Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 14: Clearing my Head

9 years later

      "I am starting to get the picture. I mean I know what happened that day, but still putting all the pieces together like this is really eye opening." Marie huffs laying down the latest addition to my writing. "Maybe you should call Rosalita."

      I laughed, "I haven't talked to Rosa in like four years." I tapped my fingers on the countertop, "Marie, do you think that if I change the names and places and publish this, do you think I can stay off the radar. I mean no one has to know whose life it is right?"

    "I don't know," she whispered, sighing in annoyance. "But the life you are living right now is a lie. And you know it, I think you should just go into acting because girl you are darn good at it. You could blow any actress out there right now out of the water."

    We both busted out laughing. "Okay on a serious note, did you get our flat ready in New York. That is in a few weeks you know?"

     She nodded her head, "I did. It's exactly where you wanted it, across from the park in a family type neighborhood so you can stay low key. I also made sure to get a three bedroom. Me and Preston are going with you. Marko can run this place, and Suzie is going to handle the diner. Heck I haven't even been to the diner since we got back from LA. You have me so paranoid; I have made sure to cover my tracks as well."

      "I am sorry, I hate that you followed me on this path." I truly did, even Marie had changed her name so that she could hide the diner.

     "Don't be, it's been one hell of a ride. And when we are old and have kids of our own, we can look back and tell them stories of how we lived this whole other life and survived it together."

     "So, you and my brother going to give me nieces and nephews?" I asked with a raised brow and the look on her face was priceless and she spewed diet coke all over the countertop from her nose.

     "Oh my gosh Skyla, you are awful." She threw a napkin at me.

      "Yes, but you love me," I got up and threw my boots and jacket on, placing my flip phone in my back pocket. "I am going for a ride. I need to clear my head before I start the next part. I am not sure where to start the next chapter."

     "Okay have fun, put the flair gun in the saddle bag so you can alert us if needed." I saluted her and walked out the door.

    "Morning Marko," I greeted my farmhand as I walked in the barn to saddle up my baby.

    "Morning Lexi. Going for a ride?" he greeted throwing a bale of hay out of the loft.

     "Yep, I will be back in a bit."

     "Need help?"

     "No thanks Marko."

     I walked to the back stall where my bay mare stood. She was only about fourteen hands, thick built, a mane and tail to die for that was jet black. Her body reminded me of a copper penny and four black stockings. "Morning Cinder." She nickered at me, and I giggled. Yep, I named my horse after Cinderella. She was my first purchase when I moved to the farm, when it's me and her, it's when I feel the freest.

      It didn't take long, and I had her tacked up, and was riding off into the sunset, so to speak. We wondered up the hillside on our much worn-out path that we took several times a week for the past four years, until we came to the top in a clearing, where all you could see was miles and miles of land it seemed. The air was just a bit crispy, but it was the kind that would wake every inch of your skin when it touched it. I pulled my phone out and smiled at the two bars of service I had. This was the only place there was cell service here in the valley unless you had satellite, or you went to town.

      My fingers shook as I blocked my number and dialed that number, the one I knew by heart. The one I called at least once a week for the last nine years. The only problem was no one ever answered, only the machine, but I never wanted my number to go through, just in case someone had it and answered it.

     "Hey, you've reached Jaxon," his voice making me smile, "And Skyla," I giggled at the sound of my voice. "We are probably busy with each other, but leave it, and we will get back to you when we can." His voice sang through the phone, and I smiled at the giggles just as it beeped. I quickly hung the phone up and slid it back in my pocket as I wiped the tears away.

      Closing my eyes and my mind raced back to that day. It was after homecoming our senior year. He was crowned homecoming king and Samantha was queen. He didn't even accept it, he ran to me and picked me up swirling me around in a circle peppering my face with kisses. Samantha gave me looks to kill the whole time and I tried to ignore her. He talked me into going under the bleachers with him, we kissed and giggled the whole time. Then he pulled his phone out and snapped a selfie of us together. Me kissing his cheek and him cheesing like a fool. Then he pulled his voicemail up and after ten minutes of begging me to make the message with him, I did, I would have done anything for him.

      The sound of a four-wheeler quickly brought me back to where I was, still sitting on Cinder looking around the vast land. In a second, Marie pulled up and parked beside me, "You called it again, didn't you?"

      "You know me all too well."

     "Just call Rosa, talk to her. She always knows what to say." She grumbles.

     "I think I will stay dead to the world, it's nice in my own little world here. Lexi is who lives now." I crossed my arms and glared at her.

      "Girl, Lexi is a book character, maybe that's who you should put in your book, because if you were to die and come back tomorrow, with that heart of yours, you will always be Skyla." She turned the four-wheeler back on and faced it back to the farm. "Race you!" She shouts as she pulls out.

      "Alright girl, she knows she never wins, so let's keep it up." I mooch to Cinder and as if she knows she stretches out below me and I let the reins loose, letting her free underneath me as I lean down and grab her mane, this is her show, and I am only along for the ride.

     "How do you always do that?" Marie pouts as she pulls up and I am pulling the gear off Cinder.

     "You should try it, it's exhilarating." I scream. "It's like you are flying, not a worry in the world."

     "So, tell me did you have any revelations, as to where you pick up from here." She asks, putting her helmet on the shelf and joining me as we head to the house.

     "I think so, I mean there were so many memorable moments, but I don't want to bore my readers either. I want a healthy balance of love and action. I want to keep them on their toes you know, not really knowing where the story might end."

     "Makes sense." Her eyes lit up, "So since you are on the middle of junior year, there isn't much from there until summer break. I say you pick back up to your parent's early birthday present where they sent us to your old beach front condo for two weeks."

     "I am getting there, but not sure if that's where I want to pick up. I will think about it though. Thanks for the idea. Now if you will excuse me, my head is clear and time to get back at it." I hug her and make my way back to my office, where I begin my work again.