And Then You Fly Read online

  “I’m sorry about the tournament Red.”

  “Now, now, none of that,” he answered. “We can fish anywhere we want. Doesn’t have to be up in Salmon.”

  They were close to the ranch when Red turned the truck off the road in the opposite direction. Bree didn’t care where he was headed, she was just happy they weren’t in Salmon any longer.

  Being back, even close to the ranch, felt safer. There were nights she cried herself to sleep, but she could do that in the dark by herself, with no one to witness her sadness. Out on the stream today felt too raw, too public, although she doubted anyone saw her other than Red. She appreciated his comfort, even though she couldn’t bring herself to tell him so.

  There was only one other person whose comfort she’d appreciated more. In the weeks after Zack’s death, it was Jace who held her when she cried. Jace, who at the time, she couldn’t stand.

  She couldn’t understand why she’d let him. Maybe it was because he was so damn pushy he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She could still remember how it felt to have his arms wrapped around her the day she admitted for the first time that she and Zack fought before he was deployed to Afghanistan, and that he’d left without saying goodbye.

  She cried for what seemed like hours that day, and Jace held her through it all. It hadn’t mattered how hard she pushed him away, he refused to let go.

  What she’d give to have him here now.

  ***

  Something had been eating at Jace all day. It started the night before, when he got into bed. It was something Wyatt said about the woman who was staying on the other side of this cabin. He said she lost her husband in the war. He also said that they could hear her crying at night, when she thought no one could.

  Every word he said made him think of Bree. Where was she? Was she feeling the same way? He wished now he’d asked his mother more about what she was doing. He hoped she wasn’t alone, like this woman was.

  Several times last night and even today, he thought about texting her. He started to type a message to her three or four times, but never hit the send button. No matter what he wrote, it didn’t sound right.

  How could he ask her anything without explaining why he hadn’t ever responded to the messages she sent him? None of it belonged in a text, but it would’ve been harder to bring himself to call her. So he didn’t do anything, except spend the whole day thinking about her.

  He walked to the barn in the middle of the afternoon and asked Wyatt if he would mind if he took one of the horses out on the trail. Rather than exploring anything new, Jace took the same trail they’d taken the night before, over to Pettit Lake.

  Last night he’d seen what he thought was a pathway that wound it’s way all the way around the lake. He was three-quarters of the way when he saw a truck pull up and stop near the dirt road that led back to the ranch.

  It didn’t look as though the people in the truck were getting out. He stopped paying attention and continued guiding the horse around the lake.

  Chapter 4

  Bree looked up at the lake in front of her. It was beautiful and she said so. It was hard to tell what was the lake and what was the reflection. Both were so clear. The breeze from the lake was colder than it had been on the stream. The water would be too.

  “I grew up on this lake,” Red told her. He pointed toward the north bank. “See that cabin right there? I spent every summer there for most of my life.”

  “It’s idyllic,” she said wistfully. “Almost surreal in its perfection. Who owns it now?”

  “I do.”

  “Oh. Is this where you live? Convenient that it’s right across the road from the ranch.”

  Red didn’t answer, but it didn’t matter. Bree didn’t feel like talking anymore than it seemed he did.

  She closed her eyes, and let her thoughts drift back to Jace. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about him. She should be thinking about Zack.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw movement across the lake. Off in the distance, she saw a man on horseback, and from where she was, she could swear it was Jace. Her mind must be playing tricks on her. She blinked her eyes, and looked again.

  Maybe if she got out of the truck and took a closer look, she’d be able to see it wasn’t him.

  ***

  Jace saw the passenger door open and the woman climb out. She wore a baseball cap, and she was a sprite of a thing, just like Bree. Her T-shirt hugged her small body the same way too. Rather than taking the turn to go back to the ranch, he turned the horse in her direction.

  The woman made her way around the front of the truck, walking slowly toward him. Jace stopped and climbed off the horse. He lifted his hat, removed his sunglasses, and wiped the sweat from his brow. By then she was much closer to him.

  “Jace?” he heard her say.

  It couldn’t be. How could it? How could Bree be walking toward him? He shook himself, maybe he was dreaming. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to dream about her, he did all the time.

  If this was a dream, it was the most real he’d ever had. He’d know soon enough, because in a matter of seconds, she’d be close enough to touch.

  “Bree?”

  “Jace, what are you doing here?”

  He had no idea what to say. He couldn’t remember why he was there. Why had he come to Idaho in the first place?

  “A bull.”

  “What?”

  “Uh, I’m here about a bull.”

  Bree was less than five feet in front of him when he came out of his stupor. He dropped the horse’s reins and reached out to her. He was so afraid she would hesitate, or back away, but she didn’t. She walked the rest of the distance between them, and let herself fall into his arms. He could feel every inch of her as she pressed herself into him.

  “I missed you,” he thought he heard her say. Part of him was still afraid it was a dream that in a split second he would wake from.

  “I missed you too,” he answered.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” She pulled away and looked up at him. “Tell me again why you are.”

  “I’m supposed to see a man named Red about a bull. He’s been off fishing with a woman—”

  Bree waited for him to finish his sentence and when he didn’t, she pointed in the direction of the truck. “Red’s right over there,” she said.

