DASHED DREAMS (28 page)

“Basically.”

“I’ve changed. I’m not the same person I was three months ago. I’m getting better each day and have a brighter outlook on the future, a future with Jillie, if she’ll have me back.”

“You know what, son, all you have to do is talk to her. She’s a smart lady and still loves you with all her heart. She loves the Robert John Montgomery I’m seeing here. She loved, but was never in love with the drunken cowboy I was introduced to a few months ago.”

The two men talked about the cattle and entertainment businesses for a while. All the time they talked, RJ looked at the stars and the vast black sky lit up with twinkling bits of light. So many dreams and so many promises were made under skies like these. He made his.

While driving back to the ranch, Jillian looked at the moon-lit countryside and got the idea. When they arrived back at the ranch, it was about midnight.

The three ladies gathered their coats and headed to the barn. Miguel was still awake in his room in the horse barn and came out to see who’d turned on the interior lights. He helped the girls saddle their horses.

Just a few minutes into their ride Grace said to her daughter, “I’m glad you had this idea. We haven’t been on a moonlit ride in years.”

When they reached the campsite, they found it quiet. The only the lights were from the fire and the lanterns shone against the night’s sky. No voices. It was obvious that everyone was asleep.

They’d just turned and started into the campsite when they heard, “Well, what do we have here, spies?” Dan whispered as he rubbed his face awake. He’d sneaked up to where the girls were standing. He startled the four party-crashers, but they held their screams.

The four ladies hugged him and told him they’d come out to see how the bachelor party was going.

“Well, see for yourselves. The party animals are all partied out. You can go back home now. We’re all okay, present and accounted for,” he whispered.

Dan saw Jillian’s eyes searching out RJ’s sleeping bag. He put his arm around his daughter’s shoulder and said, “I talked to him, he’s okay. He loves you.” He looked at her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. He whispered something in her ear and pointed to where Robert slept.

Emma crept over to the sleeping forms on the ground and found Gary. She silently unzipped the sleeping bag, sat down on the edge, slipped off her boots, and snuggled in. Gary wakened, kissed her, and they snuggled down.

Lynda followed Emma’s lead and did the same. When she climbed in and rezipped the bag, she looked over. Jack was still asleep.

Jillian sat down on the edge of RJ’s sleeping bag and looked at her sweet prince, once country music’s heartthrob. He’d changed, looking different. He was sleeping in peace, not sleeping off a drunk. She touched his face. RJ opened his eyes and thought he was dreaming.

As both were working, they intently watched into the campground. Their daughter sat down on the edge of the sleeping bag, as she touched the cowboy’s cheek, he hugged her, she removed her boots and crawled into his bag.

After they got the horses taken care of, Dan showed Grace to his bag. She took off her boots, and crawled into Dan’s bag. “See, aren’t we glad we decided to get double bags. What were you doing up?” she asked her half-asleep husband.

“Bladder ain’t what it used to be.” They chuckled, said their prayers, kissed each other good night, and settled into the bag.

Grace could hear nothing from the other two bags. But quiet, muffled voices came from Robert and Jillian’s bag.

“I hope you don’t mind that I came out here. I had to see you. I couldn’t wait a minute longer.”

“I know how you felt. I was aching to see you, too.”

“How are you?” Jillian whispered as she touched his cheek.

“I’m doing okay. My question to you is how are you?”

“I’m okay, now. I see you’re okay. You’re still you, the man I fell in love with.”

“Jillie, I’m not the man you fell in love with. I’ve changed.”

“Stop. Yes, you are. You’re the same soul I fell in love with. I know you’ve changed…in fact, we’ve both changed.”

He touched her cheek. “I love you, I never stopped loving you.”

“RJ, I never stopped. I just had to have space…space from everything. I’m sorry I didn’t answer your letters.”

“When my mother found the ring, I knew. When I didn’t hear back…the whole time I was in hell, you were the one who got me through. I figured if we were never ‘we’ again, it was my fault and I could live with that. What I couldn’t live with was knowing that I broke your heart.”

“You did that, alright. But you know, I knew it was coming. I probably knew the first time I told you I loved you.”

“Jillie, would you please think about giving us another chance? I’ve crossed some bridges and know I have more to cross, but with you by my side, I can handle anything.” the
rabbit

“Isn’t it quite obvious? I’m here with you. That should be some indication.” She gave him the
rabbit
back.

“Oh, my love, my sweet love. You’re never going to regret it. I pray to the Lord above for His blessing, for our new beginning.”

“Amen.” Jillian said, tears again flowing. She quickly realized that they both were shedding tears of joy, tears of relief. After all the tears were shed, promises were promised, a new beginning was in the sunrise.

