Read Online Reckless by Ruth Wind - Free Book Online Page B

star maps and all kinds of things. He was good at math and science and all that—but he’s selling insurance.”
    Ramona’s healing instincts prickled, and although she hated herself for it, she found she could not resist drawing him out on the subject. Perhaps he would reveal some key to his own troubles. “Okay. I set out to be a doctor, and I am one. You were a soldier.”
    â€œâ€˜Were’ being the operative word in my case.” There was only a hint of rancor in his voice. “I don’t know what I mean, really. It just seems at times that nobody ever really gets what they want.” He gestured toward a table nearby, filled with a crowd of young people. “I mean, look at those kids. I bet there are aspiring writers and singers and world leaders among them, and how many will really do what they want to do?”
    Ramona didn’t speak for a moment, mulling over the right words. He looked at her, and for a fleeting heartbeat, she saw raw, screaming pain in the depths of his eyes.
    Then it was gone and he nudged the dice toward her. “Your turn.”
    She rolled and moved. “Your friend, Jed, leads the local astronomy society.”
    â€œOh, that’s very exciting.”
    â€œNo, now that’s not fair. He loves the stars, and he gets to share that love with others. Maybe he isn’t going to walk on the moon, but that doesn’t change his love of it or the passion he feels toward space, does it?”
    â€œIt isn’t the same, Ramona, and you know it.” His eyes narrowed. “Leading the astronomy society is not the same as being in space.”
    â€œYou’re right,” she said slowly. “But I know Jed. He’s one of the happiest men I know.” She smiled gently. “He has six children, did you know that? Two are foster children he adopted. His wife worships the ground he walks on and she’s one of the kindest, most loving people you’d find anywhere. Jed didn’t become an astronaut because she got pregnant when they were first married, and he chose to come back to Red Creek so his child would have the same childhood he did.”
    â€œDon’t you think he ever wishes things turned out differently?”
    â€œI have no idea. Maybe. We can’t ever know what’s way down deep in someone’s heart, but my guess would be no. I don’t think he minds. Maybe sometimes when he’s gazing up at the Pleiades, he wonders what it would have been like to build a space station, but I bet it’s just a moment’s twinge. I doubt he would trade the life he has for the life he wanted.” She looked at the table of earnest young people. “The aspiring writer in that group might end up doing technical writing, and the singer might only end up with one of the biggest CD collections in the state, but both of them will be the richer for having dreamed, for having striven to reach something beyond themselves.”
    He nodded, but Ramona could tell he didn’t agree with her. Not for one second.
    â€œYou don’t buy it,” she said. “Why not?”
    â€œIt’s not that. Look, I’m sure Jed is happy. He always liked kids,” he said slowly. A thoughtful frown creased his brow, and he looked consideringly over his shoulder at the crowd. “Maybe it’s like that old expression, ‘Be careful what you ask for.’ My mom always told us to be careful, because what you end up getting may prove to be a disaster.”
    Ramona only murmured assent quietly, afraid to disturb the flow of his words.
    â€œShe wanted a rich man—or thought she did.” Jake gave Ramona a wry smile. “Hard to believe she really thought that was what she wanted, isn’t it?”
    She nodded. “She’s a very down-to-earth woman.”
    â€œShe is. But her dad ran off after the war, and her mother had to take in sewing and clean houses and work as a waitress to make