"I just arrived this morning and got my business done already. I'm already checked in at The Embassy Suites and I have to leave tomorrow, but I'd love to come out for awhile." Looking at Sam, he said, "Unless you two have plans. I don't want to interrupt anything."
She assured him, "No, no plans. Go ahead." They made plans to have a late lunch together the next day, then visited awhile before Clay left.
Trevor looked at his watch. "I think we have time for one more dance before we head home, too. You up for it?"
She quickly took his offered hand and they were back out on the dance floor. She felt like she was floating through air as he swirled her around and around the dance floor.
They left with both of them smiling and in a jovial mood. As he was driving home a song came on the radio he liked and he started singing along. She looked over at him, a bit surprised. He was as good a singer as he was a dancer. She loved to sing and joined in. Now it was his turn to look at her, a bit surprised. They smiled at each other as they finished the song together.
He picked up her hand and squeezed it. "It seems we like a lot of the same things."
"Seems like it."
"This is going to be fun."
"It is, isn't it?"
He lifted her hand and kissed it. She smiled.
When they got home, he led her through his house, picking up a bottle of wine on their way to the guesthouse. They went to the back patio again. It was a lovely evening and neither of them wanted it to end. He sat down on the porch swing, pulling her down beside him. He easily slid his arm around her, gently pulling her over to rest her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes of very companionable silence he said, "Thank you for going to dinner with me tonight."
"Thank you for taking me. I had a wonderful time."
"Me, too." After another minute he asked hesitantly, "Sam, can we talk a minute?"
"Uh-oh, that sounds serious."
"Kind of. It seems to me we've been getting along real well."
"Yes."
"Not just working together, but I feel like there's something more between us. Is it just me, hoping there's something more between us, or do you feel it, too?"
"There's no beating around the bush with you, is there?"
"Not usually, no, especially with something that's this important to me."
She took a deep breath. "Trevor, I feel something between us, too, but it––"
Trevor gave her a minute, but when she didn't finish, he became worried. "It what, Darlin'?"
Without looking at him, she said, "It kind of scares me."
"Why? How?"
"I don't usually have problems making friends."
"I saw that tonight."
She paused a bit at his words, but then went on, "But when it comes to a serious relationship, or any relationship with a man, I'm very skeptical and I tend to move slowly."
"Why is that? I mean, why are you skeptical? There's nothing wrong with moving slowly, but why are you so skeptical of men?"
"Because I – because they – I can't ––"
"Sam? It's okay, I've got you, you're safe. You can tell me anything."
For some reason that she didn't understand, those words touched her heart and she knew he was telling the truth. She did feel safe. Still not looking at him, she said, "I've only ever trusted one man and he ––"
"Oh, sweetheart, you're doing good. I've got you, go ahead and tell me. What did he do?"
She started crying and trembling, but managed to get out, "He betrayed me."
Without saying a word, Trevor stood up, picking her up with him. He carried her inside the house and sat down on the couch, settling her on his lap and wrapping her in his arms. "It's okay, Darlin'. I don't want you to get cold or worry about anyone hearing us while we talk. You're safe here. Can you tell me who it was that betrayed you and how?"
She didn't say anything and he gently rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. "You'll feel better if you talk about it, Sweetie."
He hoped she would choose to share her story with him, but he wasn't going to push. If she wasn't ready yet he'd hold her and talk to her, but he wouldn't push her. When she talked to him he wanted it to be because she trusted him.
He whispered soft assurances to her and held her tightly and was resigning himself to the fact she wasn't ready yet, when she quietly said, "My dad."
He was shocked. The few times she'd mentioned growing up it had been when she was living on a ranch and it always sounded like she got along real well with her parents. He quietly said, "Thank you for trusting me, Sam. Can you tell me what happened?"
She didn't say anything, but he felt like she tried to several times. He tried to help her. "When you were growing up, you seemed to get along good with your dad, didn't you?"
Among her tears she said, "Yes."
"So whatever happened, it was when you were older?"
She nodded her head and reached up with one hand to hold onto his shirt again, like it was her lifeline.
"Sweetie, if you feel like you trust me enough to tell me, I think you'll feel better."
He watched her trying to get control again and when she had finally calmed a bit she said, "When I was growing up I loved him. And he loved me. I know he did."
"I'm sure he did, Sweetie. You said you're an only child and he spoiled you a bit, so I'm sure he did love you." Trying to keep her talking, he asked, "Did you spend a lot of time with him?"
She nodded. "Yes, I did." He watched as his brave little lady took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and pulled herself together.
She snuggled into his chest a bit further and said, "Okay, I've never told this to anyone before, but you might be right. I might feel better if I talk about it, so here goes, the story of my life. Feel free to stop me when you've heard enough and you're bored."
He hugged her to him and when she laid her head against his chest he rested his cheek on her head. "I can't imagine being bored, Sweetie and thank you for sharing this with me."
"You shared the story of your life with me and I feel like I know you better now. If I share my story with you maybe you'll understand me a bit more."
