Chapter 5
Layne realized there was nothing to do until Rivers brought his petition to court, if in fact he did bring it, and she’d certainly keep an eye on the court’s docket. Plus, with a couple friends in the Wellington practice, she’d ask to be notified of any developments in that regard.
But in the meantime, as soon as she got confirmation from Callaway as to the grandmother’s name, she could begin tracking her whereabouts. Her daily work schedule would not be affected by a few well-placed telephone calls and a bit of digging into the Texas statues concerning grandparents’ custody rights. She was aware that the Texas ‘Best Interest of the Child’ guidelines fully supported a grandparent’s rights for visitation and custody, and fully acknowledged the ability for grandparents to provide a positive and stable environment. This was as good a starting point as any.
Finally, with a tired sigh, Layne pushed away from her desk and went to the bookshelf. She studied their meager library, perusing what few books they had before choosing one and returning to the desk. She opened the book and stared at it sightlessly, her thoughts preoccupied with images of Erik Rivers and the woman he appeared doomed to marry . . .
~ ~ ~
“And that’s what the conversation was about,” Layne told Barb as they sat in their neighborhood restaurant, picking at their salads. She told her the entire story of Callaway’s desire to stop the child from joining their family, once she married Rivers. She included the fact that Rivers had no idea he was going to marry this woman, which in itself was an interesting topic of their conversation.
“He has no idea?” Barb repeated in surprise.
“Apparently not. According to Callaway, it’s merely a matter of time. She said he’s wrapped around her little finger. And worst of all, she thinks she can talk him out of a prenup. That would be total disaster for him.”
“I truly find it difficult to picture Erik Rivers wrapped around anybody’s little finger,” Barb said before pausing for a brief moment. “How, um, how do you feel about this? His marrying her?”
“I have no feelings. None whatsoever. He can do what he wants.”
Barb balanced a forkful of salad as she gazed hard and long at Layne. “You’re my roommate, my business partner, and most of all, my best friend, so cut the shit. I’ll ask again. How do you feel?”
Layne returned Barb’s gaze for a moment. “Oh crap. I don’t know. The last time I saw him, I thoroughly did not like him, close to hate, I suppose. I threatened to have him arrested for kidnapping. How, and why, do I feel this way now?”
“Maybe it’s because we don’t miss someone until we lose them?”
“I surely do not miss my cheating fiancé.”
“But you do feel something for Rivers.” A statement, not a question.
“I don’t know,” Layne replied. “Maybe it’s jealousy, but I think it’s mostly concern.”
“Well, if it’s jealousy, then you do care. If it’s concern, then you also care,” Barb argued.
Layne played with her salad for a moment, and once it was rearranged to her liking, she looked up at Barb. “I’ll pay you twenty dollars if you stop with the questions and advice.” Layne sorted through her purse and pulled out a crisp twenty-dollar bill and put it on the table.
Barb ignored the bill, but did change the subject. “Okay, I’m done. The county fair starts tomorrow. Wanna go?”
Layne agreed immediately. She loved fairs, roaming through the midway, watching barkers hawking their wares. She loved tasting whatever samples there were to sample, but she especially loved the scary thrill of fast and high rides. The Ferris wheel was her favorite high ride. She could gaze out over the entire countryside, while her favorite thrill ride always had been the roller coaster. Oh yes, she’d be at the fair!
“Absolutely!” she replied, picking up the twenty from the table and placing it back into her purse. “The whole damn weekend.”
~ ~ ~
Friday afternoon, when their workday ended, Layne and Barb hurried to their apartment before quickly sorting through the closets and changing into comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Full of excitement, they were off to the fair.
~ ~ ~
Their first stop, as they roamed the busy midway, was for food. Layne got a pure Chicago hot dog, heaped high with sauerkraut and relish, while Barb settled for a slice of pizza from a familiar local vendor.
“Love this pizza,” she said with a mouthful between bites. “His place used to be my favorite hangout.”
Hotdog and pizza slice in hand, they continued roaming the midway until they reached the grandstand area. Barb read the billboard list of activities. “There’s a horse show starting in about ten minutes, and after that, a band’s gonna be playing.” She turned to Layne. “Are you interested?”
