Page 58 of Everything We Give

I tuck my purse under my arm. “Make that one day. I’m on a plane headed for Spain this afternoon. I’d like to have her info by the time I land.”

CHAPTER 17

IAN

“Sorry I’m late.” Reese drops a small backpack in the chair across from me and yawns, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m on deadline for another project and was up late writing.”

I glance at my watch. Ten minutes after eight. I’ve been up since four—thank you, jet lag—and chugging coffee in the dining room since six.

“Do you need to be back at a specific time? We can take separate cars.” Who knows how long it’ll take to find the herds. I’m limited on time and can’t extend my stay. I don’t want to cut off the search earlier than necessary.

She shakes her head. “I sent the draft to my editor this morning.”

That’s a relief. Standing, I polish off my coffee. There’s no guarantee we’ll see the herds today. We have to find them first and I’m anxious to get on the road. We could be traversing the hills past sunset.

I snap my fingers. Flashlights, we may need them.

Opening my bag, I double-check I packed them, which I did, along with extra batteries. Satisfied, I zip closed the pocket.

Reese points to the breakfast buffet. “Let me get some food to take with us.”

I shoulder my pack and check my messages. Still no word from Aimee. She hasn’t returned my calls either.

“Ian?”

I look up from my phone at Reese, a frown plastered on my forehead. “What?”

She quirks a brow. “What’s up with you? You look worried.”

“Nah, I’m good.” I put away my phone. “Ready?”

She shows me hermagdalena, a Spanish breakfast pastry, and apple. “Yep. Let’s go.”

“I’ll drive,” I say when we reach the parking lot. She turns a full circle, looking at the cars. “That one.” I aim the key fob at my rental, a compact sedan, and disarm the alarm. We settle into the car and I reverse out of the parking lot.

“About last night,” Reese begins after she clips on her seatbelt. “My comment about your wife looking like your mom, it was uncalled for.”

“Forget it.” I brush it off, wanting to focus on the assignment, not Sarah. Or my wife, who’s not answering my calls. There will be plenty of time to think about them later.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t want things to be weird between us, so again, I’m sorry.”

I tightly nod and shift the car into gear. She bites into her apple. The interior cab quickly smells like juice and pie. It reminds me of fall and Halloween and Caty. I miss her giggles and want to FaceTime with her this evening, assuming Aimee answers her phone. Briefly, I think about calling Catherine, but decide not to. I don’t want to worry her, or give her reason to think there’s friction between Aimee and me. Because there won’t be, not anymore. Turning onto the road, we head for Sabucedo, a fifteen-minute drive from where we’re staying.

“Have you thought about your angle for the feature?” I ask when Reese finishes her apple.

She wraps the core in a napkin and puts it in the cup holder. “I have some ideas.”

“Care to elaborate?” I ask when she doesn’t, glancing her way. She watches the passing roadside scenery, hillsides of dry grass and rock, groupings of pine trees.

She adjusts the backpack on her lap. “Are you going to talk me out of it?”

I shake my head, cracking a smile. Good ole Reese, always quick on the defense. Following the road signs to Sabucedo, I downshift, taking a right. “I found the men managing the herds almost as interesting as the horses.”

“How so?” Reese asks. She rips off a piece of the pastry that looks like pound cake.

“Before the event, the aloitadores vibrated with anticipation. You could feel the energy. They’d been waiting all year for this event. They’re tense and focused, almost as if they’re preparing for battle. But afterward, they’re exhausted and dirty and sweaty. Some of them have contusions and broken bones. You can see the pain etched in their expressions. But they’re smiling because they’re relieved. They survived. And they can’t wait to do it all over again next year.”

Reese slowly nods, chewing. “Makes you wonder why they would after the way you described it.”

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