He nodded, hugged her a bit and held her as she started her story.
Chapter 7
"I grew up on our family ranch, just like you. It was in Texas, outside of Amarillo. I was an only child and my dad, Hank, knew how much I loved ranching and he taught me everything. It didn't matter to him that I was a girl. When I wanted to learn to ride a horse when I was three, he taught me. When I wanted to help him ride the fences when I was eight, he let me. Anything I wanted to learn, as soon as he felt I was big enough and mature enough, he taught me."
"Good for him."
"I agree. We talked all the time about how some day I would inherit the ranch. He was sure I'd be just as good a rancher as he was. When I graduated from high school I was ready to start my hands-on training to take over running the ranch. Like you, I'd worked on the ranch ever since I can remember and could do anything any of our ranch hands could do, except maybe the heavy lifting, but now I was ready to watch and learn the management part of it. Mom and Dad had other ideas, though and they talked me into going to college. Dad insisted that learning the business end of running a ranch was just as important as knowing how to do the physical end of it."
"I agree with him."
"Did you get a degree in business, too?"
"Yes, of course. You sound like you didn't want to."
"I didn't. But they insisted, so reluctantly, I went. I took business classes for them, but I really liked ranching, so I also took classes in animal husbandry. Some day I was sure I'd have a large herd of top of the line cattle and horses."
"An ambitious goal."
She shrugged. "It didn't seem like it. It only seemed natural. Anyway, that all came crashing to a sudden halt my sophomore year. Mom died suddenly and Dad was lost. I was worried about him. I wanted to go home to be with him, but he wouldn't hear of it. He insisted I st
ay and finish my schooling first. He promised we'd run the ranch together after I graduated."
"That was probably hard for him to do, but he was thinking of you."
She reluctantly said, "Yeah, maybe. But I finished that school year and went home for the summer. Dad and I were closer than ever, helping each other through the grieving process. When it was time to go back to school in the fall I begged him to let me stay home. I was worried about him once I got home, but by the end of the summer he was doing better. I was afraid to leave him again, though. I tried to convince him to at least let me take a year off. I was sure we'd both feel better by then and I could go back and pick it up again."
"He didn't like the idea?"
"No."
"I have to admit I understand what he was thinking. Once you stop it's hard to get started again."
"Yeah, that's what he said. He told me my schooling was important and it had been important to my mom. He told me I only had two more years and then I'd be there full time and we could get down to business. He told me we'd start on a new breeding program and by the time I was ready to take over running the place we'd have the best herd of cattle in Texas."
She sighed. "I told him we could do it now, together. But he told me ––" She paused and tears came to her eyes again. "He told me I would always be the apple of his eye and he was going to miss me when I went back to college, but it was important that I finish college."
"That was probably hard on him."
"I know. It was hard on me, too, leaving him like that, but I understood why it was important to him that I finish school, so I went back in the fall."
She was quiet again and he looked down and saw tears running down her cheeks. He rubbed her back and hugged her a bit tighter. "What happened, Sweetie?"
It took her a little while to pull herself together, but when she did she quickly said, "He met a lady and married her. Then he died and she owned the ranch. She kicked me out and I left Texas."
Trevor was stunned. It was obvious this was painful for her, so he wasn't about to push her any further tonight. He was proud of her for opening up this much. He gave her all the comfort he could and was there with her as she calmed down. With his mouth next to her ear he whispered, "Sam, thank you for trusting me enough to share that with me. I'm so proud of you. I know that was hard, talking about it, so I'm not going to push now, but if you ever want to talk more, I'm here."
"Thank you."
They were both happy just being close, holding each other, talking now and then about nothing in particular.
When he saw her yawn he said, "Time to get you to bed, Sweetie. Clay's coming over around 1:00 and we'll have lunch. Do you want to go riding in the morning?"
She eagerly looked up at him and saw him smiling. "You know I always want to go riding."
"Yes, you do. But now I understand a little bit more about why you do. You didn't just live on a ranch for a while; you grew up on a ranch. That also explains your horse skills."
"I've been riding them since I was three, honest."
"Well, now that I know that I won't worry quite so much when you're on a horse."
"Not so much?"
"I know, I know. I told you, I'm working on this protectiveness thing. That reminds me, I got something for you. I'll give it to you tomorrow. You need to get some sleep now. I don't want you falling asleep while we're riding or during our lunch."
"Our lunch? I thought you and Clay were having lunch, getting caught up with each other."
"We are, but I want you there with us, too. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear."
"You don't have to include me, Trevor. You guys are old friends."
"And you and I are new friends, quickly becoming more than just friends. I want you there, too. I want you to get to know my friends." After a moment he added, "And that reminds me. I know you're not from here, so your friends aren't local. If you want to invite any of your friends over to spend a few days, go ahead. There's only one bedroom in the guesthouse, but I have plenty of room in the main house and your friends can stay there at night."
She looked up at him with admiration. "Thank you. That's nice of you."
