http://www.xomba.com/user/mysticwolf 

 

 

 Jealousy

 

Chapter

5.

 

 

 Kent was waiting in the morning for Jake to come down the stairs. He was going to get a straight answer from his brother if it killed him. If he had hurt Destiny, forced her to do anything she didn’t want to do than that was it brother or no brother he was going to do something about it. He couldn’t get the vision of her running from the barn, hysterically, out of his mind.

   Kent saw Jake and Brian descending the stairs they looked like they were having a heated discussion. Brian must have beaten him to the punch. He thought. Kent waited until they where in front of him, than followed them trying to hear as much as the conversation as possible.

 “Look Jake I don’t exactly know what happened between you and Destiny but when my little sister comes running up the stairs half dressed I’m left with only my imagination to feel in the blanks. My theory doesn’t paint you in a favorable light. If you know what I mean?” Brian was straining to stay calm.

 “Brian nothing happened that she didn’t want to happen. I swear.”

 Jake looked like crap. Jake felt like something the cat had dragged in and left on the front porch. He couldn’t get any sleep last night. If it wasn’t him chastising himself it was the memory of him and Destiny loving each other that kept him from blissful sleep. He wished his brother did knock him out at least that way he could have escaped to oblivian.

 Brian grabbed Jake’s elbow and pushed him into the corner, “If you don’t tell me what the hell had happened that would make Destiny come running in the house with tears flowing down her face. I’m going to beat it out of you.”

 

 

 Destiny woke up that morning forcing her self to face the fact that no matter what she did Jake was going to marry Vickie. That woman had some kind of hold over him, she didn’t know what it was but what ever it was it was strong enough to keep Jake hooked. She put some shorts on pulling them up over her hips wincing slightly. Destiny was sore all over. She threw on her purple tank top and headed out her door.

 Destiny reached the stairs and saw Brian push Jake against the wall, Kent was behind them looking very angrily at his brother. Those stupid assholes, what the hell where they doing? Destiny ran down the stairs and squeezed between Brian and Jake pushing Brian away from her.

 “What the hell do you think your doing?” Her voice was soft but her tone was harsh.

 “Trying to find out what the hell he did to you last night.” Brian yelled.

 “Keep your voice down.” Destiny looked around no one but Kent was there. “Nothing happened that I didn’t want to happen.”

 “Why were you crying than?” Brian’s voice softened.

 “Because nothing turned out the way I was hoping it would. It wasn’t Jakes fault he did nothing, now please just leave him alone.” Destiny looked up at Brian pleading with him to believe her.

 “Okay Dess!” He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Than looked up at Jake. “Sorry!”

 “No problem I’d do the same thing if I thought some one hurt the girl I cared about.” Jake smiled.

 Brian smiled and walked away to the dining room. Destiny looked at Kent and with out saying a word he walked off in the same direction as Brian. Destiny watched them disappeared through the entryway.

 “I’m sorry about that.” She turned and looked up at him. “Oh my god, what happened to your face?”

 Jake touched his bruised and swollen face. He knew he looked horrible, his eye was swollen shut and there was a gross black patch growing around it, his Jaw purple and yellow and hurt like hell. He was defiantly not a pretty sight.

 “My brother decided I needed a lesson in how to treat a woman.”

 “How did he know what happened?” She reached up and touched his jaw lightly, he winced from the pain and she withdrew her hand.

 Jake looked at her and saw the concern and love for him in her eyes. Even after all he had done to her she still loved him? “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for helping me but maybe you should have let him beat me to a bloody pulp. It might have made me feel better.”

 “Jake, what ever happened last night, we both new what we were doing. I’m sorry that I made you cheat on Vickie that was the last thing I wanted to do. I understand why it was a mistake for you and that’s okay. But I want you to know I don’t regret any of it and I’m glad I lost my virginity to you, I can’t think of anyone else I would have rather been with.”

 “Destiny it wasn’t…” Jake felt her fingers touch his lips.

 “Shhh.” She looked up at him. “It’s okay.”

 Jake saw a tear fall from her eye as she turned and walked away from him. Right before she turned the corner to enter the room she wiped her face and stood straight. Than walked in beyond the opening giving everyone inside her best smile. Jake didn’t feel like eating any more he turned and went upstairs back to his room. He needed to go somewhere, sort out his thoughts, and get advice.

   He couldn’t believe she thought she had made him cheat on Vickie. Hell he was the one that trapped her against the wall. Why had she for gotten that part of last night? Was she trying to take his guilt for him? Or did she honestly think she caused him to loose control? Well she was the reason he lost control but it wasn’t her that started seducing him. She just wanted to go back to the house after their ride. Hell, he was the one that was trying to seduce her.

