Page 47 of Operation: Chosen

“Good, now you don’t need to be so worried. Why are you so worried, by the way?” He checked his mirrors, then slowly pulled out of the spot.

Her first instinct was to hide her reasoning. Eric had his job, and he’d never even asked about hers. He might not be interested and might not care that she would have to go back. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t try to talk her into staying. So where would she go if she couldn’t go back?

“I’m worried because my mind is over-occupied with legal matters. My office called, and it turns out they need me back faster than they thought. I may have to cut my time here short and file the paperwork for Cole once he returns.”

“Through the mail?” Eric asked, though he didn’t look away from the road. He was speeding down the gravel road with only one hand on the wheel. Even if he normally drove that way, it felt dangerous because of his broken arm.

“Yes, I don’t see any other way.”

“I thought they gave you three weeks off?” He glanced at her quickly, then back at the road, making her remember her first crush as a young girl. Though the truck they were in would be no match for an orange Dodge Charger.

“They did. But a case came in that they feel would be best handled by me. I’ve been there the second longest, and this is a fairly high-profile case.”

Eric slowly nodded. “I see. I suppose I should wish you good luck.”

Her stomach twisted. “I don’t believe in luck.”

The side of his mouth hitched up. “I guess we have that in common. You seem unsure about it. Like you want to do it, but you’re holding back. Maybe you just don’t want to tell me because I’m just some cowboy, but maybe there’s more to it than that.”

He’d noticed her hesitation. Who else had ever known her well enough to be able to tell how she was feeling? “I have never thought you were lacking because you’re a cowboy.” She flicked his hat. “I’m holding back because for the first time…I don’t know what to do. They need me which means the decision should be made for me.”

“But it’s not. Is the case something that you’re morally opposed to?” He kept his focus on the road.

“Yes and no. We never want to know if someone is actually guilty or not. Our only goal is to convince others what the client wants them to believe is true. In this case, the fame that would come just isn’t sweet enough to make me want to go.”

“Is something keeping you here?” His voice was low, almost unsure.

She couldn’t dash his hopes—if he had any—again.

* * *

A little overone week was all it had taken for him to have hopes again. Eric wanted to smack himself upside the head. What was he thinking? Ali wasn’t going to stick around. She was a big-city lawyer with big-city dreams and goals. None of her hopes aligned with his.

Not a single one.

Offer to pray for her.The voice tickled the recesses of his mind, not quite a solid voice, but no less of a nudge.

He mentally shook his head and argued back. He couldn’t offer to pray for her. Every time he’d even so much as hinted at faith, she’d turned chilly. He’d never figured out what it was that had turned her so solidly against God, but every outstretched hand he’d ever offered had been expressly refused.

Pray for her.

That he could do. He ignored the silence stretching between them and focused on what he wanted to say and the road ahead.

Lord, Ali has a hard heart. She’s been hurt by a lot of people. I don’t know what she needs now, but you do. I don’t know if I’m a part of that or not, but I hope that what she needs to do will become clear to her.

“The turn is right up here.” Ali pointed at an exit ahead. “It’s just about a quarter mile up the gravel road when you get off.”

He nodded. “I hope you’re able to make your decision. I won’t pressure you to stay. I know you never planned to stay longer than three weeks. I…” He wasn’t one to say he was sorry. His parents never had, and he’d always tried to do right the first time so apologies weren’t needed, but this felt necessary. “I know I was angry when you first arrived at Wayside. But I’m glad you came.”

She ducked her head slightly and raked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks. That helps.”

“Does it?” He wasn’t sure how it could. Maybe his apology made leaving easier.

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure if coming had done any good at all. This was really the one and only time in my life I did things without a solid plan. I wanted to see you. I missed you. But I didn’t know what to expect, and obviously I couldn’t plan.”

Officer Blake’s car sat in a driveway ahead, and Eric pulled the trailer down the narrow drive. A large horse barn and fence comprised most of the area, but what was missing was a house. Did anyone live here, and how had Skyfall ended up here? He parked the truck, then turned to face Ali.

“If there were no rules, what would you want to happen?” He could hardly read her face in the growing darkness, and he wanted to jump out of the pickup and see to his horse, but Ali might not be there much longer, and she needed him this instant.

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