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“Is that so?” My voice is wispy, and I stare ahead at Gilbert Trading Post we’re encroaching on at a pace that feels inch-by-inch, but also like a freefall on a roller coaster. I take a deep breath and steel myself. “You know what, Eddie, no. It’s time to go home. I’ve got a product to launch in a few weeks that’s been my dream for a couple of years now. I’ve lived it. Breathed it. It’s my baby, and this...” I wave my hand around in the air. “All this is just... a distraction,” I finish as Emma comes riding over.
I give her a curious look but then remember that Bruce offered to drive the wagon this morning, citing his hip was feeling it after so many days. I, for one, wasn’t so sure he had sobered up completely from last night.
“Hey y’all!” Emma’s voice is as chirpy as always.
I wave.
Eddie glances at her and back at me. “Hey, Emma. Maybe you can talk some sense into this one, because it seemsthe porch light’s on, but there ain’t no one home.”
As he rides away, I furrow my brows, because that one makes absolutely no sense. I think he just said I’m crazy, but that’s nonsense. I’m getting back in my right mind for the first time in a few days. This was fun, but I need to focus on my goals and remember what I want out of life.
Jasper groans, almost as if he’s put out with my thought process, but he’s wrong. I have a full life back home.
Emma runs her horse in a circle and comes up alongside us, slowing to a canter, and watches as Eddie catches up to Calvin ahead of us. Luca rode over a few minutes ago to check in with Wyatt and I catch him returning as I glance over at Emma.
She asks, “How’s the week been for you, Jack?”
“Good,” I answer on autopilot. “I think I actually disconnected from work.” I bite my lip, adding to myself,perhaps a little too much.
“That’s honestly what we like to hear at the end of retreats. Some of the others have said the same thing. Fresh air does wonders for the soul, and most people go back to the office refreshed and with a new outlook on the job.”
Hoofbeats announce Luca’s arrival, and a dust cloud billows up around us as he slows Lucy until we’re cantering along in a line of three, plus Frankie, who trots along on the other side of Luca.
“Almost there,” Luca says and looks off to the west, where there’s a dark thunderhead gathering. “And just in time, it seems.”
“It’ll be a quick passing storm,” says Emma. “We should be able to get the team loaded into the airport van before the rain comes, and we’ll wait it out inside.”
They’re winding down on the trip and talking about the weather as if I’m not right here between them, so I stay quiet. But the incoming storm feels like a nail in a coffin, pounded in by some thunder god’s hammer.
Luca continues, “I’d like to get the horses trailered up before, if possible. We’re making good enough time that it should be possible.” He looks across me, only making the briefest of eye-contact. “Can you let all the riders know to meet me to the right of the post ASAP? Wyatt will take care of the trade, and I’ll load up.”
“Of course,” Emma says. “Although, Jack?”
I glance over. “Yeah?”
“With the rush to get onto the trail, I totally spaced calling the transport company to have them pick up the rest of your things from the ranch house. But don’t worry; we’ll ship it to your address in San Francisco first thing on Monday morning.” She reaches over and squeezes my forearm. “I’ve gotta say, this trip has been one in a million. Really. If I don’t see you, I hope you stay in touch. Maybe come back for another retreat someday.”
Emma smiles at Luca, gathers the reins, and kicks her horse into a gallop. She only slows when she reaches Eddie and Calvin up ahead. She points and gives her instruction and turns back. Meanwhile, Luca and I ride along for a minute, watching the storm roll in as Emma goes back to speak with the other riders on the LivFit team.
While I sit there, my hands start to shake and my heart begins racing. I’m working up the words to say my goodbyes, but they just don’t want to squeeze past the knot in my throat.
“Ya know,” Luca begins before I can find my voice. He reaches for me and takes my hand in his, and I trail my eyes from our connected hands up to his sincere, dark brown eyes. He seems a little nervous when he continues. “You could... ah... change your flight. Ride back to the ranch with me in the truck. Wyatt and Emma have to wrap up the business here and will meet us back there late this evening. I’ll make sure you get to the airport first thing in the morning, so you’ll only miss an hour or two of work.”
I stop breathing. Yeah, that’s exactly what I want. Maybe I need one more night with Luca. When I finally take another breath, a smile pulls at the corners of my mouth. Something warm fills my chest. He wants me to stay; wants a little more time. Against all the “go home” talk I’d been giving myself, I say, “I’d like that.”
Luca
Jack’s hair whips in thewind as the warm air, scented with the coming storm, comes in through the open windows of my truck. I fold up the middle console, grab onto Jack’s left leg, and pull her closer. I want her sitting right next to me. She rests her palm on my upper thigh, and I’m convinced that this woman doesn’t belong in Corporate America. No, I’m certain this is the exact place I should be and that she’s always been destined to ride at my side in this truck. She fits so perfectly in the crook of my arm, like a key in the right lock.
The lights of San Francisco. The breeze off the ocean. The sounds of traffic and horns. All of it seems like a lifetime ago to me, but I wonder if I can convince her that the desert air is so much better for the soul. All I see is the expanse of New Mexico’s rolling hills and the smell of vanilla that come off of Jack. Thunder rolls.
“Can you hold the wheel?”
When she wraps her small fingers around the leather steering wheel, I release my grip and roll up the windows until there’s only a slight breeze coming through the cracks. I’m convinced that this is where I’m—no,we—are supposed to be. However, we also don’t want to get drenched in the downpour.
She reaches for the radio. There’s not many tunes out here except country music, so after a few button presses, “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line comes on. It sounds a lot like a theme song. I wish the storm would stay away so we could keep the windows down and the wind blowing around us, but the first few droplets of rain splat into the windshield.
“Turn it up,” I say and sing along.
