by Addison Cole
“Not following you here, Rex. So you went out and had that made?” Treat asked.
He shook his head. “I wish it were that simple. We went into Allure, into the Village, to a shop called Jewels of the Past.”
“The one with that loony, albeit sweet, woman?” Treat asked with a smile.
“That’s the one. Turns out she’s not so loony. When she saw us, she said she had just the thing for us, and she came out with the necklace.”
“So? She saw two lovers and made an assumption, grabbed a necklace. That might even make her more loony.” Treat stretched his long, jeans-clad legs out to the side with a stretch.
“Dance of two lovers, Treat. Do you really think anyone other than our family knows about that? She said she got them from Mom. Well, she said Adriana, a girl she’d known in high school.” He shook his head. “You gotta admit, there’s something weird there. I mean, she had no clue who we were, and before I got there, man, all sorts of weird stuff went on in my head.” He ran his hand through his hair and felt his jaw begin to twitch.
“I gotta admit, that’s a bit spooky. Good stuff or bad stuff?”
“Good, but it got me thinking about Dad talking to Mom. Before we got to the shop, as we were just walking along, not really talking or anything, I got this overwhelming feeling of…”
Treat’s eyes flew open wide. “That happened to me, too, with Max. I know what you’re going to say, that suddenly you felt like you loved her, that you knew that every second you were apart was going to kill you.” He shot to his feet. “I never thought I’d see the day that my cold brother fell in love.”
“Shut up and sit down. Yes, it was all of those things. So what do you think about all this Mom stuff? Is it a crock or what? Are we fabricating what we think we need? I’m so confused.”
Treat sat back down, his legs bumping up and down. Rex wanted to take his brother’s exuberance over his finally falling in love and toss it out the window until he figured all this stuff out.
“I never told you this, but when Dad had that heart episode, it was because of me. I put two and two together. He kept fighting with Mom, or whatever, whoever he talks to out there by the barn, and he made a few comments to me about Mom wanting me to fix things with Max and even give her the ring. So, who knows? Maybe we aren’t giving Dad enough credit.”
Rex stood and paced. “Great, so now our lives are being led by our dead mother? You know how strange that sounds, right?”
Treat shrugged. “I don’t know what I believe, but I know Dad believes it, so what’s the harm in letting him—unless it gets him so riled up that it lands him back in the hospital again.”
Rex crossed his arms. “I think he knows about Jade. He said Mom wanted him to tell me something, but he wasn’t going to do it. Instead, he pointed at me. You know how he does that death stare? He said, You be careful where you tread, son, in that voice that used to send us running for the hills.”
Treat checked his watch. “We gotta get moving. The Tates are coming to pick up Brownie today.”
“Right, I forgot about that. I need to finish grooming Hope for the show, too, but I can do that tomorrow.”
Treat motioned to Rex’s neck. “Keep that tucked away before Dad sees it, unless you want to start answering some uncomfortable questions. And don’t forget, Josh and Savannah are arriving Thursday night to watch Hope in the show. I’m looking forward to seeing them. I miss them.”
“You know, that’s another thing. Hope probably has another eight years or so. Why does Dad act like she’s failing fast? She could show for the next few years if he really wanted her to.”
“I have no idea, but then again, I’ve never tried to figure him out. The man gives sound advice, though. He was right on target with Max.”
Just as Rex’s stomach took a nosedive thinking about his father warning him about Jade, Treat added, “But I’m not so sure he’s right about you and Jade, if that’s what he meant by watching where you tread. You’ve been in love with that girl for more years than I can remember.”
Rex shook his head.
“Oh, baloney. When you were a teenager, you’d practically drool over her when we’d see her around town. I thought that after I went to college you might have hooked up with her without Dad knowing.” Treat searched Rex’s eyes.
“I never would have done that to Dad,” Rex admitted.
“So my baby brother’s growing up?” Treat draped his arm around Rex’s shoulder as they headed outside. “It’s about time. One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t control who your heart falls in love with, and once it does, there’s no changing its mind. So you’d better figure out a way to dance that dance, or you’re gonna be one miserable dude for the rest of your life.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
JADE RODE RUDY hard, working out all of her frustrations about her family, the feud with the Bradens, and her worry about her father selling off part of the ranch.
When she’d arrived home that morning, her parents had already left for town, but she’d found papers on the table from a local surveyor. A quick snoop revealed that the idea of selling off pieces of the ranch wasn’t new. Some of the documents were dated as far back as five years. Had they always been hanging on by the skin of their teeth, or was he really trying to set things up so that her mother could stay in their home without worrying about taking care of the land if something should happen to him?
She rode along the tree line, her mind running in endless circles. She felt the charm beneath her shirt bouncing against her skin, and it brought a worried smile to her lips. After the night with Rex, her mind kept taking her down paths that led to a life with Rex, and she knew that was dangerous territory to hope for. He was protective, but not possessive, as she’d thought. The way he loved her was passionate and pure. From his touch to the love in his eyes, she knew she was anything but a cheap thrill for him. But what would it be like to be a Braden? Could she ever fit into their family without the feud hanging over her head? Were his brothers and sister as loyal to their father’s ideals as he was? What was it like for Savannah to grow up with all those brothers watching out for her?
