Divine Mortals (22 page)

His posture relaxed again and he turned one of his heart stopping smiles my way, the kind that made all conscious thought disappear. Reaching out to me he gently ran his fingers down my cheek, his touch leaving a burning trail across my skin.

“I’m glad to hear it.” he said softly.

We pulled up next to the diner and went in, it was a little busier than the last time I was here. The cowgirl behind the counter raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw us, whether at Robert or at me or the fact we were here together I wasn’t sure, but I suddenly realized there would be no escaping this info getting back to my Grandparents upon their return.

The Huntington gossip mill was about to go into overdrive.

We ordered and I excused myself to the bathroom while Robert went to find us a table. I returned quickly, scanning the diner to see where he sat, he was hard to miss, he had a presence, lighting the area wherever he was, drawing me to him in a way I couldn’t explain. As I started towards him the bell on the door sounded and Sally came with an older woman who could only be her mother, she was very attractive with the same eyes and button nose as Sally.

I watched, a little detached and even still slightly jealous as Sallys eyes lightened on Robert, she was gorgeous, surely he must see that. She said something to her mother who carried on towards the counter before weaving her way over to where Robert sat against the wall.

I let my breath out slowly and made my way towards our table.

“Hi Robert, how are you?” her voice was light and flirtatious.

“Ah, I’m fine, How are you?” Robert looked instantly uncomfortable, withdrawing into himself the way he used to when he spoke to me. His eyes flicked briefly to me as I came up behind her, a smile flashing across his face. Sally saw this and turned to follow his gaze, her eyes landing on me just moments after his.

“Hey Ava, What are you…” her smile stopped, frozen on her face as she realized,

“Oh…
right,
” her tone lost all friendliness, verging on cold, “you two are here together?”

I looked past her for a moment, back towards Robert, who shrugged and gave me an apologetic look before I turned quickly back to her.

“Ah yeah…” I answered, forcing a large smile onto my face and sounding as friendly as I could.

“Do you want to join us there’s plenty of room, we only just ordered.”

“No.” her eyes burned into mine, I could see the betrayal she felt simmering just below the surface.

“Holding out aye?” Her eyes narrowed, “I’ll leave you to your date.” she almost spat the last word at me before turning sharply on her heel, back towards the table her mother was sitting at. I watched her go, feeling awful, I knew how she felt about Robert, Geez I had encouraged her in the beginning, even telling her to ask him to the ball and then she finds me here with him, little wonder she felt betrayed. I
had
betrayed her. What sort of person was I!

I sat heavily, Robert watched, his eyes troubled.

“I’m a terrible friend.” I groaned, sinking my face into my hands.

“You’re not.” he spoke gently, his hand reached towards mine, then his eyes flicked to the table across the diner and he thought better of it, reluctantly pulling back.

“Oh yes I am, you know as well as I do how much she liked,
likes
you and now it looks like I’ve swooped in and stolen you.”

He laughed softly at this.

“I wasn’t anyone’s to steal Ava.”

“Oh you know what I mean,” I groaned, “I’m sorry,” I added quickly, “It’s just, I don’t want her to be angry with me, Sally’s the only girlfriend I have here.”

“She’ll come round, just give her a few days and then go and see her or give her a call,” he paused looking thoughtful, “She doesn’t even know me, how can she
like
me?”

I snorted back a laugh at his apparent naivety,

“It’s not your personality that draws people in, trust me.”

He looked a little embarrassed at this but didn’t ask any more questions, instead, ever the gentleman, Robert went to the counter and asked for our order to be changed to take out. Luckily our food arrived quickly and we left as soon as we could, neither of us comfortable with Sally’s scowling expression from across the room.

“Ava stop worrying,” Roberts smooth voice broke through my internal monologue as we drove back towards the ranch, I had been in the self-satisfying process of thoroughly beating myself up over Sally.

“I’m sorry, I just… dammit Robert, why didn’t I tell Sal about us.”

“Because there’s no need to,” he put in logically, “Sally and I were never anything, if she had a crush on me then I’m sorry if she’s upset but you don’t owe her anything, she’ll get over it.”

