Page 37 of Organized Chaos

“I have something for you.” Phillip took her hand and led her toward a wooden door with OFFICE burned into the planks. His grin turned boyish and charming, and she swore she caught a hint of uncertainty in his gaze when he retrieved a large box from the swivel chair and held it out to her.

The box opened with a release of air. Sarah stared inside, one hand over her heart. “Phillip, it’s beautiful.” She set the box on the desk and pulled the hat out for a closer examination.

“See if it fits.” Phillip took it from her and settled the tan Stetson over her head. He tugged the brim and nodded his satisfaction. “Perfect.”

Her heart jumped at the soft touch of his hand on her cheek. She wrapped him in a quick hug, her momentum knocking the box to the floor. A quick nudge with her heel kicked the box under the desk and back against the wall. “Thank you.”

Phillip patted her back and his chuckle vibrated through her. “Couldn’t let you ride without your own hat.”

All thoughts of his callous podcast fled her mind.

“Ready?” Tim popped his head into the office. His blonde hair fanned out beneath his hat and he was holding Margo’s hand.

Dwight and Yvonne stood behind Tim and Margo, their attention locked on Sarah and Phillip.

Her cheeks were probably bright red as she removed her arms from Phillip’s waist. “Phillip bought me my first hat.” She nudged the brim and hurried into the hallway. “Let’s go riding.”

Tank stood patiently in the hallway, saddled and ready to go. Sarah took his reins and followed the others from the barn. They mounted one by one, with Phillip helping Sarah into the saddle before he swung into his own.

Tim led them down a dirt path and into the woods, where the trail widened. Phillip rode up alongside Sarah. She cast a quick look his way but didn’t linger. “It’s beautiful out here.”

Phillip sat easy in the saddle, his body swaying with each stride. Sarah let herself sink into the rhythm. The horses’ steady clip-clop created a backdrop to the quiet. It should feel oppressive, but Sarah enjoyed the moment and drew a deep breath.

Tim and Margo chatted up ahead, their voices drifting back so that Sarah caught bits and pieces of their conversation.

Phillip fiddled with the reins and leaned toward her. “How’s the chair coming along? I showed Mom the pictures you sent of the new fabric. She loved it.”

Sarah threaded her fingers through Tank’s mane. “I’ll have it done soon.” Should she bring up the podcast or wait for Phillip to mention it? She didn’t want to confront him, but she had questions about the way he’d worded bits of the episode. She opted for changing the subject away from work. “I like your friends.”

He chuckled. “Wait until they start arguing over who makes the best roasted marshmallows. Or Tim asks questions about our Bible study.” He pushed his hat back and peered at her from under the brim. “Things can get pretty heated at times, but we always come back together eventually.”

“I can’t imagine you all arguing about anything.” She ducked under a low-hanging limb and watched the group ahead of her.

Jovial laughter and genuine smiles made them all look like they’d never dream of causing each other any discontent.

Dwight reined his horse around and came up beside Phillip. “Mr. Jessup wanted me to ask if you’d do another talk on the risks of sheeting horses. Said his granddaughter is determined to put a blanket on her horse no matter how many times he tells her that the poor thing will overheat.”

Phillip turned contemplative. She’d seen him make that face when thinking about his schedule or all the things he should be doing when he was with her in the garage. She’d challenged herself to get him to stop focusing on to-do lists and start living life.

Until that podcast, she’d thought she succeeded.

Sarah nudged Tank into a faster gait and pulled up alongside Yvonne. “Phillip mentioned you all have a Bible study?”

“Oh, yeah.” Yvonne lifted one hand from the reins and used it to gesture wildly. “Every Thursday night. We rotate between all our houses. It’s Phillip’s turn this week. You should come.” She winked at Sarah. “You two seem to be getting along.”

Sarah ducked her head, thankful her new hat helped hide her expression. “For two people who are total opposites, you mean.”

Yvonne made a sputtering sound and grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry about that. We used to call him an old fuddy-duddy. But he’s changed these last few weeks. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why.”

“I’m not trying to change him.” Sarah winced at the idea. She had made a few suggestions about Phillip altering his day-to-day life. Taking more risks, for one, and not feeling so completely tied down to a schedule.

Did that make her a hypocrite for not wanting to change herself while asking Phillip to? It didn’t seem right. Then again, she’d allowed him to organize her garage, and she’d kept it that way. Maybe some changes were good. All relationships called for compromises at some point.You’re getting ahead of yourself.Sarah tangled her hands in Tank’s mane again and lifted her chin.

Yvonne had removed her hand and set it on top of her saddle horn. She watched Sarah, her hat shading her bright eyes. Even that couldn’t dim the understanding that Sarah saw there.

They broke free from the woods and rode out across a meadow.

Sarah drew her sweater tighter around her and absorbed the beauty spread out in waves of color. Even the threat of the coming winter didn’t take away the lushness in the fields or the wonder of the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

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