Page 27 of We Redeemed the Rain

I finally closed my eyes and let my head tip back. The soft vibration of metal strings filled the lingering quiet, and I let my feelings carry the tune. Eventually, when my fingers cramped, the boy moved. He sat up, pushing back from the ledge, sending torrents of hay to theground below. He searched around in the darkness until his expression lighted on my face.

“Who are you?” His voice scraped, like two rocks rubbing together.

“My family rented one of the cabins.”

“Oh.” He nodded and swiped straw out of his unruly hair. He nodded again as if to confirmthat’s rightbut didn’t say the words.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He ran his hands through his hair several more times before situating that hat on his head. He didn’t respond as he pulled his leather shoe away from where it laid beside me. “Why do you have my boot?”

“It fell on the ground.”

He shoved his foot in without a word. I thought he was going to charge off down the ladder, but he didn’t. He lowered his voice, “Thank you. For playin’.”

“No problem.”

“You’re really good.”

“Been holding a guitar since forever.” I shrugged. “Dad says this is how I talk to the world.” I showed off by flawlessly executing a fancy run.

“Is it?”

“I’d say so. I feel the best with Glory in my hands. That’s her name. Music comes in handy, too. People need music.” I stretched out my leg and tapped his knee with my toes. “You needed it.”

He didn’t respond.

After a few more moments of my strumming, he asked, “What’re you doin’ up here in the middle of the night?”

“I could ask you the same.”

“Ilivehere.” I noticed the timbre of his voice was flowing and sweet, with a gentle southern accent. Couldn’t help but hear music in it.

“I haven’t seen you around.”

“Well, I’ve been here. Me, my brother, and my cousin help Gran with chores.”

“Oh.” There were two other families staying in the cabins. It was possible my path crossed with his when I wasn’t paying attention. Myfamily had stayed pretty busy with activities since arriving at the ranch. “So, why are you up here in the middle of the night?”

“Uh, I uh—” He stammered for a few full seconds before his shoulders dropped, maybe in resignation. “Just had a bad dream.” He shrugged. “I come up here after.”

“Do you have bad dreams often?”

“No, I…” The words fell off until he shook his head. He shifted toward me. The tone of his voice told me he was probably sizing me up, maybe squinting, maybe frowning. “Do your parents know you’re out here? They probably wouldn’t like their ten-year-old up here in the dead of night with a random boy.”

I scoffed, allowing my chin to jut out. “I’m eleven and a half thank you very much.”

“Alright, whatever.” He sighed. “Sorry for scarin’ you.”

“I don’t think I was half as scared as you were.”

He paused and turned his face away, looking through the open loft doors, over the main house and into the miles beyond. The stars were bright here—stunning actually. Looked like another dimension.

“Are you scared like that a lot?”

He draped his long thin arms over his bent knees. His whole body seemed to sag as he considered my question. Something told me…something abouthimtold me the answer wasyes.

“I don’t bite, you know. You can tell me.”

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