Page 7 of Almost Priest

“Here’s your bathroom. It has a shower and everything you need. The closet’s over there if you want to hang anything up. Kelly’s room’s two doors down the hall if you need anything. I guess I’ll see you at breakfast.”

He began to walk out into the hall and Sam felt the weight of guilt.

“Braydon, wait.”

He paused and looked at her.

This was his room. She was being selfish. He invited her here so she wouldn’t spend her break alone and now she was forcing him out of his room and into a room with a brother who clearly irritated him. But his presumption that they’d go from a few shared kisses and dates to sharing a bed took her off guard and she didn’t want him to assume too much.

“I…” Yet she still didn’t want to give his family the wrong impression. Maybe Maureen would understand, but she had yet to meet the other nine hundred McCulloughs. Who knew what they’d think of their brother shacking up with her? She’d have to wait and see. “Maybe tomorrow you could sleep here and I’ll see about sharing one of your sister’s rooms.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’m just tired. It’s fine. Really.”

He appeared fine, but Sam suspected he was trying to keep the peace.

She walked over to him and gently kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

He ran his hand over her ponytail and playfully tugged the end.

“You’re welcome, Samantha. Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.”

CHAPTER2

Sam awoke to the echo of rolling thunder. The unusual sound had her immediately opening her eyes, reminding her she was in an unfamiliar place. She was in Braydon’s bed at the McCulloughs’.

The roar of thunder sounded again, only this time it sounded more like a stampede coming from the hall. Elephantine footsteps echoed up and down the narrow wood flooring of the hall followed by an excited shriek and bubbling laughter. Sam sat up and pushed away the soft fur blanket twisted around her waist.

She climbed out of bed and stretched. What time was it? She walked to the window and pulled aside the drapes. The isolated splendor that greeted her took her breath away. Sitting in front of the reddening dawn were enormous mountains with nothing but flush pine trees sitting upon their shoulders.

The green rolling hills were bathed in roseate tints as the golden sun slowly climbed over the fleecy clouds to claim its place in the eastern sky. Breathtaking. This was nothing like the scrubby forelands of the New Jersey Coast. This was nature at its purest, so tremendous and humbling.

For the first time in a long time, Sam thought of God. Only he could create such perfection.

The stampede sounded from the hall again. Sam moved quietly to the bedroom door and peeked out to find the culprit. Because she was wearing only a pale blue cotton tank top and white cotton briefs, she made sure not to open the door more than a crack.

A cloud of black hair rushed by fast enough to send a small puff of wind over Sam’s uncovered calves. Just as Sam processed that it was a little girl in a cupcake nightgown, a small boy yelled and charged down the hall in full battle cry. The girl shrieked and the boy gave a villainous laugh. Uncontrollable, nervous giggles escaped the child’s lips as the boy neared, backing her into a corner.

Suddenly they both burst out laughing as the boy shouted, “You’re it!”

“Skylar! Frankie!”

The children stilled and looked down the stairs toward the adult female voice Sam couldn’t see the owner of. “Don’t make me come up there and knock the beef off ya! People are sleeping. Come down here and eat your breakfast.”

The little girl looked up at the older boy nervously, now seeing him as her protector rather than her playful predator. “Told you it was early.”

“You started it. Ah well, come on. Let’s go get Hannah.”

The children tromped down the steps, still unaware of how loudly their steps fell. Sam shut the door and smiled. This house was nothing like her home.

The smell of bacon permeated the halls and lingered in her room. Once the days started around here, the McCulloughs likely didn’t stop until well past dusk. If she wanted to join the others, she’d better get dressed and be prepared for anything.

She lifted her suitcase to the bed and unzipped the cover. Flipping through her items she pulled out a pair of khaki shorts and a fitted white tee. Unfolding the clothes, she laid them out on her bed, placing a fresh pair of cotton panties and a bra on top.

She frowned at the wrinkles, but decided they’d have to do for now. After retrieving her toiletry bag and a towel from her suitcase she moved toward the bathroom. She turned the knob and wondered if Braydon brought in her other bag that held her sneakers. She wanted to explore today and sneakers would probably be—

There, standing naked in her bathroom, was a man – a beautiful man.

All thoughts fell out of Samantha’s head like a spilt jar of marbles scattering out of reach. Standing stock-still, mouth agape, personal items clutched to her chest, she stared—openly gawked in dumb shock—at the vision before her.

---