Page 98 of Freeing the Wild
I laugh and imagine a bag of that popcorn covering him in his bed.My chest tightens.
“Cassie.”Ned, my producer, pokes his head around the corner.“Can we chat?”
I stand and head into his office.“Sure.”
He gestures for me to sit across from him.“You have one song on this album, the last one we recorded … it’s just not working for me with what you have so far.I’ve been talking to Dax about it but he’s adamant he wants the whole album ready for radio play and streaming.That’s not where the growth happens and I’ve told him this.I just wantyouto know how I feel and gauge where you’re at.”
I dip my head as he talks; it’s always hard to hear something you’ve written isn’t what someone else had hoped for.My focus has been creating songs I thought were good for airtime and will be used by social media because, let’s face it, that’s how any song gets famous these days.
“I want something that is going to rip people’s hearts out and put them back together again.You don’t happen to have any masterpieces like that lying around, do you?”
I look down at my hands then back up to him.“Well, actually, I wrote quite a bit while I was away.Dax wasn’t sure these new songs would be well received, though.They’re a lot more rustic than what I usually perform.I could sing one or two for you?”
Ned smiles.“That’s why I wanted to talk toyou.Please.”
I stand and duck out to grab my guitar and laptop before bringing them back into the studio and pulling the lyrics up.
I pop my capo on my guitar and close my eyes.I picture Haden’s face as we rode most mornings, and how he looked when he was buried deep inside me.I remember the way we moved together, perfectly in sync, and how he looked when he was talking about Penny Lane or anything he really cared about.And then I think about the way it felt to walk out of his cabin door two weeks ago, and start to play one of the songs I wrote for him: “Baby Be Mine.”The words, the feeling, come straight from the heart.By the time I’m done, I have tears streaming down my face and a new song for my album.It feels just as natural as it did when I first started singing with my sister when I was young.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Haden
“I think it’s time if you do.Just think about it, is all I’m saying.”
“Pen, you’re only saying this because it’s hard to see your horses displaced.You’ll change your mind in a week.”
She’s told me twice over the last two weeks that she wants me to buy Penny Lane from her now.She even offered me a break-even price.
“No, I won’t, Haden.I’m ready to take a step back.I’ll still work as a part-time vet for you.It means I could still be here a few times a week but the burden of running this place would be off my shoulders.I’ve been really thinking of moving into the retirement condos near downtown.I just can’t bear to sell the ranch to anyone else but you.And you’re ready.”
“I have Silver Pines.”
“You could stay on there and make sure Dusty is trained.You said yourself last week he’s ready to step up and that this is what you always wanted.I’m offering it to you at a rock-bottom cost, which will allow you to buy some new equipment and stock up on supplies.”
I look back at her from where I’m hanging a haynet in one of the stalls.
“You’re burning the candle at both ends with all this back and forth anyway, Haden.And all because you’re trying to forget that sweet girl.”
I pop my head over the stall door and smirk.“What do you know about that?”
“I know how you looked at her and she looked at you.”
“Yeah, well, looks aren’t enough.We live two completely separate lives.”
She smiles and her eyes crinkle in the corners before she turns to start sweeping the aisle again.
“These things have a way of working themselves out.”
I chuckle.“So everyone keeps telling me.”
I finish my work as best I can, thinking about Penny’s offer and what she said about Cassie.Of course I fucking miss her.I’ve been going out of my head since she left three weeks ago.I even made a goddamn social media account just so I could follow her and see updates on her shows.I know it’s not healthy, but I can’t help it.And the longer she’s gone, the more I’ll get used to her not being here.Only thing is, I’m not sure I want to.
“The slop?Jesus, Pop,” Cole says from his seat at the dinner table.It’s been a few days since Penny’s latest effort to get me to take over from her at Penny Lane.
“That’s right, and when a girl could dance the slop, we would say she could ‘get sloppy with the best of them.’”
Dean chuckles at the other end of the Ashbys’s large outdoor table.It’s finally nice enough to cookout as we near the endof April, and tonight CeCe wanted to have a meeting about the benefit concert since it’s coming up so soon.I’ve brought Penny over to have dinner and, in true Silver Pines fashion, the whole family is here.
