Nobody's Dream (60 page)

“Thank you for being here, Lucas.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’ll always be here for you, baby girl. Any time you want to talk, I’ll listen.”

Don’t ask for the details.

“Just hold me.”

Luke lost track of how much time passed, but he could stay like this forever. She felt so right in his arms. At some point, she sniffled and pulled away, surprising him with the radiant smile on her face.

“I am famished. We can eat, return the rental car, and I can ride back to the ranch with you. I just need to let Kitty know of my change in plans.”

“Sounds good to me.”

She didn’t start talking about her session until a few hours later, after they had driven through the Eisenhower Tunnel. “I was able to rewrite the script of what had happened in the Lima bar.”

“What do you mean?”

“Abigail had me visualize what happened, only I was able to stay outside my body, well, the body of Casandra, my younger self.” When she choked up, he reached across the bench seat and squeezed her arm. She cleared her throat. “I was able to change the scenario and outcome—and kick some ass in the process.”

“Good girl.”

She definitely had come out of the session less stressed. He’d never seen her smile so much, but every time he glanced over at her, she seemed to be smiling.

They pulled into his lane and parked between the house and barn. “Why don’t you take it easy? I’ll check in with Matt and see how the horses and alpacas are doing.”

After getting the rundown on how things had gone, he walked Matt to his Sierra.

“Luke, whenever you need me, just call. It’s like a vacation when I come out here. Sometimes I need to get away from it all, especially after fighting all these wildfires.”

“I appreciate the help.”

“You’ve convinced me I need to find a place like this for myself, only closer to the station in Leadville.”

“Do it. I wish I hadn’t spent so many years cooped up in a condo in Denver. Buying this place last year was the best move I ever made.”

Luke said goodbye and watched the truck stir up a cloud of dust on the way to the highway. He glanced toward the house. The light was on in his bedroom.
Her
bedroom. Even if she wanted to be alone tonight, he’d sleep on the couch in case she had anything come up after her session today.

Restless and at loose ends, he went inside the barn again. In the tack room, he unbuckled his case and pulled out the acoustic guitar. Playing it helped him process things sometimes. O’Keeffe seemed to enjoy hearing him sing, so he carried it out to the corral. She whinnied when she saw him, but kept her distance.

He sat on the hay feeder and began tuning up the instrument. He hadn’t played in weeks. The song going through his head had become O’Keeffe’s theme song, but it sure applied to Cassie, too. The opening strains sucked him in the way the song always did, but now he pictured his reluctant bride’s face before his eyes. He hoped they could continue to build their relationship on a rock-solid foundation. They’d made a lot of progress today, for sure.

“‘I rescued you, you rescued me.’”

“So true.”

At the sound of Cassie’s voice, he stood and turned to face her. Her gaze was on O’Keeffe, but did she realize the words related to their relationship, too?

She smiled and met his gaze. “I missed my sessions with O’Keeffe and thought I would come out to check on her. You are a musician, too.”

“Well, that’s a strong word. I’d say I’m more of a picker.”

“I loved the deep tone in your voice. It resonated through me as if you had touched me.” As if she hadn’t meant to reveal that, she glanced down at the ground. “You should sing often. I can see why O’Keeffe enjoys it. She says that is her favorite song.”

“I’ve only sung a few to her, but that one’s been our theme song.”

“Understandable. The lyrics are perfect.” She met his gaze once more. “I can see us in the words, as well.”

“You do?”

“I do.” She giggled. Sweetest sound ever. “No pun intended.” The smile faded from her face and she nibbled one side of her lower lip. “Lucas, may I ask a favor?”

“Always.”

“Would you stay in the house again tonight, like you did when I had my nightmare last week?”

“I’d already planned to sleep on the couch. Was worried today might have stirred up some things for you.”

She nodded and smiled tentatively. “Honestly, I feel less burdened than I have in a long time, but I do not know what will happen when my subconscious takes over. I hope I will be fine, but I just need the assurance you will be there to awaken me if there is a recurrence of the dreams and night terrors.”

“I’ll be right there in the next room, Sweet Pea.”

“Thank you, Lucas. Not only for tonight, but for being there for me today.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

W
hy was Lucas being such an ass this morning? The past three days had been wonderful. They had enjoyed each other’s company and worked so well with O’Keeffe and the other horses. She had been blessed with three days of no nightmares and had kept so busy she barely thought about the past. Lucas had returned to sleeping in the studio last night when it seemed clear she was not going to have aftereffects of the relaxation session with Abigail.

Then at breakfast this morning, he had raised his voice for some small thing she could not even remember, then announced he needed to blow off some steam. He had been chopping away at the woodpile for nearly an hour.

The man could supply half of Colorado in firewood for the winter.

He had never raised his voice to her or shown he was annoyed with her in any way before today. Was he growing tired of her being here?

While washing the breakfast dishes, she made a mental note to check for nearby rental places. She did not want to move too far away, but might have to. She wished she could afford a log-cabin kit and a small piece of land in the mountains, but that would be impossible. She had to find studio space at a minimum, even if that meant sleeping on a cot. She needed nothing more to pursue her career. Unfortunately, studios probably weren’t high on most clients’ lists of must-have features in rental homes.

