I'm Back
Ryley reined Cheyenne to a stop at the top of the pasture. He pulled his black Stetson down against the cool wind that was blowing from the north and sending a chill through his oilskin duster. The temperature and direction of the wind reminded him again that winter was approaching with an unnerving persistence that was common to Colorado. Yet the promise of a cold, snowy winter did little to dampen his spirits and he doubted it ever would. Everything had worked out in the end, or so people said, though Ryley knew this was only the beginning.
It had been just about three and a half years since Ryley had met Britney at her concert not far from where he now sat. So much had happened in that time that it defied the imagination. He shook his head, recalling the significance of his journey and it had indeed been a journey.
A little over a year ago he had gotten a call from Jessica Simpson. She wanted to thank him for everything he had done and especially for getting her in touch with Faith Hill. Apparently Faith had given Jessica the key to saving her marriage, though Jessica assured Ryley that it had been he who had given her the courage to use it.
They had talked for quite awhile after Jessica had congratulated him on storming back onto the NASCAR circuit. Ryley had asked her about the comment she had made about a vision quest while they were shooting her video. He hadn't understood then, but the more he thought about it, the more the comment had bothered him.
" Jessica," he had said. " What the hell is a vision quest?"
" It's a special journey, Ryley."
Ryley had shrugged. " So?"
Jessica sighed. " A vision quest is a journey someone undertakes in order to discover themselves, whether they know it or not."
" Why do I think you were trying to tell me something back then?"
" Because, Ryley, you're on a vision quest. You obviously don't know that. But you seem to be missing the point of it."
" And what might that be?" he had asked, with a humoring tone to his voice.
Again she sighed. " Ryley, a vision quest is a journey at its heart. And a journey is circular. At the end of a journey you should find yourself right back at the beginning."
That comment had floored Ryley, not at first, but within seconds he could see exactly what she was saying. The past several years of Ryley's life had distanced him from everything that had made him who he was. Slowly, though, he was coming back around to his beginnings.
Ryley took a deep breath, filling his lungs with cool fresh air. He sighed, smiling down on the house he had built; the home she had helped it become. The house had originally been a barn. The barn originally belonged to the rancher that had sold Cheyenne to Ryley ten years ago. Ryley bought the barn from the man and contracted a special company to come in, disassemble it, refurbish, and move it to his land. The barn was built on a new foundation and modified to be a home. Ryley loved it simply because it was so simple, so comfortable, and it suited him unlike any building he had ever been in.
Across a simple, yet expansive lawn in front of the house sat an even larger barn, its massive doors swung wide open. Ryley could see several of his ranch hands working to feed and clean the horses inside.
Yet for all that lay before him Ryley was still a cowboy at heart. Well, even that wasn't accurate anymore, for cowboys were stereotypically wanderers. Toby Keith had said it best; Marshall Dillon never hung his hat at Kitty's place. But for Ryley, everything that mattered to him in the world had just stepped out onto the front porch.
Ryley squinted, focusing on the woman he had fallen in love with and whom had fallen in love with him. Giving Cheyenne a gentle nudge with his spurs, Ryley let the big horse pick his way slowly down the hill and across the pasture. She turned and saw him, leaning against the railing to watch him approach, her long hair blowing lazily in the breeze. Ryley smiled as he thought back over everything that had happened and how long it had taken him to find the peace he now felt with the world.
Thinking back, he had to admit that the end of his journey, or vision quest, as Jessica had put it, began the first night he spent with Roselyn Sanchez. Ryley smiled, recalling that night and Roselyn's question. That question had been a strange one, but Ryley hadn't even considered saying no to it.
TWO YEARS EARLIER
" Ryley," she whispered. " Could you love me for the video?"
" What do you mean?"
She sighed. " I haven't been loved in a long time, Ryley. I want to know, if you can't love me in life, will you love me in the video?"
So that was it. This incredibly gorgeous woman hadn't been in love in so long she wanted a romance for the video. Ryley found it strange, but not unheard of. He had known quite a few women from the realm of Hollywood and stardom that were so good looking it was actually hard for them to find true love. He was even sure there had been a couple of movies made based on the idea.
" I don't know what to say," Ryley said as he kissed her on the forehead.
She looked up at him. " Say yes."
" Of course, Roselyn. I'd love to love you."
When Roselyn admitted that intimate secret to Ryley she had triggered something inside him. The event was subtle, hardly noticeable. Things may have turned out differently, except for one thing. As Ryley was drifting off to sleep with Roselyn cradled in his arms, sleeping like an angel, her long dark hair spilling over the blankets, his cell phone rang.
He picked the phone up off the floor without disturbing Roselyn and before the ringer could wake her. Holding the phone to his ear, Ryley cleared his throat.
" Hello?"
" Ryley?"
Though he didn't move, Ryley woke up almost instantly. " Mandy?"
" Yeah," she replied, sighing. " Did I wake you up?"
" Almost," he replied. " What's up?"
" I miss you. I need to see you."
" I miss you too, Mandy," he said, suddenly becoming aware of his other hand, which was still caressing the silky skin of Roselyn's back. He didn't bother to stop.
" But you don't want to see me?"
Ryley sighed. " No- I mean yes, I do. Where are you now?"