Steve and Jade had been close growing up, but he wasn’t a protective brother in the sense that the Bradens were. The Bradens were all brawn and loyalty. Steve had always stayed out of Jade’s private life, other than asking about a date here and there. She didn’t love him any less for it, and it wasn’t until now that she’d even thought of the way the Bradens took care of one another. She’d seen Rex’s protective side when he’d knocked the snot out of Steve. All that childhood crush and adoration for the way Rex had protected his sister coalesced with the shame of liking a boy she knew she shouldn’t, one who had hurt her brother. The conflicting emotions had poured out in the form of tears on the very same comforter she currently used every night.
She rounded the front paddock and slowed Rudy to a trot. Jade had a full afternoon ahead, and at some point she’d have to face her father. She just hoped he wouldn’t see past her lie.
BERLE HANDLED HIS therapy well, and Jade was pleased that he seemed to be over all of the discomfort he’d been having. Now, if she could only do something for her own discomfort.
On the way back home, she stopped at the library to do a little research on the dance of two lovers—anything to delay seeing her father. The Weston Library was a historical stone building with two-story ceilings and cherry shelves that lined the walls of the large structure.
“Hey there, Jade. So great to see you. How’s your mom?” Polly Wright asked from behind the desk by the door.
Jade had gone to school with Polly’s daughter, Krista. Krista had gotten pregnant right after high school and had married the father, Tom Hardwick. Last Jade had heard, Krista had a house full of children and an unhappy marriage. She was careful to avoid that topic.
“She’s doing great, thanks for asking. I just came in to use one of your computers.”
Polly leaned over the desk and spoke in a
hushed tone. “I’m really sorry to hear about your family’s troubles. With the price of things these days, it’s amazing any of us can stay afloat.”
Jade tried to hide her surprise. Does the whole town know? If her father was just posturing with the whole financial demise aspect in order to create a safety zone for her mother as she grew older, then he was doing it at the expense of his own reputation. She didn’t know what to think anymore. What if she’d chosen to believe the wrong explanation and they really were having financial troubles?
“We’ll be fine. Thanks, Polly.” She headed to the computers by the back window with her head down.
She did a quick library search on the dance of two lovers, and nothing came up. Not a book, a movie, or a myth of any kind. How could both Rex and the woman from the shop know what the dance of two lovers meant? As much as she wanted to avoid any further discussion about her father’s decision, she needed some answers. Polly was on her computer when Jade approached the desk.
“I’m really sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for information on a myth, the dance of two lovers? Have you ever heard of it?”
Polly blinked without answering, then squinted like she was thinking. Finally, she said, “Why, that’s one I’ve never heard of.”
Great.
“Catherine, have you heard of the dance of two lovers?” Polly called into the office.
Catherine had been the head librarian forever. She had to be at least seventy-five years old by now. Her shaky voice called back, “I haven’t heard that in forty years. Who’s asking?”
“Jade Johnson.”
She heard Catherine’s chair scoot across the wood planks. Then her slow footsteps approached. Catherine was a tall, large woman. She filled the doorframe between the office and the large desk, one hand gripping the edge of the frame. Her gray hair had always been cropped into a short, layered style, and as Jade looked at her now, she noticed that nothing had changed. Catherine’s sense of style remained constant: polyester slacks, jacket buttoned up to her neck, and flats that looked as tired as the wrinkles on her face.
“Jade Johnson.” Catherine smiled, exposing her impeccably straight yellowish teeth. “I hear you’re working wonders on the animals around here. It’s good to have you back in town.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to be home again,” Jade said with a smile. She had many fond memories of afternoons spent in the library studying while other kids were out on dates or with their friends. Catherine had supported her efforts by bringing in veterinary articles she’d cropped from magazines and newspapers.
“What is this about the dance of two lovers?” Catherine’s face grew serious; the lines around her mouth appeared more pronounced.
Without thinking, Jade reached up and touched the charm beneath her shirt. Careful among the eyes and ears of the library, she made up a story to back up her question. “I was in town the other day and heard someone say something about it. It was intriguing, so I thought I’d look it up.”
Catherine’s lips turned up into a curious, careful smile that did not reach her eyes. “Mm-hmm. Well, I doubt you’ll find anything on the dance of two lovers in any book. You could go ask Hal Braden about it.”
Polly snapped to attention. “Oh, no, no, Catherine. She couldn’t do that.”
Jade cringed at the truth of her situation.
“No, I guess you really can’t, can you?” Catherine narrowed her eyes in a way that made Jade’s nerves sting.
What is going on? “Yeah, I can’t really do that. It’s not a big deal. Thanks anyway.”
