Page 4 of Riding Danger

Twenty minutes later, my sister Maggie’s horn honked out front and Ethan was on his way. I had some time to kill before I needed to be at the school to accompany the kids. A quick shower, a sundress and a pair of sandals later and I was out the door.

Minty’s was on the way to the school. With the route I took, it was also on the way to the police station, my mom’s house and pretty much anywhere I needed to go. Would it be more convenient if I didn’t need to stop at the bakery? Maybe. Probably. But it was safer for all concerned if I was caffeinated.

I ordered my normal caramel latte. I was still deciding whether I wanted a donut and whether or not I should get one for Ethan’s teacher, when I heard my name being called.

“Shiloh.” The somewhat familiar woman with honey blond hair and brown eyes, flashed a smile to me.

Marina De Ferrier was a small town. Everyone knew each other, and strangers stood out. That was just the nature of living in a small beach town. I turned and narrowed my eyes at the woman. She was maybe a little younger than me but she did look familiar.

“Hi.” My head tilted as I tried to figure out who she was.

“Shiloh, it's me. Valerie. Val. Maybe you don’t remember when we were…” She trailed off and a shadow passed over her face. A shiver ran down my spine. I remembered immediately where I knew her from.

It had been more than a decade and a half and we were children when we parted but I knew her. “Valerie, yes. How are you?”

She looked around the bakery and her voice dropped low. “My mom passed away last month. Suicide. Thought I’d reconnect with some people who could understand my situation.”

Like me, Valerie was born into slavery. I didn’t remember who her mom was but she would also have been bought and sold and passed from one owner to the next. As for relating to her? My mother died the day we were rescued. But I had a good home and I didn’t share the dark shadows that seemed to plague Valerie.

Still, I was not about to be rude. “So, you’re in town for a while then?”

She looked around, almost as if she was expecting something to jump out at her. All of us had some sort of PTSD. I was not about to judge this woman based on how hers manifested.

“I heard you and Maggie and those two younger girls were adopted together. I thought I would come catch up with all of you.”

Catch up? I suppose we went through trauma together, even if we didn’t realize it at the time.

“Grace was actually the only one who was adopted by the Baumans. The rest of us had aged out by the time the paperwork came through. But we did change our last names to honor the people who made sure we were loved and cared for once we were rescued.”

I didn’t mention that five of us were rescued that day, but one of the girls had her family come and claim her. It felt like adding salt to some very raw wounds.

“That’s lucky for you.” Her smile seemed forced, something I understood since mine was not authentic either. It’s what happened when you tried to stay positive while reliving the worst time of your life. “Mom and I were rescued months later. You know what they put us through. My mom could handle what was done to her, I think. I think what haunted her was what happened to me. She always said that if she ever met any of the men who held her, she would take away their ability to reproduce.”

“Yeah, it’s not a time I like to relive.” I pulled out my phone and checked the time. “I hate to cut this short, but I have to get to the elementary school. I’m chaperoning a field trip.”

“Oh. You have a kid?” She seemed surprised by the fact, meaning she didn’t do any research on us. That let me breathe a little easier. “I didn’t think any of us would get married.”

“Oh, I’m not married. His father is… Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” I wanted to share that Maggie had in fact been married, but decided against it. Instead, I made a promise I hoped she didn’t take me up on. “We should get together for coffee some time.”

With a quick wave and a smile, I slipped out of the coffee shop, with my drink in one hand and keys in the other. I put Valerie out of my head as I pulled up to the school.

As I stood at the door waiting, Ethan sidled up to me. “Ms. Wilder said that we may be able to hear two pop stars at the studio. She said Layla Dean and Ryder Hawkins will be recording a duet.”

Well fuck

2

RYDER

Besides being a talented singer and great songwriter, Layla Dean was also one of my best friends. We met while we were both opening acts for Evie Hale, the stage name for Everly Moore. Since she and some of my own band mates were still under eighteen at the time, Everly alternated us so she never ran afoul of child labor laws no matter what state we were in. Layla dated one of my band mates off and on over the years but they never stuck. Personally, I thought she was too good for him and they were toxic together.

When she asked to record a duet for her new album, I agreed immediately. It wasn’t the first time we’d collaborated, and fans expected us to have a duet on almost every album we released. Working with Layla was always fun, and I looked forward to recording with her.

My manager was not happy. Mostly because he didn’t want anything to interfere with the media’s implication and the fan’s belief that she and Oscar would get back together. He believed Layla and Oscar would make more money if they collaborated more. The reality was Layla refused to work with Oscar.

For me? I loved working with her and it might be the opening I needed to pivot my career. Not that I knew what I wanted to do. I didn't know how to do anything besides sing. And play a few instruments. Still, there had to be more. Right?

Considering we both had a background in pop music, it made sense to try something which would appeal to our audiences.

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