Still, its song was intriguing enough for even Sean to hold still. With each note, he hopped closer and closer to his chosen mate. At the last note of the song, another male with bright, unmarred feathers swooped in. His song was a squawk, but his bird-body was perfect. He stole away the ladybird and they flew off together, leaving the wounded songbird alone and defeated.
Sean wasn’t surprised. He knew that outward appearances mattered more than what was on the inside. The last year had taught him that truth which contradicted all the self-help books he’d read and seminars he’d attended in his life.
He lifted his hand and knocked on the door he stood in front of. He was sure to turn to his left side, placing his scars in the shadow as he did. He had no song to sing to this lady, but neither did he want to spoil her morning with his ruffled features.
“Good morning, Sean,” Sarai said as she pulled open the door to the home she shared with her husband. “Reed’s not here. He went out to help the others a couple of hours ago.”
“I know. He sent me to take you to your appointment.” Sean stepped aside and indicated the golf cart they sometimes used to get around the ranch.
Most of the men preferred to ride horses to their destinations on the property, but he knew that Sarai lacked the confidence to ride. She thought she was too big to fit on a horse. It was an unfounded idea. The woman weighed far less than Sean who rode for hours with no problem. But Sarai was still working on her body issues. With the help of her husband and everyone on the ranch, she was making progress.
“Really?” Sarai cocked a hand on her hip. “He sent you to drive me less than across the property?”
Sean shrugged. He would’ve done the same had Sarai beeches wife. The men on the ranch treated their wives like the precious treasures they were. And there was the fact that Sarai had collapsed in the heat shortly after her wedding. They weren’t taking any chances with her health.
Sean handed her into the golf cart and they took off across the ranch. He would never tire of the beauty of this place from the rolling hills in the distance to the green pastures that stretched as far as the eye could see. But he would have to give it up soon.
“It’s just a few weeks until the zoning deadline,” said Sarai. “Are you headed down the aisle soon?”
“No. I don’t have any prospects for matrimony.”
“I find that hard to believe. A smart and handsome guy like you? Girls must be lined up at the gates.”
They weren’t. Sean rarely left out of the gates of the property. On the ranch, he didn’t get constant stares at his scars.
“Have you tried online?” asked Sarai. “Reed and I were a ninety-eight percent match, you know.”
Sean knew. But he also knew he wouldn’t find his perfect match online, like Reed. Or bump into her at church, like Fran. Or have her fall into his lap, like Dylan. Those routes were closed to him.
As they pulled up to the medical suite, a small, energy efficient car that was just a touch bigger than the cart pulled up too. Ruhi Patel stepped out. When she did, Sean swore that the sun narrowed it’s rays on her casting her in a golden glow. The birds joined in chorus to sing the sweetest song ever heard. Flowers spontaneously bloomed as her feet touched the earth.
“Good morning, Sarai. You’re looking healthy today.”
“Good morning, Nurse Patel,” said Sarai. “I love that shade of eyeshadow on you.”
Eyeshadow? Sean hadn’t noticed the artificial coloring just under Ruhi’s brow. He’d always assumed it was her natural, inner glow.
“Sean. Sean?”
Oh no. She’d been speaking to him and he hadn’t responded. He knew he hadn’t been caught staring. He’d perfected his peripheral vision so that he would appear to be looking away from someone, but in truth, he’d be free to take in an eyeful. Sean always practiced that tactic when Ruhi was around.
He lifted his gaze to find Ruhi looking directly into his eyes. She was smiling at him. That smile often caught him off guard. So much so that his lips cracked a grin, a rare occurrence with him because when he did it further increased the grooves in his right cheek.
Ruhi’s gaze slid to his scars and she cocked her head to the side. Sean didn’t shy away from her perusal. Ruhi was the only person he held still for. She didn’t pretend she didn’t see his wound. She stared openly, challenging it to defy her healing prowess.
“I thought we weren’t seeing you until tomorrow?” she said. “You doing okay?”
Ruhi lifted her hand to his face. Her index finger caught Sean’s chin and she tilted his head so that she could get a better look at his wound. He allowed it. He shied away from everyone but her. She was the only good thing that came out of this cursed scar.
“Just dropped off Sarai for Reed.”
Ruhi rolled her eyes but didn’t let his chin go as she examined him. “The machismo on this ranch is so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.”
Like Sean, Ruhi had come from a traditional family with traditional values. Sean had gone through a rebellious phase as a teenager, but it hadn’t lasted long. He ached for a wife to call his own, and children to run after, and a home to look after.
Ruhi was still rebelling against her upbringing. If it was a valued tradition, she turned the other way. As she turned to go into the building, a packet of papers fell out of her purse.
Sean bent to pick up the documents. His gaze settled on bold words; Doctors Without Borders. Sean knew of the program. It placed doctors in faraway places to help those in need. The documents were filled out in pen with Ruhi’s slanted scrawl.
“You’re leaving?” As the words left his mouth, Sean felt his throat closing.
“If I get in.” She took the pages from him and placed them back in her bag. “This is the last stage of the application process. I’m now on a short list. I’d get to travel the world and help those most in need. It’s a dream come true. Wish me luck.”
Sean clenched his jaw. He watched her walk into the medical suite beside Sarai. The two women chatted away as they disappeared down the hall.
Sean’s heart thudded and then it stopped beating. He hadn’t planned on getting married, which would’ve meant he’d have to leave the ranch. But he’d planned to stick around. If Ruhi left the ranch, there would be no reason for him to do even that.
A cloud moved in front of the sun. In unison, the flock of birds that had gathered at Ruhi’s arrival took off into the air. Sean turned his scarred face back into the shadows and took off into the gloomy day.
* * *
That’s only the beginning!
You know a romance novel guarantees an HEA.
Can’t wait to find out how these two get together?
Be sure and order your copy of “His Permanent Scar” today!
About the Author
Shanae Johnson was raised by Saturday Morning cartoons and After School Specials. She still doesn’t understand why there isn’t a life lesson that ties the issues of the day together just before bedtime. While she’s still waiting for the meaning of it all, she writes stories to try and figure it all out. Her books are wholesome and sweet, but her are heroes are hot and heroines are full of sass!
And by the way, the E elongates the A. So it’s pronounced Shan-aaaaaaaa. Perfect for a hero to call out across the moors, or up to a balcony, or to blare outside her window on a boombox. If you hear him calling her name, please send him her way!
Also by Shanae Johnson
The Brides of Purple Heart
On His Bended Knee
Hand Over His Heart
Offering His Arm
His Permanent Scar
Having His Back
You can sign up for Shanae’s Reader Group at
http://bit.ly/PurpleHeartBrides
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The Brides 0f Purple Heart Ranch Boxset, Bks 1-3 Page 27