by Vivian Arend
“There’s nothing we can do except be there for them,” Lee said. “It takes time. If it’s something bad, maybe suggest she talk with a counselor, but then everybody is different. You’ve got to let her decide when she’s ready to do the next thing. “
Which is exactly what Trevor had been trying to do, so maybe he wasn’t as stupid as he’d thought.
Only there was one thing not specifically related to Becky or his father, but connected to both that he could do. Of course, it involved one of his least favourite things ever, but screw it. He could handle a little mental torment.
He got home from chores and found a note on the table from Becky. A reminder she was working late, and that she’d see him the following day.
She’d signed it with a simple B, and a little smiley face, and the shorthand thrilled him more than anything—she was learning all the time. Finding her way in this big new world.
Trevor turned to a clean piece of paper and stared at it for a while before he decided what the hell. Maybe his words wouldn’t be pretty, but no one would grade him on this.
It was something worthwhile doing, and in the end as he read his letter through before stuffing it in an envelope to be addressed and stamped, he figured it had turned out okay.
Uncle Mark
It’s strange to write to someone I don’t know, yet I do.
So much of my life has been spent with the Coleman clan that I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for you when you left. I’m not writing to find out what happened, or to see if there’s any way I can convince you to come for a visit.
I’m writing to say thank you.
My father says I remind him a lot of you. I think that’s a fine compliment when I consider what I know about you. What I’ve heard in the past few months. Whatever it was that made you leave Rocky, I think you’re still the kind of man that my dad told me you were. Giving and kind.
Maybe you’re not a rancher anymore. I don’t know—Becky told me you were driving a big rig when she met you, so maybe that’s what you do for a living, but I think you’re still damn good at making things grow.
When you picked up that runaway at the side of the road in the middle of a snowstorm, you saved her life. When you took the time to help her find her feet and start again, you planted a seed.
Yeah, this is about Becky. We’ve become good friends, partly because of you. When you sent her north and set her up at your house, you gave her a chance to stand on her own two feet, and I thought you might like to know she’s doing real good. She’d never write to you to say that, because she wouldn’t want to interrupt, or make you feel obliged to do more on her behalf. And I’m not writing this so that you feel like you have to respond, but I wanted you to know thank you from one of your nephews.
I think if you’d been around while I was growing up, we would have gotten along just fine. I get that couldn’t happen, but so you know, my door is always open.
Trevor (Moonshine) Coleman
Chapter Twenty-Three
Just like Trevor had promised at the start of the summer, a perfect August day had arrived. With nothing but sunshine and temperatures in the thirties, they’d made plans.
As they bounced down a back road in the truck, Becky held on tight, a wide grin making her cheeks ache.
“We all kind of start at the same time, but everybody floats at whatever speed they want.” Trevor was explaining the logistics of the float trip. “Most of the time people chat for a while then float away, but I’ll stay with you. The Colemans won’t be the only family on the river today, not with these temperatures.”
“And it’s going to take three hours?”
“Maybe a little more. We’re doing the main river, not the one through our land because it’s late enough in the season the runoff is too slow.” He offered a grin. “We’ve got food and drink, and the sun is going to make it stinking hot before we know it. The river is shallow for the most part, and I’ll stay close when it’s not. You’ll have a blast.”
“My dog paddle is better now that we’ve gone to the swimming pool a few times.” He’d been so patient even as he worked to not laugh at her swimming attempts.
She was building memories full of joy.
There were over a dozen vehicles waiting by the bridge, a dozen inflatable boats in various stages of fullness. She recognized a lot of faces, including one that made her bounce on the spot with delight.
“Rachel’s here.”
Trevor pulled her out his side of the truck into his arms for a kiss. “Swear I should be jealous. You’ve got a serious girl crush on her.”
She couldn’t say much in self-defense. “I like her.”
“She likes you too.” He pushed a plastic bottle into her hands before reaching into the back of the truck. “Put on some sunscreen while I get our stuff together.”
There was so much going on she wasn’t sure where to look. Even as she rubbed lotion over her bare arms she eyed the coolers being lowered into small rubber dinghies. Kids were being rounded up and herded in the right direction. Not all of them were Colemans, although she thought she recognized a few from the Canada Day party.
But Rachel and Lee were there. They were enough for her to focus on.
Trevor was back, taking the sunscreen from her hands and pouring some into his palm before he motioned her to turn around. “Don’t want you to burn.”
He rubbed the cream over her back and shoulders, fingers lingering under the edges of the tank top she wore. “I still don’t have a swimsuit,” she explained in apology.
“You look great,” he assured her, stroking his fingers along the edge of the shorts Rachel had helped her cut out of an old pair of jeans. “Daisy Dukes. Hmm.”
“I don’t know what that means.” She shivered at his touch.
He stopped tormenting her, stripping off his shirt to apply sunscreen to his chest. “That means I’m going to enjoy the view the entire trip down the river.”
Becky was enjoying the view now, his hands drifting over his chest and abdomen. “You missed a spot.”
