Chapter 21
Marco felt like a little kid at Christmastime.
They were in business class, about an hour away from landing, and he’d been asking Savi questions since the minute they’d boarded the plane.
He wanted to know what her mum was likely to cook for dinner, how many ranch hands they had, what a typical day on the ranch looked like, if she hung out with her friends when she was home, and most of all, how she was feeling following the bombshell Sapphire had dropped.
‘My dad will probably have some embarrassing sign, so please ignore what it says.’ Savi had her eyes closed, head leaning back against her seat. ‘He always does it, thinks it’s hilarious.’
‘Is he a hugger? I hugged him at Spa without giving it much thought, but I don’t know if that’s his thing.
’ Marco was a hugger. His own dad was a scary guy to everyone else, but to him, he was a softie.
Always had been. Mars had got his soft side and his work ethic and not a lot else.
Both brothers were a clone of their mum looks-wise.
‘Oh, definitely. Didn’t you notice he is basically Gabriel but with less of the CEO energy? It’s no wonder they became fast friends. My entire career stemmed from Gabriel and my dad chatting about hot dogs at the karting track, and Gabriel asking him which kid was his.’
‘That’s adorable,’ he teased. ‘So… everyone in Sheridan genuinely believes that you and I are together, don’t they?’ He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Does this mean we’re going to get swarmed at the bars?’
‘We will be swarmed every time we head downtown. We won’t be able to pick up groceries without someone I know coming to introduce themselves.’
‘Great,’ he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. ‘Just what we need.’
‘It’s different at home. They’re a bit invasive, but they mean well. They just want the best for everyone there, so no, we won’t be left alone but it’s comforting. They’re excited to see Savi from Sheridan, not racing driver Savi. They’re good people.’
‘Is your dad a bar kind of guy?’
‘Definitely not, so it will just be the two of us heading out on Friday night.’
‘What about your brother? I’m looking forward to meeting him most, I think.
We can bully you together.’ He nudged her arm teasingly, but stopped when he saw a strange expression decorate her features.
She looked uncomfortable. He didn’t want to pry, but there was obviously something she wasn’t telling him.
She snapped out of it and shrugged. ‘He likes to stay home.’
They spent the rest of their flight in silence, only speaking again when they were at baggage claim and figuring out where to go.
Marco almost hoped his luggage was lost so he had an excuse to buy the most extravagant outfits he could find.
He wanted to wear flannel and denim and anything stereotypical, but instead he only had a selection of t-shirts and shorts.
He’d been warned it was hot in Wyoming at the moment, and it was likely going to be hot at Le Mans in two weeks.
He always tried to pack for all weather so he could just get up and go anywhere the wind took him. Once again, it had paid off.
It didn’t mean he wouldn’t treat himself to some cowboy gear and cram it all into his suitcase, though. On second thoughts… Savi always had two bags. He was sure she could find some extra room for his things, too.
‘Savannah, I found your parents.’ They’d made it through baggage claim smoothly and had barely got through the automatic doors before Marco spotted the older couple waving manically, holding a sign that read ‘Welcome home from prison’.
Calvin, her dad, looked far more comfortable and at home than he had at Spa.
He was a tall, broad man and wore a battered brown cowboy hat, beaten-up work boots and dirt-covered jeans with a red flannel shirt.
He was standing proudly next to a shorter lady in jeans, riding boots and what looked like one of Savannah’s oversized band tees.
They looked so excited, he wanted to drop his things and run to them, but instead he watched as Savannah did.
One of her cases rolled away and he grabbed it, using his foot to kick her second one towards them.
‘Oi, Cowgirl, I know you’re excited but a little help here! ’
‘Let me get that while the girls fuss over each other,’ Calvin chuckled and rushed to Marco’s rescue, trying to give him a hug whilst simultaneously helping steer the cases out of the way of the streams of people trying to get out.
‘So good to see you again, Marco. Welcome to Wyoming, sort of. We’ll be there in no time. ’
‘Hi, Calvin,’ Marco squeezed him back. ‘Thank you for having me.’ They had flown into Montana and were a short drive from Savannah’s hometown.
Short if you were American, at least, where everything was miles apart.
You could get from the south-west of England to Malmedy, Belgium in under twelve hours. Europe was much more appealing to him.