“I know but I did try and talk her into asking you to the ball, I must look like a total two faced Bitch.”

Robert chuckled, “You’re not a bitch.”

“You’re biased.”

“I suppose I am, but it still stands, I don’t think you’re a bitch.”

We arrived back at the house, Robert was out of the truck and opening the door for me before I had even reached to unfasten my seatbelt.

“You are so fast,” I marveled once more, taking the hand he offered and climbing out.

“You’re only just realizing now?” he laughed playfully, letting go of my hand and circling the entire yard area twice before coming to an abrupt stop in front of me, it had taken less than four seconds.

“Hmmm, interesting…” I murmured, trying to look blasé,

“What’s interesting?” he led me up the steps and into the house flicking the lights on as we walked down the hallway towards the kitchen.

“I was just wondering what the Olympic officials would make of you if you ever trialed for any athletics events.”

“Ha ha.” he laughed sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Grabbing some cutlery we headed into the lounge to eat.

A while later I put my fork down and stretched back against the sofa, thoroughly bloated.

“Since it’s our last night of freedom, what would you like to do?”

He considered for a moment, “Maybe we could watch a movie?”

“That’s seems pretty normal.”

“Well I’m a normal guy.”

“That’s stretching the truth just a little isn’t it.” I smiled, stretching myself full length along the couch.

He smiled back,

“It doesn’t mean I don’t like doing normal things with my girlfriend.” I thrilled at the word and turned away from him quickly so he couldn’t read it on my face, I didn’t want to make a complete fool of myself.

“What do you want to watch then?” I asked, picking up the television guide and flicking to the new release movie channels.

“On second thoughts,” his voice was right next to my ear, his breath warm on my neck, I smiled and leaned into him as his arms come around me. He lifted me gently and before I could register what was happening we were out of the house and sprinting across the paddocks in the dark.

My stomach swirled with a strange sense of vertigo and motion sickness even though it was too dark to see the world flying by. I could barely tell which way was up and which was down, burying my head against his chest I closed my eyes.

“Where are we going?” I murmured into his sweater, knowing he would hear.

“You’ll see.” he laughed and began to move even faster. Within a few minutes or so we stopped and Robert put me down, it took another minute before my head stopped spinning and I could get up from where I had flopped to the ground, a nauseous mess. Tonight was a full moon, its glow lit the dark in an array of silver beauty, Roberts golden hair took on a silver glow and he smiled at me broadly.

“Where are we?”

“This,” he gestured behind me, “Is somewhere I like to come on my own sometimes.”

I turned and looked back the way he pointed, in the distance was an enormous waterfall, the spray reflecting a pale glowing mist in the moonlight as it tumbled hundreds of feet down a rocky face into the dark pool below. Trees lined either side of the falls, like tall dark guardians against the night sky.

Guardians. I glanced at Robert, who was watching me.

We were in a small clearing completely surrounded by thick forest, so alone, so private, and so completely isolated from anything human. We could have been the last two people on earth and not known it.

“It’s so beautiful.” I breathed, Robert took my hand and pulled me down onto the grass with him. We lay on our backs staring up at the thousands of stars that dotted the sky, so close and so bright that I felt if I reached out, I would be able to touch them.

“Is this better than a movie then?”

“Hmmmm,” I sighed with faux thoughtfulness, “Maybe not better than Avatar.”

“Hey!”

“Just kidding,” I laughed, kissing him softly, “This beats the hell out of any movie.”

I
was in extremely high spirits today, everything seemed to have a glow of wonder to it. Nan and Pop had returned really early this morning, Pop, anxious to inspect the stables, had badgered Nan into leaving Denver at dawn. The night at the waterfall had been amazing we had stayed at the falls for hours, talking of our pasts and laughing, returning back home so late I had fallen instantly asleep, with Robert, hot as a glowing ember, on the bed next to me. I finally pulled myself out of bed, knowing I had slept late and feeling instantly guilty when I looked at the time.

Wolfing down breakfast I put my iPod on and sidled out the house in a quick and no doubt terrible imitation of the moon walk.

“Good Morning Billie Jean,”

I almost leapt out of my skin, pulling the earphones out in one quick jerk to find Robert standing at the base of the stairs, I felt my cheeks catch fire.

