“He heard a weird noise and decided to go find out what it was without telling anyone,” Jimmy said, subsiding into the chair. “Next thing I know he’s hollering that he’s being attacked. I’ve never run so fast in my life.”
Paul dropped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Good thing you were a sprinter in high school.”
“I’m out of training,” Jimmy said. “It felt like it took forever to get to Eric.”
Paul gave Jimmy’s shoulder a squeeze before he dropped his hand. “Next thing we know he’ll be bringing a bear cub back to camp with its angry mama in full pursuit.”
“Pa says never to get between a cub and its mama,” Eric said. “You’ll get eaten.”
“Your pa knows what he’s talking about,” Paul agreed. “Well, bub, looks like you’re going to live, so I’m going back to work.”
Jimmy looked up in surprise. “You’re not staying?”
“You don’t need me,” Paul said, the truth of his statement nearly making him light-headed.
The two brothers looked at each other in silence. Jimmy straightened in his chair. “I guess you’re right about that,” he said, his blue eyes lit with pride.
Paul walked out of the emergency room doors into the sunshine and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the soft summer air. He felt so light he might just float away, swimming through the puffs of white cloud above him.
His nearly overwhelming impulse was to find Julia. He had to tell her she was right to believe people—and horses—could change.
Since she’d been right about that, he was going to trust her about being cured of epilepsy too. Of course, he was still going to be careful. He shook his head. That was exactly why she’d refused to tell him about her condition. He grimaced as he realized she would never give up riding Darkside. That would be his private cross to bear.
As he walked slowly to his car, head down, hands shoved into his pockets, he remembered the disaster of their last meeting. When she said the word seizure, guilt and horror at what might have happened to her had overwhelmed all rational thought. All he could think of were the fast and furious motorcycle rides he’d taken her on, and the guilt had made him turn ugly.
She’d been right about how he would have treated her if he’d known about the epilepsy. He would have wrapped her in cotton wool just like her uncle did. Hell, he still wanted to. So he had to change. Even more important, he had to convince her he could.
Chapter 32
THERE, YOU LOOK fabulous,” Claire said, putting down the makeup brush and adjusting one of the jeweled chopsticks holding Julia’s loose bun in place. “Take a look.” She gestured toward a large mosaic frame that contained geometric pieces of silvered glass held in place by lead strips.
Julia walked over to the art mirror and planted herself in front of it. The shimmering copper-colored triangles of her Villar blouse fell over slim-fitting brown suede slacks. Her feet and calves were encased in the fantastically expensive embroidered chocolate-brown boots from the Laurels. She wore her chunky amber earrings and necklace on their swoops of silver along with a wide silver cuff Claire had loaned her. With her hair swirled up on top of her head and the slightly dramatic makeup job Claire had given her, she had to admit she looked like a successful artist.
A miserably unhappy successful artist.
She stuck her chin up and squared her shoulders. People she cared about had worked very hard to make this reception happen and she was not going to let them down by moping. Forcing the muscles in the corners of her mouth upward, she turned back to Claire. “Look out, Paxton Hayes.”
“Just remember our strategy for handling him and you’ll be fine.”
Davis Honaker, Claire’s partner in the gallery, bustled into the office. In his white linen suit, he was the archetype of a southern gentleman. He rubbed his hands together. “The bar’s set up, the canapés are arranged, and Darlene’s by the door with the guest list. She’s a little grumpy because I made her spit out her chewing gum.”
Claire stood up, smoothing her palms over her black satin trousers. The sleeves of her turquoise silk blouse fluttered as she moved. “I’ll get the music started.”
Julia narrowed her eyes as she realized Claire might be nervous too. She was trying to think of something reassuring to say when Tim walked in, wearing a charcoal-gray suit that had obviously been tailored for his big frame. Julia’s mouth nearly fell open as she took in the transformation. She watched husband and wife’s eyes meet and stopped worrying about Claire. The other woman had all the support she needed.