He’d texted her early in the morning asking her to meet him near their favorite spot by the river. As she walked down the path, quiet in the early hours of the day, she felt her stomach doing flip flops. She hadn’t felt this way since their first date all those years ago.

The morning sun was peeking down between the trees, lighting up the pine straw on the pathway, making it look like little strands of gold in front of her.

And there he was, sitting on the split rail fence, the rays of sun lighting him up front behind like some kind of Southern cowboy angel. His hair, still so wavy and thick, looked speckled with flecks of gold.

He said nothing. He just smiled that dimpled smile and waved her over. His cane was nowhere to be seen, and he was wearing those rugged cowboy boots and dusty blue jeans she’d always loved so much.

She walked toward him, and he swiftly pulled her up beside him, staring into her eyes without saying a word. Just as she was about to ask him why he’d called her there, he slipped his right hand into her hair, pulling her lips to his. It felt so familiar, so warm, so welcoming. His tongue slowly made its way between her parted lips, ever so gently touching hers…

“Emmy! Wake up!”

Emmy slowly opened her eyes, begging God and any other entities in the Universe to let her see a handsome face. Instead, it was her mother standing over her in the living room where she’d apparently fallen asleep after work.

“Jeez, do you have to yell so loudly, Mother?” She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “And turn down that TV! We need to get your hearing checked.”

“I turned it up to try to wake you up, but nothing was working. Good Lord, I almost called the paramedics.” Pauline sat down next to her and grinned.

“What?”

“So who was he?”

“Who was who?”

“The man in your dream.”

Emmy’s eyes opened wider as she stared at her mother. How had those shots given her magical powers to see inside of Emmy’s dreams?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emmy said as she stood up and walked to the kitchen.

“Uh huh, sure. Then why were you smiling so big?”

“If I was smiling so big, then why on Earth did you wake me up from what was obviously a good dream?” Emmy asked as she poured herself a much-needed cup of coffee.

Pauline laughed. “It was Nash, wasn’t it?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Well, because you just blushed when I mentioned his name. And because Hester Jenkins saw you two going to the river the other day. And we all know what goes on down at the river…”

“Mother! Nothing of the sort is going on between me and Nash. It was simply a field trip to help with his rehab.”

Pauline crossed her arms and stared at her daughter. “You deserve more than this, Emmy.”

Emmy looked at her mother, and for the first time in years, she felt a motherly presence from her. She’d gotten used to being in the parent role, but it was nice to hear her talk this way.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that Nash is your soul mate, and he made some big mistakes back then. But marrying that idiot, Steve, was a big mistake you made. Now you both have a second chance.”

“No, we don’t. Nash wants to go back to his Vegas life. And I have a life in Atlanta.”

“No you don’t, Emmy. You and I both know that. I’m not so old that I can’t see what’s happening right in front of me. You love Whiskey Ridge, and you only left because of the memories all those years ago. Now that you’re back, you smile more. You laugh more. You love your job, don’t you?”

Emmy sighed. “Yes, I do love it. But… and please don’t take offense to this… I’d consider my life a failure if I came home to Whiskey Ridge and lived with my mother at my age.”

Pauline chuckled. “Well, honey… and don’t take offense to this… I don’t want to live with you either.”

“Mom!”

“Well, I don’t. Look, Emmy, we’re very different. I can’t stand not having my collections in my house, and I might want to entertain…”

“Gross.”

“Hey, I’m not dead yet, and it might interest you to know that a few suitors are interested in me.”

“Please stop talking,” Emmy said, putting her head in her hands. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. Her mother really was a firecracker.

“It’s time for you to start over, Emmy. I don’t need you hovering over me anymore. These shots are helping, and if you stay in Whiskey Ridge, you can check in on me from time to time. Just call first.”

“Good Lord.”

Pauline giggled and reached across the breakfast bar for her daughter’s hand. “You’re young. Don’t waste time fretting over the past. Embrace the present.”

“Have you been watching self improvement videos again?”

“Maybe, but that’s neither here nor there. Listen, I’ve got plans tonight so I’m heading out for the evening.”

