Chapter Eleven
B utterflies danced in Bayleigh’s stomach as she pulled on her riding boots. She’d managed not to think about Lucas most of the time the school group was visiting. Leila hadn’t mentioned their breakfast meeting and Bayleigh wasn’t about to reveal her interest by asking. But she was curious to know how it had gone.
And she was desperate to see Lucas again.
She’d had Sawyer tack up a couple of horses for them so Lucas could advise her on trail potential in the Belle Vista hills. She’d packed a bag with a few snacks and water. A bottle of wine.
A blanket.
Was that too obvious? What if he bailed? Or was late? What if Lucas had cooled toward her now that they’d had sex?
But the Tacoma arrived in the parking lot right on time. Bayleigh walked out to meet him, feeling the smile break over her face.
“Sawyer’s got a couple of horses ready for us,” she said by way of greeting. His eyes lit up on seeing her and she could see he was having as much difficulty as she was holding back his enthusiasm. “Kendall took me out in the four-by-four before I purchased the place, but I haven’t had a chance to explore the area on horseback myself yet. I’m glad to have an expert to check it out with me.”
He grinned. “Happy to help. It’s a lot of land. We might have to make several trips.”
They kept a polite distance as they walked to the barn but there was an invisible force field sizzling between them.
“Hey, Lucas,” Sawyer said. “I hear you’re going to advise us on a few trails.”
Bayleigh was pleased to see he’d chosen two of their more spirited quarter horses, a paint mare, and a palomino gelding. Sweet-natured animals but capable of giving them an energetic ride if they so chose. She had a feeling Lucas might want to blow off some steam.
She wanted that, too.
Lucas nodded. “You’ll want several levels of difficulty and length, so we’ll check out some shorter treks here, close to the barn. Then, I’m thinking we’ll head a few miles back into the bush and see what game trails are already there for us to use. There might be old cattle paths. We won’t know until we get out there.”
“That’s great.” Sawyer handed him a roll of neon orange tape. “Use these if you want to mark locations. I’ll get out there next week and clear out any rough areas.”
“We’ll want at least a few options for rest stops and photo opportunities,” Bayleigh said. “I think trail rides will be popular with people using riding therapy as a way to include their disabled child in family outings.”
“Absolutely,” Lucas said. “I loved going out with my parents. They’re both avid riders. My mom tends to hover, but once I got good on horseback, she could relax.”
“Which meant you could, too. That sounds lovely.”
“Did you grow up riding?”
“Off and on, but not with my parents. Relaxed is not how I’d describe our relationship,” she said, “but we’ve settled into a workable groove. Living at a distance helps.”
She chose the palomino, leaving the mare, who was slightly larger, to Lucas. She filled her saddlebag and slipped her smartphone into a clear waterproof case that hung around her neck. Safe, close to hand, but almost impossible to lose.
“You ready?” she said to Lucas.
He’d mounted the mare easily but allowed Sawyer to adjust his stirrups.
“There you go,” Sawyer said, giving the mare a pat on the rump. “Ready to roll.”
“Thanks, Sawyer,” Bayleigh said. “If I’m not back before you leave for the day, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Sawyer’s brows lifted but then he nodded and waved them off.
They walked sedately through the gate, and Lucas reined his horse around so he could close it after them. The late afternoon weather was perfect for riding, the air warm, the sky clear. All around them was the scent of nature, saturated with summer, drunk with the work of procreating during the brief time allowed. Soon, the days would cool and shorten, sending the flora and fauna back to the quiet sleep of winter.
Just like her. She was alive now, more alive than she’d felt in years. But this was a temporary slice of time, cut out of her normal life. In a matter of days, she’d be back to her usual daily routine, and these days with Lucas would be nothing more than a sweet distant memory.
“You’re pensive,” Lucas said. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Bayleigh lied. She swallowed and forced her mind away from the future. Right now, she had this beautiful afternoon with this beautiful man and she wasn’t going to waste it wishing she could have more. She was going to enjoy every moment to the fullest.
