When Love's Gone Country (Sequel two of the Embracing Love Trilogy)

by Merri Hiatt

  “I still remember the day he rented the Mustang and showed up on Mrs. Cravens’ doorstep in that stupid knight get-up.”

  “I loved it. The roses and the key to Mrs. Cravens’ house, well, our new house. It was such a romantic gesture.”

  “We’re really lucky, you know.”

  “I know. I’m so glad we’re taking this vacation together. The last one was so crazy. I’m looking forward to a quiet, relaxing time.”

  “Me, too. Ready to climb again?”

  “Yep.”

  The duo met up with the rest of the group in short order as they explored the three-bedroom tree house.

  “Did you see all the rooms, Mom?” Jeremy asked, running from level to level.

  “Slow down there, sport,” Bob said.

  “I love how each room is set apart. Is there a bathroom up here?”

  “Two, actually,” Michael said. “We tried to make all the elements blend in so they’re an extension of nature, but I don’t think anyone really wanted to go down all those stairs just to use the bathroom.”

  “You’d have a lot of empty tree houses then,” Jacob said.

  “Exactly.”

  “There are more windows than wood in each structure. We figured the whole purpose for being up in the tree was the view, so why hide it.”

  “It’s amazingly beautiful. What’s it like when the moon comes out?” Meg asked.

  “Stunning. There are four tree houses by the waterfall. You feel almost like you’re part of it.”

  “I can’t believe we’ve never heard of this place,” Purity said.

  “We don’t advertise much. There’s a sacred beauty to the area, we don’t want to disturb that. If it became a tourist trap, we’d lose part of the essence of who and what this place was meant to be.”

  “Are the tree houses always booked?” Court asked.

  “Most of the time. We may have one or two available, but once someone stays here, they want to come back.”

  “Do you provide room service to the tree houses?” Jeremy asked.

  “We do.”

  “You carry food all the way up here?” Jacob said.

  “Absolutely.”

  “I hope you get good tips.”

  Michael chuckled. “We generally do.”

  “How much does a room like this go for?” Brad asked.

  “Three bedrooms are around six hundred dollars a night, depending on the location. Tree houses near the waterfall are higher.”

  Purity looked up through the glass ceiling, watching the sky as streams of light poured down through the trees. “I don’t think I’d ever want to leave.”

  “Would you like to see the other tree house? It is a one-bedroom near the waterfall. It’s quite a bit higher.”

  Purity and Alex said they’d like to stay where they were while the rest of the group followed Michael to the second tree house. They laid down on one of the beds and watched the sky above them as leaf patterns changed with the blowing of the wind.

  “You want me to build you one of these?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah. In the back yard.”

  “It won’t be forty feet up in the air.”

  “I’d settle for twenty. Can you imagine as a kid having a tree house like this?”

  “I’d never want to leave.”

  “I know, right?”

  Alex laced his hand with Purity’s. “Maybe we should add a couple days onto our vacation and stay here on the way back.”

  “I’d love that. Can you get away from The Kids’ Place?”

  “We don’t have any big events going on ‘til the Back To School Carnival in September.”

  “Sheila’s taking the lead on that, so I’m not responsible for much. Let’s do it. Should we get rooms for everyone else, too?”

  “I love our friends, but I was hoping to have you all to myself.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  Alex ran his thumb across her cheek. “I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  “I don’t want to imagine my life without you.”

  “Oh, pardon me, I didn’t realize anyone was in here,” a young man who appeared to be fresh out of high school was at the door. “I need to show this tree house.”

  “We were just leaving,” Alex said, rolling off the bed and reaching for Purity’s hand to help her up.

  Purity straightened the bedspread and fluffed the pillows. “Sorry.”

  “No problem.” Again, white teeth flashed against dark skin.

  As they headed down the stairs, Purity said, “Are my teeth white?”

  “Um, yeah, everyone’s teeth are white.”

  “No, I mean are they really white or are they more off-white.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “My teeth. All the people we’ve met today have these brilliantly white teeth. They’re gorgeous. I want those kind of teeth.”

  “Maybe it’s hereditary.”

  “I was thinking it might be their skin tone against the white, making them seem brighter and whiter. What do you think?”

  “I think your teeth are fine and if you’re really spending your time thinking about the color of your teeth, we need to give you more work to do at The Kids’ Place.”

  “Alex! I’m serious.”

  “I know, that’s what scares me. Women think about the most—”

  “Watch it.”

  “Women think about stuff guys would never even dream of thinking about.”

  “You do the same thing, just in reverse. Can you imagine Meg and me having a long conversation about football or cars or what kind of oil is the best to use?”

  “No, I can’t. But I can tell you that I have never had a conversation with a man about how white his teeth are.”

  “You just don’t get it.”

  “No, I don’t. This is just one of those things that I scratch my head about and say, ‘Women!’”

  When they were back under the lodge’s roof, they made themselves comfortable and waited for the rest of the group. They arrived in about fifteen minutes.

  “You should have come!” Jeremy said, jumping up and down. “The waterfall was all around us.”

  “Really beautiful,” Meg said. “You’d have loved it.”

