Page 33 of Our Sweet Destiny
Chapter Twenty
JADE COULDN’T HELP but check the woods by the barn Tuesday morning. Her body still tingled with thoughts of the evening before. She felt complete for the first time in her life. She wasn’t crazy about hiding from everyone she knew. She’d much rather shout her feelings from the rooftop. But Rex was right. Their situation was not an easy one, and though she felt like she and Rex were right together, despite their confusion at the beginning, she was also smart enough to believe, as he did, that it was essential that they were absolutely certain about each other before they caused what was sure to be an uproar like Weston had never seen before. The problem was, she was sure. She didn’t need time. She’d loved him all her life. She’d just never realized it before last night.
She pushed the barn doors open, breathing in the dewy air and the tangy smell of manure under the morning sun. Her stomach took a little dip at the sight of the empty woods. Until last night, she hadn’t realized that Rex didn’t carry a cell phone. That would make things difficult, but he assured her they’d communicate without issue, and given how he’d surprised her the evening before—the depth of what he wanted, his tender words, the fact that he hadn’t ridden bareback between the sheets before her, all things she’d never expected—she knew he’d find a way.
She brought the horses out into the pasture and watched them gallop into the morning. The freedom of a horse was one of the most beautiful sights she’d ever seen. The way their tails flew out behind them like lightning in their wakes took her breath away.
Today was the first day she’d allow Flame to run, and as nervous as she was, she was excited for him as he nodded his big head, nosing her shirt the second she appeared beside his stall. She stroked his jaw, and around his neck, found a note hanging from a red ribbon.
“No way,” she said aloud.
She untied the bow and removed the note. She’d never seen Rex’s handwriting before, and now, as she took in the words, each in full caps, with quick strokes that feathered at the end, she ran her fingers over them. Knowing Rex had taken his time not only to write it, but to show up at the barn and approach the largest of their horses, at the risk of being caught by her father, made her quiver all over.
SWEET JADE, PLEASE ACCOMPANY ME TONIGHT ON OUR FIRST DATE. I’LL BE WAITING RIGHT OFF OF EXIT2, 8P.M. IF YOU’RE NOT THERE, I’LL KNOW YOU WERE BUSY. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOUR LOVELY FACE AGAIN.R
Jade let out awhoop!and shook her arms and hips in a little happy dance.
“Life is beginning to look up, Flame.”
“What was that little dance I saw you doing?” her father asked.
Jade froze, nervously tucking the note into the back pocket of her shorts.
“Oh, you startled me. I’m…excited because Flame’s leg is all healed. I’m taking him out to the lower pasture now.”I can’t breathe. I’m going on a date. A date! With Rex!
Her father walked over and pulled the remaining ribbon from Flame’s neck. He stared at it and lifted his eyebrows at Jade.
She snagged the ribbon from his hand. “I was practicing putting ribbons in his mane. I must have missed that piece.” She pretended to work her fingers through the rest of his mane. “I think that’s the last of it. Thanks!”
She guided Flame from his stall, hurrying out of the barn to avoid any further questions.
“Darlin’?”
She froze. “Yes?” She turned to face him, and her father crossed his arms over his belly.
“I’m glad to see you’re in better spirits today. I was worried about you.”
Guilt sliced a jagged edge in Jade’s heart. “Me too, Dad.”But I hate that I can’t tell you that it’s Rex who has raised my spirits.
“You’re not too torn up about subdividing the ranch? I thought that of you and Steven, you might be more upset.”
She blew out a breath to calm her nerves and answered honestly. “I would do just about anything to save this ranch. Everything I know, I learned right here, with you and Mom. Mom taught me to make dandelion wreaths in the upper fields and to grow every vegetable under the sun in her little garden. You taught me how to nurture animals, how to ride, and, Dad, you taught me how to think beyond the differences between animal and humans right here in this barn. But if you want to subdivide—I mean, if it’s really what you want—then you have a right to do that. But if it’s driven by something else, I’ll do anything I can to help you keep the property.”
Her father smiled a warm, comforting smile. The tension that she’d seen in his cheeks was gone, replaced with a softness and warmth. “You’re a good girl, Jade.”
No, I’m not. I’m a liar and a naughty, naughty lover.“Thanks, Dad.” The fact that he made no distinction in why he was giving up part of the ranch did not go unnoticed by Jade.
“Oh, Dad, I’ll be home really late tonight. I’m going with Riley to Preston to visit some girlfriends.” The bold-faced lie made her feel as though she’d just placed her head on a chopping block.
“Okay, darlin’. Just be safe.”
And the chopper just dropped a little lower.
As soon as she was in the field, she called Riley.
“Deets, sister. And I want all of them. Did you see him at the meeting?”
Jade smiled at Riley’s enthusiasm. “What are you, the dating police?”