“Plans?” Emmy asked as she followed her mother to the front door.

“Edgar Winston invited me to bingo at the VFW. Don’t wait up,” she said with a grin as she walked out the front door with one of her big gaudy purses slung over her shoulder.

Emmy decided then and there that her mother was right. She had to start living again. The question was where she would live and who would be in her life.

* * *

“Pull as hard as you can,” Emmy said as Nash tugged on the pulley. Getting him on the weight machines had helped a lot in the last couple of weeks. He was getting his strength back much quicker than anticipated and now rarely needed his cane unless they were walking long distances.

Nash let go of the pulley and wiped his brow as the metal clanged against the machine. “Dang, that one almost killed me! What are you trying to do to me?”

Emmy smiled. “Well, you see, it’s my dream to slowly kill you by increasing the weight at each visit until the machine topples over on top of you.” She did her best evil laugh and threw her head back.

“It feels like it!” Nash said as he slouched onto the padded massage table behind him. “My bicep really is hurting.” He rubbed the muscle and winced.

“Here, let me take a look,” Emmy said, rubbing her hand over his arm. She pushed into the knotted muscle as Nash jumped a little. “Right there?”

“Yeah. Man, that’s tender.”

“It will be for awhile. We’re getting toward the end of treatment, and I’m really working your muscles.”

Nash looked up at her. “We’re near the end?”

Emmy smiled and looked at him. “Yes. You’ve done good, Nash. You’ll be heading back to Vegas before you know it.”

“Well, that sure is good news!” a voice boomed from the waiting area. Nash turned around and was shocked to see his buddy, Deke, standing there with a huge grin on his face.

“Deke?” he said, standing up. He couldn’t believe his friend was standing there after not seeing him for weeks.

“In the flesh! Dang, brother, you’ve lost some weight. I thought Southern food was supposed to fatten you up!” Deke walked over and pulled his friend into a tight hug.

“Well, my therapist here tends to work me out so hard that I can’t gain any weight.”

Deke looked at Emmy and smiled. “They sure make pretty therapists up here in the mountains.”

“Slow down, man. Sorry, Emmy. He doesn’t see beautiful women very often. Mostly horses and bulls, if you get my drift.”

Deke let out a loud laugh, so much so that other patients turned around.

“Why don’t we take this visit outside to the courtyard?” Emmy suggested, following them as they made their way to the small area outside the hospital’s cafeteria.

“So, how’s the circuit going?” Nash asked as they sat down on the concrete bench outside.

“Well, we’re up a few points toward championships right now. Dylan Reynolds scooped first last weekend, and we got this weekend off so I thought I’d head across the country to see how my brother from another mother was doing.”

“You’ve heard of these things called phones, right?” Nash asked.

“Yeah, but I’ve been busy lately. Plus, ain’t it better to see my handsome face in person?”

Nash rolled his eyes. “He’s over confident considering he couldn’t beat me in competition for the last three years.” Emmy smiled.

“Mr. Collier? We have some updated insurance papers we need to get signed,” the hospital billing coordinator called from the doorway.

“Deke, behave. You okay out here with this guy?”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, Nash,” Emmy said with a laugh.

* * *

Deke was certainly a character, and Emmy could see how he and Nash had become such good friends.

“So how’s he really doing?” Deke finally asked after they sat there quietly for a few moments.

“I can’t really talk about too much because of patient privacy laws…”

“Yeah yeah yeah. But is he coming home soon?”

Home. It was one of the first times it had dawned on Emmy that Nash thought of Vegas as home.

“I think so. He has far exceeded my expectations given how he came in initially.”

“I know he’s itching to get back to competition.”

“I guess so.”

“So, are ya’ll… dating?”

Emmy blushed and giggled like a schoolgirl. “No. Not at all. He’s my patient.”

“Good. Then does that mean I can ask you to dinner?”

Emmy’s breath caught in her throat for a moment.

“No, it does not. Jeez, Deke. You just met her!” Nash said from behind Emmy. She’d never been so happy to hear his voice.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” Deke said with a sly smile.

“Wrong woman,” Nash said under his breath as he stepped between them. There was a warning tone in his voice that Emmy hadn’t expected to hear, and she didn’t know what to make of it.