She gave him a smile that warmed her from the inside, hoping he could see her joy.
“Do you think he bought it?” Lucas asked.
“Sawyer?” Bayleigh laughed. “Why wouldn’t he? We’re going to come back with a half-dozen trails for him to mark.”
“Yes.” He moved his mount closer until he could nudge her thigh with his knee. “And it’s going to take us hours, isn’t it?”
“Oh, definitely.” Fire ran up her leg, straight to the base of her body. Mapping trails would take them as long or as short as they wanted. But they would definitely be out for hours.
“Have a destination in mind?” he asked. “Someplace we can... rest?”
The heat in his gaze turned her knees to jelly. “I have a few ideas.”
“Hope they’re not too far away. I’m already exhausted.”
She laughed. “You are, huh? That’s pretty sad, you know.”
His eyes widened. “Sad? I’ll show you sad.” He reined the mare away and tightened his thighs, urging the horse into a gallop.
Bayleigh gave a whoop and the gelding broke after them. The wind in her hair felt like nourishment, like she’d just discovered yet another appetite she’d been denying for too long. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone riding just for the fun of it. She used to ride more but since she’d purchased Belle Vista, she’d been too busy for recreation.
And maybe she hadn’t prioritized it enough. She’d been burning the candle at both ends and while that was necessary at this stage of building a business, she recognized now that the toll it was taking on her was not sustainable.
She leaned over the gelding’s neck, his golden mane streaming against her arms, his regular grunting breath showing her that the exercise was appreciated by animal and human alike, male and female both.
Lucas and the mare moved with such graceful beauty that they seemed to be one entity. Bayleigh wondered if he’d ever seen himself on horseback. She slowed her horse to a walk, picked up her phone and shot a quick ten-second video of him. She knew that he was self-conscious about his gait. She guessed his teen years had been tough. He had far more mobility than many, if not most, people with CP, but that wouldn’t have mattered to a young mind wishing only to blend in with his cohort.
He’d dealt with his disability by pushing himself to the limit, by finding other areas in which his body excelled and maximizing that. He was an incredibly skilled and intuitive rider, that was obvious. The mare exhibited the perked ears and clear eyes of a horse confident in the ability of her rider. Horses picked up on fear. They were prey animals, always alert to threats, extremely observant of those with power over them. In the wild, they’d simply flee. In the company of humans, they watched and they reacted.
A kind, confident rider allowed the horse to perform to their best ability. If someone riddled with fear or tense with anger sat on them, they picked up on it immediately. Unable to flee from the source of stress attached to their backs, they took it into their own bodies, magnifying it. The more mature and well trained the horse, the more they could manage the stress. But young or unconfident animals could pull every nuance of negativity into their own flesh to the point of endangering themselves and their riders.
Lucas knew all that, it was clear.
He slowed to a trot, reined the mare into a wide arc, and came up beside her.
“Like what you see?” he said with a grin. His hair was windswept, his cheeks ruddy, his eyes bright.
“Very much,” she said. “Come on. I know where we’re going next.”
They let the horses trot until they’d all caught their breath, then eased them to a comfortable walk so that conversation was possible again.
She pointed to a trail cut into the low scrub. “It’s too narrow for cattle,” she said. “Might have been made by deer. Let’s follow it.”
Lucas tagged the nearest tree first, then they picked their way along the path. They were about a half-hour walk away from the barn, so this could be the start of a good intermediate ride. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir rose against the sky, with a rich understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants, including bear grass, mountain hollyhock and the occasional tiny blossom of a determined aster.
The light dimmed under the majestic trees. Sound softened and became muffled, and they spoke more reverently, as if they were in a place of worship. They were, Bayleigh supposed, or at least as close as she got these days. She had nothing against organized religion. It could be a huge source of comfort. It had been, for her, once. But she’d also seen the dark side, when religion turned to obsession and deluded otherwise sane people into dangerous and unhealthy fantasies. There were believers, and there were believers. As with anything.