Cassie did not want to think about parting with her alpacas either, although she knew Lucas would give them a home if she could not.

Restless and having nothing else she needed to do inside, she hung up the dishtowel and decided to take her morning walk early. Lucas probably would not want to join her today anyway, but she loved exploring his place with or without him. Walking gave her time to process things, too. Today she had a lot to process. Grabbing her poncho in case of rain and her camera, she only made it as far as the front porch when she saw a Jeep driving at a fast pace up the lane. Luke hadn’t mentioned expecting visitors.

Oh, wait! Luke said his mother was due sometime this month. Could this be her?

She started to turn around and go back inside—mainly so she would not intrude or have to explain her presence—but the vehicle had already driven too close for her to do so without being seen. Inside was an older couple, not just a woman. They were the spitting image of the couple in the photo frame on his mantle. He had not mentioned that his father would be coming as well.

Could this be the reason for the sudden change in Lucas’s demeanor this morning?

Had he told them about her? If so, what had he said? If not, Cassie might be a bit of a surprise for them, especially if they jumped to the wrong conclusions about why she was living here with their son. Judging by the puzzled expression on the woman’s face as the Jeep pulled to a stop near the porch, clearly they were not expecting Cassie to greet them.

Lucas continued to split wood, so he had not heard them approach.
Great. How do I handle this?
Well, it’s not as though Cassie had anything to be ashamed of being here alone with Lucas.

Hold your head high.

Cassie plastered a smile on her face and walked down the steps and toward them as the couple exited the vehicle.

“We’re looking for the Denton place.”

“This is it.” Cassie gave her name and then felt compelled to explain the situation before they jumped to the wrong conclusion. “I am an artist friend of Lucas’s. My cabin and studio burned to the ground last month, and he’s been nice enough to give me a place to stay until I can find a new home.”

The wariness on the woman’s face faded, and she smiled, extending her hand. “I guess Luke told you to expect us.”

Well, more or less.

Cassie cast a glance at Lucas’s father, but he didn’t seem as warm as his wife, and Cassie decided to let him make the first move.

“I’m Penny Denton, and this is my husband, Bill.” The man had come around the front of the Jeep by now and extended his hand to her. His grip was firm and confident. She pulled her hand away sooner than he probably would have wanted to stop pumping hers.

“Pleased to meet you, Cassie.” His accent was not as strong a drawl as Lucas’s. Actually, neither of them had much of an accent, which made her wonder where they were from originally.

“Lucas is out back splitting wood. Would you like something to drink or help bringing in your things?”

She realized she had to be sleeping where he intended for them to stay—his bedroom. Was that why he blew up at her this morning? He was too nice to kick her out, so he hoped to drive her away instead.

“Just give me a little time to clear my things out of his bedroom.” Oh, that didn’t sound good. “He has been sleeping in his workshop since I arrived.”
Mostly.
Did her explanation sound as if she was making excuses to cover something up? Oh, what did it matter?
She
knew nothing inappropriate had happened with Lucas. If his parents did not believe her, that was their problem, not hers.

Penny cast a worried glance toward her husband and then returned her gaze to Cassie. “Having us both under foot here might be too disruptive. We had no idea he had company already.”

Lucas spoke about his mother fondly, but had made no mention of his dad that Cassie could recall. Did he not get along with his father?

If Cassie had anywhere else to go, she would pack and leave today. Feeling like a fifth wheel and wanting to escape, Cassie started toward them. “Let me take you to him, Mr. and Mrs. Denton.” Once she delivered them into his hands, she planned to go on that long walk. Her mind was jumbled up with too many problems right now. She needed time. Quiet time. Perhaps even meditation time.

“Momma, you made it!” A bare-chested Luke dropped the ax and crossed the yard. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m hot and sweaty.” He grew more serious when he turned to face his father. “Dad, you’re looking well. Glad you could make the trip, too.”

Indeed, he was. Sweat glistened off his chest, rolling down in rivulets between his pecs. Cassie realized she was staring and turned away. Whatever possessed him to chop so much wood on a hot July day?

“Get over here and give me a hug, Luke. I don’t mind a little sweat on a hardworking man.” Cassie glanced back at him as Lucas wrapped his arms around his mother.

“Great to have you here, Momma.” His words were heartfelt, and he wrapped his strong arms around her. She stood nearly a foot shorter than Lucas.

After a moment, Lucas released her and turned to his dad. Cassie noted less enthusiasm when it came to his father—Bill, right? They merely shook hands. “How’ve you been, Dad?”

“Can’t complain, although this retirement shit is for the birds.” Bill turned to Cassie. “Pardon me, ma’am.”

Cassie smiled. “You are fine.”

“Bill’s been driving me a little crazy, too. Be sure to put us to work while we’re here.”

“I can always use an extra pairs of hands, but before I do that, why don’t I help you get your things inside…” His voice trailed off, and he glanced at Cassie.

“Don’t move a thing,” his mom said. “We aren’t staying.”

Rather than seeming relieved that the house wouldn’t be overcrowded with two more guests, Lucas glanced first at his dad and then his mom.

His mother stared down at the ground. “We checked into the hotel near the frontier museum this morning.” The gazes of mother and son met, and a silent message passed between them. “I think it will make for a better visit all around.”