  When she turned back, Jace had an odd look on his face, which quickly turned to a smile. She longed to rest her head on his broad chest, and feel his strong arms wrapped around her. His ash blonde hair was longer, closer to the way his brother, Tucker, kept it. He looked as fit as the last time she saw him, maybe more so. She knew he’d been competing heavily in saddle bronc riding, and then working the ranch. His skin looked weathered; maybe a few more wrinkles surrounded the green eyes she could easily get lost in.

  “Bree,” he whispered. “You’ve been on my mind girl, and now, here you are. Right here, in Idaho. It’s almost too crazy to be a coincidence.”

  She turned back toward the truck and waved at Red. “Let’s go ask Red about this bull.”

  Jace put his hand on her shoulder as they walked toward the truck. Just moments ago she was thinking she’d give anything to have him here, and now, he was. She slowed her pace, and when she did, Jace put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.

  “You must be Red,” she heard Jace say. She struggled to think of words to explain who Jace was to Red, but she had nothing.

  “I am. Red Dugan. Nice to meet you.”

  Jace moved forward to shake Red’s hand, but his other arm remained around Bree’s shoulder.

  “Jace Rice. Nice to meet you sir.”

  “What brings you to Idaho young man? I take it you know Bree.”

  “I do know her. And as far as what brings me to Idaho, I’m guessing it has more to do with Bree than I was initially led to believe.”

  Red laughed. “I think I’m gonna like this story.” He motioned for them to take a seat at a wooden picnic table on the lake’s s
hore.

  “I was sent here to see you about a bull. You know anything about that?”

  “A bull?” Red laughed again. “Don’t know nothin’ about any bulls young man. Who’d you say sent ya?”

  “That’s the thing. My mama said my daddy wanted me to check out a bucking bull at your ranch. When I asked my daddy about it, he clammed up in a way that should have told me somethin’ was fishy.”

  Bree noticed Jace rubbing his left knee, it wasn’t the first time he’d done it since they sat down.

  “There isn’t a bull for sale at the ranch, is there?”

  “Not that I know of there isn’t.” Red shook his head and chuckled. “I’m guessing you’re right, this lady is why you’re really here.”

  Bree blushed when she realized they were both looking at her. “I don’t know anything about this,” she looked back and forth between the two of them.

  “I doubt you did,” said Jace, leaning closer into her. “Your sister knows you’re here.”

  “Of course she does. My whole family knows I’m here.”

  “My mama. Your sister.”

  “Really? Do you think this was planned?”

  Jace nodded his head. “As much as this sorta thing can be.”

  “But…why?”

  Bree saw a look pass between Red and Jace. Maybe this was something they should wait and discuss when they were alone. No sense making Red feel uncomfortable. And that’s exactly what he’d be, because there wasn’t any way she could feel more uncomfortable than she did. She was sure Jace was feeling it too.

  “Jace, is there something wrong with your knee?” The last time he rubbed it, she saw him grimace.

  “It’s no big deal. I pulled a ligament in a little accident up at the ranch. Which is why it was easy for my mama to get me to make the drive down here. Haven’t been much help to anyone up there.”

  Red turned and faced the other direction, out toward the lake, and began laughing harder than he had been. “This is quite a set up. Your mama played you pretty good son.” He turned back around to face them. “But by the looks of things, you ain’t too disappointed about missing out on a bucking bull.”

  Red winked at her, and she felt the color rising on her cheeks.

  He looked over at the horse. “Tell you what,” he tossed his keys over to Jace. “You drive my truck across the road, and I’ll ride ol’ Spike back myself.”

  “It’s okay, I can—”

  Red raised his hand at Jace. “I insist. And if my ranch manager hasn’t already extended the offer, I’d like to invite you to join us for dinner tonight.”

  “Thank you sir. As a matter of fact, I spent last night at your place. Had one of the best meals I’ve ever had right here at this lake.”

  “Well, I hope you’re able to stay another night with us. Again, I’d like to think that offer has already been made to you.”

  It hadn’t been, because the woman in the two-fer cabin was due back tonight. They’d apologized that the other cabins were booked, and there weren’t any open rooms in the main lodge. They’d given him the name of a place in town where he could stay, but he hadn’t gotten around to calling to see if they had any vacancies.

  “I’d love to stay for dinner, appreciate the invite,” he answered. He’d deal with where he was going to stay later. He guessed that things might be different now that he knew the woman on the other side of the adjoining door was Bree.

  Dinner was served in the main lodge. The food was as good as it had been the night before, but Jace wasn’t paying any attention to what he was eating.

  Bree’s cheeks were pink. Jace wasn’t sure if it was from the time she’d been spending outdoors, or if it was the wine she drank with dinner. Whatever it was, it looked good on her. Damn good. Somehow her eyes were even bluer than he remembered. She kept her dark hair cut short, but it had grown some since he saw her last. It was just long enough that it curled around the edges of her face. He longed to wind his fingers through those curls, and pull her close enough to brush his lips over hers. He didn’t. He wasn’t sure how’d she react if he did.

