Wild Horses (22 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

N
ORA
'
S
HEART
STARTED
pounding the moment she walked underneath the grand Grecian facade of the Senate building. If there was one symbol of how far she'd come in life, it was the big pointed entryway that made the front of the square office block look like some sort of temple.

She approached the hearing room with trepidation. No one had told her quite what to expect, though an internet search had turned up a little information. She knew she'd be on a panel of experts testifying about wild horses. She knew she'd have five minutes to speak and then would most likely be asked some questions afterward.

“Excuse me,” she said to the young woman who was standing outside the door. “I'm supposed to testify. Should I wait out here?”

“Let me take you in.” The aide was very friendly and showed her the seat at the long table with her name on it. There was a microphone set up for each guest. Nora put her folders down and looked at the huge semicircular desk that faced her table—the desk where the senators on the land use subcommittee would sit. It was imposing, and the wood-paneled walls, the American flags and the regal blue carpet added to the pomp.

“Pretty exciting,” the aide said, smiling at her. “I've worked here for almost a year now and I still pinch myself every day.”

“It must be amazing to be a part of this,” Nora said.

“It really is. Now, just make yourself comfortable. I'm sure the other panelists will be here soon.” The aide headed back to the door and Nora glanced at the other names on the table. And then looked again. And then walked up to a seat just two away from her own and read the name on the placard one more time.
Todd Williams.
Shock jangled through her already wired nerves.

“Hey, Nora.”

She jumped. Todd was standing on the opposite side of the table. She tried to take in the neatly combed hair and the dark gray suit that fit him perfectly. He looked so handsome, she'd missed him so much, and he was so totally unexpected. She finally found her voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Testifying. I was wrong to expect you to speak for me. To ask you to risk your career for my cause. You were right about so many things that night we fought.”

“Oh.” It didn't fix what had happened between them, but it felt good to hear the words. Too good. She'd been hanging on to her fury to keep herself going. Without it, losing him hurt unbearably.

“Your brother gave me a pretty good talking to. Thanks to him, I did what I should have done in the first place. Called home. Tried to make peace with my parents. And my dad called in a favor and got me on this panel.”

She stared at him, knowing how hard it must have been for him to ask his father for help. “I knew you loved the horses. I guess now I know
how
much.”

He smiled. “Apparently it's genetic. It turns out my mom has become really involved with animal rights causes. She's gotten rid of all her furs and gone vegan. She wants to give me money to buy more land. To start the wild-horse sanctuary I've been dreaming about.”

“That's incredible!” Some horses, at least, would be safe. “What fantastic news!”

“It is.” He looked chagrined. “Though part of me feels as though I'm right back to being that trust-fund kid again. But if it helps the horses, I can handle it.”

“Some things are worth accepting vast amounts of money for,” she teased.

“Yeah.” He smiled. “I guess so.” He shook his head, as if totally bemused by the strange turn of events. Then his expression became more serious. “But, Nora, I hope you didn't listen to me—about today. I had no right to ask you to testify about the horses. Don't put your job at risk.”

She'd already turned in her written testimony. “I...”

“Howdy!” A hearty voice interrupted them and a big hairy hand shoved itself in her direction. She looked up to see a burly man in a tan suit with a black mustache leering down at her. “Well, if they'd told me there'd be pretty ladies testifying, I'd have said yes a lot quicker!”

Who was this guy, and had he really just said that? “I'm Dr. Hoffman,” she said coldly, picking up her folder from the table instead of shaking his hand.

He didn't seem to notice her snub. “Brains
and
beauty. I'm impressed. Mike Latimer, US Oil and Gas Alliance. Looks as though we're sitting next to each other.”

Nora resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She caught sight of Todd behind Mike's big head and he rolled his eyes for her. “Lovely,” she said and took her seat. “Excuse me, I have to go over a few notes.”

She sat down at the table and opened her folder, staring blindly at the bullet points she'd typed up. Her mind took in none of it. Somehow, during that terrible fight, Todd had heard her. And he'd called his dad and flown across the country to make sure she felt no pressure to say the things he'd asked her to say.

She glanced over to where he was valiantly attempting to make small talk with Mike. His father wouldn't have given him this chance to testify without wanting something in return. What had Todd offered? What had he given up?

If she kept thinking about Todd she'd never be able to concentrate. The hearing was starting in mere minutes. And now she didn't know what to say. Todd was here, so she could just stick with the basic facts about the plants. He'd talk about everything else.

But now that she'd prepared her testimony, she wasn't so sure she wanted to change it back again. Even if it cost her this job. And future jobs. Because the horses mattered, and they had so few voices speaking for them. She'd always tried to be honest, to do what was right. Could she live with herself if she didn't speak the whole truth now?

The hearing was called to order and the panelists took their seats. The senators filed in behind their enormous desk. They all rose for the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the purpose of the hearing was described. And the entire time, Nora's heart hammered in her chest, banging out a rhythm of nerves. She was an introvert. She wasn't a public speaker. And, oh, God, was that a
television
camera over there?

Mike from the natural gas industry was asked to go first. And in his hearty voice he made his case for why the Department of Range Management should open up
more
land in Nevada and California for fracking. And how his industry's actions weren't affecting the wild horses one bit. Her outrage grew with each word he spoke. Who was he to demand that the country give his industry a whole bunch of public land to destroy? Who was he to push a practice that polluted millions of gallons of water in a state suffering through a historic drought? Why was he, and his industry, more important than the wild horses? Than clean water?

And then there was the fact that he was a chauvinist pig and she really wanted to kick him.