 Jake lay on his bed thinking how he had ruined his life and how he had lost one of the things he most loved. He wished Destiny were carrying his child instead of Vickie. It suddenly hit Jake like a baseball bat, him and Destiny made love without protection, if she had gotten pregnant. ‘What have I done?’ There was no way he would be able to choose between his children. Than deep down he knew he wouldn’t have to, Destiny would cherish a child of his like a gift, regardless of weather he was with her. He laid his head on his pillow and fell asleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Destiny walked in to the dining room and smiled at every one. She chose a seat next to Kent and sat down. Kent reached over and took her hand, gently squeezing it before letting it go. Destiny smiled up at him than placed her napkin on her lap. She looked around the table and saw everyone staring at her.

 “What time are you and Brian supposed to pick up the guests?” She asked Lisa.

 “They land at 4:00pm but we’ll have to leave around two so we can arrive on time.”

 “How many people are coming out to the ranch?” She turned towards Kent.

 “We have four groups’ eight people in all. Six women and two men.”

 “Cool, so I guess after brunch we should all get to work.” Destiny smiled as Nana came in carrying the food platters.

 As everyone dished up, Destiny wondered where Jake had gone to, he still hadn’t come to the table and she was beginning to worry about him. If he didn’t show up by the time they were done eating she was going to take him a plate and make sure he was doing okay.

 As everyone finished their meal and ushered out of the dining room to there assigned tasks, Destiny went into the Kitchen to get Jake a plate of food and take it to Jake where ever he may be. She walked up to nana and smiled at the old woman who was loading dishes in the dishwasher.

 “I was thinking I could take Jake some lunch he never showed up.”

 “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The old women said curtly.

 “I don’t think he meant to miss lunch.” Destiny was taken back by her tone.

 “Look young lady, I don’t know what you’ve done to my boys but you had them fighting each other like they were two rabid dogs last night. I had to call Kevin and Taylor just to keep them off one another. I think it would be best if you just left them alone.” She turned towards Destiny anger flashing in her eyes.

 “I’m sorry.” She looked at the old women. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

 Destiny turned and ran out of the room. She didn’t understand what had just happened. However the old women was right she needed to just stay away, stay away from both of them. Destiny left the house and ran to the barn and grabbed the first mounted horse she saw; it was Kent’s black stallion. She jumped on his back and took off running, running from Jake, running from her feelings, running from everything.

 

 

 

 

 Jake woke to his stomach grumbling he hadn’t had anything to eat since 7:00 last night. He sat up and winced as all the pain shot through his body, all the memories of the last sixteen hours flooded his brain. He pushed them aside and got off the bed he was going to have to beg nana to feed him it was about an hour and a half past lunch. He went to his door and down the stairs to the kitchen where he knew his grandmother would be.

 Jake stopped in his tracks as he heard Destiny ask for a plate of food to take up to him. He was so stunned that she still cared about him that he didn’t even hear nana speak until it was too late. Suddenly Destiny was saying sorry and running out the door without even noticing him standing there. Jake walked in the kitchen and looked at his grandmother who was staring out the door.

 “What did you say to her?” He commanded.

 “I told her maybe it would be best if she just left you and Kent alone.” She turned back to her dishes.

 “Why?”

 Nana swung around and looked at him she was shaking with fury. “I saw the way you guys looked at each other, I saw the way you two were ready to kill each other over some woman. Who do you think called Kevin and Taylor?”

 “What Kent and I do is none of your concern. You had no right to say that to her. Nothing that happened last night was her fault.”

 “She made you boys hate each other. For gods sake Jake, look at your face.”

 “It’s not her fault that we act like jack-asses when she’s around; it’s ours.”

 Suddenly Taylor burst in the Kitchen and looked from nana to Jake and stood there momentarily before he caught his breath and finally spoke.

 “Destiny she,” He paused.

 “Destiny what?” Jake asked angrily.

 “She took Thunder and rode off. I tried to find Kent but I don’t know were he is.”

 Jake turned and glared at the old woman before following Taylor out the door and to the barn. They passed Kent. He was just returning from the barn and was madder than a dragon.

 “Were in the hell is Thunder?” he turned on Taylor as he ran by him. Kent followed the two men. “What the hell…?”

 “Destiny took Thunder.” Jake yelled back behind him.

 “Why’d she do that?”

 “Who knows why that girl does anything?"

 Jake knew why Destiny had ran but he didn’t need Kent mad at their grandmother as well. After all she only did what she thought would protect them. He pulled Dustin his quarter horse bay, from his stall than rigging the halter into a hackamore he jumped on him bare back and took off after Destiny. Kent grabbed the first horse he saw and did the same thing with his halter than jumped on its back and took off after Jake.

