thirtieth wedding anniversary, a hundred family members and friends in attendance to join them in celebrating. Dear friends of the Stuarts, Aubrey had known “Uncle” Jesse and “Aunt” Maureen practically her entire life. She remembered being deeply touched at the way they gazed sweetly into each other’s faces. How wonderful it must be, she’d thought, to still be in love after so many years.
But then another, different image of Jesse’s and Maureen’s faces came to her. Broken and battered and covered in blood. Less than a week after the anniversary celebration, the couple had been brought into the E.R. while Aubrey was on duty, victims of an automobile accident. Upon glimpsing them, Aubrey had froze.
All of the E.R.’s staff vast skill and expertise proved in-adequate. They couldn’t save her parents’ friends. Within the hour, Uncle Jesse and Aunt Maureen were both dead.
Aubrey lost more than two patients and more than two family friends that sad and terrible day. She lost a part of herself. And though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, she was terribly afraid she might never find it again.
“Hey, you okay?” Gage reached over and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a gesture so familiar, Aubrey’s heart ached. He let his fingers linger. “You seemed lost for a second there.”
He couldn’t be any closer to the truth.
Something stirred inside her at the intimate contact, and it wasn’t revulsion. Her eyes involuntarily sought his. Emotions, some old, some new, filled her. Without intending to, she let out a soft, “Oh.”
A horn beeped, then another. The moment, or whatever it was, abruptly ended.
Gage grabbed his hat off the dash and swung around. “Traffic’s moving. I’d better get back to my truck.”
“I think that’s a wise idea.” Aubrey started the SUV with shaky fingers. She was never so glad to be surrounded by rude and impatient drivers.
“How about you and me pick this up later where we left off?” Without waiting for her answer, he stepped outside.
Another chorus of horns blared. Aubrey began to inch ahead, forcing Gage to slam the door shut. “How about we not?” she muttered under her breath.
In the next instant, he was on the run, his arm raised high in a parting wave.
Aubrey let out a frustrated grumble. Five minutes alone with him and look what happened. She let him touch her and stare at her…and…comfort her. Did she not possess so much as a smidgen of self-control?
GAGE PICKED UP his cell phone and punched in his friend’s number.
“KSLN newsroom.”
“Marty, it’s me.”
“Hey, buddy. What have you got?”
“Traffic’s moving,” Gage said. “Slow, but steady. I’ll let you know more when I reach the accident scene.”
“The tow truck just hit town. Should be in your vicinity within the next few minutes. My guess is only the northbound lane’s open.”
“Nothing coming at me, so I’d say you’re right.”
Gage kept Aubrey’s silver SUV in sight. He planned on tailing her the entire way to Blue Ridge. The road was notoriously rough in places and in her present distracted state of mind, she might not be paying close attention.
“Did you hear the latest on the Denver fire?” Marty asked.
“Got the call a half hour ago. Thirty-five percent contained as of this afternoon. Assuming the weather holds, it’ll be fifty percent by the morning.”
“Kelli’s already unpacked my bags. She was furious I might miss our six-month anniversary.”
“Newlyweds. Every month is a reason to celebrate.”
“That’s fine with me.” Marty chuckled. “Kelli really knows how to celebrate, if you catch my drift.”
Gage did. All too vividly, in light of his recent encounter with Aubrey.
“You disappointed about the fire?” Marty asked.
“Not at all.”
“Huh! I figured you’d be raring to go. It’s been almost two weeks since the last one.”
“Aubrey arrived today.”
“Ah. That’s right. The ex-wife is back in town. How’d it go?”
“Good and bad.” Gage gunned the accelerator and passed a van. Only three vehicles now separated him and Aubrey’s SUV. “Good because she let me get within ten feet of her without clamming up. Not that she talked a mile a minute.”
“And bad because…?”
“She looks great.” And feels great, too. Gage’s fingers still tingled from when he’d brushed her hair back from her face.
“Gage,” Marty said, his tone patient. “Need I remind you the lady ran out on you without so much as a ‘see ya around, it’s been swell’?”
“She didn’t run out on me. The divorce was a mutual decision.”
“Thanks to her father’s interference.”
“Can’t blame him for everything. If she’d really wanted to stay married to me, she wouldn’t have left.” Or, I could have gone with her, thought Gage. “But I see your point.”
“You were a walking train wreck afterward. Are you sure you want to put yourself out there again?”
“No. But you should have seen her.”
Gage recalled Aubrey hurrying across the gas station parking lot. Short denim skirt. Short little top. Short red hair. The only thing long about her had been her legs. He’d never seen so much of their tanned length exposed in public. The Aubrey he remembered lacked the confidence to show off her body. Gage had to admit he liked the change in her.
In fact, everything about her was different, including her green eyes. They were the same color, but their former vividness had been replaced by wariness and a sadness he didn’t think had anything to do with him or their breakup.
He often wondered what might have become of them if her father hadn’t shown up that night, waving a carrot in front of Aubrey’s face. Her decision to return to college hurt Gage, but the passing years had given him an adult perspective he lacked at twenty. He understood, at least in part, some of her reasons and didn’t disagree with them.
Blue Ridge offered little opportunity for anyone with an ambition outside of ranching. He of all people knew that. Aubrey dreamt of following in her father’s footsteps her whole life. Bombing her first year at college took a little of the wind from her sails, but it hadn’t thrown her off course.
No, Gage did that when he proposed marriage.
Marty made a disgruntled sound into the phone, distracting Gage.
“Be