‘Come and meet the wife.’ He led him to where Savannah and her mum were still squealing at each other, and it was only then Marco realised their t-shirts were matching.
‘Hi, Marco!’ Her mum rose up on her tiptoes to embrace him. ‘I’m Bonnie.’
‘Nice to meet you, ma’am.’ He grinned at Savi over her shoulder. ‘Your daughter has told me great things about your cooking.’
‘Now, I understand you’re vegan. I’ve found some recipes I think you might like; would you mind going through them with me before tomorrow? We’re going to have a barbecue tonight but without the meat. I hear you want to try corn the traditional American way.’
‘I do’, he beamed, loving the fact Savannah had remembered something so small. ‘And I’d love to look through the recipes. I really appreciate it.’
‘How’s Wes today?’ Savi asked her parents.
‘Very eager to meet Marco. Hasn’t shut up about it.
’ Calvin wheeled both of his daughter’s cases out to the pick-up zone, leaving Marco to lug his behind him.
‘I think the horses know you’re coming, too.
Mocha was whining all night. I got out of bed three times to see if she was okay, and she just looked at me like I was the world’s biggest idiot. ’
‘Have we got many kids’ riding lessons this week? I want to give Marco a chance to ride Java, teach him how to be a cowboy.’ Savannah patted Marco on the shoulder.
They stopped by a huge blue Ford pick-up truck, not dissimilar to one of many cars Julien had sat in the barns at his Malmedy farmhouse. ‘Sav, come on honey. Let the poor guy ride Cappuccino. Let’s not embarrass him with a tiny horse,’ Calvin scoffed.
‘He’s never ridden before!’ Savannah defended, jumping into the truck and slamming the door.
The whole thing rattled. It wasn’t an ancient vehicle, but it certainly wasn’t new and shiny, and Marco wondered if Savannah had tried and failed to get them a replacement yet.
They didn’t seem like the type to want anything flashy.
‘Cappuccino is in the middle of the two and she’s come such a long way. She’s not scared of every little thing, anymore, and she doesn’t boot people off. We let some of the older riders take her out now. I’m sure she can handle Marco and vice versa,’ Bonnie assured.
‘Oh, I am more than okay riding the smaller horse. Whatever the professionals think.’
They drove the two hours from Billings, Montana and across state lines to Wyoming, blasting country music the whole way.
Calvin notably skipped any of Jesse’s music which apparently was a thing he did often, and he was taking great pride in doing so now he had broken his little girl’s heart.
He swore enthusiastically at the radio every time, and the more he did it, the more Savi laughed about it.
He felt at ease in their company immediately, much like he had with their daughter, and they were already getting him involved in their inside jokes.
It made him miss his own family, who were basically a wealthy version of the Harts with European accents.
At their core, both sets of parents were the same in terms of values and morals. They would get on like a house on fire.
‘Marco, how do you feel about Sav overtaking you all the time?’ Calvin asked.
‘I think she’s made it clear I need to up my game,’ Marco laughed. ‘She’s certainly not afraid of a challenge, your daughter.’
‘Her and Weston get that from Cal,’ Bonnie smiled in the rear-view mirror, bursting with pride.
Marco wondered if Weston was anything like his sister.
If he was, this trip was going to be up there with one of the best of his life, and Marco had been to a lot of places with a lot of different people.
‘Is this where you live?!’ His jaw dropped as they drove under a battered wooden signpost that read ‘Mustang Ridge’, nothing ahead of them except a long, winding dirt road and a picturesque view of mountains and trees and everything Marco could have dreamed of.
It was serene. He wanted Calvin to stop the car right this very second so he could hop out and stand there and soak it all in, but instead they were hitting every bump and pothole, the truck jolting.
‘It is,’ Savannah smiled. ‘Beautiful, right?’
‘Savannah, you could build yourself a race track out here.’ There was so much open space, and he imagined the Hart family owned most, if not all of it.
It was a working ranch, not just a farmhouse on a bit of land.
She could build a karting track and give local kids the same opportunity she had growing up, invest in the careers of junior drivers.
He’d go into business on something like that in a heartbeat; he already sponsored a young driver from Glastonbury in the south-west of England.
‘Don’t give her any ideas! She isn’t here enough to oversee it,’ Calvin shook his head.
‘Wouldn’t Weston help out?’ Marco asked, causing everyone in the car to go silent.