 They reached the pen were the cattle had been yesterday and saw Thunder eating grass along the side of the fence. Jake scanned the prairie looking for Destiny he couldn’t see anything. He dismounted and tied Dustin next to Thunder he noticed Kent do the same with his horse. They walked around the paddock quietly; they heard sobs coming from the only tree in that area.

 Jake and Kent took off in a dead run to the giant oak that stood tall behind the corral. They looked up and saw Destiny sitting high up in the tree. She had rested her self in the nook of a giant branch and was sobbing quietly to her self.

 “Dessie honey, please come down.” Jake looked up at her.

 Destiny wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and looked off into the distance. Trying to ignore them.

 “Destiny please, listen to Jake.” Kent spoke up to her.

 “Go away both of you.” She looked down at them. “I’m poison.”

 “Dessie nana didn’t mean what she said. She was just angry.”

 “What did nana say to Destiny?” Kent looked at his brother.

 Jake shook his head, “I’ll tell ya later.”

 “She was right you know. Because of me you and Kent fought, Because of me you cheated on Vickie. All I do is screw things up. Trust me Jake, get on that horse and run as fare as you can get before I screw something else up.”

 “If you don’t come down here right now I’m coming up, and Dess I can barely see out of this eye so I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to come up there.”

 “Go away.” She yelled as load as she could.

 Jake walked up to the tree and began to climb it when his brother stopped him.

 “Don’t Jake.” He looked at his brother than back up the tree. “She’s climbing further.”

 “Damn!” Jake let go of the tree and walked away from the trunk so he could see Destiny more clearly. She was climbing further up the tree.

 “Destiny stop climbing I’m not going to come up.” Jake yelled up at her.

 They both gasped as her foot slipped and she grabbed the branch to stop her fall. She got a foothold again and got back up on the original branch she was on.

 “Destiny please come down before you kill your self.”

 “ Both of you go away.”

 “If you want to stay away from me after you come down from that tree than fine. But I will not leave while your still up there.”

 “ I want both of you to stay away from me.”

 “Alright we both agree to stay away from you now come down from there.”

 “I don’t think I can get down by my self.”

 “So I’ll come up.” Jake started towards the tree.

 “No,” she yelled. “Send Kent.” She hadn’t wanted Jake to fall, and with that eye there was no why he could climb that tree. If something had happened to him while he was trying to save her she would never forgive herself.

 Jake felt a tinge of jealousy rise in him as his brother scampered up the tree to help her down. He gently coached her making sure her foot landed in the right spot and she had a firm grip before moving down to the next branch. He finally reached the bottom with her. Jake looked at her briefly before turning and walking towards his horse Kent and Destiny following behind him. He turned towards Destiny.

 “Kent can ride Thunder and tow you and Molly back to the barn.” He held Molly’s lead out to her.

 “I don’t think so.” Destiny walked over to Thunder and mounted taking up the reins.

 “Get off that horse.” Jake yelled at her.

   “Maybe I’ll die and make everyone happy. Vickie and your grandmother can do the jig at my funeral.” She saw utter rage flash in his eye than turned Thunder towards the barn and kicked him hard. He reared then took off into a full run. Jake hurried after her, Dustin running his heart out to keep up with Thunder. Jake didn’t know if Kent was following and he really didn’t care he had to get to Destiny before she killed her self.

 Jake saw Destiny stop Thunder in front of the barn than throw her reins to Taylor as she jumped from the saddle and started to walk towards the house. Jake stopped Dustin and jumped down off of him running towards Destiny. He caught up with her and spun her around to face him. Boy, was she pissed. He had never seen her so angry she looked like she was ready to kill.

 “What the hell were you thinking? You could have gotten your self killed.’ He yelled at her.

 “Back off Jake.”

 “That horse could have killed you.”

 “Maybe he should have. You would have been better off; Kent would have been better off.”

 “Destiny, nana didn’t mean those thing she said. She was just angry.” Jake heard Kent ride up behind them. He heard the thud as he hit the ground than ran over to where they were standing.

 “She my not have meant it but she was right. I’m poison to this family and both of you would do best to stay away from me.” She yanked her arm out of Jakes grasp. “I’m tired Jake, Tired of feeling this way. Like I’m being ripped in two.” Her voice softened to a whisper. “I don’t know if I can live with out you.”

 Destiny turned and walked away from the two men, her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces but she knew this was the best solution for both of them. Jake could marry Vickie and she could go on trying to live her miserable life with out him. Kent could stop putting his heart on the line waiting for her. She walked inside the house and went to the little cabinet by the door. Kent had told her that the keys were kept there for the little houses last night. Keys one and two were gone; Vickie must have started cleaning her apartments already. Destiny grabbed three and four and headed out the door she didn’t even look up at the two men as they passed each other on the porch stairs.