A small clearing opened up to her right and she slowed the gelding to a stop. The light shone through the branches above, throwing a small central area into soft focus. A crisscross of old, moss-covered deadfall created a natural seating area. She tossed her reins over a tree and beckoned for Lucas to join her.
“This is a perfect resting place,” she said.
She untied her saddle bag and brought it with her as she trudged through the thick underbrush. She was glad she’d brought the blanket. She was desperate to have Lucas’s body against hers and hoped he felt the same.
She watched as he navigated the tangled vegetation with surprising grace, keeping one hand on something with each step until he met her at the largest tree trunk.
“Feel like a picnic?” she asked.
He lifted his eyebrows. “A picnic? That’s what you had planned for us?”
She shrugged one shoulder, and stepped onto the log so that she was taller than him. She rested her forearms on his shoulders, then bent her head and kissed him, long and slow.
“For starters,” she murmured against his mouth. “Want an energy bar?”
Suddenly he grasped her around the waist, then slid his hands to her butt. Her legs went around his hips naturally and they stood there, kissing, and clutching each other, desperate with need, until she broke away, breathless.
“Hang on,” she said, stepping down.
She stomped down a flat area, then spread the blanket out on the piney ground and sank down onto it.
She peered up at him. “Join me, cowboy?”
“Absolutely, I will.” He knelt, awkwardly, but she didn’t care. When he stretched his long, lean body out over hers, she thought she might spontaneously combust, right there, set the whole bluff ablaze and if she went up with it, she wouldn’t have cared a jot.
*
When Lucas and Bayleigh returned from their ride, they kept the same comfortable social distance between them that they’d had when they left. Still, Ted was in the barn as they walked in, and the dark glance he shot Lucas from under that shock of hair suggested he wasn’t fooled by their casual posture.
Also, Bayleigh had pine needles in her hair.
Lucas bit his lip to keep from smiling, then tried to imagine how he’d feel if he caught his mother having an affair. Shuddered. Poor Ted.
Is that what this was? An affair? That word didn’t sit right. But they weren’t dating, either, exactly. You couldn’t be dating someone you weren’t going to see again, possibly ever.
That also didn’t sit right.
“Feeling okay?” Bayleigh said quietly, once Ted was out of earshot.
“Never better,” he replied. And it was true. Between the riding, which never failed to ease his tight muscles, and the sheer joy of sharing her amazing body, he kept on feeling better and better with every passing day here at Belle Vista.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, indicating a text message. He pulled it out.
“Leila and Sawyer are meeting Brade and Kendall in town for a late dinner,” he said. “They want me to join them. I’ll tell them I already have plans.”
He didn’t want to leave Bayleigh. He wanted to spend every hour he had left her with her.
“No,” she said immediately. “You should go.”
The disappointment surprised him. “That was fast. Looking for a way out of our date?”
“Of course not.” Her smile was easy and generous. “But seeing them is why you’re here, remember?”
He looked at her quizzically. “Why don’t you come with me?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t. This is your time with your family.”
“I probably know you better than them, by now. I definitely like you better.”
She blushed and he smiled.
“Come on, Bayleigh. I kept you out late on the trail, and we need more than energy bars and wine. Please. Let me buy you dinner. It’s my way of saying thank you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t think it will look suspicious if we arrive together?”
“What if it does?” He was suddenly reckless. “Who cares? It’s no secret I wanted to map out some possible trails. So, we did it together. We were working. That’s all anyone needs to know. Think you can keep your hands off me for an hour or two in public?”
She pursed her lips, then slugged him, just hard enough to make sure he felt it. “Does that count?”
He staggered backward, exaggerating his reaction. “Baby, you slay me.”
“As long as we know where we stand,” she said, with an arch smile. “Where are we going?”
“Some pub, they said.” He didn’t know many places in town, yet.
Did that mean he expected to return?
“Probably Lou’s,” Bayleigh said, delighted. “You’ll love it. Leila’s dad owns it. Food’s great and the atmosphere is even better.”
