The Pretty Lady and the Cowboy (Songs from the Heart) (12 page)

“JK, I confess to you that I have no idea in the world how to go about milking a cow. So consider yourself safe on that score!” He wouldn’t say any more, though. He looked mischievous and completely adorable, like a little boy having a really good time keeping a secret.

Finally after about an hour, we turned down a narrow driveway marked by the sign, “Winding Trails.” Branches on either side of the narrow path scraped the sides of the limo as we drove slowly along. I was still mystified. At last I could see a barn in the distance and then cows and then—horses!

“Horseback riding?” I asked, thrilled. I hadn’t ridden since I was in my teens, but back then I’d taken lessons and I’d wished on a star every single night for a horse of my own.

“Well that sure did take you a powerful long time to figure out,” he teased. “What else did you think a girl might need cowgirl boots for?” He helped me out of the limo and took my hand to lead me toward the barn. I left my purse in the car, but tucked my cell phone into the pocket of my jacket just in case. I felt strongly about my responsibilities as owner of The Finish Line and needed to make sure Dan and Jess could always reach me during store hours.

It had been a long time since I’d felt just plain happy, the way Levi made me feel. Once again, he had planned something perfect, like he did when he took me to the wonderful restaurant with the terrific jazz band the other night. It almost seemed that he was able to read my mind, or maybe even something more than that. It was as if he knew me at some deep level without my having to say anything.

“I thought maybe the boots were just the perfect sexy fashion accessory,” I teased right back.

“We country folk are lots more practical minded than that—though you sure are right about the sexy part,” he said, and he gave me a look that made shivers run down my spine.

Just then, the owner of the farm came toward us. He stuck out his hand and introduced himself as Mike. Levi had apparently made all the arrangements ahead of time because Mike led us right to the horses we would be riding. My horse, Amber, was a tawny brown mare with a white patch on her forehead. I stroked her soft nose and she nuzzled my hand, hoping for a carrot or an apple, I guessed. Levi would ride a black gelding named Cadillac.

Mike told us they were both Tennessee walking horses, which I knew were best for trail riding. He explained that the trail went off to the left from about midway down his driveway and that from there it was basically a five-mile loop. He told us that the horses knew the way and were sure not to want to miss dinner back at the barn, so we didn’t have to worry about getting lost.

“Do you need a hand up or can you mount her by yourself?” Levi asked me. I was tempted to ask for help just so I could feel his hands around my waist, but at the same time I wanted to surprise him, to make him proud of me. It had been a long time, but I guess it’s like riding a bike—something you don’t forget. I put my left foot into the stirrup and easily pulled myself up.

“Good girl!” Levi said. “I kind of figured you had a little cowgirl in you.”

I glowed with pride. Then Levi swung himself up with the same kind of natural grace I’d seen in his running, and the horses ambled down the driveway toward the trail, Cadillac in the lead.

The afternoon was cool but sunny and the sunlight streamed through the red and gold leaves as we rode down the trail. After a hundred yards or so, the trail widened so that we were able to ride side by side.

“That’s better,” Levi said. “I miss you when you’re way back there behind me.” He blew me a kiss. “Want to see if the horses would like to do a little trotting?”

“Sure!” I said.

We squeezed the horses’ sides with our calves and heels and they responded immediately with a faster pace. Then Levi signaled Cadillac to go faster still, and he galloped along the trail as it led across a meadow. Amber easily kept pace with them. I had forgotten how wonderful it feels to fly along on horseback with the wind in my hair. We gradually pulled back on the reins to slow our horses’ gait as the trail wound into the woods again.

“Kinda nice letting somebody else take care of the running for a change, don’t you think?” Levi said as we trotted.

That made me laugh. “Definitely. But don’t you tell on me. I have my running store owner reputation to keep up.”

We had slowed almost to a walk and were simply enjoying the stillness of the woods, the crisp air, the scent of the leather saddles. And oh, my! I was enjoying Levi. I loved watching the lean, graceful line of his body when he rode ahead of me; I loved glancing at his profile or his strong hands on the reins when we were side by side.

