Montana Wild (15 page)

“I thought you might need this.” He handed her the mug of hot brew.

“You thought right. Thanks.”

“How’s the eye?” His eyes surveyed the damage.

“Not too bad. It looks worse than it feels. How does it look?”

“Well, no one’s gonna mess with you today, that’s for sure. Take advantage of it. You don’t have to work in the barn today if you don’t want to.”

“I know, but I want to. I need to soak up as much of this as I can while I’m here. See you later.”

Jamie worked diligently for two hours then took her breakfast break. She entered the mess hall and Consuelo immediately came over to her.

“Jamie! What happened?” Consuelo put her fingers up tenderly to Jamie’s bruised eye.

“Oh, it’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“Did somebody hit you?” Consuelo whispered into her ear. “Did one of my boys do this?”

“Oh no! Actually, it was a woman.” Consuelo’s eyes widened as she put her hand over her mouth.

“Don’t worry. She won’t try it again, if you know what I mean.” She winked at Consuelo who smiled back and put her arm around Jamie.

“Come eat some breakfast. Eat good today. You need to heal.” Her concern and soft touch reminded Jamie of her aunt and endeared her all the more to Jamie, if that was even possible.

As she sat down to eat, she had to endure some jokes and remarks from the guys, but it was all in good fun and made Jamie laugh. She ate a big breakfast as instructed by Consuelo and sat finishing the last of her tea as she watched Consuelo arrange a tray of food and head out the door. Jamie put two and two together and jumped up to catch her.

“Consuelo!” Jamie called as she exited the mess hall, causing her to stop and turn around.

“Is that for Lola?” Jamie asked.

“
Sí.”

“Can I take it to her?”

Consuelo looked at her suspiciously. “Do you want another black eye from another woman?”

“No. Please let me.” Jamie reached for the tray. Looking at her hesitantly, she handed the tray over to Jamie.

“She’s usually upstairs,” Consuelo informed her as she turned to go.

Chapter 18

Jamie entered Kevin’s home and closed the door behind her.

“Lola?” No answer. Jamie walked toward the stairs. “Lola?” she called again, a little louder as she started up, her boots loud on the oak stairs. “Hello?” The bedroom door was closed. Jamie knocked.

“Come in,” came the curt response. Jamie opened the oversized solid wood door, entering the vaulted ceiling master bedroom. Even though the whole ranch had been active since sunrise, Lola was still in the king sized log bed, propped against layers of pillows, reading magazines. Once she realized it was not Consuelo she asked sharply, “Who are you?” and motioned for the tray to be set on the table next to the bed.

“I’m Jamie. I saw you at the bar last night.”

“You did?” She looked at Jamie closer. “Oh, you’re Cher!” She laughed. “What happened to your eye?”

“I bumped into something in the bathroom.”

“You got guts girl, going on stage dressed like that. I could never have done that.”

“I was helping out a friend.”

“Still, I could’ve never humiliated myself like that!” Lola reaffirmed her view. “Never.”

“My friend’s need outweighed my pride at the moment.”

“I guess so.” Lola rolled her eyes.

Jamie had her chance. “Pride can work for you or against you, if you know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t know what you mean.” She eyed Jamie.

“Well, pride can be a good thing.” Jamie sat at the foot of the bed facing Lola. “For instance, one can be proud that they were in the Armed Services or for completing a difficult task. But pride can be a negative thing too, especially if it prevents you from doing something you know you need to do.”

“Such as?”

Jamie thought. “For example, let’s say you’re out of work and need to feed your family but your pride prevents you from taking an honest job you consider beneath you, like a trash collector or janitor.”

“Oh, I see. Pride can prevent you from doing something you need to do, but may feel uncomfortable doing.”

“Exactly.” Jamie agreed and then paused to let that thought sink in. After a minute she pushed on. “You must get kind of lonely in this big house. I would. I know that hanging around this ranch with all these men, I miss having a girlfriend around. You know, someone to talk to, someone to confide in or get advice when you’re in a bind and don’t know what to do. Sometimes you just need a woman to talk to, a woman’s view. Men just don’t get it, at least that’s my thinking.”

“Yeah, you got that right. Men don’t like talking when you’ve got troubles. Only a girlfriend will do.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Lola bit her lip and looked down at the extravagant ring on her finger that she twisted around and around.

“Is there any way I can help you?” Jamie asked. Stiffening her posture, Lola’s guard went up and her eyes pierced Jamie.

“With what?” she asked icily.

“Can I be honest with you?” Jamie tried again.

Lola’s facial muscles relaxed and her eyes softened. “Okay.”

