Page 139 of Prodigal Son

It had been so long since anyone touched him with any sort of affection, he stiffened.

“Sorry,” she apologized, sensing his discomfort. “I’m a hugger.”

“It’s cool. You just caught me off guard.”

She looked around. “Can I help? Do you have another rake?”

“I only brought this one.”

“Oh.” She smiled at him. “Well, I could still keep you company if you don’t mind.” The green irises of her eyes darkened in the dim light of the barn.

He reached up and gently untangled the piece of hay from her hair. He showed it to her before tossing it to the ground. A soft shade of pink crested her cheeks.

“I’d love the company.”

Her blush darkened. “You know, there’s a—”

Maggie’s words cut off as the loft floor creaked and snapped. The ground fell out from under them and he landed on his back with a hard thud followed by an awful clatter as the boards collapsed.

Dust rose high overhead and he coughed. The impact of the fall registered in his back and he groaned. “Shit. Maggie?”

“I’m fine.” A board lifted off of his leg and her face came into view. “Are you okay?” Dust motes and sunlight filtered around her curls giving her a sort of halo. “Guess it’s not in that good of shape after all.”

Dane laughed, then groaned and coughed.

“Oh, Dane, you’re bleeding.”

“I am?” he searched his body.

“I can smell it.”

He looked up at her. “You can?”

She bit her lip. “Is that weird for you?”

“No, it’s just… Yeah. It’s a little weird.”

Wood particles, sand, and hay dust settled in the air. “You’ll get used to it.” She pointed to a tear in his pants. “There.”

He ripped the fabric and found a large gash in his thigh. “Shit.”

She laughed. “Don’t let The Elders hear you using such words.”

He looked up at her and smirked. “Fuck The Elders.”

She sucked in a breath and covered her mouth. Crouching down at his side, her dress forming a cloud of mauve around her knees, she whispered, “I didn’t know you were so rebellious.”

It wasn’t like he’d ever really been disobedient in his life, but to the Amish he probably appeared totally corrupt. The thought of her seeing him that way inflated his ego.

“I’m not from around here.” Okay, he needed to reel it in. He was starting to sound like a corny western.

“That cut looks bad.”

He examined the deep gouge as blood ran down his thigh. “It might need stitches.”

“Stitches?” She giggled. “You know, you could just…”

“Just what?”

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