*
When they arrived, Lou’s was hopping. Lucas had texted Leila to say he was bringing Bayleigh and she’d responded favorably. She also said that Diana might be stopping in, if she could get her kids to bed in time.
He hadn’t expected the number of eyes that followed them as they wound their way through the crowded floor to the table where Leila stood waving at them. Were they staring because of his cane? Had they heard of the Landry Adventures scandal? Or was it because he was a stranger?
He saw Brade’s gaze drop to his hand at the small of Bayleigh’s back and felt heat rush to his cheeks.
He pulled her chair out for her, then sat in the one next to her.
“You find some good trails?” Sawyer asked.
“We did,” Bayleigh replied, then explained to the others what their purported task had been. “We’ll groom them a little, for safety, before we take riders out on them, but I’m excited to have some great options for them.”
“I can tell.” Kendall took a sip of her chardonnay, her eyes wide and innocent.
Bayleigh frowned. “What?”
“I can tell you’re excited.” She winked and instantly, Bayleigh flushed scarlet.
“What are you implying?” Lucas asked.
“Relax, brother,” Leila said. “We’re just teasing. I like the two of you together.”
But now that he’d taken the stance of denial, he found he had to hold it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kendall’s smile faded. She glanced at Brade. “I thought...”
“Never mind,” Lucas said, wishing he hadn’t said anything.
“Let me get you some drinks,” Brade said. “Bayleigh?”
She requested a glass of red wine and Lucas asked for a beer. He felt like an ass. He’d wanted to defuse the situation lightly and instead, he’d probably confirmed their suspicions. He’d be leaving soon but Bayleigh lived here. She probably wouldn’t want rumors circulating about her.
“Sorry, guys,” he said, rubbing his face. “Didn’t mean to jump all over you.”
Leila nodded, but he could tell she was hurt.
Sawyer’s expression was harder to read, but Lucas suspected he’d lost points. Family dynamics, wow. He had no idea it would be this tricky having siblings. And siblings with partners they loved made it even more complicated. Landmines, everywhere you stepped.
The conversation moved to other topics. Sawyer’s daughter Piper had taught their puppy how to open the door to Sawyer and Leila’s bedroom, so Sawyer was replacing their accessible handle with an old-fashioned round locking doorknob on the weekend. Miranda, Piper’s birth mother, was in town for the week, which always made him nervous, but Leila had a good relationship with his ex-wife and as long as Miranda stayed on her medication, he wasn’t too worried.
“Ashley and I are going dress shopping with Coralee tomorrow,” Kendall announced.
“Oh?” Leila said. “Is that a good thing?”
Something about the way Leila said it caught Lucas’s attention.
Kendall exchanged a quick glance with Brade, then rested her forearms on the table. “Coralee’s my mother,” she explained. “She wasn’t around a lot when we were growing up.”
Leila snorted. “That’s one way of putting it. She left Kendall to raise her brother and sister.”
“She had her reasons,” Kendall said. “I’m trying to listen to her and let go of my anger. It’s not easy, but her being here is really good for Ashley and Jason.”
She smiled at Brade and he put his arm around her.
The simple gesture touched Lucas, sparking a longing he hadn’t felt in ages. Having someone understand your deepest hurts, your biggest challenges, your hopes and fears, being willing to share the good and the bad... what would that be like?
“That sounds challenging.” Bayleigh looked around the small group. “You’ve all chosen to overcome things that could have left you angry and bitter. I’m impressed.”
“Talk to me tomorrow night,” Kendall said with a laugh. “But mostly, I’d rather spend my energy on being happy.”
A prim-looking woman approached the table. “Hello, everyone. Bayleigh Sutherland, it’s nice to see you out, given how busy you must be, setting up your... center.”
The little hesitation was just enough to convey her doubts about Belle Vista, and Lucas bristled.
“Hi, Sue Anne. We didn’t get a chance to talk earlier. Thanks for coming out.” Bayleigh’s smile gave no indication that she’d heard the slight.