 Destiny walked over to her apartments and unlocked the door. She went inside and looked around at the spacious room. To her right was a little kitchen complete with an oven and refrigerator it even had a little dishwasher. She looked towards the front of her a little living room with a couch and a little entertainment center with a TV. and VCR. She walked over to the couch and lifted a cushion. Just what she thought a hide a bed. She looked up at the ceiling and noticed a railing running the length of the room. She looked over by the door and saw the staircase she walked over and climbed it, the end opened to a beautiful loft that held two single beds and over looked the living room.

 Destiny started cleaning up stairs. She moved down to the living room and than to the kitchen. She had found everything she had needed in the tiny bathroom that was under the stairs. She did the same to the other little apartment. When she was done she walked back to the house. It was Five o’clock and Brian and Lisa should be headed back from the airport with there passengers.

 Destiny walked up to her room and grabbed her towel and the dress Brian and Lisa had bought her. She took off Jakes ring and stuck it in the corner of her dresser than she walked down stairs to take a shower.

 Vickie walked in Destiny’s room when she was sure she was gone. Vickie had walked up to her door and saw her take Jakes ring off and stick it in her dresser. Now was her chance to get the ring. She had run back into her room waiting to hear Destiny close her door. She waited a few moments than came out of her room sneaking into Destiny’s.

   Vickie walked to the dresser and pulled open the drawer she stuck her hand inside under Destiny’s underwear and felt for the ring. Her fingers brushed against something, she pulled it up in her palm clasping it with her hand. Suddenly a sound came from the hallway. She shut the drawer and walked quickly to the door. Jake stopped and looked at her.

 “What are you doing in there?”

 “I was looking for Destiny. Like you were.” She frowned at him.

 “Actually I was looking for you.”

 “Well let’s not stand around here then.” She walked out side the door, forcing Jake to step back as she closed the door behind her.

 Vickie led Jake to her room and invited him in. She placed her self on the bed leaning back on her hands the one with the ring sliding under her pillow and depositing the piece of jewelry there. She looked at her fiancée curiously. “What do you want? You haven’t even spoken to me since we’ve been here. Oh sorry, I take that back, other than yelling at me you haven’t spoken to me since we got here.”

 “Look Vic,” he walked over and sat next to her. She sat up crossing her legs and resting her arms on her knee.

 “I’m listening.”

 “I’ve done some things lately that I’m not proud of and I think it would be best if I went away for awhile to get my head on straight.”

 “So you’re just going to leave me here, by my self?”

 “You’ll have Brian, Lisa, and Destiny.”

 “Whoopee, a couple and their pet.” She stood up from the bed and walked to the window. “Don’t stay gone to long Jake, your brother looks pretty tasty.”

 “Your to late Vic, he’s already been spoken for.” He stood up and walked towards the door. He hoped beyond hope that that’s what Destiny had meant when she said she couldn’t live with out him. That she would have to be with his brother for no other reason than that she would feel close to Jake. God he just hoped it didn’t mean something else, that something being too scary for him to even think about.

 “Don’t tell me the little ones snagged him.” She let out a laugh. “She sure does get around doesn’t she?”

 “You shouldn’t talk about things you don’t understand,” He opened the door stepping out into the hallway. “It makes you look stupid.”

 Jake shut the door just in time to here something hard hit the other side. He walked away smiling at himself. He stopped as he noticed Destiny walking inside her bedroom. She looked up at him. He didn’t miss the sadness in her eyes. He looked down at his feet as he walked past her. It killed him to see all the fire gone from her eyes. He had completely destroyed her and for that he would never forgive himself.

 Jake walked to his brother’s bedroom and knocked on the door. Kent came to the door wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and tie. He looked at his brother. Than held the door wide, inviting him in. Jake held up his hand and shook his head.

 “I just came buy to tell you that I’m flying to California tonight.”

 “Why?”

 “Just promise me what ever you do, don’t hurt Destiny. Her feelings I mean.”

 “You know Jake that girl loves you more than anything in this world. You’re so concerned about other people hurting her, yet you’ll tear out her heart like some animal, preying on her emotions. If you’re not going to keep her than grant her a swift death and cut her loose.”

 “I already have.” He turned to walk away than looked over his shoulder at his brother, he turned again facing him, “You need you to keep an eye on her. She said something that scared me and I think you should watch her closely for a couple of days, get Brian to help you.”

 “What did she say?”

 “She said she couldn’t live with out me.” The look on his brother’s face confirmed his suspicions. She wasn’t talking about Kent, she was telling him goodbye.

 “You stupid fool you really have sentenced her to death.” His anger rose, his cheeks flush.

 “Just watch her Kent. I don’t think she would actually do anything.” At least I hope she wont. He said to himself. “Promise me.”

 “Of course I will. I care about her too.” His voice softened as he realized the inner turmoil that his brother was going through. He had never seen the sparkle go out of his brother’s eyes before; it almost looked like he was dead inside. “Are you okay?”