“Sure, whatever.” Layne nodded, much aware of Barb’s interest in anything with a cowboy attached. She seriously needed a boyfriend. “Let’s go get some good seats down in front.”
Since the stands were just starting to fill, they had their choice of seats, choosing to sit as close to the track as possible. Cowboys and their mounts were gathered in the infield, getting ready and lining up for the parade. A pure white mare, mounted with a saddle of inlaid silver and hand-tooled leather, stood ready at the front of the assembling horses and their riders. This was immediately Layne’s favorite, and she kept her eyes on it, wherever it went. It was a beautiful horse.
One by one, the cowboys were mounting their horses, and it wasn’t long before she saw a cowboy walking straight to the white horse and swinging effortlessly into the saddle. How she wished she could swing into a saddle like that.
“As soon as I get rich and famous,” Layne said, turning to Barb, “I’ve decided I’ll was going to have a horse - my very own horse. The horse is going to be the easy part. The rich and famous part, maybe not . . .”
She was intently watching the prancing horse when her eyes widened in recognition. The rider had taken off his hat to wipe away the perspiration, and by doing so, Erik River’s head was totally exposed!
Layne’s gaze did not leave him. Her eyes could not leave his face. It had been a while, almost two months, since she’d last seen him, and he was even better looking than she remembered. A strange, deep yearning washed through her as she watched his every move, controlling the horse with gentle leg pressure. She had no reason to have a yearning. What was the matter with her?
Barb sat with an amused expression, watching Layne focus in on Erik. “Looks good, huh?” she commented.
“What?” Layne answered absentmindedly, fixated on Erik.
“Looks good, doesn’t he?” Barb repeated.
“Who?”
“Oh for God’s sake, Layne!” Barb shot back in exasperation. “You know who. The guy you’re drooling over right now. That’s who.”
“It’s the horse, Einstein. I love that horse!”
Barb just shrugged and smiled. “Whatever.”
Layne’s eyes remained glued on Erik as the cowboys paraded past the grandstands, but finally, when the show was over, in order not to trip or walk into someone as they left, she had to tear away. Her thoughts were now refreshed with a new image of him, and she was happy to settle for that. But why, she did not know . . .
Back through the midway, they stopped again for another hotdog and slice of pizza that they nibbled as they roamed the grounds. “Finally!” Layne exclaimed, nodding to the rides. “The rides!” Ahead of them was the Ferris wheel, and beyond that, the roller coaster, both looming high in the sky.
“What should we do first?” She turned to Barb, whose eyes were big as saucers, gazing upon the mighty structures. “The Ferris wheel or the roller coaster?”
“You’re kidding, of course,” Barb replied, gazing up at the tall structures. “Do you honestly, in your wildest dreams, think I’m getting on or in one, or close to, those death rides?”
“Oh, come on,” Layne pleaded, “they’re just rides. Perfectly safe. Don’t make me go alone. Please?”
“You’re afraid, too?” Barb joked mirthlessly, her gaze still locked high in the sky at the highest point of the ride.
“No, I’m not afraid. I just want company. I want your company. You should experience these rides, Barb, you’ll be a better person for doing it.”
“On the other hand, I will experience still being alive for not doing it. I think I’ll go that route.” Barb pointed to where the Ferris wheel ride loaded and the riders got off. “I’ll be close by, if you live through it.”
~ ~ ~
Erik and Phil, his ranch foreman, walked down the midway, remnants of hot dogs firmly in hand.
“Should’ve got more relish,” Phil said, turning the wiener-filled bun to examine it. “They never put enough on these damn things!”
After Phil’s complaint, Erik examined his. “Well, I sure got my money’s worth in mustard.” He turned to his foreman. “Do I have any on my chin? It’s all over my hand.”
“Nope, you’re okay.”
Erik wiped his chin, just in case, and that was when he saw Layne walking to the Ferris wheel ticket booth. As he watched, an idea struck. If he approached just right, he could work his way closer without being seen and get into the same chair. It had to be at the very last possible moment, to be locked into the seat and the chair seconds away from starting its climb to the top. She’d have no way of escape and would be forced to hear his apology.
“See that gal?” Erik nudged Phil. “The one in the jeans and white blouse?”
