Page 82 of Praying for Thunder

“Rya… Are you okay?”

“I am now.” Happy tears fell. “I missed ya so much it hurt to breathe.”

Death. Her glow was gone, and she looked like death.

I hugged her again. “Never again.” Dad will just have to understand.

Leaves crackling had us both turning around in a hurry. As soon as I recognized Chubs and Roamer, I explained who they were. Still leaning on me, Rya smiled and waved, but I knew she didn’t like them there.

This was our place.

The two young men stood there, staring at Rya. By their expression, I knew what they were seeing; my light.

Holding what nurtured my soul, I smiled at them. “Now you understand.”

⚡⚡⚡

2 years later

Seeing Rya pray was witnessing her glory. Watching her ride her horse, Sable? That was like witnessing an angel finally get her wings and be free to soar among the clouds.

Clouds… Many more mountains had been climbed, but I was still surviving them all. Thanks to a certain food for my soul.

With the biggest smile on my face, I sat in a field of tall grass, watching Rya begin to grow into an amazing young woman. Her short blonde hair blew in Sable’s wind…

Yeah, Dad was pissed, and even moved Roam and me into a different bedroom to keep an ‘eye’ on me since my ‘hellion’ ways continued to be a challenge, but he truly knew this girl was how to keep me from leaving him. Where she was, he knew he’d find Thunder nearby.

Rya and I had cell phones now, and we texted and video chatted, but her in the flesh was best.

Her father finding out I hadn’t died in the fire? Very displeased. Rya and I had to sneak around his work schedule and travels. He was always shipping and delivering horses. Hence Rya’s nanny, who was far more forgiving of young love and late nights.

Fortunately, by sixteen, I was quite tall and could easily ride a motorcycle. Dad had said, “When your feet can touch the ground, I’ll get you one.”

Unfortunately, that also meant I was now a Prospect. I hated the leather of a cut touching my skin, knowing the crimes I would soon be forced to commit, but it got Dad to stop bitching about my Rya obsession, so I stopped bitching, too. If I had to learn to deliver illegal guns, so be it.

Ryannon was worth it all.

With the money I was going to make, I planned on buying her a herd of horses that weren’t connected to her dad. They were beautiful animals. I wanted Rya to have as many as she wanted.

She skidded her horse to a stop in front of me. “Will ya get on with me?”

Due to the setting sun behind her, one of my eyes squinted as I looked up at her. “Will you let me take you for a ride on my bike?”

“And have Daddy get word that I did?”

I sighed, “Good point.”

She patted Sable’s butt. “Come on, brave guy.”

I smirked. “Are you sure you won’t kill me on that thing?”

“Nope, but I can guarantee dyin’ with me will be worth it.”

Since she was the only reason I was alive, I got on that horse.

Me behind Rya, holding her around her waist, we galloped through more acreage of her father’s. We passed the yellow flowers she picked for her mama and when she thought I’d left her.

We also passed the church…