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He remembered the day they’d discussed dreams, and that had been one of his.
“Actually, I did ride a Harley for a while, but not here.”
“What did you do?”
“Do?”
“Between then and now?”
“I got into some trouble after you left, Bailey. Me and some others raised hell in this town until my aunt and the Robbins sisters stepped in and sent me away to this ranch in Texas. It changed my life. Had I stayed, I would have ended up in jail.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Drink, drugs, and stealing. Pretty much anything I could find. I roped a few others in with me. One of them was Jay Howard, which goes a long way into explaining his mother’s hatred of me.” He didn’t add that Bailey leaving him had pretty much been the final straw for Joe. Their father was taken away for possession and put inside, and they’d never seen him again. No loss, but still a change, and then Aunt Jess had arrived. Within six months of Bailey leaving, Joe’s life had turned on its head. He’d reacted with violence and a path to self-destruction.
She processed that silently for a while, trying to fill in the gaps as he did with her, about where they’d been and what had happened in their lives.
“I’m sorry things got bad for you, Joe.”
“In a way maybe I had to go bad, to turn out good... or at least better.”
He nudged his horse around the large stables and along another driveway through the trees, with Buzz ambling at their side. Occasionally something would catch his eye, and he’d race off, but he soon returned.
She touched his ring, one finger. “I remember you told me once that jewelry was for girls. Did someone give it to you?”
“I bought it actually.” He didn’t add that it was special to him because just looking at it had reminded him of her.
They climbed, and Bailey was soon pressed into his chest, and Joe tightened the arm around her waist, holding her still as she tried to put some distance between them.
“I’m glad your aunt and the others were there to help you.”
“Me too.”
“They’re nice, Miss Marla and Miss Sarah, and a little scary.”
“A lot scary. They just give me that look and I’m back in school.”
She snuffled. Not a laugh, but close.
“And that’s why you taste the tea, and do whatever they ask you?”
“I like the tea thing, because with it usually comes a scone with cream and jam, plus I’m competitive, and me beating them keeps them on their toes.”
“It’s nice that you care about them, Joe.”
“Who do you care about?”
“People. You don’t know them.”
He couldn’t see her face, so he had no clue if she was telling the truth.
“Don’t make the mistake of feeling sorry for me, Joe. I have everything I want in my life, and I don’t need that from you, or anyone. Just because I’m not talkative like I used to be, simply means I’ve grown up.”
“How do you know I’m feeling sorry for you?”
“A hunch.”
An accurate one actually, but it was more worry than pity.