  “Second honeymoon, Brad?” Court asked.

  “You ponying up the six hundred bucks?”

  “That one was nine hundred and fifty bucks.”

  “But it was only one-bedroom.”

  “We were practically in the waterfall. Totally worth it.”

  “I tell you what, we’ll go half and half. When you get your half together, let me know.”

  Courtney scowled. “It would be much more romantic for you to pay for the whole thing and surprise me with it as a gift.”

  Brad laughed. “Is that how it works?”

  “Yep.”

  “I think this is my cue to go check on Diego.”

  “Hey, we’re still negotiating here.”

  “I think you’re done negotiating,” Bobby said.

  “Are we gonna eat?” Jacob said.

  “Yes, let’s head for the dining room. I found a map with the caves on it. I think we have time to explore two of them and still make it to the Double Y Ranch by sunset,” Meg said.

  “I knew she’d figure out a way for us to do everything,” Purity said.

  “I knew it, too,” Court said. “She’s a rock star.”

  Chapter Six

  With their bellies full, bladders empty and map in hand, the group headed down the trail marked Lover’s Leap.

  “I don’t get it,” Jeremy said. “If they love each other, why are they jumping off a cliff?”

  “‘Cuz they can’t be together,” Jacob said.

  “So, why don’t they just go find someone else to be happy with?”

  “Some people believe that there’s only one true love for each person. They could search the entire world and never find someone else they would ever love as much.”r />
  “Like you and Dad?”

  Bobby put his hand around Meg’s waist and pulled her close. “Exactly. I’ll never love anyone else like I love your mom.”

  Jeremy stared at them for a moment. “But you wouldn’t kill yourself if you couldn’t be together, right?”

  Bobby shook his head. “No. I might feel like killing myself, though.”

  “Do you think our original Mom and Dad love each other like you guys do?”

  “You mean your biological parents?” Meg asked.

  Jeremy shook his head.

  “Probably, in their own sort of twisted way.”

  “Those two don’t have the capability of loving anyone but themselves,” Courtney said.

  Meg shot her a scowl.

  “Just sayin’. I know we’re all supposed to turn the other cheek and all that, but I wouldn’t turn my back on those two if you paid me.”

  “Hey, look,” Purity said. “There’s supposed to be a cave behind the waterfall. It’s closer than Lover’s Leap, too.”

  Everyone gathered around the map to get a good look.

  “The crossroad is just ahead,” Alex said.

  “It’s called Atonga Falls Rendezvous. Sounds like Chief Atonga and Marion Little Bear knew about the cave.”

  “And used it to their advantage,” Courtney said with a tilt of her eyebrow and a curve of her lips.

  “To attack someone or hide from the tribe?” Jeremy asked.

  “No. She means sex,” Jacob said.

  “Grown-ups are always talking about sex.” Jeremy shrugged. “Most girls are stupid and I don’t want any of them touching me.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll change your mind in a few years,” Bobby said.

  “No, I won’t. Me and Jacob are gonna be bachelors forever.”

  “Where did you learn that word?” Court asked, as they began walking toward the falls.

  “This show on t.v. Two guys said they’d had it with women and all their games and they were going to be bachelors forever. I think it means no more women for them. I’m all for that.”

  “No more women? What about me? I’m a woman.”

  “We’re friends, that’s different.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Courtney winked at Meg. She would have a good time ribbing Jeremy about this conversation when he was head-over-heels in love with some girl.

  “Do you need to rest for a minute?” Alex asked Purity.

  “No. I’m good.”

  “How many times a day does he ask you that?” Courtney said.

  “About fifteen.”

  “You guys are so cute, I really do want to puke.”

  “Do it over there.” Pure pointed to some bushes thirty yards to the right. “The smell would make me want to puke and I get nauseous enough.”

  When they reached the falls, the boys raced ahead to find the trail.

  “Careful boys,” Bob said. “Stay on the path.”

  “We will,” they said in unison.

  A few moments later they were running back to the group. “There’s no way to get behind the waterfall. The map is wrong.”

  They all looked at the map again.

  “Wait,” Purity said. “There’s a question mark by that big rock. What do you suppose that means?”

  “A clue!” Jeremy shouted, then ran toward the rock. Jacob ran past him, then waited for him to catch up.

  “It’s a riddle,” Jacob said. “Magic words, there are but three. Spoken aloud, reveal to thee. A path most will never see. When eyes are blind, you truly see.”

  “The only magic words I know are please and thank you,” Jeremy said.

  Meg stood before the rock, closed her eyes and said in a loud, clear voice, “I love you.”

  The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet as the stone began to roll several feet to the right.

  “How did you know that?” Jeremy asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.

  “The feeling of love is often referred to as magic, like when you touch someone’s hand and you get this spark of something you can’t really name. I knew I needed to say it out loud because it said ‘spoken aloud.’ I figured there was a path somewhere because it was on the map and the clue said ‘a path most will never see.’ I closed my eyes because that is like being blind.”

  “Wonderful job, honey,” Bob said, kissing her on the cheek.

  “C’mon, let’s follow the path,” Jacob said.