I tried my best not to think ahead to next week, when some other singer would be on the stage at the casino and Levi would move on. Where would he be going? It didn’t matter where, really. He’d be gone.

I forced myself to stay in the moment. Tomorrow could take care of itself. This was my time and even though it couldn’t last forever, I could always hold it in my heart and treasure it.

As we rode along the meandering trail, we could see a lake in the distance. As soon as we saw it, I looked at Levi and he looked at me and winked. I could tell that we both had the same idea. Without saying a word, we signaled to the horses that we wanted to gallop. I could feel Amber enjoying herself as she lengthened her stride—and for me, it was pure pleasure. Levi and I both pulled up on the reins as we got to the lake, and once again I marveled at our unspoken communication.

“How about if we stop and let the horses rest a little here,” Levi said. “Besides, I’d love a chance to hold you in my arms a bit.” How could I resist an offer like that?

Levi dismounted first and tied our horses to a nearby tree, then stood beside Amber and helped me dismount. I swung my foot back over the saddle and felt his strong hands around my waist. I didn’t really need the help, but I loved feeling his touch.

I turned toward him and his long arms drew me to him. Once again, he just held me close, his cheek on my hair, my cheek on the soft flannel of his shirt. I’d never felt this wonderful stillness and peace in an embrace before. And when we kissed, I felt myself melting into him. The leaves on the ground looked soft and inviting. I was ready to go wherever this embrace might lead.

But Levi pulled back, looked deep into my eyes for a moment, then kissed me on the forehead. He walked over to Cadillac and unbuckled a saddlebag that I hadn’t noticed until now.

“Time for lunch,” he said.

Well, that was a surprise! Food was the last thing on my mind at the moment. I was mystified, just as I had been the other night when Levi kissed me good-bye on my doorstep. I could feel the passion in his body—but what was going on in his mind?

Levi spread a big napkin on a nearby picnic table and then took sandwiches, grapes, and bottles of mineral water out of a paper bag. The sandwiches were mozzarella cheese on a crusty baguette with grilled vegetables and some fragrant, spicy sauce. I took a sniff and suddenly felt ravenous.

“Mmmmmmmm,” I said, after I took my first bite. “You can make lunch for me anytime!”

“Of course you know the special sauce is my very own secret recipe,” Levi said.

“Yum! And this bread that you baked is delicious,” I added.

“Glad to know you’re a girl who appreciates my cooking,” he said.

I smiled at him. “Emeril, eat your heart out,” I said. “But seriously, Levi, this afternoon has been a pure delight. Thank you.”

He started to say something, but at that moment my cell phone rang. Shoot. I should have ignored my conscience and left it in the car. I stood up to pull the phone out of my pocket and was about to hit the “ignore” button when I saw that the call was from Ally.

“It’s my sister,” I said.

“Family’s important,” Levi said. “Tell her hi from me.” How did he manage to always say exactly the right thing?

“Hi, Sis,” I said. “Can I call you back later?” I really didn’t want anything to interrupt this afternoon with Levi.

I heard the sound of crying and I heard some noises in the background that I couldn’t identify.

“Ally, where are you? Are you okay?”

I heard her sniff. “Not sure where I am,” she said. I knew instantly that she had been drinking. Again. My heart sank. How could she do this after she had promised me she’d give it up?

“Who’s there with you?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Don’t know what to do,” she said. She started crying again.

I heard the sound of the phone being passed to someone else, then a man’s voice came on the line. “This is Sergeant Avilla at the Chester Port Police Station. Your sister was a passenger in a car that drove up over a curb and into a light pole. The driver, a male college student, was DUI and your sister is also very intoxicated. She’ll need to have someone come and get her or she’ll be spending the night here in a cell. I can’t release her in her present condition. Her blood alcohol content is point-oh-five.”

“Was anyone hurt? Is Ally okay?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

“Fortunately, the car was moving fairly slowly and no one was hurt. Your sister is pretty shaken up, but she’s okay.”

My brain was having trouble processing all this. How could this have happened? It seemed incredible to me—how could she be drunk in the middle of a beautiful fall Tuesday afternoon? Somehow getting drunk midday seemed much more serious than drinking at night at a frat party.

