by Rose Verde
“When you go out of here, you might need to call up anyone the Lord is laying on your heart. It doesn’t matter if they hurt you. I had to do that. It might not be easy. So, take a few days, call them up and start on the new path God has carved out for you.
“May God bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine on you and give you peace, in Jesus name. And the people say.”
“Amen,” came the chorus answer.
“Have a terrific week and see you on Sunday.”
Sam made her way back as the congregation dispersed. When she reached Chance, she gave him a shaky smile. Her red rimmed eyes tugged at his heart strings. Chance pulled her into his arms. “Feel better?”
She nodded.
Minutes later, they all headed out. “If you guys are not fast, Sam and I will find all the treasures and gifts before you get back,” he told Andy and his sister’s kids.
“Hurry, Mom,” Nate screamed.
“Hop in then, let’s make a run for it.”
“We have a race to win, Sam. Let’s go.”
She took the hand he held out to her and they jogged for the truck. She laughed when she saw Sierra already pulling out. “We’re stuck here until the owner of this car leaves.”
“Right. My niece will rub it in today.” He opened his truck door and waited for her to get in. Then he went round and got in. Chance took her hand and held it, his thumb ran circles on the back of her hand. They stayed quiet, a companionable silence surrounding them. She’d taken a huge step and he wanted to give her space to sort her decision out, but he also wanted to show her he was near.
MONDAY MORNING, SAM pulled up on the driveway to see bags on the porch. She’d forgotten Sierra and her kids were leaving that morning. She parked the car and climbed out. Her heart tripped up when she saw Chance. They’d talked on the phone last night, like they did every night, even though she may have just left his ranch hours earlier. She’d mentioned starting a program for abused women and he’d been all for it. They were supposed to talk about it today and she was bursting at the seams to tell him about her plans.
He smiled at her. She walked up to him. “Hey.”
“Hey, you too.” He dropped a light kiss on her cheek. “You came on time. Andy is having a meltdown.”
“Where’s he?”
“In his room.”
Sam went past him and made a beeline for Andy’s room. After greeting Sierra and her kids, she squatted beside Andy who had his face buried in a pillow on the bed. “Hey, bud?”
“I don’t want them to go.”
“I know.” Sam rubbed his back. “Hey, look at me.”
He hesitated for a moment, then raised red rimmed eyes to hers. Fresh tears tracked down his cheeks and Sam thumbed them away. “You will see them again. They will also miss you when they leave, right?” Sam asked, looking at Andy’s cousins who stood by sullenly, watching. They nodded. She turned back to him. “They need to go now and have a plane to catch. You don’t want them to miss their flight now, do you?”
He shook his head.
Sam leaned down and kissed his head. “That’s my sweetheart.”
She rose and picked him up.
A sigh of relief filled the room as they all went out to the rental. Chance gave her a thumbs-up. She winked at him. Apparently they hadn’t been able to convince Andy to say goodbye. She set him on his feet so that he could hug his cousins. Minutes later, the children got into the backseat of the rental.
Sierra hugged Sam. “You’re so good with him and my brother,” she whispered for Sam’s ears only. “I hope you hang around.”
Sam’s face warmed. “Have a safe trip,” she said aloud.
Sierra winked at her. She hugged her brother too and whispered something to him.
“Get your nosy self outta here, Si, and say hi to that husband of yours.”
She giggled, then forming a pretty pout, she squatted down and hugged Andy close. “I’ll miss you, squirt. But, we’ll be back to see you soon. Or better still, you could come visit.”
Andy nodded. Sierra rose, wiggled her fingers at them and then went around to climb in. Her kids’ forlorn faces stared through the glass. Sam, Chance and Andy waited until they were out of sight. “Have you eaten, buddy?”
He shook his head. Sam glanced at Chance. Worry lined his brows. She guessed why. Andy had made progress these past weeks. He could be afraid this visit would only end up setting the boy back. “He’ll be fine,” she mouthed as she led him back into the house.
“I have a lot to do this morning.” He grimaced and then smiled apologetically.
“Go, ahead. We’ll be fine. Right, Andy?”
He followed them into the kitchen. He picked Andy up and set him on the high stool. “Wanna go camping today?”