“Is Fred in there?” he asked politely, not mentioning my burning face or Michael Jackson moves, however a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“No,” I answered sweetly, my cheeks beginning to return to a normal temperature.

“Do you want to come in anyway?”

This time he did smile,

“Perhaps later, I’ve got things to do now, namely building a stable.” he cocked one arched blonde brow at me.

“Maybe I could help.”

“Maybe you could…” he eyed me speculatively, taking in my small frame and pathetically weak arms.

“I could hold a bag of nails at least.” I shrugged innocently,

“Come on.” he chuckled, holding his hand out to me, I took the stairs quickly, grabbing his hand, he gave it a quick squeeze and then let go, we hadn’t gone ‘public’ yet so it was probably best not to let Pop find out by seeing it from across the yard. Suddenly, in my state of ignorant bliss, my foot slipped from under me, Robert caught me just an inch from sprawling face first in the dirt. Standing me back upright he snickered to himself as he helped brush the dust from my pants, that was when I noticed two things, the first was the stock code on the pile of Timber, written in ten inch high lettering, GH425, go figure. The second was the reason I had slipped, a large pile of fresh green cow manure, which was now smeared all over my left boot.

The glow of wonder I had woken with this morning lessened a little.

After a quick trip back inside to change my boots and an innocent stroll past the tree in the cattle yard to determine that there was in fact a nest of birds in it, although who knew what sort, woodpecker or not, the day passed quickly. All hands were on deck to help rebuild the stable, even a few of the workers from neighbouring ranches turned up after lunch to help, by the time we called it quits the entire frame was up as well as the roof.

Pop was speaking to Shaun gesticulating madly towards what would be the eastern wall, the four other men from neighbouring ranches had left and Robert was gathering up the tools to take back to the shed, I made my way nonchalantly over to him bending to gather an arm load as well.

“Not bad for a day’s work I guess?”

He chuckled, “Not bad for you guys I suppose.”

“Oh and I suppose you would have been finished?” I asked, grunting a little as I swung the heavy bag of tools over my shoulder.

“I would have been finished by mid-morning.” he smiled his unbearably beautiful smile before lifting the rest of the tools far too easily, “And I would have managed the rest of the chores by lunch.”

“Well,” I grinned, trying to picture this, “Perhaps you should tell Pop to fire Jed and Shawn and run the place yourself.”

He laughed a long deep laugh startling me, I had never heard him like this in front of the others before, I guess they hadn’t either, both of the erstwhile builders paused and glanced up curiously.

We made it to the cover of the shed, briefly out of sight of the others and I gladly surrendered my heavy bag to Robert who placed it on the shelf where it belonged.

“You know,” he spoke easily, the laughter still present in his voice, “You really should go inside, it’s far too tempting to kiss you when we’re alone and if anyone gets fired I imagine it will be me, when Fred finds me harassing his granddaughter.”

My voice caught and my heart beat a little faster, he seemed to be able to send my pulse into overdrive.

“It wouldn’t be harassment,” I smiled up at him sweetly, his arm moved in a flash bringing his hand against my face, he let the back of his fingers trail gently down my cheeks, my heart rate sped again, I wondered briefly if he could hear it.

Then as quickly as it was there, his hand was gone. And so was he, I stood blinking, a little confused, a split second later Pop and Shawn appeared at the front of the shed.

“Where’s Robert?” Pop asked squinting into the dim interior, twilight had ended and it was almost completely dark. I tried to gather myself, I knew my thoughts always showed far too clearly on my face, I was thankful that my expression was hidden in the gathering shadows.

“Err, he said he had something to do and disappeared.” literally!

“Probably gone to check on Bell, she’s due to foal in a few weeks,” Shawn offered.

“Hmm,” Pop gave me a thoughtful look, I dodged his gaze, staring at the ground and moving off towards the house where the light in the windows held promise of a delicious dinner.

Pop followed me through the darkness, I was very aware of his towering presence just a few steps behind me as well as the look he had given me just moments earlier. I paused outside the back door bending to remove the steel capped work boots Pop had insisted I wear.