Phil popped the last chunk of hot dog into his mouth and squinted down the midway. “Yeah,” he mumbled through his mouthful. “Got one hell of a body. What about her?” He narrowed his gaze as she turned around. “Isn’t she the gal who came to the ranch a couple months ago? The one who threatened you with kidnapping and left in a rather big hurry?”
Erik nodded sheepishly. “Yeah, that’s the one.” He followed Layne’s movements for a moment, making sure she was going to the ride. Then he turned to Phil. “I’ll meet you at the roller coaster, okay?”
“What the hell are you going to do?”
“Gonna share a seat with her.”
“You’re out of your friggin’ mind!” Phil exclaimed, taking another look at Layne’s backside. “Aren’t you in enough trouble with her already?”
“Don’t know, but I’m going to find out, I guess.” He nodded to the roller coaster in the distance. “Wait for me over there.”
“I’ll be there, but don’t expect me to get on that damn thing with you. I’m not stupid.”
“The stupid part has always been up for discussion, Phil. You know that.” Erik laughed before he gave his foreman a gentle punch on the shoulder and tossed the remnants of his hot dog into a trashcan. He started toward the ride, keeping the milling crowd between himself and Layne. He didn’t really have to worry. Her back was always turned to him. He reached the booth and quickly bought his ride ticket, then slid in a few people back from Layne, waiting for the ride to stop and the present riders to disembark.
Once the ride emptied, the attendant took Layne’s ticket and opened the gate to the chair and she got in and sat down. She looked outside the fenced-off area that surrounded the huge wheel and waved to Barb, somewhat surprised by her strange expression and mouthing words that she could not hear. At this same time, Erik slipped in beside her, the safety gate was closed and locked, and the chair was on its way to allow the chair beneath them to load.
Layne tore away from Barb’s strange expression, and cast a double-take at her seatmate. What the hell? Erik Rivers!
“Where . . .? How . . . did you get here? What are you doing here?” Layne looked at the ground below and leaned over the side, shouting to the attendant. “How do I get off this thing?”
“Are you sick?” he yelled back.
“No, but I don’t want to ride with this guy. I need to get off!” she called out in return, pointing to Erik beside her. She had to get off the ride and away from this despicable man.
The attendant nodded as he shouted back, “Sorry. I can’t reverse it. It’s gotta come around one complete revolution, then you can get off.”
Damn. She was trapped in the chair for one complete revolution with Erik Rivers. Layne turned to him. He was close, almost rubbing shoulders, and there was no room for escape. “Why are you doing this?” she spit out through clenched teeth.
Erik turned to her. “I want to talk to you. I want to apologize. I want. . .”
“Do I look like I’m going to listen?” Layne interrupted harshly. “I’ve heard this song before. I know all the words.” She turned away and started to hum, hoping to drown out anything he had to say.
Erik wasn’t going to lose this chance, possibly his last ever. He blundered on. “You’re an attorney. Aren’t you taught to hear both sides of an argument? Besides, it’s only fair.”
Layne turned toward him, eyes blazing. “You actually have the audacity to talk about being fair? And you have another side to an argument that I haven’t heard?”
“Yes, I do,” Erik replied softly. “Although maybe not the fair part, and I’m incredibly sorry for that.”
The tone of his voice surprised her. He sounded contrite, almost sad, something she’d never heard from Erik Rivers. “You better tell me before we get to the bottom, because that’s all the time you’ve got. So talk fast, and I mean it.” The wheel had not yet reached the apex of the ride.
“Look,” he said, talking as fast as he could and still be understood, “I made a mistake. A really rotten, terrible mistake, and I am so sorry. When this first started, I told Mr. Wellington that it was a bad idea, but he really wanted to punish you for the check fiasco. Actually, he was going to fire you, but I asked him not to. That was when he suggested the . . . whatever it was that I was trying to do with you.”
“Trying to do to me, is what you mean,” she shot back.
Well, at least she is listening! “Yes, to you,” he corrected himself. “I thought you were such an amazing woman, and I wanted to get to know you. That was my only reason for agreeing to Wellington’s plan, but the entire thing backfired in my face.” The wheel had crossed the apex and was now on its downward rotation. “Please don’t get off. Stay on with me. Please?” Erik asked softly. “Give me the chance to show you I’m an okay guy, not some kind of wicked, sick monster.”
