Page 18 of In Love with a Ranger

“We know,” Jill smiled, patting her on the upper back gently. “Why don’t you wash up, and I’ll put these away.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all.”

Christina already had her data and gratefully turned over the clear jar full of liquid gold to the other woman before slipping out of the warm kitchen. She stepped into the hallway and went to the bathroom, shutting the door. Looking in the mirror, she scrutinized her appearance and then sighed heavily before turning on the water. No, she didn’t need to worry about how she looked because she wasn’t here to impress anyone. She was getting data for her doctorate – and that was it.

She stared at her reflection once more. Maybe she would get out her pink lip gloss just to look a little more feminine or at least attempt to look somewhat decent. She knew she was extremely critical of herself, and sometimes, it was just better not to pay attention. Her hair was wispy, and her eyes were deep-set with brows a little too dark compared to her blonde hair, making it almost look fake.

Her teeth were another thing. In the past, she’d been made fun of a few times because her teeth were ‘too big,’ and her nickname all through school was ‘Chiclet’ like the gum, referring to her teeth. Yeah, kids could be so cruel, but then again, not really anyone went out of their way to say something differently, nor did she try to even enter the dating pool. Nope, she was firmly on the banks, looking at everyone else.

Christina sighed again.

Turning off the water, she dried her hands on the little finger towel that Jill had folded on a wooden shelf before dropping it into the tiny laundry basket to be laundered and put away. Opening the door, she let out a yelp nervously as Gideon was standing there.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I was going to wash up too.”

“Look,” she began quietly, taking the opportunity to apologize. “I didn’t mean to press you or cross a line asking about your injury. I was just making small talk and thought it might be pertinent if we are going to be sharing a cabin.”

“Nerve damage,” he admitted quietly, nodding. “When they got me up to try walking, my foot flopped when trying to hold it upward. They said it might go away with time, or it might flare up again. When I landed, I shattered my femur in a few places, have a few pins in me, and a few bulging discs in my lower back.”

“Are you in pain now?”

“No, I have exercises they gave me to alleviate some of the pressure if it starts to create shooting pain down my leg.” They both stood there for a moment, and she nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. She was blocking the way, almost like him blocking the door.

“Thank you for sharing with me,” she said softly.

“I’m sorry I walked in on you earlier, starting us off on the wrong foot.”

“That’s the beauty of meeting people,” she smiled gingerly, meeting his eyes. She hadn’t been expecting an apology from him, but the fact that he gave it so easily and looked contrite – combined with Jill’s words – really hit home. Maybe he was sorry and trying to be kind after all. “You can start a friendship anytime. Can’t you?”

“Friends, huh…”

“Of course, roomie,” she hesitated. “We do have to discuss a few things about the cabin, but like Jill says – a little trust and understanding go a long way. If we can share a barn, we can share a cabin.”

And finally, Gideon chuckled, smiling at her, and her heart caught in her throat. His nose was angular, and his eyes were a little small for his face, with a dusting of growth along his chin. His features were hard, and nothing stood out, but when you put it all together, there was something just so appealing about him. He was a man, not one of those skinny, waif-like, modern boys you saw on television or in magazines. This man was masculine and sexy in a guttural, appealing way.

Paul Bunyan, eat your heart out, she thought idly.

“Friends… and barn buddies?”

“Exactly,” she smiled.

“Meet you under the sheets in ten minutes?”

“Uh, no? Friends, remember?”

He started to extend his hand toward her and hesitated. She did the same and paused. She’d just washed her hands, and he was here to clean his own. Both awkwardly stood there, looked at each other, with their hands out but not touching because neither wanted to ‘contaminate’ the other… and chuckled nervously.

“Elbow bump?” she grinned, holding up her elbow to him and treasuring his nervous laugh as he bumped his elbow against hers, somehow managing to hang onto his crutches. “I’ll see you at the table.”

“Save me a spot,” he smirked.

“I will – and I think you’ll like it here.”

“I think so too,” Gideon nodded, stepping into the bathroom she’d just left, moving into the hallway, and giving him a nervous little wave. As he shut the door, she looked at her hand aloft where she’d been wiggling her fingers.

Oh my gosh, Chris, you are such a dork, she thought painfully, wincing at her stupidity and moving to take her seat at the table.

---