Page 78 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

She smiled, waited for him to look her way again. “Wouldn’t you like to go swimming with me again?”

He exhaled heavily.

She’d take that as a “he’d think about it.” And considering she didn’t really want him thinking about her in a swimsuit, she should probably change the subject.

“Thanks for understanding about dinner.”

“We’ll save it for some day when you’re feeling better.”

Her hand was swollen, which meant she’d be out of action for several days. And nausea and a skin rash meant that an allergic reaction might have hit her harder than it had him. Way to go, feeling like a prize. At least it meant she wouldn’t have to do any more of that acting stuff again. Once was enough, thank you.

She must’ve looked a sight, rocking up to the hospital with bedraggled hair and ill-fitting clothes. Mal had agreed to release Harrison to drive her, and he’d taken her to her folks first. She’d been relieved they weren’t at home so they wouldn’t fuss, and so she could get changed into jeans and a plaid shirt, and not go traipsing to emergency in period costume. Harrison had been thankful to exchange his sodden clothes for old ones Franklin used to wear. They might be a tad big on him, but he didn’t seem to care, and his lack of vanity just reinforced how much this man had changed. Maxine had met them with Harrison’s car, then they’d swapped vehicles while he drove Cassie to the hospital.

He’d been so supportive, just so wonderful, a snuggly bear whose arms she could rest in, secure, at ease. How strange that an independent woman could find joy in a strong man like this, but there it was. She did. She sighed.

“Are you feeling okay? Do I need to pull over?”

She laughed. “I’m not about to be sick in your beautiful car if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“You can be, if you have to,” he said bravely. “But I’d really rather some advance notice, all the same.”

She laughed again, and his features eased. She poked his side. “What are you thinking about so seriously?”

He glanced at her, then at the road. “Do you mind if we park for a moment?”

“Um, okay.”

He wasn’t about to try to kiss her again, was he? Her nose wrinkled. Probably not with her awesome comment about being sick. She probably needed to work on how to do cute banter.

He pulled off the highway and down the road to the ranch, but before they got there, he steered down a little lane that led to the old Rankin place. Their place was run by a multinational corporation, and the Rankins didn’t live there anymore. But she remembered the view of the stream that fed into one of the creeks of her family’s ranch. She wouldn’t tell Harrison which one, in case he got worried that pesky snake might find them again.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked.

“Nothing you need to worry about. But you, you wanted to tell me something, didn’t you?”

He blew out a breath. Nodded. Took her hand again. “Have I ever told you much about my grandmother?”

His grandmother? “Only that she was a godly woman, and someone you miss.”

He nodded, his thumb caressing the thin skin on the back of her hand. “I do miss her. I never thought I’d meet someone as good as her.” He faced her. “But then I met you.”

Oh. She barely dared breathe. This sounded like one of “those” conversations.

“I know I haven’t been the kind of grandson who made her proud. But I also know that I’m a new creation because of what Jesus has done, and I think she’d be glad that I now know that.”

She squeezed his hand. “I’m sure she would be proud.”

“And I want to make you proud. I know that my world must look so foreign to you, but I want you to know that I believe we can make this work.”

“How?” she dared ask.

“I take jobs nearer here. Maybe do a Christmas movie in Vancouver with Ainsley. See you as much as I can when I’m not filming.”

Maybe they could make this work, especially if he stayed nearby. Like at the western town.

“You can trust me, Cassie,” he said hoarsely. “I’m not the same as who I was when I first arrived on your ranch. And I’m trusting God to lead me on.”

“And He will.”

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