Wilde Horses. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ finally over. Josie’s at peace, but oh, it hurts. When can you come?”

      Blake dropped onto the lawn chair he’d left by the pasture fence and tilted his head back to stare up at the empty sky. “Tell me what happened.”

      “Her heart just quit. I found her this morning when I woke up. After that last seizure, the doctors said it wouldn’t be much longer.”

      He pinched the bridge of his nose and swallowed. “Do they have to do an autopsy?” His voice broke. “Or can you plan the service?”

      “The coroner told me I can go ahead and make arrangements now. Everyone knows what killed my sister.” Anger filled Pris’s voice. “Who killed her.”

      Ice water streamed through his veins, and he let out a shaky breath. “I’ll be there, of course. Just tell me when.”

      “I was hoping you could come now and stay a while.”

      Tears slid down his cheeks, and he didn’t bother to wipe them away. “I’m in the middle of filming. I’m afraid it’ll have to be a short trip.”

      “Oh.” Pris’s voice was flat.

      He didn’t know what to say. There was nothing he could say.

      “I need a few days to pull everything together. I was thinking Tuesday, midday, just a simple graveside service. I can’t handle anything more than that.”

      “That’ll be fine, Pris. Just send all the bills to me.” He couldn’t talk anymore. Couldn’t think about Josie in terms of burial arrangements. Bile rose in his throat, and for a moment he was afraid he’d puke. Sweat broke out above his lip, and he breathed heavily through his nose.

      “I guess I’ll see you then.”

      “Yeah.” He forced himself to speak again. “Take care of yourself.”

      “I will. I’ve got no one else to care for, not now.” She dissolved into sobs as the connection broke.

      Blake rested the cell on his thigh and closed his eyes. Josie had been gone for over a decade, ever since the accident that had taken her mind if not her body, kept alive by machines. In his heart, he knew her death was a blessing, a freeing of a spirit trapped by corporeal bonds. But the pain of losing her slashed him to the core all over again to leave him raw and aching.

      “Blake?”

      Blinking back tears, he opened his eyes. Eden stood several yards away. Discomfort shifted across her face, but she took a couple of steps closer.

      “Are you sick? You don’t look so good.”

      “I’m fine.” A complete lie, but what the hell was he supposed to say?

      “I came to tell you I’ll be working with Apollo today if you’re still up for our bet, but maybe now isn’t a good time. You look like death warmed over.” She crossed her arms below her breasts. “From the noise level over here last night, I’d say there was quite a party going on.”

      “I’m not hungover, if that’s what you’re implying. I don’t drink.” His temples throbbed. Just thinking was an effort. He didn’t have a scene scheduled until late this morning, and what the hell was he supposed to do with himself until then? Brood about how he should have been driving when the pickup hit them head on. Then he’d be the one to be buried on Tuesday instead of Josie. Might as well ride the damn horse and let it kick his ass. Focusing on physical pain would be a hell of a lot easier than the current dull ache in his chest. He let out a shuddering breath. “Sure, I’ll ride Apollo.”

      Her gaze held steady for a long moment. “Fine. Meet me in the corral in an hour, if that works for you.”

      He nodded. “I’ll be there.”

      The blue eyes regarding him darkened. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

      “I’ve been better, but I can still ride that horse.”

      She opened her mouth then shut it and shrugged. “See you in an hour.” Turning on her booted heel, she walked away.

      His eyes smarted again. Eden’s slim figure and confident stride reminded him of Josie. Eighteen and brimming with enthusiasm the summer after high school graduation, she had plans to go back east to college. He’d been home from UCLA, and they’d picked up their relationship right where they’d left off. The party up in the hills behind Blue Valley had been just like old times. Since he’d been drinking, Josie had insisted on driving home.

      He closed his eyes to ward off the memory of those bright headlights aimed straight toward them. The oncoming pickup had swerved to avoid a deer. The doe had survived. Josie hadn’t, even though it had taken twelve long years for her heart to stop beating. The doctors said she was braindead, but her determined spirit wouldn’t let go…

      He jackknifed up out of the chair, sending it clattering to the ground. He’d go force down some food then ride that wild stallion. Anything to keep from dwelling on the past. All he could do now was focus on the future.

      With no desire for company, he took a plate of pancakes back to his bus then sat at the table by the window overlooking the mountains and ate slowly while he checked flight schedules. The nearest airport to the ranch was in Cody. He’d fly into Boise, a two-hour drive from his childhood home in Blue Valley.

      He stared at his phone and frowned. “Two plane changes? Are you freaking kidding me? I could drive to Eastern Oregon faster.” He stabbed another chunk of pancake then chewed while he considered his options.

      The studio’s jet was his best bet if he didn’t want to spend two full days traveling, not to mention John would have a fit if he was gone for longer than overnight and dared to upset the shooting schedule. Dropping his fork, Blake reached for his cell to send off a quick text to the producer. A minute later his phone rang. By the time he’d explained he had a family emergency and needed the jet to fly to Boise, it was nearly time to meet Eden.

      At least he had his emotions under control again, along with his travel plans. He dumped the last of his breakfast in the trash then left the bus. Over in the corral, Eden had placed a saddle and bridle on the big Appaloosa. With a lead rope attached, she walked the horse in slow circles. Every now and then, the low drone of her voice carried to him on the breeze. Apparently she was doing her best to calm the beast.

      “He looks as docile as the old pony I had as a kid,” he called out as he approached.

      Eden glanced over and smiled when he stopped beside her pair of border collies and rested his forearms on the fence rail. “Keep telling yourself that.”

      Blake studied the stallion for a long moment. Was there a nefarious gleam in the horse’s eyes as the animal returned his stare, or was it just his imagination? “Maybe I should have stuffed a pillow in my jeans to make the landing a little softer.”

      Her rich laugh filled some of the empty space in his chest. “That, I would like to see. It would have made a great companion photo to the one of you mucking out stalls in the barn.”

      “Don’t count your chickens yet, smarty. I might just be a better rider than you think.”

      She led the horse toward the fence, and it shied away with a СКАЧАТЬ