 “Fine, just take care of Destiny, she my heart.” He turned and walked away from his brother before he could respond.

 

 

 Destiny sat on her bed fighting back tears; Jake had just walked by her with out saying a word. She now understood that he was never going to speak to her again. He had decided it would be easier for them to cut all ties. She supposed it would help, but still having to eat with him, and see him every day was going to be brutal on the heartstrings. She heard the van and the truck coming down the driveway. She threw her on her sandals than ran out of her room and down the stairs and out the front door.

 Everyone was there except Jake. Destiny stood next to Kent and smiled wide as Brian opened the truck door. A blond curly haired woman stepped out of the old baby blue pick up. She was shorter than Destiny for sure but she was stunning, wearing a three-piece suit. The man that followed her was equally beautiful, Black hair and tanned skin with a slight mustache framing his top lip. They walked up to the group on the stairs smiling.

 “Hi I’m Angela Johnston and this his my husband Scott.”

 Kent introduced the group starting with Destiny and ending with Nana. He held his arm out opening the door and inviting them to enter he told them to make them selves at home that they would be in shortly. The door closed behind them as Lisa opened the door of the van.

 Destiny watched as a beautiful older woman step out first, she had blond hair that came to her shoulders and was wavy around the face. She had a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt accented with a jean jacket. Next out was a young woman with sandy blond hair down her back. She only stood a little under five feet but she was still beautiful, it was obvious however that her mother was the older lady they almost resembled each other.

 The two woman paused and looked behind them as another young woman excited the van She wore plain jeans just as the other women and had long dark brown hair flowing down her back. A beautiful pair of glasses framed her eyes. All three turned and walked up to the group on the stairs. They held out there hands greeting each person.

 “Hi, I’m Edith, but everyone calls me Ede.” She took Destiny’s hand. After introducing her self to Kent she stood by the door waiting for her companions.

 “Hi, I’m Heather, her daughter.” She pointed at the woman by the door.

 “Hi, I’m Amy. I’m her daughter in law.” She shook Destiny’s hand. After greeting Kent all three women entered the house.

 Destiny turned towards the van again, a young woman with dusty blond hair down to her shoulders walked over to them she was wearing a silk skirt and shirt that flapped beautifully in the breeze. Another young woman stepped out beside her, her blond hair was curly and grew a little past her shoulders She whore a pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt. They were both breath taking. Behind them stepped a handsome tall man with long hair to his waist and tan skin. One by one they introduced them selves.

 “Hi, I’m Andi and this is my friend Diana.” They shook Destiny’s hand than introduced them selves to Kent before disappearing in the door.

 “I’m Chris.” He smiled at her than went over to Kent and hugged him. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

 “Hay Chris,” He patted his friend on the shoulder and directed him inside. “What have you been up too?”

 The group followed Kent and his friend in the house. Brian and Lisa took the truck over to the apartments unloading the luggage. Placing the bags in their own house. Kent had made sure Brian gave the guests there keys and stickers that corresponded to the numbers on their keys than had each person stick the number on there luggage so it could be placed in there apartment later. He made sure to give Brian the master key for this task.

 Brian and Lisa joined the group of people in the lounge when they were done. Brian handing his key back to Kent. They sat around visiting and discussing the activities that were being offered during there stay at the ranch.

   A short while later Nana had called everyone to supper. They had followed Kent into the dining room where massive amounts of food sat along the length of the tables, everyone sat in a chair and began dishing up. Nana was going around the table poring wine, when she had reached Destiny she placed a hand on her shoulder and bent down to whisper in her ear. “I’m sorry dear, I was wrong, don’t listen to the ramblings of an old women. I hope you can forgive me?”

 “Of course,” Destiny smiled at the old woman and placed a hand on hers. “Nana where’s Jake?”

 “He’s leaving for California. Didn’t he tell you?”

 Destiny shook her head.

 “ He should be on his way out the door right now.”

 Destiny jumped up from her chair and ran from the room without excusing her self. She didn’t care about proper educate, she had to stop Jake. Destiny didn’t want him to leave she wanted him to stay here. She didn’t care if he never spoke to her again, but she had to see him, he couldn’t just leave her.

   When Destiny reached out side she saw Jake throw his bag in the back of the truck. She ran down the stairs trying not to loose her balance by holding her arms out to her sides. Destiny saw Jake turn and look at her. She ran up to him, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She placed her head on his chest.

 “What are you doing out here?” He asked.

 “Don’t go Jake. Please. I’m sorry for what I said. I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want you to stay away from me. I need you here.” She looked up at him tears streaming down her face.

 “Dessie, promise me you wont hurt your self.” He looked in her eyes.