"Not totally just being nice. I'd love to meet some of your friends." He shrugged, as if in apology.
She laughed, but stood up, yawning again. "I guess I am getting sleepy. Thank you for the invitation to lunch."
"Lock the door after I leave and then get some sleep. Come over for breakfast in the morning and we'll go riding afterwards."
* * * * *
Sunday morning Trevor was whistling while doing his chores. Grant came into the barn smiling. "I take it you and Sam had a good time last night, boss?"
Knowing his foreman was enjoying the opportunity for a little ribbing, Trevor said, "We certainly did, Grant. And you? I saw you sneaking out the back door with the same brunette you were with at the Spring Fling. Are you getting serious?"
"I think we are, yeah. But back to you, it's been awhile since you've been whistling on Sunday morning."
"Yeah, I guess it has."
"Well, I just want to say I'm happy for you. Sam seems like a great gal."
Finishing up his portion of the chores, Trevor said, "Yes, she does."
He thought he heard Sam and Consuela talking as he neared the kitchen, but as soon as he walked in it got quiet. Obviously quiet. He looked from one to the other and said, "I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave so you can finish your conversation?"
Trevor couldn't believe, Consuela turned red and looked down at the floor, but his little imp said, "Yeah, if you could, please. Ten minutes ought to do it, we're about done." She looked up at him with such a serious expression that he was speechless. Consuela's head flew up at her words, as well and her mouth was hanging open. Looking at the two of them, Sam couldn't control it any longer and burst out laughing. "Sorry. She asked how last night went."
"And what did you tell her?"
Sam walked over to Trevor and said, "I told her I had a great time." She stretched up and kissed him on his cheek.
"Well, then by all means, keep talking while I go take a shower. After that let's eat breakfast, then we can go riding, if you think you can behave yourself."
She tried to look offended, but he chuckled. As he was heading toward the stairs to take a shower she said, rather loudly, "Okay, now that he's gone, what were we saying?"
His chuckle turned to a full laugh as he ascended the stairs.
An hour later they were heading out on their horses, side by side.
When they returned an hour and a half later Trevor had his left arm wrapped around Sam's waist, who was also riding on his horse, in front of him. Her horse was tied to Trevor's saddle and following along behind them. Grant and two of the hands that were in the bunkhouse saw them coming and went out to meet them. Grant immediately took the reigns of Trevor's horse and said, "I got the horses. What happened? Sam, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she assured them.
"No, she's not," Trevor insisted.
"He worries too much. I'm fine."
"She hurt her right wrist and it's swollen. I didn't want her riding her mare back."
"I would have been fine. As gentle as she is I could have controlled her with my left hand."
"Yes, you probably could have, unless she got spooked. Then what would you have done?" He asked Grant and the hands, "Would you guys mind taking care of the horses for us? I want to get her inside and take a look at her wrist, see if we need to get it X–rayed."
"No problem, boss," Grant said. "We got the horses, you take care of Sam." He turned to Sam and said, "You listen to him, Sam. He knows what he's talking about."
Sam was tired of everyone fussing over a sore wrist and said, "I suppose he's a doctor, so I should listen to him?"
Clark looked at her and said, "No, not a doctor, but he is a licensed EMT. And a good one."
Sam looked up at him, embarrassed. "You are?"
He simply nodded.
"Yo
u didn't tell me that."
"You didn't ask."
Her face was red and she quietly said, "Um, I'm sorry."
The two men were walking off with the horses and Trevor leaned down closer to her ear to quietly say, "I'm not sure you are. But I'm pretty sure you will be."
She whirled around and looked up into his face. He had a very grim, determined look on his face that she didn't care much for. He gently prodded her on into the kitchen, where he unceremoniously picked her up and sat her on the counter top. "Hey!" she immediately objected.
He didn't say a word, simply met her eyes with his. And his did not look a bit happy. She didn't say anything else. "Wise choice," he told her when he saw she had decided against further argument.
Consuela came around the corner just then and saw Sam sitting on the counter and Trevor looking less than happy. "What happened? Is Miss Sam okay?"
"I'm fine."
His eyes immediately met hers again and she looked down at her lap again.
He looked at Consuela and said, "She was walking, balancing on a fallen tree, which I told her not to do." He looked over at her, but she was still studying her hands. "And she fell. She landed on her right ankle and wrist. Her wrist swelled, so I want to check it further." He'd been gently taking her shoe and sock off and now looking at it, he said, "Her ankle's a little swollen, but not as much as her wrist."
"Do you need anything I can get, Mr. Trevor?"
"No, thank you, Consuela. I'm going to see if I think we should get any X–rays. I'll be right back. I need a washcloth to wash her wrist off." Looking at Sam directly, pulling her chin up so she would look at him, his look and voice were gentler as he said, "Don't try and go anywhere, Sam. I'll be right back."
She nodded and he turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Trevor, I'm really sorry."
"We'll talk about it after I make sure you're okay." The look in her eyes scared him a bit and he patted the hand that was holding his arm and said, "I'll be right back."
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