Page 40 of Montana Freedom

Dr. Rayne again. So many people had mentioned her at this point, I half expected her to materialize. “That’s true. Well, in that case, I hope you have a productive session.”

“Thanks.”

She left without saying anything else, but that was par for the course with Mara. She talked more than anyone made me think she would, but she was still quiet, and that was fine with me. I’d spent six months in a cabin, mostly silent. I understood.

I stood and brushed the dirt off my jeans. Seemed like it was around lunchtime, so I walked toward the main lodge. For the last few days, Daniel and I had eaten together, just talking and laughing and dancing around the things neither of us was saying.

My cabin was on the way, so I stopped in, quickly looking through the bags Kate had brought for something that wasn’t dirty jeans and a T-shirt which only fit okay. Nothing too fancy, but a pretty blue shirt and a clean, well-fitting pair of jeans suddenly made me feel like a person again.

Before Simon, my life hadn’t been easy, but I’d had friends. I’d gone on some dates and actually done things normal people did. After graduation, I didn’t. I was too busy working for him and trying to make him proud because I was making up for lost time.

Whole lot of good it did me.

I smelled the pizza as soon as I walked into the lodge. Daniel was already sitting at the table, two boxes open beside him, pepperoni and cheese. Usually we had sandwiches.

He smiled. “I’ve been craving…pizza since Seattle. So, I went into town and got us some.”

“Us?” I couldn’t help the smile that came to my own face.

“I shouldn’t have assumed you’d come by, but I’m glad you did.”

“I don’t know. Lunch is kind of our thing now, right?”

“Right.”

I served myself and sat across from him, trying not to stare and trying not to think about the pause he had taken before he’d told me what he was craving.

Daniel was handsome, and he was the first man in my life who truly gave a shit about me. I wasn’t going to give up until he provided me with a real reason not to give us a shot. We both wanted it.

But first, I had to ask, “Is there anything I can do?”

He looked at me, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been helping Mara around the ranch, and I want to be useful if I can. I’m not paying to be here, and I can’t get a job…” I sighed and took a bite of pizza. “I don’t want you all to feel like I’m taking advantage of your hospitality. If there’s something I can do to earn my stay here, I want to do it.”

Daniel reached across the table and took my hand where it rested. It was the most natural motion he could make, and it froze us both in place. He hadn’t intended to do it, but I didn’t want him to let go. “We’re happy to have you here,” he finally said, staring at our connected hands. “I hope you know you don’t have to do anything to earn that.”

My heart skipped a beat. “I do know.”

We hung in silence together for another minute, and finally, I gently squeezed his hand. “Let me put it this way. I spent six months in Simon’s cabin, trying to figure out where he went so I could keep myself alive. Now I’m not trying to solve anything, but it’s all that’s in my head. I need something to do, or I’m going to go crazy.”

He squeezed my hand back, neither of us wanting to let go and holding on as long as we could. “I’ll think about it,” he promised.

I hoped that putting me to work wasn’t the only thing he would think about.

Chapter13

Emma

I had no idea what to expect walking into what Resting Warrior calledfamily dinner. All I knew was I was to be at the lodge at six and be prepared for a lot of food and people.

The latter was true, and I wasn’t even inside yet. Trucks and cars lined up outside the lodge, more than I’d seen in the time I’d been here.

Suddenly, I was nervous. I’d met a few people here and there, but not this many all at once.Daniel—ever the gentleman, even if he was determined for us to only be friends—had come to get me from my cabin and brought me here. I looked over at him.

He gave me a smile. “Just family dinner, that’s all.”

This was one giant family. I could hear thehum of conversation even outside the door. But it wasn’t like a smaller group would help me feel more at ease. I had no idea what afamily dinnershould be like. Hell, I had no idea what afamilyreally was.

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