Magnetic (12 page)

“Whoa. If you’re gonna run like that, you need to pay closer attention.” Stacy stopped short of running into Stick, who stood in the middle of the trail. “These are
walking
trails.”

“Really,” Stacy said between quick breaths and rested her hands on her hips. “Les told me these trails were the perfect place to run, she does it herself.”

Stick’s gaze flittered over Stacy, revealing disapproval. “She does it at five a.m., not when people are taking their morning walks.” Stick folded her arms, flexing her muscles.

Stacy had grown quickly tired of Stick’s posturing and attitude. Her mood had already soured, and she was getting increasingly irritated that her exercise had been interrupted. “Are you telling me there’s a specific time to run? Because the brochure that extolled the virtues of the trails for runners didn’t mention anything of the sort, nor did Les.” Stacy straightened to her full height and took a step closer. “Frankly, I think you’re pulling this out of your—”

“Hey, babe,” Stick said brightly as she looked past Stacy.

Stacy turned and noticed Layne drawing closer.

“Enjoying your morning walk?” Stick asked, temporarily meeting Stacy’s gaze when Stacy turned back to look at her. “Better watch your step. You don’t want to be steamrolled by the likes of this one,” she said with a nod in Stacy’s direction.

“We’ve already run into each other, so to speak.” Layne smiled slightly and nodded at Stacy as she joined them.

“I’m sorry I missed you at breakfast, sweetie.”

Layne’s brow furrowed at the term of endearment. “That’s okay, Stick. I’m not a morning person.”

Stacy was compelled to resume her run and kick dirt on Stick’s boots as she passed, but it struck her odd that Layne stood very near to her.

Stick seemed to notice, too. She raised her elbow slightly. “Grab a hold and I’ll take you on that walk I promised.”

“Not this morning,” Layne said, actually bumping into Stacy. “Molly mentioned something about a ride today. I imagine they’re getting ready to go while it’s still cool.” She looked at Stacy. “I know you’re going to want to shower just so you can sweat again. We should probably hurry.”

“Well…great.” Stick dropped her arms at her sides. “I’ll go down to the stables. See you all soon.” Stacy watched the expression on Layne’s face when Stick kissed her on the cheek and ran a finger down Layne’s arm. “I’m really looking forward to taking you on a ride.”

Layne and Stacy stood motionless as Stick sauntered away with a grin. “You don’t like her,” Stacy said lowly as she watched Stick turn onto another trail.

Layne was frowning when Stacy looked at her. “I don’t want or need a lover right now,” she said as she began to walk.

“This way.” Stacy grabbed the sleeve of Layne’s shirt and steered her to the trail that led to their cabins. “What is it that you do need?”

“My life back,” Layne retorted hotly as she picked up her pace. “I need to be back at work where things make sense.”

“What doesn’t—”

“Ah!” Layne held up a hand. “I’m not discussing it. If you feel the need to chat while we walk, talk to me about the colors you’re always so interested in, birds, horse
farts
, or whatever.”

Stacy grinned, then pursed her lips when Layne glanced at her. “Would it be patronizing to say you’re adorable when you’re aggravated?”

“You have to ask?”

“So…colors. When I was a kid, I had every crayon color there was. When they got too small to use, I’d unwrap them and shave them down with my little sharpener. I had big piles in jars, and one day, my kindergarten teacher taught me the most wondrous thing.”

“You made new colors?”

Stacy smiled, noticing some of the ire had gone from Layne’s tone. “You could say that. She put shavings from our class on wax paper and covered them with another piece. With a house iron, she ran over the paper and melted the shavings. She added leaves and twigs, and the melting crayons added color. So I went home and did the same. I ruined the iron and the carpet in my bedroom. But when I look up at the sky here, especially around sunset, I’m reminded of that, and it makes me want to do it again.”

“Simple things excite you, don’t they?” Layne asked with a slight smile.

Stacy nodded. “Some of the simplest things in life are the most joyful.”

“Thanks for the company.” Layne put her hands on her hips and looked at her cabin. “And thanks for taking my mind off things.”

“Glad I could help.”

Layne clamped her lips together tightly. “I apologize for being a bitch.”

Stacy shook her head. “I never thought anything of the sort.” She took a step toward her own cabin. “I’ll see you on the ride.”

“I didn’t say I was riding. I said y’all were riding.” Layne was grinning impishly now.

Stacy waved a finger. “Oh, Stick is going to be upset with you.”

Layne held her arms up and shrugged.

********

“I’ll watch y’all ride.”

“We’re not going to stay in the corral. We’ll leave you behind,” Molly argued.

“You want me to avoid Stacy, but you want me to hang out with the group.” Layne looked at Jenny for help. “How am I going to do that? I already ran into her on the trail this morning when I tried to take a walk alone.”

“Well, you can’t hide in your cabin all the time. Even Ronnie will begin to suspect something’s off.” Jenny looked at Molly. “What do you want her to do?”

Molly stomped her foot. “This is fucked up!” Jenny and Layne exchanged glances when Molly dropped the F-bomb, something she rarely did. “I know this is hard, Layne. I’m sorry. I want us all to spend time together…I just want, want, want, and I know I’m not being fair.” Molly looked at Layne miserably. “We used to have some wonderful times together, and when I was sick, I’d think back on the things we did, like the time we rented those snowmobiles in Colorado. I’m not trying to play the guilt card or be manipulative, but I never thought we’d do anything like that again.”

