Sunrise Canyon (New Americana 1)

“Calvin calls it a memory cairn.” Jake had come from around the house to stand behind them. “They’re building it to honor your daughter, Dusty. When you look up there and see it, you’ll remember her. And after it’s done, every person who goes up the hill to visit it can bring a rock and add it to the cairn, so it will grow over time.”

Dusty blinked away the first tear Kira had seen him shed. “I’ll be damned,” he said. “That’s right nice.”

“I want to help!” Paige scrambled off Dusty’s lap and raced across the yard toward the hill. Kira was about to call out and stop her, when Jake touched her arm, his message silent but sure.

He was right. Paige was fine, and she wanted to be part of this. Let her go.

Still, she kept her eyes on the small figure as Paige stopped to pick up a pebble, then dashed up the hill to place it on the cairn. Now the students were giving her high fives. Kira couldn’t have been more proud of them, working together to do something unselfish for a grieving old man.

They had learned one of the most important lessons her course had been designed to teach them—and they had earned an early reward. This afternoon she had a surprise in store for them. They would finally get to ride their horses.

* * *

Six days had passed since the building of the cairn. From under the overhang of the shed, where he was replacing the fuel pump on the motorcycle, Jake watched Paige and Kira walk up the hill. Each of them carried a small rock. Paige had insisted on climbing up to the cairn every day, sometimes more than once. Usually, Kira went with her, but Dusty had made the pilgrimage a few times as well. The old cowboy was getting stronger now, insisting that it was time to stop treating him like an invalid.

Dusty’s recovery had given Jake more time to work on the bike. He’d long since given up the idea that a single replacement part would get the old Indian running again. After more than thirty years in the shed, none of the mechanical or electrical parts could be counted on to work. Jake had had little choice except to replace almost everything except the engine, which might still need a rebuild. He’d found the parts online, paid for them with his debit card and had them shipped express to the ranch. The purchase had wiped out his last benefit check, but getting the vintage machine operational would be worth every cent.

“Got it working yet?” Mack’s question cut into his thoughts.

“Nope.” Jake tightened a small bolt, grateful that the ranch had most of the tools he’d needed, rusty but still serviceable.

“How much longer do you think it’ll take?” Mack asked.

“Don’t know. A couple of days, at least. And then I might have to take it somewhere and test it. I promised Dusty I wouldn’t rev it up around the horses.”

“I could go with you,” Mack said. “To test it, I mean.”

“Don’t count on it. You’ve got plenty of other stuff to keep you busy.” Jake had tried to be patient with the boy and to let him help a little. But the kid never seemed to stop talking, especially when Jake was trying to think things out. Mack was becoming a nuisance.

“Will you give me a ride on it when it’s ready?”

“Nope. That’s against the rules. Do you know what liability is?”

“Yeah. It’s like my folks could sue you if I get hurt.”

“That’s right. And that’s why I can’t let you on this bike.” Jake glanced toward the stable, where the students were gathering, waiting for Kira. “Looks like it’s time for your afternoon trail ride,” he said.

“Can’t I stay here and help you?”

“Maybe later. Right now, that’s not what you’re here for.”

Muttering and dragging his feet, Mack headed for the stable. Kira had dropped Paige off at the house and was hurrying to meet her students. She flashed Jake a secret smile as she passed the shed. Things had been good between them since that night after last week’s cookout—so good that he’d dared to wonder if there was a real chance for things to work out here. Watching the easy flow of her jeans-clad hips from the back, he remembered holding her in his arms last night, every curve and hollow of her sweet woman’s body molding to his in the darkness. It had been heaven—or damn close to it.

But was all this too good to last?

He was still riding Dynamite almost every morning and doing his best to stay calm. He’d even tried meditating—a practice he’d learned in the VA hospital. So far, it seemed to be helping. But it was too soon to know for sure. Only time would tell whether he was making real progress.

If he could keep himself under control, he might be lucky enough to find a life here with Kira and Paige. If not, he told himself, it would be time to face the truth: the people he loved so much would be better off without him.

* * *

With just a few days left in the course, time was moving fast. Now that the students were comfortable in the saddle, they were on the trail every day, their outings getting progressively longer. Kira took pride in seeing their confidence. They’d learned new skills, formed new habits and made new friends.

Kira had made it clear that there would be no running or jumping the aging trail horses. Not only was it dangerous for both the horses and their young riders, but it was contrary to the peaceful goal of the course. Most of the students accepted that rule. Only Mack had argued. “What’s the fun of riding a stupid horse if you can’t rac

e it?”

“Sorry, Mack,” Kira had replied. “If you want to race a horse, sign up for riding lessons when you get home and learn to do it safely.”