The Ring of Fire: The Dragon Dream: Book Two

by Robin Janney

  Chuckling, Craig pulled his iPhone out. “Sure, kid. Here, her brother sent me these just this afternoon.” He hit the touchscreen a few times then passed the smartphone across to Reese. Katie caught sight of the screen as the phone passed by her and there was a quick flash of irritation.

  Amber-Lynn couldn’t help but smile. And not just at her sister-in-law’s irritation. “Reese has been trying to talk us into riding lessons. She’s as horse crazy as I ever was growing up.”

  Her daughter sighed as she looked at whatever picture was on the screen before she swiped to the next one. “She’s so pretty.”

  “Southern Belle is a thoroughbred,” said Katie, clearly suggesting it was the horse her niece had been talking about. “I could help with riding lessons, Mike.”

  “Oh, could you, Aunt Katie? Puh-lease Mom? Dad?”

  That hadn’t gone as planned. Amber-Lynn shot an apologetic look to her husband. Mike shrugged, and his look said it was up to her. Great. She wondered if Katie was serious about it or just saying it to impress the man by her side. “We’ll see, Reesie,” she said to her daughter. “I’ll talk with your aunt after you’re in bed.”

  Reese sighed. Disappointment was written on her young face, but it didn’t look like she was going to argue in front of their company. She passed the smartphone back to its owner. “Thank you, Mr. Craig. Your wife is the one I meant when I said she was pretty.”

  Ambre-Lynn decided to take Katie up on her offer if it was real. The girl deserved it after a burn like that.

  Especially when Craig looked at the photo the girl had left up on the screen. “Yeah,” he said softly, his face distracted. “She is.” And then he turned the screen off and put his phone away.

  Sipping from her water glass, Katie asked, “Could I get a cup of tea, sis?”

  Now what was she playing at? “Of course. I only have orange pekoe. Will that be alright?”

  “Sure.” Her sister-in-law fluttered her eyelids.

  Rising from her seat, Amber-Lynn grabbed a mug from the cupboard and set about making the tea. Too bad she couldn’t slip a little cyanide in it.

  “How is Angela managing at home?” Katie asked.

  “Fine.” Craig answered, without irritation this time. “Our foreman handles most of the day-to-day workings, so my wife doesn’t really have to do much except oversee things. She spends most of her time on one horse or another.”

  Reese sighed. “She is so lucky.” The pre-teen drew the word ‘so’ out long.

  “Doesn’t sound too complicated to me,” decided Katie. “She doesn’t show any interest in the actual business?”

  “She rides out with the herd from time to time,” replied Craig around a mouthful of bread. He drank from his glass of water before redirecting the conversation with, “So, Reese…what’s your favorite subject in school?”

  Sitting the mug of hot tea in front of her sister-in-law as Reese chattered about math and reading class, Amber-Lynn managed to the other woman a smug look. Subtly putting down Craig’s wife had obviously not gotten the desired response.

  Talking about school managed to draw Mike into the conversation, and soon the other three were talking about their school days. The freshman dance when the lights had gone out, running from the school bully Tank and tripping him, and the like. Never anything after sophomore year because that was when Craig had withdrawn from everyone and had dumped the irritating woman by his side. Did he remember that? Whatever had happened, whatever his reason for dumping her…did he remember?

  Reese didn’t seem to mind that the conversation was run by the adults again since she was laughing at their stories. Until she suddenly asked, “Where are you in these stories, Mom?”

  Oh dear.

  “Your mother didn’t like hanging out with us,” answered Katie. “She thought she was too good for us.”

  “Just some of you,” Amber-Lynn replied without thinking. Her eyes made it clear who she was referring to.

  “I’m glad you changed your mind about me,” her husband joked.

  “So am I.” Leaning over, she kissed Mike’s warm cheek. “Some of us get wiser as we get older.”

  “Ew,” said six-year-old Matt at the kiss, chaste as it was. It was enough to break the momentary tension as the adults laughed.

  “I think it’s time for dessert,” declared Mike, wiping the last of the sauce from his plate with a piece of bread. “What did you say you brought, sis?”