Trevor raised a brow then offered the sunscreen back.
She’d been teasing, but she wasn’t about to give up the opportunity. She loaded her hands with sunscreen then moved around him slowly, pretending to touch up spots, even ones that were sufficiently covered that she wanted to touch.
She was mesmerized by one muscle in particular. The one that wrapped around his hip, a cut line by his hip disappearing under the edge of his shorts aimed toward—
“Oh, my.”
Trevor caught her fingers before she could move any lower. “I think I have enough sunscreen.”
His words came out a low growl, and she glanced up into his eyes, heart pulsing rapidly at the way he was looking at her. “I guess you do.”
He leaned in, ignoring the people around them. “I’m glad that river is going to be cold, or else everyone would see exactly what you do to me.”
She was glad the water was cold because it cooled off her flaming cheeks, although it was good to know she had that effect on him.
“Coleman party leaving ASAP. Everybody ready?” A shout from the riverside.
Trevor tilted his head toward the water. “That’s Daniel. His boys are chomping at the bit. Let’s put them out of their misery and get going.”
It was a bit of a madhouse for a while as people settled into rafts and pushed away from the shoreline. Daniel Coleman had his three boys, early teens from the looks of it, another handsome young Coleman acting as a second wrangler.
Trevor held her raft as she cautiously settled into it, filling her in on the new face. “That’s Jesse. Six Pack, Daniel’s younger brother.”
“Who’s he here with?”
Trevor dropped himself into his raft, and a splash rushed over the side of hers, making her gasp as he propelled them into the faster-moving water. He held on tightly to the rope around her raft edge, the two inflatable boats spinning slowly as they caught the current.
/> Then he finally answered her question, rubbernecking to spot the rest of the group. “Doesn’t look like anybody, for a change. I heard he promised his nephews he’d come along with them.”
It looked that way to her. Jesse held a raft on either side of his, only it didn’t seem to be to keep the boys close. It was so they could splash water all over him as he shouted and pretended to be attacked by pirates. “Three hours of that, and they’re going to be exhausted.”
“I think that’s what Daniel’s hoping for,” Trevor joked.
“Wait for us,” Rachel called from somewhere upstream.
Becky twisted, trying to see where they were, and the edge of her raft dipped rapidly. “Oops.”
Trevor steadied her, kicking to turn them until they were facing the right direction. “You gotta move slowly,” he warned, “or you’ll go for a swim.”
He rested his hand on the edge of her raft and she linked their fingers together.
Rachel and Lee were in the same position, holding hands as they rested one in a raft, one in an inner tube. “Aren’t you going to get cold?” Becky asked.
“After we’ve been floating for about half an hour, you’ll be filling your boat up with water to stay cool,” Rachel informed her.
Lee pulled on a rope attached to the side of his boat, reeling in the small raft floating along behind them. “Who wants what?”
It was like Trevor had described before. The cooler was full of snacks and drinks, including a cider Rachel passed over with a smile. “One of your top five.”
“This is fun.” Becky approved completely, paddling her feet slowly as their boats drifted, spinning in a gentle circle as the direction of the current changed. “Does the water get any rougher than this?”
Trevor wiggled a hand. “A bit, in a couple places, but we’ll give you lots of warning before we hit those sections. They’re still not much more than ripples on the water.”
Floating and chatting became the order of the day. Like Rachel had warned, it soon got hot enough they took turns slipping into the crystal-clear water to cool off. Wiggling back into the unsteady plastic boats involved a lot of laughter and helping hands.
Shouts rang out in the distance, and they all turned to discover Daniel and his boys standing on the riverbank.
Trevor squeezed her fingers. “Rope swing. Anybody want to try?”
“I’m too lazy today,” Rachel said. “But if you guys want to, I’ll wait for you.”
Becky glanced at Trevor. “Do you want to?”
He looked shocked. “Becky Hall. When was the last time you did a rope swing?”
It had to be a trick question. “Never?”
“Then it must be on your bucket list.” He leaned forward and gave her an enormous grin. “I think Becky wants to try.”
They kicked their way to shore, a bubble of excitement rising in her belly as she considered this new thing. “I really have never done this before,” she warned Rachel as they pulled their boats onto the riverbank.
Her friend nodded. “I’ll go first.”
“I thought you felt too lazy?”
“Changed my mind.” She pointed up the hill. “Watch how it’s done.”
The tree she pointed to was massive, one long limb reaching out over the river. A rope had been attached two thirds of the way to the end.
One of the teens wrapped his hands around the rope just above a thick knot. He jumped slightly, feet leaving the small extension of rock he’d been standing on.
The boy swung in an arc far out to the middle of the river before letting go, hitting the water with a shout that cut off as his head went under. Another of the teens caught the rope on its return journey, waiting near the riverbank to snag the long, wiggling rope before sending it up to where his brother stood waiting.
“This is a nice section of the river,” Trevor said, pointing as he explained the rest of the routine. “It’s not too deep, and there’s not much current, so swim on an angle to get out right there. See that sandy section? Follow the trail back.”