“Everyone at the ranch knows you’re holed up here in this house. You can’t stay forever and I bet you want out ASAP. Am I right?”

Lola looked at Jamie with big eyes, but remained silent.

“Lola, you’re a beautiful woman. You deserve better than this. Don’t waste any more of your time on a man that is not totally devoted to you. Walk out with your head high. Go out on your own terms.” Jamie tried to get her spirit up.

“But how do I do that?” Lola finally opened up.

“Pack your bags, call your chauffeur. Tell Kevin you won’t put up with his shit anymore and you’re out of here. Tell him it’s over and never to call you again.”

Jamie got a mischievous idea and laughed to herself. “If it makes you feel good, slap his face on the way out. No one on the outside knows what went on between you two. They only will know what they see. Ride off into the sunset with Kevin eating your dust. You have better things to do with your life than be stuck here in the wilderness.”

Lola’s eyes brightened as if seeing the light, and her way out. She got on the phone and made arrangements for her chauffeur as Jamie got up to leave.

“Thank you, Jamie. You gave me the kick in the ass that I needed. Now I’ve got to pack.” Lola’s eyes sparkled with a renewed spirit. Jamie left Lola to finish her business and exited the house.

Kevin walked across the yard and saw Consuelo standing outside the mess hall with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong, Consuelo?” Kevin asked.

“I don’t know if I did the right thing.”

“What did you do?” He looked in the direction that Consuelo was looking, toward his house.

“I let Jamie take Lola’s tray up to her.”

“What?” Kevin almost shouted and looked toward the house again. Both Kevin and Consuelo stood staring at the house. Finally Jamie walked out with a smile on her face, glanced at both of them standing there with obvious question marks on their faces, walked past them and toward the barn.

“Well, she doesn’t have another black eye so I guess everything went okay,” he told Consuelo, but Kevin did not convince himself. But no way was he going to enter his house after Jamie left it.
We’ll have to wait and see,
he told himself and went back to work.

After returning to the barn, Jamie finished her morning chores, feeling content that she had helped Lola. She wanted Lola to leave for selfish reasons but she also wanted her to leave for her own benefit. Even though they were quite different personalities, they were both women and Jamie could feel her pain even though she knew Lola didn’t love Kevin. Rejection was never easy and having an audience to witness it could be humiliating and in Lola’s case, paralyzing.

Lunchtime arrived and as Jamie was in route to the mess hall, she saw a limousine in front of Kevin’s house. Lola exited Kevin’s house, dressed glamorously like only Lola could. She paused on the steps, looked over at Jamie and smiled. Jamie was not quite sure why, but she walked over to Lola and hugged her.

“Good luck, Lola.”

Lola hugged her back and whispered in her ear, “I see why he loves you.” As quickly as she said it, she pulled away, put her game face on and strode assertively toward Kevin who was now approaching. He looked at the two women embracing with a look of confusion. A few of the guys exited the mess hall and watched the show. This was Lola’s moment.

“Kevin,” she spoke loudly for her audience. “I’m leaving. I can’t take any more of this. I deserve better. Don’t call me ever again!” With that she marched over to Kevin, slapped his face hard, pivoted quickly, and climbed into the limo. The chauffeur closed the door behind Lola, slipped into the driver’s seat, and sped off quickly, leaving Kevin with his mouth open in a cloud of dust.

Jamie could barely conceal her laughter. Kevin looked at her in disbelief, his mouth open but speechless, then broke into a big smile. Jamie turned to the mess hall and Kevin could finally return to his home.

His nightmare was over. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d deserved the slap in the face, but it was a small price to pay for getting his home and his life back. Not sure how she did it but somehow, Jamie had played an active part in ending the Lola fiasco. A sense of total relief came over him.

Kevin had fallen behind in his music because he couldn’t get to his piano and he had deadlines looming so he needed to make up for the lost days. Top priority however was spending time with Jamie. This morning she had mentioned that her days here were coming to an end so he had to work fast. Thoughts of Jamie monopolized his mind and his heart and he wanted to share his feelings with her. Sitting at his piano, words of love, desire, and commitment flowed from him and his pen could not keep up with his heart. But fears of rejection and unrequited love also surfaced. What if she didn’t feel the same? How could the thought of unreciprocated love strike deeper fear in a man’s heart than a charging grizzly?

Since she loved riding so much he wanted to take her out on some of his favorite trails. She’d agreed to a ride this afternoon and he was counting the minutes. Since his work at the piano now involved lyrics of personal love, his songwriting took on new life.