Levi had come to stand by my side. He didn’t know what was going on, but he could tell something was wrong. He put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned toward him, grateful for his support. My knees were feeling weak.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I said. I clicked “end call” and sat down on the bench. My mind was reeling. I had to get to Ally as soon as possible. I had to bail her out—this time literally.

“How can I help?” was the first thing Levi said. Without even asking what was wrong, he went right to the heart of things. I took a deep breath and filled him in on what Sergeant Avilla had told me.

“I have to go to her. She’ll be scared to death if she has to spend the night in jail,” I said.

“I’m not a parent and I’ve never been a guardian, so this may sound a tad harsh—but don’t you think it’s time something put the fear of God into her? Didn’t you tell me that you had to rescue her from some frat party the other night? Think about it, JK. What’s worse? A night in the pokey or a fatal car crash?”

“The idea of Ally spending a night in jail is not just a tad harsh. It’s impossible. And ridiculous.”

All the adrenalin that had been released into my blood with the shock of the phone call started pumping through my body. How dare he suggest that a little jail time might be a good thing for my baby sister. How dare he try to make a joke out of it, calling jail the “pokey.” I was fuming. I couldn’t see past my anger.

I pulled away from him. “I’m her guardian, and if anyone is going to put the fear of God into her, it’s going to be me. I need to get to her as soon as possible. I need to take care of her.” I was on the verge of tears, but I was willing myself not to cry. “She needs to know I’m always there for her.”

Levi went and untied the horses and walked them over to me. “Just promise me you’ll think about getting her—and yourself—some help,” he said. He put his hand out to me as if to shake hands and make that a deal.

“I’m all the help she needs,” I said stiffly. “This is between me and Ally.” I didn’t take his outstretched hand. “And I won’t make any promises to someone who’d like to see my little sister behind bars.”

His demeanor didn’t change at all and his tone of voice showed only concern. “Well, we all need a little help sometimes,” he said. “She’s a lucky girl to have you for her sis.”

We mounted our horses and rode back to the farm as quickly as the trail would allow us. Neither of us spoke. The air seemed to have turned chillier, and clouds hung heavily overhead. It was drizzling by the time we reached the barn, and as we climbed into the car, a thunderstorm broke. The golden autumn day, my dream date with Levi, the delicious intimate embraces we had shared—all gone.

Neither of us spoke much on the way back. I declined Levi’s offer to come with me to the police station. I’d get my car at the store and then go pick up Ally.

“Besides,” I said with a hard edge to my voice, “the show must go on, right?” I was a pressure cooker ready to explode. Everything I said sounded angry. And whatever Levi said, however mild, however understanding, just stoked my anger. The thought kept running through my head that it’s when you’re facing a crisis that you really find out about people. And what had his response to my crisis been? Jail time for Ally. Jail!

The ride took forever, but we finally pulled up to the store and I opened the limo door for myself. “Thanks for the ride,” I said over my shoulder as I got out into a driving rain. I stormed through the door of The Finish Line and grabbed my car keys from the key hook in the back room. I found my umbrella under my desk and took that, too.

Business had been slow so Dan had left early. Jess knew immediately that something was wrong and followed me to my office.

“Bad date?” she asked.

“Another Ally crisis,” I said. “And yes, a really bad ending to this date.” I looked down and saw that I was still wearing my pink boots. For some reason, this infuriated me. I yanked them off and tossed them across the room, where they made a muddy streak on the wall. I grabbed a pair of my running shoes and put them on, feeling a little more like myself.

“What’s up with Ally?” Jess asked.

“Well, this time, I get to pick her up at the local jail,” I said. I quickly filled her in on what little I knew.

“And Levi?”

“He thought I should leave her there.” I could feel the tears starting to well up in my eyes.

“And you thought you should come to her rescue again?”

“Of course.” I felt a lecture coming on from Jess. “Jess, not you, too? What could Ally possibly learn from spending a night in a jail cell?”

“Hmmm. Let me think. A little
self-control
, maybe?”

“Or maybe what she’d learn is that her sister doesn’t care what happens to her!” I was angry all over again. “I don’t have time to argue. I need to go get Ally out of there.”