 “Jake don’t go, stay here. I don’t care if you still want to be with Vickie. I need you here, I can’t live with out you.” She saw him close his eyes to those words and sigh deeply. He opened his eyes and looked at her, pleading with her, his eyes almost held no emotion, except deep sadness and regret.

 “Please, promise me you wont hurt your self.” He begged.

 “I wont.” She didn’t understand. Jake was acting so strange. He was acting like he wasn’t coming back, like he was going to do something stupid.

 “You have to keep that promise, Dessie.”

 “I will.”

 He hugged her to his chest pulling her close to him, he sighed deeply hoping that she would stay true to her promise. He held her out in front of him. “ I’m just going away to get my head on straight and think about things.”

 “ I don’t care, I want you here with me. You can think about things here with me.” Sobs rose from inside her as the tears flowed freely from her eyes.

   Jake leaned forward and kissed her velvet lips one last time, than let her go, pushing her gently away from him. He turned and climbed in the truck, shutting the door.

 “Jake, please. Don’t go. I need you.” Destiny begged as she ran up to the window placing her hands on the cool glass, her tears flowing freely. He turned and looked up at her, his hand coming up and placing his palms on hers the only thing separating them was the glass. He mouthed, ‘I love you, Destiny.’ than looked away towards the driver. The truck began to pull away.

 “Jake!” She yelled after him.

 Destiny fell to her knees, her hands clasped together in her lap, crying hysterically as she watched the truck that carried the man she loved disappear. She felt Hands on her arms as they gently guiding her to her feet she turned and saw nana looking at her a tear falling from her eye.

 “You poor thing. Come let’s get you back up to your room.”

 Nana guided Destiny inside the house and up to her room. Nana sat her on her bed and just held her as Destiny rolled up in a ball and cried in the old woman’s lap. Nana finally understood that the love between Jake and Destiny was real and for some reason her grandson was denying himself that love. And she had a feeling it had something to do with that red haired vixen.

 

 

 

 Lisa walked up to Destiny’s door and knocked softly. She had brought her breakfast at the request of nana. Nana had told Lisa, Brian, and Kent what had happened last night after the guests had left the house and went to their apartments. Kent wasn’t too happy for some unknown reason, and Brain wasn’t very pleased either. He had always treated Destiny like the baby sister he had lost when he was ten. Lisa always thought he was too overprotective.

 Lisa reached out and opened Destiny’s door. She peaked in and saw her friend lying on her bed facing her window. Lisa went in putting the tray on Destiny’s dresser and walked over to the bed and sat beside her.

 “Dessie, I brought some breakfast for you.” She spoke softly.

 “I’m not hungry, thanks.” Her voice was raw from all the crying she had done.

 “You have to eat something.”

    Silence was all that followed her voice. Lisa looked around the room and noticed one of the dresser drawers lying on the floor, cloths were strung everywhere around the room she couldn’t believe she had missed it when she first walked in. Destiny’s room looked like a tornado had blown through it.

 “What happened to your room?”

 “I can’t find the ring Jake gave me.” She turned on her back and looked at Lisa. Fresh tears began to fall.

 “Are you sure you’ve looked everywhere.” Lisa stood up and started to clean up the room.

 “I put it in my underwear drawer yesterday before I took a shower. This morning when I went to go put it back on it wasn’t there.” Destiny sat up and looked at Lisa.

 Lisa looked at her friend her eyes were swollen and red. Lisa didn’t think that Destiny had fallen this deep. All she could do was pray that it would become easier for her friend to forget Jake as time went on. Suddenly Lisa remembered seeing Jake and Vickie leaving Destiny’s room yesterday. She had just assumed they had been visiting Destiny. Lisa had someone to visit and it wasn’t going to be pleasant, Vickie could count on it. She placed Destiny’s bra that she had folded back in the drawer and walked over to the bed.

 “Kent wanted me to let you know that he needs you tomorrow, because the guests minus the two men, want to go on a trail ride.”

 Destiny nodded.

 “Dess, I can tell him to take a flying leap if you’re not up to it.”

 “No. I need something to do to get my mind off Jake.”

 “Okay sweaty. Well get some rest I’ll check on you later.” Lisa bent down and hugged her friend than left the room.

 Lisa walked down the hall and knocked on Vickie’s door. The door swung open to frame a disheveled Vickie. She was draped in a sheet and her hair was all over the place. Lisa pushed the door open and walked in. She glimpsed one of the cowhands in Vickie’s bed before Vickie pushed her back out in the hallway.

 “What do you want?” She asked furiously.

 “I want to know where Destiny’s ring is?”

 “I don’t know what that girl did with her ring.” Her voice was agitated.

 “Look I saw you and Jake leave Destiny’s room, and I know she wasn’t in there at the time. So where is her ring?”