Becky nodded, leaning into Trevor’s arm as she watched another couple people do the rope.
Trevor’s cousin went, dragging a hand through his hair before grabbing the rope and offering her and Rachel a cocky grin. “If you want to know how it’s really done…”
Jesse stepped back farther and took a run at it, throwing himself off the ledge and leaning backward to wrap his legs around the rope. Becky covered her mouth with her hands as he swung over the river, arms extended to the side as if he was about to dive in.
But he didn’t let go.
“He’s going to hit the bank.” Becky clutched Trevor’s arm tight.
“He’s fine, damn showoff,” Trevor muttered, waiting as Jesse swung toward land, still well above the ground. He swung back and this time, even though he wasn’t as far over the river, he let go, vanishing beneath the surface with a gentle ripple.
“That looks like fun,” Lee announced. “I think I’ll try—”
“No way, José.” Rachel caught him by the hand and jerked him to her side. “You’re going to make my heart stop, you know that?”
Lee gave her a heated kiss before backing away, smirking. “Fine. I’ll do it the old boring, safe way, just for you.”
“I get to go first,” Rachel shouted, racing past Lee to where Daniel waited, holding the rope.
“Bunch of kids,” Trevor teased.
Rachel launched herself off with not quite as much enthusiasm as the teens had, but she still made it a fair distance over the water before letting go.
On the return swing the rope barely had time to reach the shore before Lee leapt for it, throwing himself off the rock and catching the rope in midair, arching over the water and landing beside Rachel before she’d floated more than a few feet.
She screamed louder than when she’d hit the cold water.
Trevor clicked his tongue. “He’s going to get in shit for that,” he offered with a chuckle.
“You shouldn’t sound so happy your cousin is in trouble,” Becky chastised as they made their way up the riverbank to where Jesse waited, holding the rope.
Jesse knocked Trevor in the shoulder. “You forgot to tell Becky part of the fun of getting in trouble is making up.”
Trevor nodded. “That goes without saying.”
He guided her into position, standing at her back as he checked her grip on the rope, his body right up against hers. “You saw how it’s done. Just hang on tight, and once you’re over the water, let go any time.”
She hadn’t realized how far above the water they would actually be standing. “Trevor…”
“You can do this,” he said encouragingly. “It’s not nearly as bad as crawling out on your roof.”
“I guess.”
Trevor pressed a kiss between her shoulder blades, his arm round her waist squeezing for a moment. “You don’t have to do it. Totally up to you.”
The rest of their group had made their way back up the path and were standing by their boats, and she didn’t want to make them wait, but—
She turned on the spot and thrust the rope at him. “You go first. I need one more minute.”
Trevor nodded then repeated his offer. “Or we can walk down and hop back in the boats. That works too.”
She took a deep breath. Maybe she didn’t have to do this, but part of her really wanted to. “Can you go first and catch me?” she asked.
He kissed her quickly then took the rope and got into position. “I’ll see you in the water.”
He glanced over his shoulder as he jumped off the ledge sending the rope twirling. He landed with a huge splash; legs and arms sprawled wide. His family on the shoreline cheered, flashing fingers for scores.
“What was that?” one of the teens shouted. “A triple salchow?”
His brother let out a hoot. “That’s skating, not diving, you dumbass.”
“Hey, no calling your brother a dumbass,” Daniel reprimanded his son. “Or at least
not where I can hear it.”
Jesse ran up the hill with the rope in his hand and presented it to her with a smile, pointing to where Trevor was treading water to stay in one spot. “There’s your target, mi’ lady. Go get ’em.”
She nodded, flexing her fingers over the rope, tiny frayed strands rough against her fingertips. “I can do this,” she muttered.
There was no way she was jumping off the ledge, but stepping off had the same result. She swung in an arc, momentum carrying her over the water in mere seconds as gravity pulled her down and forward. It was exhilarating, it was scary…
…and it was over, and she was close to Trevor.
“Let go, I’ve got you.” His voice so solid and reliable.
She wasn’t sure how she got her fingers to obey, but the next second the thrilling ride was done, and icy-cold water engulfed her. She barely closed her mouth in time before going under.
Fortunately, one kick was enough to get her to the surface, and then Trevor had her, one hand wrapped around her belly as he pulled her against his chest, rolling them to their backs to stare into the robin-egg-blue sky overhead.
“That was so much fun,” she shouted, splashing her hands like a little kid.
Trevor guided them toward the shore where the rest of the family all shouted and offered loud applause. Becky stood on the riverbank feeling a little embarrassed, but far too excited to let this moment slip away. She bowed, getting another cheer from Rachel, before Trevor led her back to where their rafts waited.
The next part of the journey was sunshine and salty snacks. Sweet iced tea, and even sweeter kisses that Trevor stole as they floated along.
The trees along the riverbank stood like tall sentinels, watching over them as they drifted past. Trevor’s strong arm rested across her body as he kept their rafts next to each other, and Becky leaned her head back on the soft plastic of the raft and sighed happily.