  “Blueberry pie,” replied his sister, a smile on her face.

  “I thought you hated blueberries,” Craig said teasingly.

  And the woman at his side blushed brightly. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re misremembering.”

  Undecided whether her sister-in-law had succeeded or not with the pie, Amber-Lynn kept her face expressionless as she began clearing the table for dessert. “Matt, Reese, would you help Mama so we can get to dessert quicker?”

  The two hopped up and began carrying their plates to the sink so she could stack them in the sink to be rinsed later. They should have company more often if this was how the kids would behave!

  “Well, I like blueberry pie,” said Mike decidedly.

  “I think you just like pie in general.” In a rare moment, Katie teased her brother with affection in her voice.

  “Amber-Lynn makes good pie. Where’d you get this one?” Mike looked over at his wife as she began unwrapping the pie.

  “What makes you think I didn’t make it myself?” replied Katie tartly.

  Mike laughed heartily. “Aside from the fact it’s in a bakery box?”

  She chuckled in return. “I guess I can’t pull that one off. It’s from Sweeties.”

  That was impressive, thought Amber-Lynn as she began cutting the pie into wedges. The other woman was pulling out all the stops as she attempted to win back their guest. “Does your wife bake much, Craig?”

  “She does,” the man admitted. He looked thoughtful. “Angela prefers blueberries herself. Our first Christmas together, she made this amazing blueberry pie. I only got one piece at the farm because from my understanding the entire family loves blueberries. Thank you, Reese. You’re a sweetheart.” Craig took one of the plates from the girl and ruffled her lopsided curls before setting his plate on the table before him. He held the fork over it but didn’t dig into it yet.

  “Mmm, this is good,” Mike said around a mouthful. He had taken the other plate from his daughter.

  Matt had delivered a plate to his Aunt Katie, who poked at the pie a moment before taking a small bite.

  “It is,” agreed Katie, although her face suggested otherwise.

  Amber-Lynn chuckled as she gave the kids their plates and took her own back to her seat.

  “I think my wife set me up that year,” Craig said, finally taking a bite of the pie. Whether he thought it was good or not, wasn’t voiced. “She’d made an extra pie but hadn’t taken it to the farm with her. So when I dropped her off that night, it was mentioned and I think I was up there a few nights in a row sharing a piece with her.”

  “Why would she have to set you up?” asked Katie, struggling around another bite of pie.

  Craig cleared his throat, clearly finding himself in uncomfortable territory. “We were kind of awkward when we first started dating. She’d had a bad experience with a boyfriend, and I honestly hadn’t dated anyone since…ah, since I dated you, Katie. I was a little out of practice.” His glanced over at the woman next to him and gave a one shoulder shrug.

  “You used to date Aunt Katie?” squealed Reese, then began to giggle. Even Matt laughed at the notion even though Amber-Lynn didn’t think he understood.

  “It was a long time ago,” he answered, looking amused.

  “Learn this lesson well, Reese, make sure the boys never forget you!” Katie advised her niece with a satisfied smile on her face.

  How long was it going to take her and Mike to undo that piece of advice? She looked at her husband who didn’t seem phased by it. They’d have words about
it later, she’d see to that. “Well, you and Angela seem to have gotten over it,” Amber-Lynn said to Craig. “How many years have you been together?”

  “Almost five,” answered Craig, finishing the pie. “In February.”

  “Daddy,” Reese interjected suddenly. At some point the girl had turned to sit on her knees in the kitchen chair. Maybe so she could look over her aunt’s head? “Can we go visit Mr. Craig at his ranch someday?”

  Mike chuckled, looking a little embarrassed.

  “Sure,” said Craig. “You guys ever want to come out, say the word. My treat.”

  “That’s very generous of you,” replied Amber-Lynn. She wasn’t opposed to the idea, but still reprimanded her daughter. “Reese, it’s not polite to invite yourself places.”

  “But how will I ever get to go to places I want to go to then?” her daughter asked.