Jamie met Kevin in the barn at four and the two saddled up Jack for Kevin and one of the other horses for Jamie. He was unaware that Jamie had ridden Jack on her own; he still thought Jack unsafe for most riders. Kevin led the way and they rode for about an hour, talking here and there but mostly enjoying the scenery and the serenity. It was a beautiful trail winding through woods of tall scented pines that crossed a couple of small streams. Finally they came to a clearing near a stream and Kevin stopped the horses. He pulled saddlebags from Jack and spread a small blanket on the ground that was cushioned with pine needles. From the leather bags, he retrieved a small feast of cheese, smoked sausage, crackers, fruit, wine, and a couple of glasses.

“Wow, I’m impressed.” She helped set up the food as he poured the wine and handed Jamie a glass, offering a toast.

“Back to the simple life with no further complications.”

“I’ll drink to that!” She laughed as they clinked glasses. They sat on the blanket eating, drinking, and talking about life. This was one of the things she’d enjoyed most with Kevin. They could talk at length about any and everything. Finished eating, she set aside her plate and stretched out on the blanket looking up at the sapphire sky. The soft babbling of water working its way through the rocky terrain provided background music and waves of tender breezes caressed her skin. Kevin lay on his side, his head propped up with his hand, elbow on the ground.

“Thank you for helping with Lola. I don’t know what you said or how you convinced her but whatever you did, it worked. Thank you very, very much.”

“You’re welcome. She just needed an out and to exit with dignity.”

“Whatever it was, it worked.” Kevin looked serious for a moment. “I don’t know what I did to deserve the slap though.”

Jamie could not contain her laughter.

“What? What’s so funny?” he asked, missing the joke, and sat up.

“Nothing.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him.

“It doesn’t sound like nothing. Tell me.”

“No.”

“Tell me.” He grasped her ankle gently.

“You’re not going to like it.” Her laughter slowed.

“Tell me anyways.”

“It was my idea,” Jamie admitted.

“What was your idea?”  

Jamie hesitated and stopped laughing; she didn’t know if Kevin would get angry. “The slap.” Kevin’s look of total dismay set her laughing again.

“You told her to slap me?” he asked in disbelief, his eyes opening wide.

“No I didn’t tell her to, but I may have suggested that it would make a dramatic exit.” She burst into laughter again.

Kevin stared at her in utter surprise, and then joined her infectious laughter.

Half an hour later, the sunlight waned and Kevin said, “I don’t want to but we need to get back before it gets dark.” Mounting the horses, Kevin asked if she wanted to run them for a short spurt on the way home.

“Absolutely!”

Kevin gave the command and they ran the horses. This was her favorite part, but it did not have the same feel on this horse as it did with Jack. Reaching the ranch, they led the horses into the barn, removed their saddles, and brushed them.

“Can I talk you into a nightcap?”

“I suppose if you twist my arm,” she joked, and Kevin gently grabbed her arm and began twisting it.

“Okay. Uncle, uncle!”

Holding onto her arm he led her toward his place. Opening the door he followed her in. Kevin retrieved two brandy snifters from his bar and poured some liqueur into both of them. Jamie was eyeing his music collection as he approached and handed her a glass. He stood close to her, his shoulder touching hers as he reached out to select a CD.

“Here’s one you might like, since you like oldies.” He proceeded to put it on.

“Do you have any CDs of your piano music? I would love to take a copy back with me so I can listen to you at home.” At this remark Kevin got a somber look on his face.

“Oh, it’s okay. I forgot that your music is all original and you may not want to be giving out CDs. I understand. No problem.” She let him off the hook.

“That’s not it at all.” He paused. “I don’t want to think about you leaving,” Kevin answered seriously. There was another moment of silence, making Jamie uneasy.

“Come with me.” His face suddenly brightened and he gently took her hand and led her to the stairs to the second floor. “Close your eyes.”

“Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes,” Kevin instructed again, and this time she did so. Kevin started up the stairs; each had their drink in one hand while their other hand was joined together as he led her up the stairs. “One more step.” He warned her. “Okay, slowly now.” She heard a door open. “I am not trying to be fast but we are walking into my bedroom.” Kevin laughed.

“What?”

“But we’re just passing through.” She heard another door open and cool, pine-scented air kissed her senses. “Keep your eyes closed.”

Positioning her around to face his voice, he pushed her back gently till her legs felt something hard. “Okay, now sit down.” He held onto her arms as she sat into a firm chair. “Open your eyes and look up.” He released her from her blindness.

Following his instructions she was greeted with an explosion of shattered diamonds against the midnight blue backdrop. They were seated in a pair of Adirondack chairs on the balcony of his bedroom.