  The path wound around through dense brush, but it was easy to traverse as branches and shrubbery had been neatly trimmed to allow access.

  “This is kind of fun,” Meg said. “I’m not usually up for this kind of thing. I’d rather know where I’m going and how I’m getting there.”

  “Sometimes it’s good to give up control,” Bobby said.

  Courtney and Brad exchanged glances. They’d had that very conversation last weekend. Of course they weren’t exploring a cave behind a waterfall. No, their exploration was of a different nature and included the words submission and dominance.

  “Hey, Court, come here,” Jeremy yelled.

  “Coming.” Courtney gave Brad a knowing look, then shimmied past everyone else until she had caught up with Jeremy. “What’s up?”

  “Do you think we should cross this bridge? It looks kind of rickety.”

  Courtney peered over the railing until she could see the undergirding of heavy support hidden underneath the bridge. “I think they want it to look unstable. More exciting and scary that way. I’ll go first.”

  She walked bravely over the river flowing twenty feet below. The bridge swayed slightly under her weight. When she was across she waved Jeremy over.

  He started off tentative, but quickly gained confidence. “Piece of cake,” he said when he reached Court’s side.

  “You were smart to have someone check it out beforehand. Good thinking. Where’s Jacob?”

  “He was right behind me.”

  The rest of the group caught up to them. “Have you seen Jacob?” Courtney asked.

  “I thought he was with you, Jeremy,” Bob said.

  “He was. Then he was just gone.”

  “Did he cross the bridge?” Meg asked.

  “I didn’t see him cross it.”

  “Jacob!” they all began to yell into the woods.

  “Let’s not panic,” Alex said when he saw Meg’s worried face.

  “I am Chief Atonga,” Jacob hollered from somewhere up in a tree.

  “Jacob? Where are you? Get down here!” Meg said, her words laced with fear, annoyance and gratefulness that he had been found.

  “I love Marion Little Bear and I want everyone to know it!” A rustling of tree branches overhead caught their attention, then Jacob came flying through the trees holding tightly to a vine as he sailed over their heads.

  “Jacob!” Meg yelled, horrified that he was up so high and could fall at any minute.

  “Look at him go,” Brad said. “He must be thirty or forty feet high.”

  “Jacob Zyetta, you better get down here this instant!

  “Can I go next?” Jeremy asked.

  “Bobby, get him down from there. He’s going to fall and kill himself.”

  “He’s fine. Look.”

  Meg watched her son swing back and forth over the raging river. “Get him down, now.”

  “He’s a boy. Boys do things like this.”

  “Now!”

  “I’ll help you,” Alex said, heading toward the tree the vine was attached to. Both Bob and Alex climbed the tree and when Jacob swung within reach, they snagged the vine and pulled it closer.

  “Hey! I’m having fun. What are you doin’?”

  “You’re scaring your mom. It’s not safe.”

  “Seems safe to me.”

  “That wasn’t a question,” Bob said, his voice neutral, but firm.

  “It’s no big deal. I was just trying to have some fun.”

  “You can have fun on the ground without worrying your mother.”

>   “She worries about everything. My being on the ground won’t stop that.”

  “Jacob, we need to talk about your behavior lately.”

  Jacob disentangled himself from the vine and began climbing down the tree.

  “This conversation is not over.”

  “It is as far as I’m concerned.”

  “It was bound to happen sometime, Bob,” Alex said.

  “I know. Our therapist kept telling us we probably wouldn’t see any real acting out behaviors from the boys until their teens.”

  “Welcome to the teens.”

  “Yeah. Welcome.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Are you okay?” Meg asked.

  “I’m fine,” Jacob said.

  “What possessed you to do that? What if that vine couldn’t hold your weight? What if it wasn’t long enough to carry you over the river? What if—”

  “What if you stop hovering and worrying for five fucking minutes.”

  “Jacob! We did not raise you to use language like that.”

  “You didn’t raise me at all. You borrowed me. You paid for me. But you don’t own me, or Jeremy.”

  “Wait a minute, where is all this coming from?”

  “Forget about it. Just know this, when I’m eighteen, I’m moving out. No one is going to tell me what to do ever again.” Jacob headed farther down the trail, then stopped and sat on a downed tree.

  Jeremy chewed on his bottom lip as he watched everyone closely. He joined his brother on the log. “You okay?”

  “No. Nobody can own anybody else. Remember that. You’re your own person. You can make your own choices.”

  “I do pretty much. So do you.”

  “Except when I really want to do something.”

  “Like swinging on the vine?”

  “Yeah. I wasn’t hurtin’ anyone. But they still made me stop.”

  “Mom was scared you were gonna fall. Me, too. I don’t know what I’d do if somethin’ happened to you.”

  “I’m not going to be around forever, Jeremy. You’ve got to learn to take care of yourself.”

  “Are you gonna leave me?”

  Jacob looked into his brother’s solemn eyes. “Not anytime soon. But when I’m older, I’m leaving. No one is gonna tell me what to do anymore. I’m sick of it.”

  “Will you take me with you when you go?”

  “Not this time. I love you, you know that, but I can’t do this anymore. I feel like I’m going to explode one of these days.”