Country Bride (Country Brides) (4 page)

“New Jersey isn’t known for its wild cats,” she grinned.

“What is it known for?”

“We have amazing beaches. We have boardwalks that kids love with amusements on them, and there’s this one place I used to visit a lot called Long Beach Island. It’s eighteen miles of white sandy beaches, and you could sit out in the sunshine, staring out at the ocean, getting lost in the serenity and calmness of the waves.”

“I’ve never seen the ocean,” he said, like it wasn’t a big deal.

“What, like ever?”

“Nope, I’ve seen lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, but not the ocean.”

“Oh, it’s amazing, Ty. It’s soothing and calm, and yet has an untamed quality to it. You can look out at it, and it goes on and on and on, and you only see the horizon, nothing on the other side. You absolutely must see the ocean at some time in your life. It’s truly breathtaking, just like your mountains.”

“Your face lights up when you describe it. I can see it means a lot to you.”

“Yeah, the beach is one of my favorite places to be. I’ve got a lot of good memories there.”

“You’re going back there, aren’t you?”  The reality hit him. No matter how much he enjoyed her company, she wasn’t here to stay. She was a temporary resident, and had no intention of making Wyoming her home. Was he foolish to get involved?

“Yeah, I guess I am eventually.” She knew what he was asking her. This wasn’t her home, she wouldn’t be staying.

Silence hung in the air. Could he risk his heart, knowing she’d be walking away, or could he convince her to give up her eastern home and stay out west with him?

The talking grew quiet, the look between them sad. They both knew what it meant. Why grow closer, only to be ripped apart later.

“I’m sorry,” she finally answered, knowing she’d be leaving.

He nodded. “I should be heading back to the farm. I have a few more things to do this week, before heading home.”

“Sure,” she said, understanding it was easier to walk away – easier to face facts – easier to let go before it hurt too much.

“Thanks for dinner,” he said, stopping to pat Molly on the head. “I’ll let myself out.”

Kristin watched him leave, as the future crumbled. She hadn’t felt anything in this past year, nothing had touched her, and yet for a moment, for a second in time she had hope –
hope that she would live and love again.

She heard Ty’s truck pull out of her driveway, and went back to clean the dishes. She should have never risked her heart. It was foolish. She wasn’t even planning on staying in Wyoming. Why would she even think about getting involved? It was immature of her, leading him on, letting him believe they stood a chance, when she knew she was going back to New Jersey.

Cleaning the dishes, with the water running, she didn’t hear him return. The knock at the door took her by surprise.

Opening it, Ty looked at Kristin. “Please just give us a chance,” he said, standing with his heart on his sleeve. “I haven’t felt this way in way too long, and I hate for it to end before we’ve even given it a chance.”

Kristin caught her breath, “I don’t know what to do,” she said, holding the door open so he could follow her inside. “I’m afraid of getting involved and then what happens when it’s time for me to leave?”

“Nothing says you have to leave.”

“My home isn’t here.”

“It could be,” he said, looking down, “if you wanted it to be.”

She didn’t know what to say. They were still getting to know one another, and he wanted her to consider staying – for good. “I can’t look that far ahead, Ty. I like you, but we’re only getting to know one another.”

“Just give us a chance. If it doesn’t work out, you leave, and if it does, you consider staying. You don’t have to make any decisions now, but I’m not ready to say good-bye.”

Kristin sat on the edge of the sofa, dropping her head in her hands. “I’m not sure what to do.”

Kneeling down before her, he took her hand, “Kristin, I know you feel it too.”

She looked into Ty’s eyes, and felt the familiar warmth go through her, the one that said she wanted him. “We can try,” she said quietly, “but we need to go slowly. I don’t want to be a fool to my heart. I need to use my head.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her up to standing. Wrapping his arms around her, “Thank you,” he whispered, “thank you.” His heart hadn’t felt this full in ages. He didn’t know what it was about this woman, but she filled a void that had been empty within him for far too long.

Looking up into his eyes, he sweetly kissed her forehead. “I should go. I need to get back to the farm, but when I get back next week, maybe we can get together.”

“I’d like that,” she smiled softly.

His lips met Kristin’s, and sharing a small, sweet kiss, they parted. Passion was brewing, but they weren’t in a hurry, and knew it was safer to move slowly. He didn’t want to push her away, when she’d only just opened her arms and heart to him.

Heading
back to his truck; this time Ty felt like his entire world had brightened just a little bit.

