good decision,” he said before he downed the contents of the shot glass.

  “You know what I don’t understand, is why you give a shit.”

  Billy motioned for the bartender again, this time holding up only one finger. Jace waited while Billy downed his third shot. Now they were even.

  “I owe you.”

&nb
sp; “What for?”

  It took Billy a while to answer. It often did. Billy didn’t usually have much to say, and when he did, he took his time saying it.

  “Renie and I woulda’ ended up together no matter what. But what you did that day, took balls. I’ll never forget it, and I’ll likely never repay it.”

  “I didn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know. Looking back on it, I was a damn arrogant jackass for calling you.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Billy was studying the last couple drops in the shot glass. Jace wondered if he was going to order another. “All that matters is you cared enough to do it. You’re a better man than I am, and for that, I owe you.”

  “You don’t owe me nothin’.” Jace turned to walk away, but Billy stopped him.

  He waved his hand in the direction of the casino. “I’ve been part of this rodeo circuit for a hell of a lot of years. You don’t see any cowboys walkin’ up, offerin’ to buy me a drink. You know why that is?” Billy didn’t wait for Jace to answer.

  “It’s because I stuck to myself. I know these guys, but even after years of travelin’ to the same places, week after week, I would betcha not a single one of them would call me a friend.” Billy looked straight at Jace. “But I’d call you a friend, a damn good friend.”

  “I appreciate you sayin’ that Billy—”

  “I’m not finished. I don’t know what the hell is goin’ on with you, but whatever it is, you’re not thinkin’ straight.”

  “It’s not important.”

  “Not important huh? Only one thing it can be then. Bree’s got you in a tizzy. Wants you by her side day-in-day-out, that it? Yep, that’s how it is when you’re in love.”

  “Nothing could be further from what’s happening. Whatever was going on with Bree and me, isn’t any longer. That was her I was talking to. She’s decided to go away for Christmas. You see, she and I had planned to spend it together this year. I don’t think you make a spur of the moment decision to cancel holiday plans when you’re in love.”

  “You got it all wrong partner.”

  Chapter 18

  Red was quiet on the drive back from the airport. Bree didn’t mind; she didn’t feel like talking either. It was snowing, and cold. She hadn’t been able to get warm since she got on the plane that morning. Her body involuntarily shuddered, and she wrapped her arms more tightly around herself.

  “What’s in the box?” he asked after more than an hour on the road.

  “Things that belonged to Zack. Letters mainly, and I found a journal. I didn’t get through all the envelopes.”

  “I see.”

  “I started to read the letters, the day the box was delivered. I couldn’t.” Bree chewed at her fingernails. “I hope you don’t mind me coming here to do it.”

  Suddenly she felt like an imposition. How rude of her to invite herself, interrupting Red’s holiday. She wasn’t sure, but she supposed he had family other than his wife, who’d passed away the year before, and the daughter who’d died several years ago.

  “I appreciate the company,” Red smiled at her.

  Bree smiled back, and then lost herself in the beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains. Their craggy spires, covered with snow, reached into the blue Idaho sky, as though they were yearning to grow taller still, to touch heavens that remained always out of reach.

  “I didn’t ask if you had plans for the holidays. Do you?”

  “I get my fair share of invitations from the ranch manager and his family, and some of the boys you met at the bakery in Stanley.”

  “Do you accept any of them?”

  “Not so far.”

  “Why not?”

  “My wife passed away last year. I didn’t feel as though I’d be very good company.”

  “And this year?”

  “Something told me I should stay home this year too.”

  “You don’t have to, I mean, if you’re doing it for me. I could go back to Colorado.”

  Red reached over and patted her mittened hand. “Let’s take it one day at a time.”

  She nodded, and lost herself again.

  ***

  “I don’t understand why you need me in this meeting, I’m out of this after the first of the year.”

  “Ben and his brothers are meeting with the Wrangler people. I can’t very well send Bullet into a sponsorship meeting.”

  “You can handle it on your own.”

  Billy glared at Jace. “You got somethin’ more important to do this mornin’? ’Cause the way I see it, Flying R Rough Stock has been payin’ for your entertainment the last few days. You can step up and go to this meeting with me. Plus, we might get a free breakfast out of it.”

  Jace followed him into the elevator and down to the restaurant in the lobby.

  “Tristan?” Billy said to the woman standing near the entrance, looking at her cell phone.

  “Yes,” she shook Billy’s hand. “Billy Patterson, right? And this is?” she looked in Jace’s direction.

  “This here is Jace Rice, the other founding partner in Flying R Rough Stock.”

  Jace shook her hand, and wondered what Billy was up to with an introduction like that.