 “Lisa, I don’t know where her ring is and frankly I don’t care. I’m a little busy right now.” She slammed the door in Lisa face.

 Lisa yelled through door. “Ya, I can really see your broken up about Jake leaving.” She paused than added as an after thought. “Whore.”

 Lisa turned and saw Nana staring at her from her bedroom door. Lisa looked at the old woman, bewilderment flashed across her face. Lisa felt bad that she had to hear her bad language but she was pissed.

 “Sorry nana.” She turned and went in her room without waiting for a reply.

 “Quit alright dear.” Nana said to no one in particular, Lisa was gone before the first word was out of her mouth.

 Nana didn’t care anyway she new something was up with that Vickie women the first time she saw her. She was defiantly not Jake’s type. Nana’s theory was that that young lady had something on Jake and she had been trying to find out what it was since she’d been here and she still had not come up with any good ideas. She turned and went back in her room shutting the door behind her.

 

 

 

 

 The next morning Destiny woke up and went down stairs for Breakfast she greeted all the guests and apologized for her absence. Everyone told her not to be silly they had plenty to do while they waited for her to get over the flu. They asked her if she was feeling better. Destiny had nodded keeping up the charade.

 When everyone finished their breakfast, they split up in two groups Destiny and Lisa took the girls on a trail ride. Brian and Kent took the boys fishing on a boat. Destiny had the all the girls wanting to cinch their own horses; she looked at them and shook her head.

 “You guys are supposed to be on vacation not working, so sit back and relax. Besides you don’t want to see me get in trouble for not earning my pay?” She smiled at the women.

 To her amazement it actually worked they all looked at her shacking their heads and went over to the paddock to pet the other horses that had their heads hanging over the fence. ‘Starving for a little attention are we?’ She asked the horses silently to her self.

Destiny had finished saddling the final horse and watched as everyone mounted with ease. ‘Maybe they did know about horses after all.’ She thought.

 Destiny and Lisa mounted their own horses and led the group on the trail that took them around the lake and up into the wilderness a little ways. They all stopped their horses as they came to a clearing with a stream and let their horses drink.

 “Look over there.” Heather whispered to the others.

 The group turned and saw three doe and two fawns walk from the woods warily. All of them barely took a breath afraid they would scare them off. The deer crossed the meadow and disappeared in the woods on the other side.

 “That was so cool.” Amy commented.

 “Told you we would have fun.” Edie smiled at her daughter in law.

 “Damn I should have brought my camera.” Andi cursed herself.

 “I told you to bring it, but you wanted to keep it in our room because you didn’t want to work today.” Diana shook her head at her friend.

 “I know.”

 “What kind of work do you do?” Destiny asked the young women as she started her horse at a walk, everyone following suit.

 “I’m a free lance photographer. I’m out her to get some new material for my expedition in New York.”

 “How many shows have you done?” Lisa asked.

 “If the curator likes what he sees this will be my second. I’m trying to recapture the west. Show people it still exists in the states out here.”

 “That’s really cool.” Heather said.

 “So what do you do?” Destiny asked Heather.

 “I train children how to ride horses.”

 “That sound interesting, is it any fun?”

 “Only when you get children who want to listen and don’t think they already know everything.”

 The group laughed together.

 “How about you Edie?” Lisa asked.

 “Well I drive trucks sometimes.”

 “You mean the big ones.” Angela asked.

 “Yep, that’d be them.”

 “Wicked.” Diana commented.

 “So how about you?” Edie asked Angela.

 “I usually work for the state doing odd things here and there nothing really exciting though.”

 “That sounds cool. Besides I bet the benefits are excellent.” Andi added.

 “Ya they are.”

 “What do you do?” Andi asked Amy.

 “I’m a publisher with a tiny firm out of L.A.”

 “I should introduce you to my friend back home she loves to write stories. Has almost four done? But she’s to afraid to send them in.”

 “Remind me to give you my number before we leave, we’re looking for fresh blood to send are stocks rising.”

 “Not a problem.” Andi said.

 The girls had come out of the woods and back on to the prairie. Destiny was taking them over to see the cattle and the few buffalo that Kent kept as pets. Jake had told her that his brother had always wanted buffalo but his dad said no they were meant to be wild. After Kent took control of the place, he had bought some, telling his dad it was for the tourists. His dad told him, ‘In a pigs eye’ than laughed at his son’s ingenuity. Destiny heard Lisa speaking to one of the guests.

 “Diana. You haven’t told us what you do yet?”

 “I’m a correctional officer.”

 “I think that’s got to be the most exciting job here.” Amy said.

 “Ya and the most dangerous.” Heather added.

 “Not really, I don’t work with murderers or anything.”

 “It’s still cool.” Amy added.