She couldn’t think about the future, she’d only think about today. They had time right? She’d be here for at least for most of the year. Besides, maybe they’d run their course, have a small fling, and then go their own ways. Only something told her this was different, something she didn’t understand. She only knew that she wanted to be around him, and when he was here, she felt comfortable, safe, and secure. She hadn’t felt that way in a very long time.

She went back to the sink to finish the dishes, and without thinking, dipping her hands into the soapy water, sliced her finger with a steak knife. Snapping her hand out of the sink on contact, she checked it. Quickly pulling the drain, she turned the water on and rinse
d the cut. She scolded herself over her carelessness, and checked it again. It was in moments like these that she realized how far away from town she was. Thankfully it wasn’t deep enough to need stitches, but what if it was? She’d have to drive at least forty minutes into town, and she didn’t even have a clue where the nearest hospital was if it was an emergency.

Her good mood slid away, the moment of elation with Ty turned into frustration once again realizing that living in Wyoming was a different world that her suburbia in New Jersey. Maybe if she lived near a larger city, but that damn dart landed on Chester Hills and she never put much thought into how remote it was. It was a good enough reason for her to come out here, but it didn’t mean she had to stay.

But she would stay, Ty was here, her heart told her she wanted to spend time with him, but her fondness for Wyoming, or at least this portion of the state was wearing thin. There was wildlife, dangerous wildlife, roaming freely around the area, amenities were far, and what if there was an emergency? And she most certainly wasn’t looking forward to the weather – winter would be an eye opener living this far out of town. She didn’t think this through…and realized it was a mistake.

Maybe fate had brought her here. Maybe she was supposed to meet Ty, but Kristin couldn’t honestly see herself staying here. This didn’t feel like home, and as much as she loved the peaceful feeling she got much of the time, she missed her shopping malls, franchise restaurants, and gas stations on every corner just the same.

Digging through the drawers and cabinets, she found a bandage wedged in the corner of the bathroom vanity drawer. Pulling the adhesive strip onto her finger, she dropped onto the sofa, feeling frustrated that her mind jumped back and forth between wanting to spend time with Ty, and knowing that Ty called Wyoming home.

She told him they could try, they could take things slowly, and she wanted to. She wanted to spend time with him. He made her heart sing, but what did their future hold if he wanted to stay in Wyoming and she went back to New Jersey? Shaking her head, she forced herself to think about something else, anything else. When it came down to it, she could only take it one day at a time, and couldn’t control the outcome. She’d just see where things went.

Ty drove back to the farm, excited that she was ready to move forward. He didn’t know what the future held for them, but he knew he wanted to spend time with her. Kristin made him happy. When he’d see her, his face would light up with a smile. His heart felt full, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and sweep her off her feet. He wanted to kiss her passionately, make her his own. One day at a time, he reminded himself, one day at a time.

He’d be back in a week’s time, and they’d have dinner. He had plenty of time to think about things, and plenty of time to figure out how to convince her to stay.

When he returned, he brought her flowers. He’d picked out some daisies, and cleaned up before going to see her. Only on knocking she wasn’t there. He should have called first, she was probably in town. He decided to wait on the swing, only when she still didn’t show for a while, he headed home, leaving the flowers on the swing. At least she’d see he’d been here.

When he still didn’t hear from her, he started to worry. She should have been home by now. She would have called. He tried to reach her, but she didn’t answer, damn spotty signal.

He drove over again, but the flowers were right where he’d left them. He looked in the window, but couldn’t see anything noticeable. He couldn’t see Molly. Her truck was gone, so she obviously wasn’t here. He drove into town, looking for her, but still couldn’t find her. He didn’t pass her on the roads, she wasn’t parked in town.

His heart dropped. Did she get scared? Did she run away, going back home? Ty’s stomach knotted up, as he turned his truck back home. A lump sat in his throat. She was nowhere to be found. She hadn’t called and left him a message, and he knew she was scared. Had he pushed her too hard, sharing his feeling so soon, kissing her, holding her…did she need to escape from her own emotions?

When Kristin got home, she saw the flowers on the swing. She smiled, sorry that she’d missed him. It was too late to call him now. She’d call in the morning. If she hadn’t cracked her tooth on that walnut, she wouldn’t have had to go a couple towns over looking for a dentist who was open late and could take her in. The drive was crazy enough, trying to find her way to an area she’d never been, and then she got lost trying to find her way home. Thankfully he’d been able to put a temporary crown over it. She felt so much better, and was grateful the dentist fit her in on such short notice.

She was proud of herself for staying calm and figuring out what to do. Her own small town didn’t have a dentist. Settling in for the night, she propped the flowers up in a vase of water. She hadn’t expected him, it was a nice surprise. She wished she would have been here to see him. Kristin was excited to be back in Ty’s arms, finally knowing it’s where she belonged – at least for now.