Morning came quickly. Dan and Grace wakened to the smell of fresh coffee and a renewed fire blazing. Grace looked around and saw that she and Dan were the last to waken. All the children were sitting at the table eating breakfast. She slipped on her boots and headed off to the wash basin.

“Good morning, Mom,” she heard from Jillian. From the tone of her daughter’s voice she knew all was right in her world. All she did to acknowledge her was give a back-handed wave in the air.

“Well, here we all are. I have to tell you, I was shocked to find someone in my sleeping bag this morning. What brought you girls out?” Jack said to the group.

“Love,” Emma quickly replied.

“It was Jillie’s idea! We were just going to come out and spy, then go back. But Em changed that. She’s the one who sneaked over and crawled into the bag with Gary. Are you complaining?” Lynda asked Jack, touching his face.

“Not in the least,” Jack said.

“Hey, you two are really quiet this morning. Is there anything that all of us should know?” Emma asked, shaking a piece of toast at them while talking.

“Mind your own business, Em. Today’s YOUR wedding day,” Jillie said.

“Wow! I’d almost forgotten. I was having so much fun! Jillie, doesn’t this seem like old times when we were teenagers, we used to come here and camp?” Emma asked.

“Sure does. But then we wished we had boys to climb into our sleeping bags. We sure had a lot of good times here.”

“Cookie said anything you want, he could arrange. We all had blackened prime rib and eggs with all the fixings. Dad, do you want me to put in your order?” Jillie asked.

Both men smiled at each other. Jillian came around the chuckwagon carrying the coffeepot and two empty cups. She placed the empty cups in front of her father and poured coffee all the way around.

She sat down. “You’re order is in and so’s Mother’s.”

She leaned over to Robert and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and in a quiet voice, said, “I saw you and Daddy talking. Everything okay?”

“Yep.”

“I was thinking, the wedding isn’t until 4, so do you want to take a ride before we get back to the house? I’d like to show you some of the ranch.”

“That’d be nice. Do you plan on asking the others?”

She glanced at Robert with a questioning look, raising her eyebrows to let know he could ask if he wanted. He nodded yes and then the
rabbit
.

“
Hey, everyone, after breakfast RJ and I are going to ride over to the ridge on our way back to the house. Anyone up for more riding? We’ll be a couple of hours longer than just going back to the house.”

Grace answered, “Dan and I are going back to the house as I’ve got some things to get ready for this afternoon and I think Dan has a couple of horses to check on. You kids go along and we’ll see you later.”

The other two couples agreed that an extended ride would be nice. Emma added that she wanted plenty of time to get ready, not wanting to be late. They all agreed that they had to clean up, so they’d return in plenty of time.

After breakfast, Dan and Robert saddled the eight horses. Jillian looked out where they were working. They were talking. She nudged her mother and motioned for her to take a look. Her mother smiled, then took her daughter into her arms, hugging her as if her life depended on it.

The ride was one of the most enjoyable that Jillian had experienced. The six riders rode over to ridge, spent time looking at the lake below. When they started back home, the subject was changed to the upcoming wedding. Once they were not in open country where a running horse could trip in a chuckhole; RJ, Gary, and Jack galloped ahead.

“So, are you and RJ back together?”

“Emma, don’t be so nosy.”

“Hey, Lynda, I was asking what all of us are wanting to know.”

“We have a lot to work on, but we are.”

As soon as that was said, Jillian shifted her weight. Sugar bolted sideways, and she fell off with a thud. She brushed herself off and got back on, feeling rather foolish.

By the time the riders arrived back at the ranch, everyone must’ve asked Jillian a dozen times each if she was okay. When they told what happened to Dan and Grace, the story grew. Jillian assured everyone that she was okay and to drop it.

After lunch, Jillian took her glass of ice tea and found her favorite rocking chair on the porch. Jillian’s dad was already sitting on the porch, sipping a beer.

“Hey, is this chair saved?”

“Yes, I saved it for you. Jillie, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yep. You know how it is when you fall, just stiff and sore.”

The kitchen screen door opened, and Dan saw his daughter’s eyes light up. Robert came out carrying a pitcher of iced tea.

“Grace sent me out to see if anyone wants a refill?”

“Sure,” Jillie said, holding up her glass; RJ filled her glass.

“Dan?”

“Sorry, I’m having this.” Dan said, embarrassed when he held up the bottle of beer.

“No need to be sorry, sir. Grace said you’ll want to bring this pitcher in to her.”

“I’m sure glad she knows what I want.” Dan chuckled, took the pitcher, and left.