Layne gave him a steady appraisal, then softened, waving off the attendant’s questioning eyes as their chair approached the lowest level. This was something she’d not expected. The great, self-centered Erik Rivers was begging, actually begging her to stay. She’d agree and stay with him for one more revolution, at least. “What do you want to do?”
“I just want to get to know you. I’d like you as a friend.”
“A friend? Now that’s a new one! Why?”
“Because you’re an intelligent, educated woman, and that’s very attractive to me. That’s why and that’s the truth.”
What happened to the ‘because you’re so beautiful’ line? “Thank you for the compliment, but there are plenty of intelligent women out there,” she said, nodding to the crowd below.
The ground was coming up again, and apparently Erik thought he was losing the battle, so he said, “Look, let me take you to dinner one more time. Just once more, and we can talk. Or I can talk,” he added contritely.
Layne studied him. Maybe she owed him this. She didn’t know. Finally, she said, “If I stupidly agree, I’ll drive my own car.”
Erik nodded.
“I’ll order whatever I want.”
Another nod.
“I’ll order my own cheap wine.”
“Yes,” Erik agreed. “I understand any house wine is good. Totally your choice.”
“You buy. I will not go Dutch.”
“Yes, I buy. Absolutely.”
Layne thought for a moment, no longer fearful of looking into his eyes. She continued to study him. Then she remembered. “Word on the street is that you’ve got a girlfriend. What’s she going to think about this? In fact,” she continued, “tell me you’re not with her now? Is she waiting below? Even someone like you wouldn’t do that.”
Erik was surprised. “A girlfriend?”
“That’s the word on the street. I heard it from someone, I don’t remember who.”
“Running the ranch is pretty much a full-time job, but yes, I have dated occasionally. But there’s no one special. Can you give me a name?”
“I haven’t heard a name, but whether there is or not, it’s none of my business,” Layne replied, not pressing for a reply.
“Well, in answer to your question, I’m here with my ranch foreman. You may remember him from your last day at the ranch,” Erik reminded her in a soft voice, “when I kidnapped you.” He paused for a moment. “You haven’t said yes or no yet.”
Again, Layne studied him. “Okay,” she finally agreed, “my office number’s in the book. Call me.”
“Thank you,” Erik said, and they completed the rest of the ride in silence.
After the ride unloaded and Erik left Layne’s side to join Phil, Barb quickly joined her. “I almost died when I saw him get into your chair. Talk about a captive audience,” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t you get off?”
“Wasn’t much I could do until we got down to the bottom, and by that time he’d presented a pretty convincing argument. I think he’s really sorry for what happened, and for his part in it. He also said Wellington actually suggested it as punishment for destroying the check. Before firing me,” she added.
“And you believe him?” Barb asked skeptically. “He’s a really smooth talker, you know, and it’s easy to blame someone else when they aren’t around to defend themselves.”
“No,” Layne countered, “I think he actually was sad, at least it seemed that way.” She paused for a brief moment. “I’m going to see him again.”
Barb raised her brows at her in surprise. “Why, for God’s sake? You keep saying you don’t like him! And besides, I thought you said he has a girlfriend. That Joyce whatever-her-name-is.”
“He says no girlfriend, but who knows? And I’m not sure, but I think he just wants to explain everything and clear the air. Besides,” Layne continued, “it’s just going to be a ‘one and done’ deal.”
Her words seemed to satisfy Barb as they slowly strolled through the midway. Suddenly Barb grabbed Layne’s arm. “Oh no, oh no!” she said. “I know what you’re doing and where you’re going, and I am not going with you!”
“I don’t understand,” Layne replied innocently, leading her straight toward the roller coaster.
Barb pointed ahead to the towering ride. “You don’t fool me,” she said. “If you think I’m going on that thing with you, you’re completely delusional!”
“Oh come on, it’ll be . . .”
“No, no, no!” Barb interrupted. “And that’s final.” She stopped. “I’ll wait right here, in case you come back alive. I refuse to move from this spot.”
“Okay,” Layne shrugged. “But you’re missing out on loads of fun.”
“The only fun on a roller coaster is to see who can scream the loudest, and I’m just not up to giving you a severe beating, thank you. Your screams would have no chance against mine.” Her feet firmly planted, she watched Layne walk toward the ticket booth.