Thank goodness for Mike, because when they called her name next, Nora's nerves were gone—her fear completely eradicated by hot, righteous anger.

She stated her name and occupation firmly when asked. And then she launched into a description of her study, displayed her charts and tried to describe her data in a manner interesting enough that the senators' eyes didn't cross. And then she stepped off a cliff.

“I was hired to study the impacts of wild mustangs on native plants,” she told them. “And at first my data was very confusing, because wild horses and native plant species have coexisted fairly well together in the past. However, these days, plant populations are dwindling quickly.”

She glanced at Todd, who was looking at her with alarm in his eyes. He shook his head just a fraction, reminding her that she didn't have to do this. But she
did
have to. Not because he'd asked, but because she wanted the horses to stay free. And some things were worth the sacrifice involved.

“Yet, if you look at my chart here, you'll see that the local populations of wild horses and burros are dramatically lower than they've been in previous decades. So as a scientist, I had to ask myself why, with fewer horses grazing these rangelands, are the native plant populations so low?”

She glanced over at Mike. “No offense to Mr. Latimer here, or the industry he represents, but what I discovered is that because so much of the horses' former range has been opened up to fracking, drilling and mining, the herds have been forced onto far less land than they previously occupied.”

She clicked on the slide she was most proud of. Historic maps of the Eastern Sierra mustangs' range compared to a map of their current land, with recent changes defined by various colors.

“So as you can see, it would be wrong for me to conclude my talk simply by saying that wild mustangs are overgrazing the land. The real issue is that wild mustangs no longer have enough land to live on.

“The citizens of this country, when polled, are overwhelmingly in favor of setting aside land for wild horses. So if Congress really is here to follow the will of the people, I recommend that you commission a new study that asks new questions. Questions like how many wild horses can we, as a nation, afford to keep? And how much rangeland will those horses need to be healthy and safe? How can we humanely limit their population? If we approach the issue thoughtfully, I am certain there is a way for both mustangs and native plants to coexist. Thank you.”

She sat down and took a deep breath, trying to contain the strange and wild joy that welled in her chest. Today she hadn't been careful. She hadn't been practical. She'd been someone who'd done the right thing, even when there was risk involved.

* * *

“N
ORA
,” T
ODD
CALLED
SOFTLY
, weaving through the crowded hallway outside the hearing room. He'd been the last to testify and his adrenaline was still pumping. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down before speaking with her.

She turned and allowed him to catch up. “You didn't have to do that,” he told her. “I got my spot on the panel, flew all the way out here so you wouldn't need to.”

She smiled softly. “No offense, but I did it for me. I couldn't get up there and tell just a small part of the story.”

“I was so proud to know you, listening to your talk.” He tried to take in all of her, her big gray eyes, her hair styled in a slick ponytail, her slim and pretty figure in a navy blue suit. “Your presentation was fantastic. You made the rest of us look like amateurs.”

She smiled at him as if he were a stranger. “Thanks,” she said politely. “You did very well yourself.” She turned to walk down the hallway toward the building's exit.

He hustled to keep up. “And on a totally different note, you look beautiful.”

She glanced over at him, delicate eyebrows raised. “Have you been learning social skills from our buddy Mike Latimer? Because he's not the best example. Generally, you don't ogle your colleagues at a congressional hearing.”

He'd stuck his foot in it one more time. “I'll keep that in mind.”

She smiled a little. “Anyway, don't get used to it. I'll be back in my jeans and hiking boots in no time.”

“I like you best that way.”

“Todd, don't,” she protested, stopping suddenly.

“What?”

“Don't feel as if you need to flirt, or make me feel better about us. It's okay. I've accepted that it's over. If you try something a second time and it all falls apart for the same reasons as the first, then it's really not meant to be. I'm sad, but I'll be okay.” She started walking again.

“What if I won't?” He had no idea how she covered so much ground in those heels. He could barely keep up.

“What are you talking about?”

“Look, can we just go somewhere else? Can I take you to dinner?” He didn't really want to talk about
them
in this office hallway.

“Todd, I have a car outside. I've got to catch a plane.”

“Home?” He looked at her hopefully. “Maybe I can get on your flight.”

“I'm flying to Arizona. I have an interview there.”

“But I'd really like to talk.” He'd been doing so much thinking, and he'd been practicing several different apologies. He felt as if they'd burst right out of him if he didn't get the opportunity to clear the air.

They'd reached the wide doors that led into the afternoon sunshine. He pushed one open and held it for her. Out on the marble steps she turned to face him. “I'll be back in Benson in a couple days. I'm sure we can chat then?”

“I don't want to chat.” He knew he sounded sullen. “I want to talk. About us. About our future.”

“And isn't this you pushing your agenda on me again?”

Damn.
She was right. “I have a lot to learn, don't I?” It was humbling, how he messed up, and tried again, and still messed up.

“Well, I do, too.” Tears welled in her eyes suddenly. “I don't think we have a future.”

Her sadness cut into his heart. “We could. I'm trying not to be so pushy. So single-minded. When I realized what a jerk I was during our fight, I also realized just how much I get carried away by my agenda. Whether it's horses, or thinking I can rescue you, or getting you to eat a s'more...I push too hard. I
will
learn. I promise.”

“I want to believe you, but I also don't want to get hurt.”

Her words made tiny cuts on his soul. He'd been horrible that night. “I don't want to hurt you, ever. I love you. And I love learning about you. About everything you've been through, about how that's shaped you. The more I learn, the more I admire you for becoming this incredible, strong woman.”

“That's nice, but I'm still the woman you broke up with when I wouldn't make the sacrifice you expected me to make for your cause.”