The Impossible Art of Falling (Impossible Art #1) (12 page)

“Oh. Okay. Well, make sure you eat some lunch,” Meg yelled after her, as Jena was already out the door, apple in hand, passing Rob on the way.

“What was that all about?” he asked his wife.

“It seems your niece might want to be around the horses today.” Meg pointed at the figure that was walking confidently through the barn doors. Rob had noticed a change in Jena in the last few weeks, but they dared not ask her about it. She smiled more and she didn’t look so forlorn. In fact, at times, she had even begun to look happy.

“Do you think Jena is adjusting well enough?” Rob had asked Meg the night before, as they lay in bed. She had closed her book and looked at him.

“Yes. Yes, I think she is coming round. And she is talking more, I’ve noticed.” Rob took his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I guess, I just thought that she would ride, or at least help with the horses more.”

“She has been through a tremendous loss, Rob. And just like you, she just needs time. Think about how you felt, and still feel, about the death of your brother, and then multiply that by a million. He was her father and a big part of her life. Not only that, but she was there. She saw it happen. I think we are lucky that she decided to come live here and not disappear somewhere on her own. We may never have seen her again.” Meg switched off the light on her side and began to get comfortable. “It’s not like she’s not old enough to do that.” Rob reached over and turned his own light off, surrounding them in darkness. A light breeze blew through the window, and he tucked Meg against his side.

“I guess you’re right,” he said, with a sigh.

“I think there’s reason that she wants to be here,” Meg continued. “I don’t think she was really ready to be alone. The farm was too much, and then Karen took off. Horses have been her entire life, and suddenly, they aren’t. I know I keep saying it, but give her more time.”

“Do you think she and Luke are getting along? He’s a good kid at heart.”

“I have seen how he watches her, and I think they are more than getting along.”

“Really?”

“He is constantly sneaking glances at her at mealtime and even when you two are getting the trail riders ready.”

“Well, I’ve had a few talks about her with him. He was a bit upset at first that she wasn’t helping out around here. Funny, I kept telling him the same thing you’ve been telling me. Give her time.”

“Did you tell him why? Does he even know about Ted at all?”

“No. I figure that is her’s to tell, if she wants. Maybe he’s finally stepping back and giving her a chance.”

“I think there’s more to it than that. That boy’s in love. Just you watch him in the next few days, and tell me you don’t think that boy is smitten with our niece.”

“I guess that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Maybe they can help each other heal,” Rob said and gave his wife a peck on the cheek.

LUKE WAS CLEANING STALLS when he heard someone coming down the aisle. Assuming it was Rob, he popped his head out and started to speak.

“Hey Rob…” He trailed off when his eyes met the pony-tailed silhouette of Jena. He couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, hi Jena. Are you looking for your uncle?”

“No,” she said. I was actually just coming out to see what needs to be done. I thought I would help out.” Her eyes held a look of determination and confidence today.

Luke couldn’t hide the happiness he felt at the notion that Jena wanted to spend some time out here.

“Well, I’m just cleaning the stalls. Then I’ll probably brush a few horses off and maybe play with some of the babies.” When she didn’t shy away at the list of chores, he passed his pitchfork over to her and went to grab one of this own.  By the time he had returned, Jena had already started on the nearest stall.

They worked in silence and were both content. The radio crooned softly from a few stalls away, and every so often, he would catch Jena humming along. Luke watched her, constantly sneaking glances in her direction. Her hair was thrown into a messy ponytail, but tendrils fought free, causing her to have to brush them off of her face every so often. Oh, how he longed to be the one to brush them away. Her arms, tanned from the sun, flexed under the weight of the pitchfork.

“What?” She had caught him staring, a sly smile playing on her lips.

“Oh, nothing,” he said, trying to hide.

“You keep looking at me. Do I have dirt on my face or something?”

“No. You don’t have dirt on your face. I’m just happy you’re out here to help me today, that’s all. It’s nice to have some beautiful company for once. Nothing against your uncle.” Luke walked to the next stall, trying to play down the fact that he had just been caught staring. Jena blushed at the compliment, then followed him.

“Well, I’m happy to help out. It’s actually kind of relaxing to be out here. I almost forgot that. And the company is kind of nice,” she said, repaying the compliment. They went back to cleaning, and in no time at all, Meg was calling them in for lunch. 

chapter 14

J
ENA WAS LATE TONIGHT AND Luke worried why. They had spent the day together, cleaning stalls and brushing horses. Without Kyle there during the day, he had let his guard down, and now that Jena wasn’t here, he began to doubt their day. Maybe she’d decided that she had spent the whole day with him and didn’t need to come down tonight. Maybe he had pushed her. She had seemed happy and content at the time, but he still didn’t really know her history or how she came to be at the farm. He feared she wouldn’t come down, and he wouldn’t get to see her tonight.

He paced eagerly outside of Gatsby’s stall, the space around him empty without her in it.  The horse shook his head, as if to show that he shared in Luke’s impatience.

“I know boy, hopefully, she’ll come soon.” He stroked the gelding on the nose, and the horse shook his head in understanding. Finally, the latch on the barn door clicked and slid open. Jena came bounding in, wavy hair cascading wildly around her shoulders. She was smiling broadly and even in the moonlight, he could see that her cheeks were flushed.