 Destiny stopped the group and showed them the buffalo. Andi cursed her self for not bringing her camera again and everyone chuckled as she slapped her own hand as punishment for forgetting the camera. Destiny could tell she was a comedian too. They walked their horses back to the barn and this time Destiny and Lisa let them unsaddled there own mounts when they had asked to.

 The group walked up to the house when they had finished talking about how fun it had been and they’d have to go again. Andi assuring everyone that if she forgot her camera the next time she would cut off her own hand. Diana said she would personally help her remember. She for one didn’t what to see no bloody stump.

 The girls we’re soon joined by the boys who had assured everyone that they had caught a fifty pounder or better but put it back because it was too beautiful to kill. The girls nodded their heads at one another in disbelief of their story.

 Shortly after Nana had announced lunch, everyone had filed into the dining room. They had hamburgers and fries and cold glasses of coke sitting out for each of them. Destiny wondered how nana had done it all when the door swung open and she saw Vickie leaning on the counter with her arms crossed. ‘Was she wearing an apron?’ Destiny asked her self. Than shook her head in response to her own question.

 After lunch everyone put their bathing suits on and went out side to the lake to go swimming. Edie however refused to go in the water, even after Destiny and Lisa told her they could swim and Lisa had taken lessons for CPR.

 “If god meant for us to be in the water he would have gave us fins.” Was all she replied?

 Destiny watched her lay her towel down than sit on it stretching her legs out in the sun. Destiny shrugged her shoulders and went in the water. She had a swimming contest with everyone and when Heather won the thing she announced she wanted to play water volleyball. Everyone agreed and Lisa ran to the house to grab a ball and a rope to use as the net across the water. Destiny couldn’t remember when she had had so much fun.

 Later that evening after supper everyone retired to the lounge, were Destiny and Heather beat the pants off everybody at pool. Now they were playing and the person her broke usually indeed up running the table. Diana was showing Chris how to play poker. Destiny thought he already knew how but was playing stupid for the benefit of Diana.

 Kent and Andi were over at the bar He was laughing at her funny jokes and looking at some pictures she had taken in New York. They were both genuinely having a good time. Destiny thought. She was so glad to see Kent so happy. Angela and Scott were having a competition at the video game. Destiny thought it was frogger but wasn’t sure more than half the decal on the side of the thing was worn off.

 Amy and Edie were dancing the two-step to some country song while Brain and Lisa tried to follow along. They kept getting tangled in each other’s limbs. Destiny tried not to laugh. Vickie was sitting by her self, trying to get Chris’s attention to no avail. ‘Finely a man who was immune to her charms.’ Destiny thought.

   The evening wound down and the guests disappeared one by one. First Diana and Chris, than Heather, Amy, and Edie. Scott and Angela had left shortly after their video game competition, way before everyone else. Vickie had disappeared. Destiny guessed over to that guy that was in her room yesterday morning, Lisa had told her about him during dinner last night.

 Destiny walked Kent and Andi out the front door and on to the porch. They looked up at the stars shining brightly in the Montana sky. Andi lifted her camera and took a picture of the heavens than turned it on Kent and snapped a shot. He smiled for her and did some silly pose as she snapped another one.

 “You two are silly.” Destiny said.

 “Silly!” Andi looked at Kent. “Do we still use the word silly?”

 “Guess so.” Kent smiled.

 “Well I’m going to go to bed I’m beat.” Destiny said.

 “Ya I suppose I should go also.” She smiled at Destiny than turned towards Kent and winked.

 “I’ll walk you over there.” He turned to Destiny and smiled.

 “Goodnight you two.”

 Destiny turned and went in the house and walked up the stairs when she reached the landing she had turned to see Brian disappear into Lisa’s room. She smiled to her self and went into her own bedroom. She had never felt more alone than she did right know. She missed Jake.

 Destiny walked over to her bed and saw a red plaid flannel shirt lying on top of the covers. It had a little white piece of paper pinned to the caller. Destiny took off the note and sat on her bed she opened it and read.

 

 

                   

 

                                 Destiny,

                                      

                                       I know this wont replace the fact that Jake is gone.

                               But maybe it can ease some of the pain. This is his shirt

                               and I know he would want you to have it. He will come

                               back for you. I know my Jake, and he would not leave

                               you behind.

 

                                                                                Nana

 

 

 

   Destiny held the shirt to her face and breathed in. It smelled like Jake. She took off her dress and pulled the shirt over her head. She pulled the covers of her bed down and crawled inside. Destiny flipped off her lamp and turned to look out her window. A shooting star flew across the sky.

 “If you’re looking at that same star Jake, hear my words. Come back to me, I miss you. I need you, and I love you more than you will ever know.”

 The tears began to fall from Destiny’s eyes as she held the collar of Jake’s shirt up in front of her mouth and nose inhaling deeply. Than drifted into sleep where she was once again reunited with her love under the night sky.