The Impossible Art of Falling (Impossible Art #1) (10 page)

Luke leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees.

“About a year,” he answered. Jena could tell there was more explanation to that answer, but she didn’t prod.

“I have an idea,” he continued, after a few moments. “We don’t talk about family or why we are here. I get the impression there are things you don’t want to talk about either.”

She stepped out of the stall and looked at him. He was smiling so she hadn’t upset him with her questions, yet there was a clear sense of unease. Then again, she definitely didn’t want to talk to anyone about her family. She was ready for her life in Tennessee to be a clean slate.

“Deal,” Jena answered and went back to brushing her horse.

“So, if we are going to keep meeting like this, we should get to know each other,” Luke said and watched her body tense a bit. Maybe at the thought of getting to know each other or maybe at the thought of talking at all, although conversation seemed to be getting easier and easier for her. He didn’t know, but he didn’t want to upset her. “What’s your favorite color?”

Jena relaxed. This was certainly not the kind of question she was expecting.

“Green,” she said, nodding to the green halter that had been tossed to the side. 

“Favorite movie?”

“
Sixteen Candles
.”

“Favorite Song?” he prodded.

“Hey, how come you aren’t answering?” Jena turned to ask him. “You should be answering the same questions.

“You aren’t asking any questions,” he said with a smirk and then placed a piece of hay between his teeth. Jena glared at him playfully and he threw his hand up in mock defeat. “Gray. My favorite color is gray.”

“Favorite movie?” Jena asked, closing Gatsby’s door behind her and taking a seat on the aisle floor across from where he stood.

“
The Horse Whisperer
,” he answered, but the smirk on his face told her he was kidding.

“Ha, ha. You don’t strike me as the Robert Redford romance movie kind of guy.”

“Oh really,” Luke said, moving to the sit on the floor next to her. Their thighs were touching and Jena shivered at the contact, then looked away shyly. “Then what kind of movie do you think this guy does like?” he said, bumping her playfully with his shoulder.

“Oh, I don’t know.
The Godfather
? Just like every other guy?”

“Nah, I don’t like it when the horse gets its head cut off. Actually, don’t laugh, but I love
Seabiscuit
. I mean, it’s the true underdog story. That, and horse racing has always fascinated me. I have family in racing.”

“I thought you said no family talk?”

“I only meant that we can’t ask questions about family. If either of us wants to offer up information, by all means, go ahead.”

Jena nodded in acknowledgement. “Fair enough.”

“Now…back to you. Favorite song?”

“Do I have to pick just one? This is hard.” She thought for a moment then said, “‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley.” He looked at her, waiting for her to explain, willing her to tell him more.  “I guess I just like how he took a song with a religious connotation and made it into something else. It’s beautiful and lyrical and haunting all at once.” She paused for a moment. “What about you?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I suppose I never really thought about it.”

“Well, what do you listen to?”

“I like old school music. Country, Rock, you name it.” He stopped and threw the piece of hay he had been playing with into the aisle, then drew his knees up to his chest with a sigh. “Don’t laugh, but I used to listen to Simon and Garfunkel as a kid. ‘The Sound of Silence’ was one of my favorites. The lyrics are about being silent, yet they scream in meaning.”

“My dad was a Johnny Cash fan.” The words were out before she could stop them. A comment about her father.  She hoped that Luke hadn’t picked up on that.

“I love Johnny Cash, too. And Hank Williams.”

“You know, I also like The Beatles. ‘Let it Be’ has been one of my go-to songs for years.” She couldn’t believe how easily their conversation flowed now. In the truck with Kyle this afternoon, it felt forced, but with Luke, she felt as if they had known each other for years. And even with the sudden lull in conversation, she could feel the electricity between them. Jena turned to look at him and met his eyes, as he had already turned toward her. Their faces were inches apart, and she suddenly hoped that he would kiss her. They sat staring at each other. Jena’s gaze was drawn to his lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. Gatsby shifted in his stall, breaking the spell and the moment had passed.

“I suppose I should go,” she said quietly, still hoping that he would lean in and kiss her.

“Yeah. Me too. This is an ungodly hour to be awake. And I think the storm is subsiding.” Luke stood up first, and Jena tried to hide her disappointment. He thrust his hand out to her and helped her up, pulling her body close to him briefly, before letting her hand go. She could feel herself falling for this boy, and it both terrified and excited her.

Luke turned to go back to his small bedroom around the corner but stopped suddenly and turned back.

“I don’t suppose you’d want to come back tomorrow night, would you? Continue where we left off?” A smile played at his lips, and his eyes were alive with hope.

“Yes,” Jena replied, and she smiled. “I think I would.”

“Then it’s a date,” he said, and tipped the invisible hat on his head in her direction. Luke turned to go again, but this time, Jena called out to stop him.

“Luke?” He turned around and took a few steps toward her expectantly. “Thanks. For talking, I mean.

“Anytime,” he answered with a wink, and then he was gone.

Jena stared at him walking away, and the barn suddenly felt very empty. Gatsby nickered at her from the stall door. She reached into her pocket for the piece of carrot she knew he wanted. He happily munched the treat while she stroked his forehead, her mind once again consumed with thoughts of Luke.

chapter 12

“W
HO KNEW THAT MEG AND Rob had such a hot niece?” Kyle blurted out, while he and Luke were getting the horses ready for the trails the next day. Luke stayed silent, but followed Kyle’s gaze toward Jena.  She was wearing her usual jeans, boots, and a floppy cowboy hat. He smiled to himself, thinking of the private moment they had shared the night before.

