Page 21 of Drive Me Wilde

Rio came skipping across the yard, holding her oversized hat on her head and wearing a grin from ear to ear. Three years ago, I didn't know she existed, and now I can't imagine living without her.

"Talk to her," Zander says.

"So she likes to braid manes and tails," I say.

"Not Rio. I'm talking about Indi."

Rio reaches us right then. "Are you talking about Indi? I really like her. Uncle Zander, don't you think Mr. Lonely Hearts Club over here should ask her out? I think they'd be perfect together. She's so pretty too."

"Yeah, Mr. Lonely Hearts Club," Zander says. "Ask her out."

I'm shaking my head. It's his stupidest advice yet, and that's saying a lot considering at fifteen he talked me into jumping a dirt bike over a trailer filled with hay. I ended up with a broken collarbone and trashed dirt bike. Dad made me sit through dinner and breakfast the next day with the broken collarbone before he took me to urgent care. He said I deserved to suffer for being such an idiot.

"Fine, then let Zach move right in and you can watch from the sidelines again, and that anger can start brewing inside of ya and?—"

"And let's get that riding lesson going before Irish drops dead of boredom," I say briskly. The last thing I want is to discuss my pathetic pining for Indi Nash in front of Rio.

Zander picks up Rio and drops her onto the saddle. I adjust her stirrups. She's still fussing with her hat and hair. "Is that how people usually climb onto a horse?" Rio asks.

I raise a brow at Zander.

"No, I'm just saving time because last time I let you climb on from the mounting block you stopped to take selfies," Zander says. "Now, hold on there, cowgirl, this train is moving."

nine

. . .

Indi

El Honey's bedroom is just as I remembered. I feel as if I've stepped back in time, and not just back to my childhood but back to the early days of Rockhurst, when the town was loud and filled with the chaos brought about by gold fever. A walnut four-poster bed with a calico print canopy takes up most of the room. El Honey's granny square quilt, filled with every color in the rainbow, sits folded across the end of the bed. The colors are a little more faded now, and it's soft as silk as I smooth my hand over it. Kinsley's grandma, or Nana as she called her, collected porcelain kittens and angels. The shiny trinkets sit in a cluster on top of the antique dresser. A pair of pewter candlesticks rest on a delicate lace doily. There are two ivory tapers sitting on top, waiting for that storm outage that El Honey always worried about. She grew up east of the coast in a rural area that had no electricity or running water. She always liked to remind us how good we had it since we never had to trudge to the outhouse in the snow and rain.

Kinsley knocks lightly and pokes her head in. "Sorry it's so dated. Nev and I didn't have the heart to—well—you know—" She sniffles.

"Kiki, I'm so sorry I didn't make the funeral. You know I loved your grandmother. Everyone loved your grandmother."

She takes a deep breath to gather herself. A smile appears under the teary eyes. "Everyone was there, including Finn and all the boys." She lifts her eyes dreamily. "They all looked so gorgeous in their suits. And Zander, he was visibly shaken. It was so cute. I thought Nev might melt into a puddle when he came up to give her a hug."

"Poor Nev. I didn't realize she was so fond of him."

Kinsley nods. "I can put the porcelain collection into a box, so you have room on top of the dresser."

"No, don't touch a thing. I won't be here long. I've got to find a new job and restart my life."

Kinsley's green sundress swishes around her tanned legs as she spins around. "Then restart it here, in Rockhurst."

I'm shaking my head before she gets the last syllable out. "There's nothing for me here, Kiki."

She crosses her arms angrily. "Thanks a lot."

"You know what I mean. This town—as much as I love it—it makes me sad too. There's a lot of unpleasant baggage here."

"Says the girl who was head cheerleader, top of the class, girlfriend to the high school quarterback and who everyone referred to as the school jewel. Remember my nickname? Kooky Kiki, that's what everyone called me."

I walk over and give her a hug. "You're the one thing I miss about this place."

She sniffles again and we part. "Then stay. At least for a while. Did you get your bank stuff straightened out? I still can't believe that nightmare woman you worked for repossessed everything, even your purse."

"Well, the purse was just an innocent bystander. The bank is sending me new cards, so I'll be able to pay for things like anadult again. I'll have to go into the DMV to get a replacement driver's license, but since I have no car, it's not a hurry."

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