The woman turned to Lucas and held out her hand. “Sue Anne Nylund. I’m the school secretary. You must be new in town. Are you a friend of Bayleigh’s?”
He shook her hand but before he could open his mouth, Bayleigh jumped in.
“Sue Anne, this is Lucas Landry. He’s renting a cabin at Belle Vista for the week.”
Curiosity rippled off the woman in waves. Her eyebrows lifted as she looked him over. “I didn’t realize you were open for business already. I hope you find the help you need, Lucas. How fortunate for you to be one of her first patients.”
The put-down was subtle but he’d heard it too many times to miss it.
“I’m not a patient.” He held her gaze and let a small smile grow on his face. “But you’re right, I’m... very fortunate.”
“Oh. Well.” Sue Anne flushed and took a step back. “I’m sure it’s none of my business.”
Bayleigh laughed and this time, there was a thread of malice in her tone that surprised him.
“I’m an open book, Sue Anne. If there’s something you’d like to know about Belle Vista, please, just ask.”
Leila jumped in. “Actually, Lucas is in Grand to meet me and Brade. He’s our triplet and we just found him. We’re hoping he comes back so don’t scare him away, okay?”
“Triplets.” Sue Anne blinked bright eyes. “My goodness. I had no idea.”
He could practically hear the wheels turning in her head, and when she rejoined her group, three silver-haired heads bent toward her as she relayed her story in muted tones. Their glances were anything but subtle.
“Well,” Brade said, “we don’t have to worry about introducing Lucas to anyone else. By tomorrow morning, the whole town will know who he is, how we’re related, the truck he drives, what kind of beer he likes and possibly his shoe size.”
Leila leaned in. “Wait until she finds out our birth mother is a famous artist. Her head will explode.”
“Hold on.” Lucas put up his hand. “We don’t know that for sure, yet.”
“Ye of little faith,” Leila replied, with a brief glance at Sawyer. “You’ll see.”
A buzz sounded and Kendall grabbed her phone. The women were suddenly sharing pictures of wedding gowns and flower bouquets and cakes and whatnot.
Sawyer gave Brade a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, man. This is your life now.”
“Think I can convince her to elope?” The look on his face as Brade watched his fiancée gave lie to his comment. Kendall’s joy was his joy, no matter how he protested.
Lucas found himself relaxing again. These were good people. He’d expected his time in Grand to be full of conflict and instead, he’d found comfort and new relationships. Allies, even.
Something nudged his leg and he started, then cast his eyes downward. Beside him, Bayleigh was deeply involved in the conversation with Leila and Kendall, but under the table, she’d kicked off one boot and was now rubbing her foot against his leg.
His blood pumped directly to his groin, where he feared she’d soon be edging that mischievous limb. She was a dangerous woman, especially since they’d just declared they were not an item and damn them for insinuating as much.
Lucas leaned over as if looking toward the bar.
“What are you doing?”
Bayleigh put a hand over her mouth and whispered, “Who, me?”
The juxtaposition of innocence and temptation set him ablaze and he hoped their food came quickly so he could get her home. Or at least into the truck.
He put his hand down for her foot but she kept it just out of reach. And while his hand was busy, she tiptoed her fingers into his lap. She stopped as soon as she found what she was seeking.
“Someone’s having a hard time, I see,” she murmured.
“You’re asking for it, girl,” he ground through grated teeth.
She gave him a big, friendly smile, the kind of smile any acquaintance would give another. “I am,” she said brightly. “That’s a great idea, Lucas.”
“What is?” Leila said.
Bayleigh blinked at him. “Go ahead,” she said. “Tell them.”
He stared at her. He had to admire her. For someone who hadn’t been in the game for as long as her, she sure knew how to play. She’d put him on the spot, and he said the first thing that came to mind.
“Well, Leila, I told Bayleigh about your idea of bringing Landry Adventures here to Grand.”
Bayleigh’s smile froze.
He looked at her calmly. This is what she got for playing with him. You dangle a treat in front of a wolf and eventually the wolf grabs it.