“So, what’s on the calendar for tonight?” Deke asked, rubbing his hands together.

“What do you mean?” Nash asked with a laugh.

“Well, I’m only here for a couple of days. Aren’t you going to treat me to the grand tour of Whiskey Ridge? Aren’t you going to wine and dine me?”

Nash rolled his eyes in Emmy’s direction. “As for the grand tour, you probably saw most of the town as you were driving over here. But I think we can at least provide food to such a weary traveler.”

Deke grinned. “Good! What’s on the menu? Filet mignon?”

“How about ribs and a beer?”

“Even better!” Deke slapped Nash on the back, which made Emmy cringe a bit.

“Hey, careful with my patient,” she said, reaching out instinctively and rubbing Nash’s shoulder. He stilled for a moment and looked at her.

“Sorry. I didn’t know he was such a dainty flower,” Deke said, interrupting the moment. Emmy removed her hand from Nash’s shoulder.

“Well, you guys have fun.” She turned and started walking toward the therapy offices.

“Um, excuse me? I meant both of ya’ll,” Deke called.

“Her?” Nash said.

“Me?” Emmy said at the same time.

“Listen, I’ve spent a lot of time with this idiot. We lived together for years. I need someone else there as a buffer to our boring and dull conversations about bulls and horses.”

Nash laughed and nodded. “He makes a good point. Why don’t we take him to The Wing Shack over by the river?”

Emmy stared at Nash for a moment. “Okay. Sure. Let me grab my purse and I’ll meet you around front.”

* * *

“So, he takes this horse by the reins and the thing bucks so hard that Nash goes flying up in the air and pops his shoulder out of the socket. But dang if he didn’t pop the thing back in and still catch the freaking horse a few seconds later!”

Emmy cringed again. “Ouch. You popped your shoulder out?”

“I’ve done that a million times, Em. I ride bulls, remember?”

Nash winked at her, and she felt things that she shouldn’t. But the romance didn’t have time to register because she looked over to see Deke covered in barbecue sauce with a huge smile on his face.

“Man, these are good! I haven’t been able to find the perfect wings in Vegas.”

“And he’s looked. Believe me. A lot. And I’ve had to hear about it,” Nash said, rolling his eyes as Deke tossed a wadded up napkin at him.

“I think these are winning the contest,” Deke said as he licked the last bone clean. “Okay, so I have a question for you two.”

“What?” Nash asked, polishing off the last bits of ice in the bottom of his glass of sweet tea.

“What’s going on here exactly?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Emmy asked as she continued working on her too-large pile of fries.

“The looks. The glances. The tension in the air when I asked you out.”

“Maybe I just don’t want you asking my physical therapist out.”

“What about your dentist? Or is it all of your providers? Is your hairdresser off limits?”

“You’re a funny guy,” Nash groaned.

“Look, I just want to know.”

“Maybe it’s none of your damn business, Deke.” Nash was getting irritated.

“It’s okay, Nash. Let’s just tell him.” Emmy put on a serious face and looked at Deke. “Nash and I have joined a gang. We killed a very rich man and buried his money in the old box canyon. But now we’ll have to kill you too. Nash, do you still have the pick ax?”

Nash burst out laughing as Deke sat back in his chair and pursed his lips. “Very funny. Now I’m even more convinced.”

“Convinced of what?” Nash asked after he caught his breath.

“That you have feelings for this lady.”

Silence hung in the air. Deke smiled with satisfaction.

“We were high school sweethearts,” Nash said matter of factly.

“And now?”

“I’m his physical therapist. That’s how small towns work.”

“I’m still sensing something here…”

“You’re like the rodeo version of Dr. Phil,” Emmy said.

“Hey, I’ve got a lot more hair!”

“I wouldn’t say a lot…” Nash said.

“Fine. I won’t keep asking, but you’re different, man.”

“Different how?”

“You just seem more… relaxed. At peace.”

“Maybe it’s the mountain air,” Nash said.

Emmy had to wonder if it was the mountain air or if Nash might still have feelings for her after all.