  He heard music coming from outside the dining room, it sounded as though it was live. The other guests were making their way in that direction.

  “You wanna go see what’s goin’ on?” he asked her.

  “I’m okay sitting here a while longer, unless you want to.”

  “I’m good,” he answered. He leaned forward so his arm rested on the table, he was only a couple inches from her that way. He looked into her eyes.

  “How’ve you been Bree?”

  “I’ve been good,” she paused. “No, that isn’t true. I haven’t been good at all. I’ve been terrible, in fact,” she laughed.

  Jace couldn’t help but laugh too, although he sensed the conversation was about to turn more serious. She rested her hand on the table too. He stroked his fingers over the back of it. “Tell me,” he whispered.

  “I decided I couldn’t hide from it any longer. I had to face it.”

  “Zack?”

  “Yeah, Zack. You know, he and I spent a week right here at this ranch. It was part of our honeymoon. I thought if I came back here, let myself remember, maybe I could also let myself grieve.” Soft tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry sweetheart.”

  “I have to do this Jace. I can’t keep denying he’s gone.”

  He could tell her he understood, but he didn’t. He missed his brother so much there were times he felt as though he’d die from the ache of it. But Tucker was still alive. If he wanted to see him, he could. He might not be welcome, but hecouldsee him. Bree couldn’t see Zack.

  “I’m sorry I never answered your texts.”

  “Yeah, about that,” she laughed through her tears. “What the hell Jace?”

  She was teasing him. That was a good sign.

  “I just didn’t—”

  “You don’t have to explain. I understand, and I’m not just saying that.”

  “You were awful mad at me the last time I saw you.”

  “I handled that badly, didn’t I?”

  He leaned closer, so close he could almost kiss her. Once again, he stopped himself.

  “You handled it honestly. Somethin’ I’m tryin’ to do more often.”

  “Jace…I’m sorry about you and Tucker.”

  “Nothin’ for you to be sorry about darlin’. Did that all on my own. Can’t say as I blame Tuck for not wantin’ to see me. I wouldn’t want to see him if the situation was reversed.”

  Jace looked up just as Red turned out of the room. “Red,” he said in his direction.

  Red walked back in. “Didn’t want to interrupt.” Jace recognized the look on Red’s face as he gazed at Bree. He knew he looked at her that way too. Red wanted to comfort her, help her through the pain, ease it if he could.

  “You aren’t interrupting. What can we do for you?”

  “Thought you might give an old fella a dance.”

  Bree stood, put her arm through Red’s, and let him lead her into the other room. She turned back to make sure Jace was following. She didn’t want to leave him sitting in the dining room all alone.

  She saw him stand and stretch his leg. Just when she was about to turn around and go back to him, he looked up and waved her off.

  “Go dance,” he said. “I’ll be right along, soon as I loosen my leg up.”

  Red was a good dancer, just like her dad was. It felt good to have his strong arms lead her around the room.

  “Seems like a nice young man,” he pulled back to look in her eyes.

  “Yes, he is. He’s very nice,” she laughed. “Although I didn’t always think so.”

  “No?”

  “I can’t remember why not. Except that he was kind of pushy with my sister. She’s, uh, married to his brother now. His twin brother.”

  “Why do I think there’s more to the story?”

  “There is, but it isn’t very interesting.” She rested her head against Red�
�s shoulder. “The truth is, he comforted me. He helped me a lot right after Zack’s death. He didn’t have to, but he did. Even when I pushed him away, he wouldn’t relent.”

  “Must care about you.”

  “It’s a family thing. I love my sister, he loves his brother. We were thrown together, whether we wanted to be or not.”

  “Uh huh.”

  Was it that obvious? She supposed it was. Jace Rice made her heart beat faster, and she loved that he was here. She still didn’t understand why he was, but they’d get to the bottom of it eventually. In the meantime, she’d take whatever time with him she could get.

  “Pretty moon tonight. Maybe you and your young man would like to sit out on the porch, take in the night sky. Nothin’ like a clear night in Idaho for stargazing.”

  When the song ended, Bree walked over to where Jace stood waiting for her. “Red recommends the porch for stargazing.”

  “I know just the spot he’s talkin’ about too.” Jace took her hand in his.

  No one else was out there, so they sat on the porch swing. Jace put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.

  “Bree?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I know I said it before, but it bears repeating. I’ve missed you.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ve missed you too.” Should she tell him that she missed him as much as she missed Zack? He would think she was crazy if she did. Or he’d think the same thing she was. Missing Zack and missing Jace got jumbled up together. She couldn’t tell the difference between the two feelings sometimes. And that wasn’t healthy. It also wasn’t real. What she’d had with Zack had been real. She hardly knew Jace.

  “I’m here because I need to let myself mourn the death of my husband.”

  “I know, and I won’t do anything to interfere with that. In fact, you say the word and I’ll be in the truck back to Montana come sunrise.”

  Pain bit her stomach. “No Jace, that isn’t what I’m saying. Please don’t misunderstand.”

  “I’m glad to be here with you Bree, but I know there’s a road you have to go down. I get it. I’m a detour. You’re gonna have to go down that road eventually.”