Jade hurried out the front door and into her car, where she rested her forehead on the steering wheel and closed her eyes, wishing she could talk to Rex. She hated the situation they were in, and as she drove home, that hatred grew. It was her own stupid fault. What kind of educated woman runs home to Daddy when there’s an issue? She could have relocated anywhere in the world. Why did she have to come back to the one place where she’d fall in love with the one man she knew she could never really be with—at least not publicly? Maybe she needed to take this horse by the reins and find another place to live—another state altogether. Someplace where her heart wouldn’t break every time she thought of seeing Rex. Someplace where everyone didn’t know everyone else’s business. Someplace where she could stay up all night with a man and not feel guilty. The real problem was, the only man she wanted—she’d ever want—was Rex.
She stormed into the house and stomped up the stairs to her childhood bedroom, slamming the door behind her. She paced the small space as tears welled in her eyes. Jade fell across her bed and buried her face in her pillow, crying, much like she had when Rex had punched Steve when they were kids. I’m such a loser!
“Darlin’? Is something wrong?” her father asked from behind the closed door.
She bit back the urge to scream, Go away! This is all your fault! If you were a man instead of a child none of this would be happening! Instead she said, “I’m fine. Just tired. I’ll be down later.” After you’re asleep and I don’t have to see your face.
“Was everything okay with your girlfriends?” he asked.
She sighed. He was so good to her that it made it hard for her to capture the spears of anger and keep them alive.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Rex was a nervous wreck. He hadn’t had a chance to get a message to Jade the day before, and it had taken all of his willpower not to drive over to her house and confront her father. Thankfully, he’d listened to the sound of reason echoing in his head and had kept his cool. He’d gotten up early this morning and left a note in her car, but the whole situation sucked, and Treat was right. He had to find a way to make it work. Running from his feelings for Jade was not an option. He’d spent too many years denying any thoughts of her. He wasn’t used to lying—especially to his family—which meant that, as far as he could see, he had one option. He had to find a way to convince his father to fix the feud, and he fully expected his efforts to fail, which put him right back to where he’d started: trimming Hope’s muzzle whiskers, bridle path, ears, and fetlocks in preparation for the show, knowing there was no solution to the only issue he cared about.
“How long are you going to avoid me?”
Normally, his father’s pat on his shoulder was reassuring. Now it made him feel rebellious.
“I’m not avoiding you. Just taking care of business.” He felt his father’s eyes watching him and clenched his jaw harder.
“Family’s coming in tonight. You gonna show up for dinner?”
“Don’t I always?” Rex felt guilty, speaking to his father so harshly, but he was roiling inside, and he knew that if he gave his voice an inch of slack it would lash out in a way that he might not be able to recover from.
“We missed you the other night.”
Rex closed his eyes, stifling the urge to say what he felt. I was out with the woman I love. I didn’t even know I could love a woman, but I do. Be happy for me. Fix your nonsense so we can be together.
“Son, you can’t avoid me forever, and you surely can’t avoid yourself. Guilt is a terrible enemy. She’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man.”
Rex faced his father. He felt his nostrils flaring with anger, his hands fisting by his sides. “What are you saying, Dad? Just come out and say it. Don’t play these stupid games with me, all right? I’ve got a lotta crap to take care of.”
A slow smile spread across his father’s lips. “I think you’re the one who’s playing games, son,” he said in a calm voice. “You just gotta decide if the game you’re playing is worth risking the reality you know.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
His father shook his head and headed for the lower paddock.
JADE NEEDED TO ride. She’d spent all afternoon with clients, the last of whom was a nasty man who treated his horse cruelly. He yelled and tugged and generally showed no respect for t
he animal. It had taken all of Jade’s willpower not to haul that horse back to her own barn and nurture it properly. All afternoon she’d craved the thundering beat of a galloping horse beneath her and the feel of the wind in her face as she crouched down low and let him carry her away. She saddled Flame, skipping his usual calming massage. He was feisty, but she didn’t care. She wanted danger. She’d finally found a note in her car from Rex, and it appeared he was having the same trouble she was, which made thinking about moving away even harder. And she’d never expect Rex to move away with her, no matter what he might say he’d do. She ached to see him, to hold him, to be safe in his arms again.
She mounted Flame and trotted around the edge of the property. The sun was just beginning to set, making it difficult to see into the woods. She found herself searching for Rex even when she knew he wouldn’t be there. When they reached the back of the property, the long stretch of pasture called out to both her and Flame. One light tap of her heel sent him cantering at a fast pace. She squeezed his muscular body between her thighs. She knew she shouldn’t make Flame push too hard, even if his leg seemed fine. All she needed was a few minutes to relieve her mounting stress. She lifted her weight off the back of the horse and shortened the reins. Flame did the rest. In perfect balance, they bulleted forward in the evening light. Jade’s heart slammed against her chest. The muscles in her lower back and legs tightened and pulled. Her long dark hair lifted from her back, whisking away her stress and worry with it.
When she no longer felt like she wanted to climb out of her own skin, she lowered her body down to Flame’s back, and he slowed his pace.
She stroked his warm, thick neck. “You are such a good boy.”
They were heading toward the woods that separated the Braden ranch from theirs, with the unoccupied land in between. Jade guided Flame down one of the narrow trails.