“But we will,” Jenny said gently. “The important part to remember is we are
all
here and we’re together. We have a few bumps to get over.” She took Molly’s hand and kissed it with a smile. “We’ve gotten through much worse, haven’t we?”

“I’m sorry, Layne. I haven’t been fair to you,” Molly said, looking her way.

Layne put a hand on Molly’s shoulder. “I want to be with y’all too. I’ll go and ignore Stacy if I can follow in a golf cart.”

Chapter 12

Stick looked overjoyed as she selected the horses for the ride. “This handsome fella is Chopper. You won’t have to do anything but hold on to the reins, and he’ll follow my horse.”

“Hello, Chopper.” Layne looked up at the chestnut brown animal nervously.

“You can always ride with me.”

“I’ll be fine with Chopper here. He looks sweet.”

“Okay, just stand here and get acquainted while I get everyone else matched up. I’ll help you get on when we’re ready to go.”

Layne nodded and watched Stick walk away. She looked back at the horse. “Uh…listen, Chopper, you may’ve heard me say that I hate horses.” Layne smiled weakly. “That’s not true. I’m just kind of afraid of you. I read somewhere that you like carrots. If you don’t eat my face off or stomp me, I’ll hook you up, okay?”

“You’re insane.” Layne turned and looked at Ronnie as she walked up and petted Chopper. “Oh, you’re a fine fellow, aren’t you?” she said in a sweet voice, and the horse leaned his head against her. “We had horses when I was a kid.”

“I remember you saying that now. You want to put in a good word for me?”

Ronnie grinned and in the same sweet voice said, “You be nice to my friend. Not all of her ropes are on the dock as you can clearly see. You would never chew a face, would you? Maybe just a butt.”

“He’ll bite my butt?” Layne took a step back.

“No, maybe another horse’s, but not yours, unless you have a treat in your pocket. Come back here.” Ronnie took Layne’s hand in hers and stroked the side of Chopper’s face. “They spook easily because they don’t see the same way we do. He’s a sweet one, Layne. You won’t have any problems.”

“Thanks,” Layne said, liking the way the horse’s smooth coat felt beneath her hand.

“Are you okay?”

Layne looked at Ronnie. “Why would you ask?”

“Because you seem to be avoiding me.”

“I’m just in my own world right now.”

Ronnie studied Layne’s face for a moment. “Is it because I didn’t call or come to see you when things ended with you and Olivia? I feel really bad about that. I didn’t help you move or anything.”

“Baby, there was nothing to move except my clothes.” Layne looked past Ronnie to Stacy, who was petting her own horse and smiled. “I know you’ve had your hands full.”

Ronnie glanced at Stacy, then back at Layne. “What do you think of her?”

“She’s nice.”

“She is.” Ronnie smiled at Chopper as she stroked his mane. “Molly seems to think we’re serious.”

“Are you?”

“You know me, I get claustrophobic if they hang around for more than a day. I’m not like you. I’ve never been comfortable with settling down. I get bored too quickly.” Ronnie cast Layne a sideways glance. “But I’m getting older, and when I see the lines forming under my eyes, I wonder if I’ll regret that I didn’t learn to stick with one woman. I don’t want to be one of those old gals sitting alone at the end of the bar watching everyone else do what I used to.”

Layne swallowed hard as her heart went out to Ronnie. “We all change. You may find that you like being in a relationship. Find the right woman and you won’t feel so hemmed in.”

“Olivia was never right for you, you knew that. Why’d you stay so long?”

“Fear maybe.” Layne folded her arms. “I wasn’t happy, but it could’ve been worse with someone else. I thought she had all the things I wanted.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that Ms. Right might be a sanitation worker?” Ronnie asked with a grin.

Layne laughed. “You’ve made your point. I’ve been too busy looking down my nose that I wouldn’t have known a good woman if she slapped me in the face.” Layne sobered. “Olivia taught me the hard way it isn’t penthouses or expensive cars that can make me happy.”

Ronnie tilted her head toward Stacy. “She’s a bartender, has a degree in political science. Her family’s in politics, and she’s happiest serving booze.” Ronnie smiled. “I always thought if I ever did settle down, it would be with a professional or someone that owned her own business like me. Do you think less of her?”

“No,” Layne shook her head, “nor of you. If you’re happy, that’s all that’s important.”

“Therein lies the problem.” Ronnie shrugged. “I really don’t know.”

“Time to saddle up, ladies.” Stick walked over to them. “Layne, all you have to do is put your foot in the stirrup and throw your leg over his back. I’ll steady you.”

“Stick.” Ronnie laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’d like to help Layne up if you don’t mind. This is a first, and I’d like to be the one to make this memory with her.”

*******

“Okay, everybody, smile.” Stick snapped off a couple of pictures of the group on their horses and handed the camera back to Molly. “Keep that handy. You’ll see some pretty stuff out here.”

Stick had told the truth; Chopper moved behind Stick’s horse like he was on autopilot, and all Layne had to do was hold on. The others moved in behind her as they went at a lazy pace down the trails. Their first stop was on a hill overlooking a manmade pond where Stick pointed out an alligator that was barely poking its head out of the water. Next, they rode through a stand of trees that made a canopy over the trail. The branches were filled with white flowers.