Kristin fell asleep with a smile on her face. Ty fell asleep uncertain of his future.

When the sun rose, he had to check on her one last time, even if to make himself feel better. She wouldn’t have left without saying good-bye, right? On driving over, thousands of thoughts ran through his mind, and on driving down her road, his stomach clenched as he got closer, afraid her driveway would still be empty.

Relief swam through his veins on seeing her truck parked in the driveway. She hadn’t left him already, she didn’t run away scared. Was it too early to knock?

A gentle tap at the door had Molly barking, alerting her somebody was there. Rolling over, looking at the clock, Kristin saw it was only six-thirty. Who would stop by so early? Dragging herself out of bed, she went to answer the door.

“Ty?”

“Thank goodness you’re okay,” he said, taking her in his arms.

“And I’m happy to see you too, but it’s six-thirty,” she pointed out.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see your truck last night, and then it got dark, you still weren’t back. I was worried, wondering if maybe you’d left.”

“Left? Like left Wyoming?”

He looked at her, “I thought maybe you were scared.”

“I am scared,” Kristin said, “but only because I can’t turn off what I’m feeling.”

He pulled her tighter, wrapping her in his arms. “I was worried.”

“I broke my tooth on a walnut,” she laughed. “I had to go find a dentist and get a temporary crown. The nerve was exposed and it hurt pretty badly.”

“Are you okay now?”

“Yeah, much better, thankfully I was able to find somebody over in Lawrence that could fit me in. My replacement will be here in about two weeks he said.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, you can go back to sleep. I didn’t mean to wake you; I just needed to know you were okay.”

“That’s sweet of you. Can you stay for a bit? I can make some coffee.”

“It’s not a bother?”

“Not at all, I’m just going to let Molly out to relieve herself, and then I’ll start a pot of coffee.”

“I have appointments starting at nine o’clock this morning.”

“I’ll have you out of here in no time,” she smiled.

“It’s a nice treat to see you.”

“I didn’t know you’d be home already.”

“Yep, wrapped up at the farm, and Dad is feeling like himself again. He sent me on my way.”

On letting Molly back in, she washed up and started a pot of coffee. Sitting at the table with Ty, Kristin was happy. It was nice to see him again. She’d missed him and thought of the last time he was here, wrapped in his arms, his lips on hers.

There was an awkward dance by the coffee pot. As she got up, he did as well, following her.

She looked at him, and put the coffee pot back down. He pulled her closer, his arms closing around her. She could hear him breathing, and with her head to his chest, heard his heart beating loudly for her.

Tipping her head up, she looked into his eyes. She wanted this, they both wanted this, and now there was nothing holding them back.

Ty leaned down, parting his lips, and drinking her in
, kissed the girl from New Jersey. Kristin picked up hints of his cologne, melting into him.

When her phone rang, it startled them both. It was early, who would be calling at this time. “I’m sorry,” she said breaking free.

Picking up the phone, she was surprised to hear her father’s voice. “What? When? Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“What’s going on?”

“My mother, she fell and hurt her hip. I need to go help her.”

“You’re leaving.”

Her stomach churned, “I have to.”

Ty’s chest felt tight.  Barely audible, “Will you be back?”

“I don’t know,” she looked down. “I don’t know how bad it is, but my dad asked me to come home and help. Could you watch Molly for a few days? I’d like to fly out and get there faster, see how she is. Once I know that, I’ll know whether it’s temporary or if I’ll be heading back east.”

Ty tried to swallow. At least with Molly here, she’d be returning. “Sure,” he said. “She can come to work with me today.”

Kristin dug out her keys and gave Ty a spare. “If you need anything, here’s the key. I’m so sorry. I’ll try to get back in a few days. I’ll know more after I get there.”

“Right, I hope she’s okay.”

“Me too,” she said, turning to her room. She started pulling things from the drawers and closet, and threw together a suitcase. She lowered her head, “I’m sorry about the timing.”

“Not much you can do about that,” he said, hoping she’d be coming back to stay.

Turning off the coffee pot, she poured two mugs. “I’m going to go straight to the airport, and just try to catch a standby flight.” She shook her head laughing in frustration. “I don’t even know where the airport is.”

“It’s about two hours out. I’ll give you directions before you leave.”

“I need to get a GPS,” she frowned.

“It won’t help you much out in these parts. The paved roads are on it, but I’m guessing most of our dirt roads won’t be listed.”

“I’m sorry I have to leave.”

“It’s the right thing to do. Your mother needs your help.”