“Yeah, I think I should ask her out,” Kyle continued.  “Show her around this town. Maybe take her out for some Mexican in Gatlinburg or something.” Luke clenched his jaw and still said nothing, knowing that Kyle was simply looking for a reaction. He wouldn’t give him that pleasure. Jena turned toward them and smiled, having caught both of them staring at her. Kyle, thinking that the smile was for him, gave her a wave. She nodded, her smile faltering and then turned and walked back toward the office.

“Come on, you two,” Rob interrupted. “Let’s get this first trail ride out. Luke, I want you out in front, and then Kyle can bring up the rear. I’ll sit this one out and get the next group ready.”

“Sure thing,” Luke answered, even though he hated it when he had to be on the trail with Kyle. He tended to run his mouth a bit too much to the customers; always showing off and flirting with any cute girl that happened to be within a five mile radius. This trip would be no exception. There were five girls in their early twenties getting on their horses, waiting to go out on the trail. Kyle was already talking to them as they were lining up. It was times like this that he wondered how they ever could have been friends before. Luke knew that Kyle had changed since that fateful night, but the change in Kyle was so drastic, that it was hard to remember the man he had been before. When Luke’s thoughts turned to that tragic night, he could feel his anger toward the other man growing. It was only when his horse whinnied and tossed his head that he remembered his job.

“Welcome to Grayson Trail Rides. I will be your guide today. My name is Luke. You need to follow me in single file. Kyle, the other guide, will follow in the back.” He continued to go through the safety precautions, while Kyle continued to talk to the nearest girl.
If only Jena would come out and work these rides with me
, Luke thought. Maybe he should ask her tonight. Leading horses through these trails would be nothing, compared to eventing. Perhaps she would do it.

The group set off for their ride, meandering through the mountain trail. They stopped every so often, so that Luke could point out a landmark or an animal traipsing through the woods. He heard the sound of giggling behind him and turned to see Kyle riding right next to one of the girls, who was apparently laughing at something he had said. He certainly was in rare form today. Usually, he would behave himself on the trail. And to think, just a few minutes before, he had been talking about asking Jena out. Luke could feel the anger rising up again, just under the surface. He knew that eventually, he would have to confront his former friend.

After an hour, they returned to the farm. Luke found himself searching for Jena anxiously, then calming once he saw her through the windows of the office. Rob came out and led the girls over to the fence, where he helped them get down and tied the horses.

“I see you looking at her, Thomas,” Kyle said, suddenly beside Luke. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the saddle horn. “I should have known. I guess I’d better up my game and go ask her out.” Luke felt his jaw clenching again, a sudden possessiveness coming over him. She didn’t belong to him and he knew it, yet he felt the need to watch over her, protect her. Especially from Kyle. He led his horse over to the fence just behind Kyle and tied up his mount, hoping to beat Kyle to Jena. If he could just talk to her…the jealousy seethed through him. Kyle was fast, and when Luke turned, Kyle was already there. His big, muscular frame leaned into the doorframe, as if he were holding the entire building up. Jena must be just inside, although he couldn’t see her. Kyle reached forward and Luke watched, as a lock of Jena’s blonde hair fell through Kyle’s fingers. His heart sank, sure that she said yes. Kyle turned around and walked back to the horses, his face unreadable. He always wore that sheepish grin.

“Rob will be pissed if you hurt his niece,” Luke called out, unable to hold back any longer. Hell,
he
would be pissed if Kyle hurt her. Kyle kept on walking.

JENA WATCHED KYLE’S RETREATING figure and caught Luke staring. Her lips turned up in a smile, and she began to raise her hand in a small wave, but he had already turned away and was practically running back to his horse. She frowned, puzzled as to why he looked so upset.

“What was that all about,” Meg asked, when she walked back into the office.

Jena shrugged. “Kyle,” she said, as if that were explanation enough.

“If either of those boys bother you, you just let us know,” Meg added, just as the next customer walked up.

              They weren’t exactly bothering her, Jena thought to herself. At least one of them wasn’t. Kyle just didn’t want to take no for an answer, that’s all. She thought that she had been clear the other day, but it was beginning to annoy her. He seemed bound and determined to get her to go out with him and asked her out every chance he got. Today, he had reached forward and touched her hair, and it had taken all of her strength not to pull away. He was getting bolder. And he asked her in front of Luke, as if he wanted Luke to see. She was sure it had to do with whatever Kyle had hinted at. A problem from his past with Luke.

              Luke. She couldn’t put into words what she felt when she was around him. Her body tingled at his proximity. She waited for him to touch her, yet he never did. She found herself looking forward to tonight, when she would meet him again in the darkness of the barn and within seconds, she had already forgotten about Kyle.

IN HER DREAM, SHE was falling. She reached all around her, trying to grab something that would break her fall, but she came up with nothing but air. Jena jolted awake, her sheet twisted around her. She sat up and cradled her head in her hands. Her body shook and her breath came out in short spurts. Swinging her feet down to the floor to stand up, she tried to steady herself, but found that she was still shaky. The air was cool as it blew in through the window, and she stood there for a moment, trying to calm herself down. She needed to feel grounded. She needed to feel the earth beneath her feet. A quick glance at the clock told her it was after two in the morning. Hopefully, Luke was still awake and waiting for her in the barn. Then again, he had hardly spoken during dinner and pushed his food around. Regardless, she needed to go out there. She would not fall asleep easily after that dream. At the very least, her horse would offer her some comfort.