  “By asking,” replied Craig. “I can’t speak for other people Reese, but when it comes to me you don’t have to worry about asking anything. Your dad was my best friend in high school and he’s been a lifesaver recently. Not…” Sitting back in his seat quickly, Craig looked embarrassed. “Not to step on your guys’ toes. I shouldn’t have said anything, Amber-Lynn, Mike. I’m sorry.”

  Amber-Lynn was surprised when Mike looked at her without saying anything himself beyond giving his friend a little shrug. No pressure there. What was she going to say? Even her sister-in-law looked curiously at her.

  “I’ll let it pass,” she decided to say with a smile. “You didn’t say I was wrong, just giving her permission to be free with you. You might regret giving her that leeway.”

  “I doubt it.” Craig looked nostalgic. “My wife used to be just as impulsive as Reese seems.”

  “Used to be?” asked Katie, and Amber-Lynn thought about swatting her.

  Nostalgia turned into something resembling grief on Craig’s face. “Used to be. Something happened a few days after we were married, and it left her changed. Hell, it changed me.”

  “Mr. Craig said a naughty word!” cried Matt.

  The adults laughed.

  “I did,” admitted Craig, with a self-deprecating laugh at the child’s admonishment. “Sorry, Matt. It won’t happen again. You guys want help with the dishes before I go?”

  “You’re not leaving already?” Mike protested.

  “Ah, if I can get back to Dad’s early enough I can chat with my wife. She’s been having trouble sleeping.”

  Reese groaned though. “But I like it when you’re here, we get to stay up later!”

  Craig just laughed.

  But it was hard keeping him here if he wanted to go talk with his wife, regardless of the flirting Amber-Lynn had witnessed. For her daughter’s benefit she said, “Maybe next time Mr. Craig will come on a Friday or Saturday, when Daddy doesn’t have to work the next day, and we can visit longer.”

  “That sounds great,” agreed Craig. He was pulling his smartphone out. “I’m sure it’ll take a little time for a taxi to get here, so let me help you guys before then.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Katie.

  Oh my God, had the little bitch driven herself tonight?

  “I can take you home, Craig,” continued Katie, her pie not even half eaten. “I brought the Porsche tonight.”

  “That’s even better,” Craig decided. He looked over at Amber-Lynn. “Are you sure you don’t want any help before I go?”

  As much as she wanted to keep the man here and out of the other woman’s car, Amber-Lynn shook her head. “No, the dishwasher does most of the work anyway. Thank you for the offer though.”

  “Alright then.” He looked over at Katie. “You want to finish your pie first?”

  “What? Oh, no, I’m good,” replied Katie. She stood to her feet and looked at Amber-Lynn and Mike. “I meant what I said earlier, about helping with riding lessons. Call me tomorrow and we’ll talk about it.”

  “I’ll do that,” she replied.

  Craig stood as well, gave Mike a shoulder squeeze. “I’ll spring for pizza next time.”

  “Pizza!” Reese and Matt yelled together. They broke into childish laughter.

  “Sounds like a plan!” agreed Mike, laughing at his children’s antics.

  “Thanks for dinner,” said Craig, heading for the door. Katie pressed kisses to her niece and nephew’s heads, then followed behind her former boyfriend.

  Watching them smile at each other on their way out, Amber-Lynn sighed. “Reese, go start your bath. Matt, make sure your toys are picked up.”

  The kids groaned.

  “Don’t give your mother a hard time,” Mike advised them.

  They continued making groaning noises as they took off.

  In the silence that followed, Amber-Lynn looked over at her husband. “Do you think he’s going to fall for her tricks? He bought them once before.”

  “I know,” said Mike with a sigh. “I don’t think so. I mean, you kept bringing his wife up and it made him homesick enough to book out of here while it’s early still.”

  Folding her hands in front of her, she said, “How does she know he’s here?”

  Her husband shook his head. “I have no idea. She called me earlier, wanting to know what time dinner was, but I never mentioned Craig was going to be here. You want to take her up on her offer to give Reese riding lessons?”

  “If she’s serious and not just saying it for Craig’s benefit, yes. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s promised the kids something then changed her mind.” Sighing, she stood to her feet again. Clearing the table and starting the dishwasher wouldn’t take long.

