Broken(4)

“Ah, yes. It’ll be nice to take a walk without a member of the stalkerazzi jumping from behind a bush to snap my picture. And to finally have a little bit of peace. The road to redemption is definitely a tiring journey. I wonder what the press will make of my disappearance this time.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about them, sweetie. They’ll find someone else to harass soon enough. They always do.”

“You’re probably right. Hmm.” Kyla rolled the window down and inhaled deeply. “Ah, I needed that.”

Jocelyn flicked off the air conditioner. “I know what you mean. Nothing beats fresh air. I’d almost forgotten how much easier it is to breathe out in the country than it is in a huge city.” She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. Her emotional outburst had tired her.

“I wish I knew how to drive, otherwise I’d offer to take over for you.”

With a shake of her head, Jocelyn pasted a smile on her face. “I appreciate the gesture, but I’ll be fine. We’re about a half hour away from Devlin Ranch. I can handle this last stretch. This is supposed to be your vacation, too. The only thing you need to worry about is rest and relaxation.”

Kyla raised her shoulder in an elegant movement. Everything she did was with style and grace, her movements fluid. “I don’t intend to laze about for the next couple months. I’d like to help out where I can…and to offer the moral support you’re going to need.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. Your first priority is to rest and I fully intend to see you do exactly that.”

“Are you sure? I didn’t imagine you tensing up when I mentioned Cade’s name. You were the one to bring up that dream of yours so it’s obviously bothering you. Sweetie, you can’t heal if you refuse to acknowledge it happened.”

“It’s easy for you to say. You don’t understand what it feels like to be afraid wherever you go, to freeze up when someone so much as touches you. I know I’ve been labeled eccentric, but I feel physically ill every time I get that closed-in feeling. Do you think I want to live with this constant looking over my shoulder? Trust me, Kyla, if there was a way I could get over it in an instant, I would.”

“Jos, I’m not trying to oversimplify what you’ve gone through, because God knows, I’ve been through my own private hell and I sympathize with your plight. You stood by me when I was going through my ordeal and I want to return the favor.”

Jocelyn glanced at her friend with a great amount of affection swelling within her heart. If it weren’t for Kyla’s support and encouragement over the past few years, she might have suffered a serious breakdown. To look at the regal brown-skinned beauty, dubbed “the ice queen” by the tabloids and gossip blogs, one wouldn’t think she too, had her own demons to battle. No one knew the kind, giving person she actually was. Jocelyn wished Kyla would allow more people to see that side of her.

“The simple fact you’re here with me is comfort enough. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.” With shaking hands, Jocelyn flipped on the radio, wanting to drop the uncomfortable subject she wished she hadn’t brought up.

Kyla groaned. “Isn’t there anything else on other than country music? I’m not really in the mood to hear another song about some guy whose pickup truck was stolen, wife left him, and dog got rabies.”

Despite the heaviness of their prior conversation, Jocelyn giggled. “Not all country music is like that. I’m sure after you’ve been on the ranch a few days, you’ll love it.”

Kyla rolled her eyes, slouching deeper into the leather seat. “Yeah, only if I get a lobotomy within that time,” she muttered. “I’m going to catch a little shut eye. Wake me up when we get there.”