“And I would love to see that bucket list of yours,” he replied. What did she hope for? What did she dream about?
Her eyes twinkled at his insistence. “That’s not going to happen. There is no comparison.”
What did she want to do that could only happen in Las Vegas? What could make her shy about revealing it? Did she want to be a showgirl? Learn illusions from a famous magician? “Then tell me what one thing you’ve crossed off your list.”
“I would but the statute of limitations hasn’t expired,” she answered primly.
“Christine Pearson?”
Christine flinched, startled, when she heard her name called. She slowly, almost reluctantly, turned to the man who was looking for her. “Yes?”
“You’re up next.” The guide motioned at the jump platform outside the windows. “Mr. Cain, you can wait with her.”
Travis saw Christine’s balance wobble as her legs threatened to buckle. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. “Christine,” he said huskily in her ear, “why do you want to jump?”
* * *
WHY DID SHE want to jump? Christine stared at Travis as she considered the question. Was it because she wanted to become an exciting person? Was it because she just wanted to do one stupid thing to tell her friends?
Or was it because she needed to stop making excuses? She made choices knowing it meant she didn’t pursue her interests. She had placed other people and goals first. She had delayed her dreams of travel to be there for her mother and, later, for Darrell. She didn’t know why she did it, but she had no one to blame but herself.
And because she had stayed in Cedar Valley, she had a job, a home, and belonged to a close community. She was fortunate and she knew it. It took years to get where she was today. She had invested so much time and energy and she didn’t want to give that up.
And yet...it felt as if it wasn’t her life. It definitely wasn’t her dream. She knew she should be grateful, but she wanted more. Something else. She felt she was too young to feel so old. That if she didn’t do something now, she would never break free from the routine and predictability.
She slowly raised her head. “I’m jumping because I want to know what it feels like.” She wanted to take a risk. Allow the fear and exhilaration to collide inside her. Test her mettle and discover what she could do. When was the last time she did that?
Okay, she had felt a zing of exhilaration when Travis approached her. And when she pretended to be someone else, she hadn’t felt that nervous in a long time. But that was different; it had nothing to do with skills or accomplishment. It was simple and instant attraction. Travis Cain was a handsome guy and she was in Vegas. It was a moment when she felt that anything was possible.
“You’re going to do great, Christine,” Travis called out to her as she walked to the platform. “You’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want to be fine,” she said over her shoulder. “I want to shake things up.”
Christine stood on the platform and stared out at the Strip. She tasted the fear as she started trembling. She barely heard the man behind her giving tips as he strapped her onto the wires.
“Ready?” the man asked.
She shook her head. Christine stared at the small blue X on the ground, where she was supposed to land. She knew this was a controlled fall, that the wires would keep her on target with where she needed to land, but the ground was so far away.
“You don’t have to jump,” the man explained. “All you have to do is let go.”
He said it as if it was no big deal. That it was perfectly normal to let go of something solid and safe so she could fall to the ground. She took a big breath.
“Don’t think about it,” the man said. “That will only make it more difficult.”
That was her problem in a nutshell. She thought too much. She considered every possibility, every outcome. It didn’t take long before she was frozen with indecision and did nothing.
She didn’t want to be like that anymore. “I’m ready.” Her voice shook.
“Put your toes on the edge. Good. Three...two...one...”
Christine closed her eyes, let go and screamed all the way down.
* * *
TRAVIS PACED ON the ground floor as he waited for Christine to change out of her flight suit. He glanced out the window and saw Pitts and Underwood on the sidewalk. They were at a discreet distance as they watched the other sky jumpers.
His instincts told him that they suspected he had the emerald. The stone in his jacket suddenly felt large and heavy. He refused to check his breast pocket. He knew the jewel was deep green and uncut. It was also safely tucked away in a tiny, sealed plastic bag. He didn’t know much about gems, but he knew this small emerald was worth a lot of money.