  “There’ve been times she’s followed through.” Mike began to help her.

  Nodding her head, Amber-Lynn started rinsing off the worst of the tomato sauce from the plates and lowered the door to the dishwasher. Leaving it hang open while she pulled the bottom rack out so she could load as she rinsed, she was mildly surprised when her husband’s arms came around her plump body.

  “Lynn, I wish I could take it back…” he said, leaning forward to kiss her neck. “You know that.”

  And she sighed. “I know. Just…since you have the gift of hindsight, maybe share it with him so he won’t make the same mistake?”

  “I brought it up at our first run in,” he said with a shrug. “When I took the time to call you. If I can work it in again, I will.”

  Giving his hands a squeeze around her middle, she knew it was the most she could hope for. “If not, I will. Now, let me go so I can get this finished. Why don’t you take time for tv and a beer? You still have a little time.”

  Mike kissed her neck again and released her. “I’ll go check on Reese. Maybe if we can get them in bed early, we can sneak off to bed early too.”

  Amber-Lynn chuckled as he walked out of the kitchen. They both worked hard at maintaining their relationship, and moments like these were why.

  25

  “I t’s not brand new,” Katie was saying as they walked the path from Mikey’s house to her car. “But it’s new enough, and it’s a convertible.”

  Craig smiled at the sight of the sleek car sitting behind the mini-van and beat up sedan in the driveway. She was rattling off numbers about the engine and horsepower, things he didn’t particularly care about. “It looks nice,” he said when she broke for air.

  “She moves nice too,” replied Katie, looking at the sky. “It looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous night.”

  Looking up at the fading daylight, Craig agreed. When he looked back down, his friend was already in the car and lowering the car’s roof. “How fast does she go?”

  “As fast as you want,” she said with a flirt. “There, all set. Get in!”

  Climbing in, Craig felt too tall for the car. Katie fit with no problem. Shifting to get comfortable, he had barely fastened the seat belt when she whipped the car out of the driveway and took off. “Sheesh.”

  Her blonde curls whipping in the air, Katie laughed. “You said you wanted to go fast.”
>
  “No, no I didn’t,” he replied. But he laughed just the same.

  “Just wait until I get out on the highway back into the city.” Her voice was loud enough to be heard over the wind. “Are you sure you want to go right back to your dad’s? There are plenty of clubs we could go to, grab a drink or something.”

  “Not tonight,” he said as she stopped at an intersection. Traffic was light in this residential area and she didn’t stay stopped very long. “Something’s off with my wife these past few days, and I don’t want to miss another chat with her.”

  “You are a trooper, Craig.” She gave her head a shake. “I mean, not everyone stays with a mentally ill spouse like you do. I’ve seen many marriages end because one spouse just can’t take it anymore. I really admire that about you.”

  “Thanks,” he said, not sure how to take her admiration. She made it sound like it was a hardship to stay with Angela. It wasn’t like he was the only one who had to be patient. His wife was a bit of a trooper herself right now, even if she was beginning to show signs of breaking down. “I didn’t want to say this in front of Mike’s kids, but Angela’s biggest problems stem from the kidnapping that happened after we were married. It robbed her of her boldness, and her impulsiveness.”

  “Oh my God! Your wife was kidnapped?” Katie pressed down on the accelerator once she pulled out onto the highway. Traffic was light enough. “Why? Money?”

  “No.” As she began to pass vehicles, Craig grabbed onto the door. He’d probably drive just as fast if he was behind the wheel, but it was different in the passenger seat. “It’s complicated, but it all boils down to jealousy. Her cousin didn’t like that I passed her up for Angela and got in contact with an ex of Angela’s. They grabbed her and took off, but they didn’t get too far before they’d wrecked with another vehicle. My wife was almost killed.”

  “I had no idea!” Katie glance over at him, but quickly returned her eyes back to the road.

  “She spent a few months in a coma,” he continued. Once he’d understood about Angela’s missing memories, it had been easy for him to forgive her for not coming home with him for that first month. He didn’t think Katie needed to know anything about this though.