Ticket clutched firmly in hand, Layne walked onto the loading platform and looked at the line of empty cars. She had her choice. Then she saw Erik Rivers sitting in one. Now the decision. To join him or not?
She was standing off to Erik’s side and had not yet been seen. Realizing there was little reason not to join him in the car — after all, she’d just shared a ride and agreed to a date with him. She crossed the loading platform and tapped him on the shoulder. “Is there room for another?”
Surprised, Erik turned at the voice, and seeing Layne, slid to the far side of the car.
“Plenty of room,” he replied, patting the place beside him. “This is a surprise.”
“I’m only sitting here because I want to know if you scream or not,” she said with a straight face, sliding in beside him, “in case I need blackmail material. I’ll bet your ranch hands would laugh themselves silly.”
Erik glanced around, taking note of Phil’s presence back in the crowd. He was no fan of thrill rides. “Believe me, on this ride, you could very possibly have a load of material, even more than the kidnapping episode,” he replied grimly. “But with you sitting next to me, I’m going to have to be real brave so I don’t embarrass myself, or let you in on my big secret.”
“Is it the height or the speed that bothers you?” Layne found it hard to believe Erik Rivers could be afraid of anything.
“Bothers is not the apt descriptive word,” Erik corrected her. “Petrifies is a much better adjective.”
“The last time I was at your place I saw an airplane parked on the runway. Was that yours? Do you have your own plane?”
Erik nodded. “Yeah.”
“So you have speed and you’re up real high. Doesn’t that scare you?”
“No, because I’m in control of that situation. Here,” he said, patting the coaster grab-bar, “I’m not.”
Just then the line of cars gave a jerk as they began the long, slow climb to the top of the structure. Layne looked forward to the thrill of the ride. Erik Rivers not so much. She noticed he adjusted his grip on the grab-bar, if white knuckles meant anything.
So the great Erik Rivers is human after all, Layne realized. He’s scared of heights. Well okay, maybe not scared, but uncomfortable as hell. She stole a glance, expecting to find him petrified with apprehension, but from all appearances, he was totally relaxed. And that was when the line of cars began their downward plunge.
Screams filled the air, except from Layne and Erik, who were grimly trying to out-do one another by not uttering a sound, as the cars hurtled down the steep incline, then shot straight up the next. They rounded a curve, throwing Layne into Erik’s side. He responded by putting his arm around her shoulder to keep her in place, and that was where it stayed the rest of the ride.
As the cars slowed in their approach to the loading platform, Erik had not yet removed his arm looped over Layne’s shoulder. She turned to look at him, wondering how long he planned to keep it there. As she’d turned, she’d forgotten exactly how close she was, still leaning firmly against him. Their faces were only inches apart and Layne could see directly into his blue eyes, his captivating blue eyes. Oh my! And those lips. Oh my, again. One more inch and their lips would meet. Just one more inch.
Layne fought an instantaneous, tremendous inner battle, fighting not to go forward that one little inch and meet his delicious lips. Apparently Erik had the very same thought and lost his battle. He chose the forward option and gently kissed her. Layne, initially shocked, responded hesitantly after a second or two.
Short as it was, Layne had not been kissed like this in a long, long time, and was reveling in the heady sensation when she suddenly broke away. My God, she realized in horror, what had she done? She’d just blatantly responded to Erik River’s kiss.
“Oh my God,” she said. “I am so sorry. I am . . . I have no . . .” Her brain was on hold. Nothing was working after the kiss, except maybe her heart, and that was pounding away inside her chest. All she could manage was another, “I’m so sorry!”
Erik seemed surprised too. “Please, don’t be sorry. If there’s any blame, and I certainly don’t feel there is any, then I’m to blame. I started it. I kissed you,” Erik said gently. “But I’m sorry that I’m not sorry.”
“I don’t usually do that after each roller coaster ride,” Layne managed, attempting to cover her deep embarrassment, “and I hope you don’t think I do.”
“I don’t do that either, Layne,” Erik replied. “It just happened, that’s all. Let’s not lose any sleep over it, okay?”
Layne raised her eyes to his. “Okay,” she agreed, knowing very well that the memory of their kiss would ward off sleep for many nights to come.