Page 41 of Keeping Her Safe

“Zachary, do you feel it? Do you see it?”

“No, what is it?”

“It’s my books. They are circling in the air. This is them. Every word I have written has been about here. It’s overwhelming. I hear so many stories written and unwritten. I want to write them all, but they’re all coming at the same time. I … I sound crazy.”

“You’re explaining to a mere mortal how that brain works.” He kissed her head.

“All my books have taken place right here, and I have never been here before. I got the stories, and they got the land.”

“Maybe that’s why Evie never left, and Zoey and Della came back,” he said.

“When I woke up this morning, the stories were gone. They had never been gone before. I thought it was because of you, because of what happened.”

He smiled at her. “I’m sorry you thought I had taken your stories.”

“I was ready to let them go for you, Zachary. I don’t need to write another sentence to make it through this life. I make pretty good money.” She turned in his arms so that they were facing each other.

“I don’t want your money, Zeph,” he said.

“Not the point, Zachary. I would rather spend a night in your arms then have the stories circling my head,” she said replied, looking into his eyes.

“But now you have new stories?”

“So many more. It’s like my mom only took one and stuffed it in me, but there are millions of others floating in the breeze. I just have to grab on and start,” she said, reaching into the air and pretending to grab one.

“Are your sisters going to be the main characters again?” he asked.

“You noticed. Do you think anyone else has?” She looked around as if there was a crowd around them.

“I noticed after last night when I met them.” He had read enough of her books to see who was who. “They’re not the kids their mother left behind, but their personalities are there,” he replied, pulling her hat back over her ears.

“Did I make a fool of myself?” she asked. She looked around to see if anyone was watching. Sadly, all three sisters were.

“Yes, but I told them you have never been on a farm before and had always wanted to see one. Maybe they’ll buy it.”

“Probably not. They probably think I’m crazy.” She sighed.

“Zeph, I just want you to know that you look beautiful when your mind has been blown.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on her lips.

“Quit being so cute, Zachary.” But she kissed him again.

He laughed and hugged her to him. “You know you can call me Zach, right? People do.”

Zephyr pushed away from him and looked at him closely: his close-cut black hair, brown eyes, straight nose, and full lips that were smiling. She leaned back into him and kissed his lips lightly and said, “I like you as Zachary. I always have. Zachary Wainwright.”

“What am I going to do with you, Zephyr Hart? What am I going to do with you?” he whispered into her hair.

Smiling, she said, “Don’t call me Zeph anymore.”

“How about I say it only when I whisper into your ear?” he added in a whisper, “Zeph.”

“Maybe I’ll let you get by with it then.”

By the time they had made it back to the group, Zephyr’s tears were long gone. Zachary had spent time making her laugh and feeling loved. The three couples that had been watching them made no mention of what had happened. They just turned the conversation casual and teased each other.

When the temperature had dropped, the women had all gone inside to get warm. Zephyr found herself sitting on a couch in a cozy living room with her sisters. Some with babies in arms, others without.

The overpowering emotion that had overtaken her outside had not happened inside of the house. When the suggestion that they go inside had come, she had been worried, but the house was only warm and cozy, no emotions.

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