“Sorry,” she said, as she reached in her pocket for a treat for Gatsby. “My aunt and uncle decided to stay downstairs later than usual. I couldn’t sneak out!” She giggled. She was eighteen years old but still felt like she needed to ask permission to be out here. “Anyway, I’m here now.”

“Good, I’m glad that you came. I was beginning to wonder if you would.”

“Of course,” she said, a puzzled look on her face. “I said I would come. Besides, I like it down here at night. It’s quiet and peaceful.” She lowered her head, hiding the embarrassment over her admission. Her happiness from moments ago faded and was replaced with worry.

“Hold on,” Luke said. “I brought something for you.” Luke, having sensed her mood change, rushed back to his room and grabbed something off of the table. Jena waited patiently, wondering what he could have. When he joined her again in front of Gatsby’s stall, his hands were behind his back, a goofy grin on his face. They looked at each other for a moment in amusement. Finally, unable to stand it, Jena grabbed his arm and pulled it out from behind his back. His hand held one of Aunt Meg’s chocolate brownies.

“I grabbed an extra one after dinner when she wasn’t looking. Hopefully, she didn’t notice it was missing.”

“Oh, my favorite!” Jena dove toward the napkin and tried to grab a morsel, but Luke snatched it away before she could reach it.

“First, you have to tell me something. Who in the world named your horse after some god-awful book?” Luke asked in jest. Jena glared at him.

“I did,” she answered, her hands on her hips as she stood up taller, trying to look him in the eye. “And it isn’t a dumb book. In fact, it is my favorite.”

“I didn’t say it was dumb. I said it was god-awful. There is a difference, you know,” he said, breaking off a piece of brownie and handing it over to her. She popped the morsel into her mouth, then took her seat on the hay bale Luke had pulled into the aisle for them.

“I had to read it for school. Everyone in class hated it, but I saw a certain beauty in it. I mean, Gatsby did everything out of love and paid for it in the end. And Daisy… I mean, why did she do what she did? Why did she let the men and the money control her like she did?” Jena reached over and snagged another piece of brownie from Luke, sitting next to her. When he didn’t respond, she continued. “I also think the story tries to say that no matter how hard you work, you can’t always make your dreams happen.”

“Well, that’s depressing,” Luke said, eating a piece of the brownie. “You don’t think that is a little bit depressing?”

“I think it shows that love is more important. Gatsby may have gotten it in the end, but at least he had love and was happy. What did Daisy have in the end? Money? She certainly didn’t have love. Maybe love and happiness is more important than reaching a dream. Or, maybe dreams can’t be reached if you don’t have love. If Daisy had only chosen love, her life could have been so different. Would Daisy have had it all if she was willing to take a risk on love?”

“Wow, I don’t think anyone has ever explained it to me like that before. I always just thought it was a dumb book about the rich and famous. And some whiny guy who wanted to spend his money. I never thought it was about dreams and love.”

“That’s what most people don’t understand about it.” Jena nodded and licked the chocolate from her fingers. Luke’s eyes followed them to her mouth, mesmerized. She had a bit of chocolate smeared in the corner of her mouth. He stared at her mouth for a second before reaching up and wiping it with his index finger, slowly. Jena froze at the feel of his touch. It set her skin on fire and her eyes closed. When she opened them, he was gazing at her, and she knew that something between them had changed. Their faces were close and the world around them stopped. She longed for him to kiss her, to touch her again. Her heart fluttered, and she felt like it was going to explode right out of her chest.

“Jena?” When he finally spoke, the sound of his voice was a caress.

“Yes?” Her breath caught in her throat.

“I’m going to kiss you now.” It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t a command. It was a statement. All Jena could do was nod. Her lips parted expectantly and she closed her eyes. His lips were soft against hers. She felt his tongue asking for admittance into her mouth, and she gave it to him. Luke moved a hand up to touch her face, and she reached forward to lay her hand on his chest. Lips met and mouths explored. The kiss was a soft touch. Like a light rain on a hot day. Like a flower, she opened up for him, letting her guard fully down. There was more to him, she could feel it, yet his kiss never got aggressive. Never got to be too much.

Luke pulled away first, and they sat side by side, their foreheads touching, eyes closed, hands on each other.

“I’m sorry,” Luke started to say. “I should have asked you.”

“Don’t apologize. And you did ask. I could have said no, or pushed you away, but I wanted it too.” Jena opened her eyes and pulled away, but just enough for him to see her eyes. There was a softness now when she looked at him. He could still see some lingering sadness, but loved to see how she changed when she looked at him. His hand slid down to her shoulder.

“I told you I was going to kiss you. There’s a difference,” he said. “Oh Jena, I have wanted to do that for so long now. You have no idea what you do to me.” Jena grinned at his admission and felt even more of a shift in their relationship. She was realizing the she had wanted him to do it for a long time as well.

“I think I do know, because I have wanted it, too. You are doing something to me. You make me feel things, and I. . .” He cut her off as he claimed her mouth with his own again.

chapter 14

T
HE SUN SHONE BRIGHTLY AND the birds were awake with song, the perfect cliché for Jena’s mood. She smiled to herself as she stretched. Last night was still on her lips, and her thoughts were of Luke. To think she had believed for so long that he didn’t want to be around her. Clearly, she had been wrong.