  “I’m Tristan McCullough, with Lost Cowboy,” she said.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Tristan,” Jace answered. “I like what you’ve done with your brand. Admirable marketing strategy.”

  Tristan bowed her head, just slightly, and he saw her cheeks pinken. “It’s more than a strategy,” she told him. “It’s my father’s way of life. My grandfather’s too.”

  Billy deferred to Jace throughout the meeting, and he had to admit, he enjoyed it. Sponsorship was something Jace understood from his days as a competitive skier.

  Flying R Rough Stock planned to contract stock to rodeos, but also planned to sponsor rookie cowboys and cowgirls. They had to be careful with bull and bronc riders, but sponsoring participants in the timed events, along with barrel racers, wouldn’t propose a conflict of interest. Partnering with Lost Cowboy allowed them to help promote the riders they wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

  “Pretty girl,” Billy said when Tristan excused herself to take a phone call.

  “Yes, she is.” Once Jace saw her, he realized the motivation behind Billy asking him to attend the meeting. And why he sat back and let Jace take the lead. Tristan was more than pretty, she was stunning. She was tall and thin, with long, dark brown hair, and big brown eyes. She had been a competitive barrel racer, but once her family started their clothing business, she said she realized it was her true passion. She told them she’d studied design in New York City, not far from Long Island, where she grew up.

  The thing was, she wasn’t Bree. There had been plenty of cowgirls, and buckle bunnies, who tried to catch Jace’s attention the last few days, but it all came back to the same thing. They weren’t Bree. She was all he could think about, all he wanted. Tristan, as beautiful as she was, didn’t interest Jace other than as a sponsorship partner.

  “Hey fellas,” Bullet sat down at the table, uninvited. Lyric stood behind him, taking in the scene in front of her.

  “Who y’all meetin’ with?” she asked.

  “Tristan McCullough—”

  “Lost Cowboy,” she interrupted. “I’d like to get a Twitterview with that girl. Think y’all can put that together for me?”

  Lyric never quit. She had to have been exhausted from all the media events she’d either been a part of or led the last few days, not to mention the parties. But looking at her, you’d think she just stepped off the plane, enthusiastic as ever.

  “Here she is,” said Billy when Tristan came back to the table. Lyric took it from there, and Jace was glad their business was nearly concluded. He doubted he’d been able to get a word in edgewise.

  “Who is she?” asked Bullet, leaning in close to Jace.

  “She represents a brand that’s going to sponsor riders, some in partnership with Flying R.”

  “Ya think she’d sponsor me?”
>
  “Uh, I don’t know.” The look on Bullet’s face was equal parts hopeful and lustful. Jace didn’t want to rain on the cowboy’s parade, but Jace was afraid Tristan McCullough was way out of Bullet’s league.

  ***

  Bree stared at the box. There it sat, on the dresser in the guest room she slept in.

  When Red pointed out the cabin to her last summer, she hadn’t gotten a good look at it from across the lake. In fact, what she’d seen through the woods that day wasn’t the cabin at all, it was the boathouse.

  The cabin stood higher on the hill, almost impossible to see from the lake.

  The main floor was comprised of a large great room, with a wall of windows that looked out over Pettit Lake and the Sawtooth Range. It was as though the dense trees that surrounded the cabin magically parted to afford the perfect view. The kitchen was expansive, with a vintage Magic Chef combination range. It had ten gas burners, five small oven compartments, and three warming trays that ran along the bottom. Bree had never seen anything like it. The design was brilliant, in her opinion; why didn’t they make ranges like this any longer, she wondered.

  A wooden, winding staircase led to the second floor where there were five bedrooms, three of which had doors that opened to a deck overlooking the lake.

  The bathroom closest to the guest room had a black claw-foot tub, and a dark wood, raised tall tank, and pull-chain toilet, with a porcelain black base, like the tub. The sink was the same black porcelain as the toilet and tub, and was set in a cabinet made of dark wood. It was one of the most beautiful bathrooms Bree had ever seen.

  The guest room was feminine looking despite the use of dark wood and black accents. The bedding and curtains were made from the same cream and black-colored French toile fabric. Upon closer inspection, Bree saw there were three distinct scenes woven into the fabric.

  In one, a woman and child were gathering flowers; a man, carrying a hay rake, walked with them. In the background other people were cutting hay. A second scene showed a man on a ladder next to a grape arbor; a woman stood next to a horse, who had panniers filled with fruit; another woman walked by with a basket. The third scene showed a mill; a woman and child stood on a bridge looking down at the water; in the foreground a man on horseback stood with a woman carrying two baskets, one filled with flowers.