Page 68 of Healing the Heart

“Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time,” I grabbed my keys and nodded to the door. “Let’s go, baby.”

* * *

I drove us down a back road I know Rayna had no idea existed, a three-mile stretch of rural road that led up into the hill, but not near my part of the country. We’d left the pavement-lined highways and were now on a rural stretch with tree branches that arched over the road like a net, creating a long, dark tunnel.

Moonlight glimmered on the rough road, guiding us up the hill to a clearing. I backed the truck up to a space between two trees with long interlocking branches that created a private canopy, but the moon and stars were still visible.

“Grab those things from the backseat,” I requested as I hopped out and went to pull the tailgate.

Rayna handed me the pillows and blanket, and I spread them out in the bed before kicking my boots off and helping her up. I backed up to the rear panel, and Rayna tucked herself into my side.

“Back when I was in the trenches building my company, I used to come here when I felt like it was too much,” I said while gazing up at the stars. “I did a few things. Sometimes I would stare at the sky, talk to God, scream my frustrations, talk to Emily as if she were still here, cry, or just sleep till morning light. Somehow, I always felt better after.”

“I can see why,” Rayna said. “It's peaceful out here…and beautiful.”

A sea of sparkling stars stood against the midnight-blue starry sky, while the rolling hills stood sentinel in the distance. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. “It’s almost as gorgeous as you.”

“Why, thank you,” she replied, drumming her fingertips over my side. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

My eyes traced the constellation I was pretty sure was Cancer. “Y’know, when you come from nothing, some of the simpler things in life seem the best. A star-studded sky out in the country air is priceless. I wouldn’t trade it for the nicest suit in a five-star hotel. I’d prefer a hanger steak thrown on the grill than filet mignon seared in stainless steel.”

She eyed me. “If you sear my steak in a stainless steel pan, I’m walking out.”

Humored, I reached for her and tickled her side, and Rayna let out a peak of laughter while batting my hands away. “So…kiss it in the pan an’ give it to you?”

“If you give me a blue steak, I’ll get my shotgun.” Rayna giggled, then rested her cheek on my chest and traced patterns on my belly. “But I do get what you mean. I’d rather go swimming in a creek than at the pool in the gym or go apple picking in an orchard than buy ‘em in a store. Do you know, my grandmother handed me a cast iron skillet that her grandmother used.”

“No, but that is interesting. Do you cook with it or use it to bash a bad boyfriend’s head in?”

“Both,” she smiled.

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” I replied.

“Aside from a certain person who shall not be named here, has anyone truly gotten on your bad side?” she asked.

“Well, there was Marcus Billings from seventh grade who had made it his mission to make fun of my stuttering back then when I stood at the front of the class and said I wanted to be a rancher,” I replied. “Last time I checked, he is on his third wife right now, one of those society blonde women torn from a magazine and has boobs straight from a plastic surgeon’s table. I sent him a prime rib on Christmas. I doubt she knows how to cook it.”

“You had a stutter?”

“Oh yes, I had the works. Buck teeth, coke bottle glasses, and skinny like a reed. Ol’ man Jebsen use to call me a pipe cleaner with doe eyes,” I peeked at her. “You think I was always this hot?”

“And modest, too,” Rayna rolled her eyes. “Soveryhumble and meek.”

“And don’t you forget it,” I replied.

“It’s what I’m trying to middle the line with by showing my girls some of the simplest things in life while they know they can have the best,” I added while tangling my fingers into her hair. “And it is why I am sure I will be convicted of murder if West goes after my girls.”

“He would be foolish to act on it now that I am sure he knows we have him in our sights for his girlfriend trying to kill me,” Rayna replied. “He must be smarter than that. If anything happens to your kids, he will be the first person the cops will suspect.”

“He’s got the resources to make this happen like he was never involved,” I grunted. “We still have no idea who he hired to break in and poison my calves.”

“I—” Rayna started before she gasped. “Look there, is that a—”

Since my eyes were on the sky, I saw it too. “A shooting star, yes, sweetheart, it surely is. Make a wish.”

She closed her eyes, smiled before her ashes fluttered, and whispered, “I hope it comes through.”

I craned. “You gon’ tell me what you wished for?”

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