But she was alive.
And the look in her eyes was no longer defeat but utter awe.
I leapt off, wiping heat from my forehead and looking up at her with the sun blinding me. “Now, tell me you didn’t feel that.”
Her gaze was glossy, wistful, addicted. “I felt it.”
“Good.”
She swayed in the saddle. She looked as if I’d just gotten her drunk on illegal substances.
And in a way, I had.
Horses were pure addiction.
“Wow.”
I grinned, enjoying how the tightness and nervousness in her mellowed into shaky joy.
Graham skidded to a stop, shoved me to the side, and yanked his daughter from my horse. Wagging a finger in my face, he snarled, “If you ever put my Lace in danger again, I’ll skin you alive.”
Aunt Cassie penned in my other side, disappointment and anger all over her. “What were you thinking, Jacob?”
I smiled wider, my eyes not leaving Hope’s as she gawked at me from her father’s arms.
She might be a child of Hollywood, but for the first time in her life, she was more than what she’d been born into.
She’d had a taste of freedom. And good luck to anyone who tried to tell her she couldn’t have more.
Tipping my hand to the rim of my cowboy hat, I saluted my young student. “You didn’t die. Congratulations.”
Her eyes flared. Graham’s jaw clenched. And I stepped the hell away from furious adults.
“That was a stupid, stupid thing to do.” Aunt Cassie growled under her breath.
As I backed toward the arena exit, I kept my gaze on Hope’s wild one. “Stupid, maybe. But at least she knows now. She knows what she wants.”
I turned around, whistled for my horse, and didn’t say goodbye as Forrest trotted after me. Aunt Cassie yelled an obscenity, and Graham dragged Hope across the gravel, stuffed her into his flashy 4WD, and shot from Cherry River without a backward glance.
Good riddance.
CHAPTER SIX
JACOB
* * * * * *
Sixteen Years Old
MY FINGERS FUMBLED with the last piece of sticky tape as I finished wrapping the small gift.
It wasn’t pretty or neat, but it would do. At least it hid the swirly silvery scarf I’d bought Mom and a new pair of sunglasses with diamante horses on the sides. They were cheap, but I hoped she liked them.
After all, they were a thank you.
A gift of gratitude for putting up with me…and for letting me drop out of school. She’d had a fight with the education board but she’d made me a promise and kept it—signing paperwork to officially free me.
Finally.
“Wild One, where are you?” Mom’s voice trailed down the corridor to my room.
“Coming!” Launching off my bed where scissors, silver wrapping paper, and a black ribbon lay, I met her on the threshold just as I was closing my door.
Her eyes narrowed, trying to look past me to the navy painted walls and blue bedspread. She’d let me decorate the room myself after Dad passed away and we both wanted a new start. She’d painted their bedroom a slate grey, which she said was calming but I called depressive, and I went all blue as that was my favourite colour.
Or it was six years ago. Now, I leaned more toward greens, but I had no plan of repainting anytime soon because I wasn’t a student anymore. I wasn’t a kid. I was a full-time farmer as of Monday, and full-time farmers needed their own home.
Not that I’d told her I was moving out yet.
That would come later. I’d already pushed her further than I should.
“What are you doing all secretive in there?” She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “Is there a girl in there with you?”
I rolled my eyes, snorting under my breath. “A girl? Seriously? There’s a lot of things to worry about where I’m concerned, but girls? Not one of them.”
Mom flinched. “You know…you can, um, date, right? I know I was strict when you were younger, but, well, you’re officially an adult.”
I chuckled, lacing my voice with sarcasm. “Gee, thanks for the permission.”
She sighed with a smile, knowing my sarcasm was for all the things I did without her permission, but she loved me anyway. The long weekend camping trips alone. The reckless riding I indulged in more and more with Forrest wearing no saddle, bridle, or gear whatsoever.
I’d developed a taste for adrenaline, and she didn’t like me searching for it by soaring over fences and dangerous obstacles.
Her nose wrinkled a little as if nervous to broach the next subject. “You know…if you had a boy in there, I wouldn’t mind.”
My eyes flew wide. “A boy?”
You know?” She coughed delicately. “If you’re more interested in them than—”
“Whoa, Mom.” I held up my hand, keeping my room obstructed. “I’m not gay.”
“Ugh, I know that.” She looked at the ceiling as if asking Dad for strength. “And really, you’re still too young for that sort of thing. I just…I just want you to know…I’m open to you having a girlfriend, boyfriend. Hell, even a friend at this point. You should really make more of an effort. You’re going to be working a lot on your own from now on. It’s important you have people your age to hang out with when you want to see a movie or party or whatever.”