Page 49 of Bravo

I swallow hard, my amusement from the conversation mere seconds ago vanishing. In its place is something far more dangerous…hope. Why didn’t I think to invite her?

She turns to me. “Would that be okay? I can help with directions or make a list while we’re driving.”

Beyond amazing.“Sounds good. I’d love the company.” Somehow, despite my excitement at the idea of sharing the trip with Sammy, I keep my tone level.

My earlier prayer about my desire to have her open up to me pops back into my head, and I can’t help but wonder if this is His way of answering it.Thank you, God.

She smiles. “Great. I’ll need to head over to my cabin and change first, but then I’ll be ready to go.”

“I still think you should rest. Keep your foot up,” my mother says.

“I promise to be careful,” Sammy promises. “I’ll elevate as soon as we get back.”

“Okay, I’ll hold you to that.”

An hour later,I’m parking my truck in front of Sammy’s cabin. The other ranch hands have already left for the day, out handling chores before heading to Piney Hill Ranch, so it’s completely quiet as I step out of my truck.

Feeling as nervous as a teenager picking up a girl for his first date, I make my way up to the front door. It’s ridiculous, really. It’s not even a date. And it’s hardly the first time we’ve spent time together.

Yet here I am, stomach a pit of nerves, mind swimming with thoughts about the good that could come from this trip.

I’m just raising my fist to knock when she opens the door. She’s wearing a pair of baggy black pants and a cream-colored sweatshirt that highlights the golden tone of her skin. Her hair’s braided over her shoulder, and she’s wearing a Hunt Ranch baseball cap. The same one that she was wearing that first day we met on the street.

She looks beautiful.

“Ready?” I ask.

“I am.” Using the crutches, she makes her way out onto the porch. I note the chain around her neck, tucked into the front of her sweatshirt. I hadn’t noticed it before, but since she tends to wear thermal shirts most days, that’s not a surprise.

Dog tags? The chain certainly looks like the ones they issued to us. Is that her secret? Did she lose someone overseas? Or is she the soldier who served? It would certainly fit her.

“Here, let me help you.” I rush forward and offer her help getting down the steps then move around the truck to open the passenger side door.

As soon as she’s settled into the truck, I take her crutches and slip them into the backseat then head around to the driver’s side. Once I’m behind the wheel, I offer her a quick grin. “Ready?”

“Let’s do this.” She reaches into her pocket and takes out a slip of paper. “I looked up directions, and I think if we take—what?” she asks when she glances up and catches me grinning at her like an idiot.

“You looked the place up?”

“Well, yeah, I said I would help with—” She trails off, closes her eyes, and lets out a laugh. “You’ve probably been going to this place since you were old enough to walk. You don’t need directions, do you?”

“No,” I reply. “But I think it’s great that you printed them out. Your attention to detail is something I admire.”

“Admire?” She snorts. “You barely know me.”

“I’m a good judge of character.” I put the truck into drive and head down the road that will take us off of the ranch.

Sammy’s fallen completely silent, her gaze fixed on the landscape out the window. I get the sense that the mood has shifted between us, though I can’t quite figure out why.

“I hope you don’t think I was mocking you or anything. I really do appreciate you taking the time to look it up.”

“What? Oh, no, I know you weren’t. Sorry, my mind is just elsewhere.”

“Everything okay?”

“I’m glad to be out,” she replies, completely avoiding the question.Interesting.

Is it her past that has captured her attention now? Whatever it is that brought her to our doorstep?

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