Once Upon a Groom

In a quiet voice, she asked, “Where has your heart gone, Zack? You talk as if you have nothing but your work. Is that the way it is?”

“Work is everything, isn’t it, Jenny? Isn’t that why you stay here? What else do you have?”

She was quick to answer. “I have Silas. I also have friends and a sense of belonging in Miners Bluff. I have a life here, Zack. All of that is more important to me than just work.”

Zack’s cell phone buzzed and he was actually relieved for the interruption. Taking it from his belt, he checked the caller ID. “Speaking of friends, it’s Dawson. He’s returning my call. I’d better take this.”

Jenny studied him as if she hadn’t expected him to stay in touch with old friends.

He explained quickly, “Dawson, Clay and I kept in touch over the years. Dawson flies out for Lakers games now and then. Clay sends me photos and video clips of Abby. I can’t believe she’s growing as fast as she is.”

He opened his cell and would have passed Jenny without a glance, but she caught his arm, saying, “You stay. I’ll go.” The impression of her fingers burned through his sweater. The room felt hot and he knew it was definitely time to put distance between the two of them.

She hesitated as if she wanted to say so much more, but clearly thought better of it as she released his arm. “I’ll see how Silas is making out with that list.”

Zack wished she would take his memories and regrets with her.

“Hey, Dawson,” Zack said, watching Jenny leave the room. The scent of jasmine that always seemed to surround her still lingered in the air.

“Sorry for the phone tag,” Dawson apologized. “Construction’s picking up again and we’re swamped.”

“How’s Luke?”

There was a long hesitation on Dawson’s part, as if he didn’t talk about his son easily these days. It had been over a year and a half since Dawson’s wife died and Zack knew the boy was having problems getting over his mom’s death. Dawson had talked to him about it when Luke’s school grades had tanked, when he’d started getting in trouble, when Dawson was at his wit’s end because counselors hadn’t seemed able to help.

“That’s why I’m calling, Zack. Come January and the start of a new school term, I’m going to move us back to Miners Bluff.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, I’m not. I’ve been considering it ever since I spoke to Mikala Conti at the reunion. You know she’s a music therapist.”

“I knew she was a counselor. I just didn’t realize what her specialty was.”

“Luke is into music. He spends more time with the piano and his iPod than with schoolwork or with me. When I mentioned that to Mikala, she said it could be a starting point. I’m willing to give anything a shot. Nothing here is helping.”

Zack knew Dawson’s life in Phoenix was high stress, long hours, with lots of monetary rewards. He had a huge house in Fountain Hills and more money than he’d ever need. But money wasn’t doing his son any good.

“Luke needs a supportive community around him,” Dawson continued. “And Mikala has a high success rate, according to the psychologist who has been treating Luke here. If Mikala could just get him started turning around so that he and I could at least communicate, that would mean everything.”

“What about the business?”

“I can handle it lots of ways. Dad’s a great manager when it comes to my crews. I can run everything long distance, at least temporarily. I have to try this, Zack, because I don’t know what else to do. It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt powerless. I hate it.”

Dawson was the CEO of his own construction company. He handled workers, payrolls, new design projects, architects. Zack had an idea of his frustration now.

“I’m back in Miners Bluff for the moment,” he revealed to his friend.

“You’re kidding! You’ve been away for years, now suddenly two visits in a few months? What happened?”

“Dad had a heart attack.”

“Zack, I’m sorry. How is he?”

“He just came home today. I’m going to be here for the next few weeks, so if there’s anything you need to know before you make the move, just give me a call.”

“Do you have work to keep you busy while you’re there?”

“Some. There’s a new project I’m thinking about doing. I can do a lot of the research from here.”

“Give your dad my regards.”

“I’ll do that. And you call me if you need anything.”

“I will. I’ll be driving up there some time after the first of the year to look at the school. If you’re still there—”

“No way will I still be here.”

Dawson chuckled. “Try not to go stir crazy. I’ll give you a call in a couple of weeks to see how your dad is.”

“Thanks, Dawson. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Zack closed his phone and clipped it onto his belt, wishing he could do something concrete to help his friend. He couldn’t imagine having a child and watching him suffer.

He hadn’t thought much about being a father … until now. He didn’t date women who had motherhood on their minds. Maybe he should think about dating a different type of woman. A woman like …

Jenny?

No, he told himself. They were over.

Chapter Three

Golden sunrise drifted over the pastures of the Rocky D, defying the colder weather that had moved in since the beginning of November. Jenny loved early mornings this time of year, when one season teetered on the brink of another. This early, Silas’s three permanent hands, Hank, Tate and Ben, were already at work. The horses weren’t yet restless to be let out, to be let free. She could forget about what problems the day might bring with Zack and Silas under the same roof and have some time for herself.

She led Songbird from her stall, rubbed her nose and asked conversationally, “Ready for a rough and tumble ride?”

“And just what is a rough and tumble ride?” a deep male voice asked from behind.

Jenny turned and saw Zack coming down the walkway.

“You’re up early,” she said lightly, ignoring her racing heart.

“I usually am. I thought I’d go for a ride instead of doing an early-morning workout. Mind if I join you?”

Had anyone told Zack she rode every morning? Had he come out here purposely to talk to her about something? He seemed to be waiting for an answer so she responded, “I don’t mind. Which horse would you like?”

“Tattoo.”

He’d already picked one out? “How do you know you’re compatible?”