His gloomy face perked up some. “Okay.”
“Awesome. I got to go do some work and save up some time for camping.”
He nodded. “Can Sam come?”
Chance looked at her. “Sure if she wants to.”
“Come camping with us.”
Chance shook his head, grinning at his son. “That’s not the way to ask.” He ruffled the boy’s hair.
“I could come if your face looks a lot happier.” She tickled him and he squirmed for a moment. But he couldn’t keep the stoic expression for too long. He burst out laughing. “That’s it. I’ll come then. But, I think we need to cook some food to eat at camp, don’t you think?”
He nodded, his sadness at his cousin’s leaving forgotten for the moment.
Chance kissed the top of his head and then turned to her. “Thanks. I’ll see you guys in time for dinner.”
“Sure.” When he left she turned to him. “What will you eat?”
“Pancakes. Aunt Sierra made some. It’s in the microwave.”
Sam went to the microwave to find the food for two.
“Can you stay here and not go away again?” he asked quietly.
She pressed the start button to heat up the food a bit. Sam faced him. She tried to tread carefully with her response. He knew his mom left. His cousin’s leaving may have triggered something in him. That worried Sam. She had one week on her time here. Would he think she was abandoning him too? Chance hadn’t said anything so Sam had kept quiet about it. “You get to see me everyday, Andy.”
“I don’t want you to go anymore. My daddy likes you. He won’t say no.”
Sam’s throat dried. Okay, not a discussion she wanted to have with the boy. They’d been discreet. Very discreet. How did he know?
“I’ll ask my daddy. Don’t go anymore. I want you here.”
The microwave pinged and she turned to retrieve the food. “How about we eat and then figure out what to cook for camping.”
“Can we ask my daddy later?”
“Sure.” She’d been applying for jobs; in the off-chance this wasn’t long term. Plus, she knew at some point, Andy might want to go back to school again.
What if he asked you to stay? A small voice asked. If he was going to ask, would he not have? Could he have forgotten that the four months he gave her was running out? She poured syrup on his pancakes and then got his favorite orange juice from the fridge and poured him some. She sat beside him and they ate. Sam planned to derail him from asking questions about her staying anymore. “How about we do a little study today before we prepare the food for our camping?”
“I don’t want to study today.” The sadness that seemed to have lifted with the prospect of camping seemed to be descending.
“That’s okay. What will you want to do?”
He thought for a moment. “Watch a movie.”
She ruffled his hair and played with the wayward bang that always stayed separate from the other. She knew what he was going to ask for. He’d watch it every time he got some down time. “So, what will it be?”
“Spiderman.”
“How come I knew that would be your choice.”
He grinned, displaying the crooked tooth that was about to co
me off. “I always watch that.”
“Right.” They talked back and forth until they finished their breakfast. After doing dishes and putting them away, she led him into the living room. Watching movies so early wasn’t what she would ordinarily do. But, she wanted to oblige him for today.
She sat on the sofa facing the TV and patted the seat for him. Andy climbed in beside her, curling up to her side. Sam draped an arm around him and used one hand to operate the remote. She scrolled down the kids channel until she found the one she was looking for. “There you go.”
As the movie played, Sam’s mind went round in circles. She didn’t know anything about ranches to be useful to Chance. Wouldn’t he want someone who would serve a purpose to him? He possibly wouldn’t want a wife he was paying, would he? Not very likely. Had he really thought through how their relationship would play out? There was the ultimatum he gave her. Should she remind him her time was winding down? If he didn’t remember, what did that say? Questions swirled in her mind. She figured she should be the one to bring it up since she was the one leaving.
All the thoughts that they could have a life together fizzled and fell flat at that moment. Sam hid a sigh and concentrated on the movie. If only...
Chapter Seventeen
Darkness was descending on the land when he made his way back home. Anticipation built in Chance as he pulled off his boots and stepped into the house. The aroma was heavenly. His nostrils led him in the direction of the aroma. Sam turned from closing the cooler of food.
“Hey.”
“Hey, you too.” Then to his son. “Buddy.”
“Daddy, we cooked a whole lot of things. I helped.”
“Now, did you?” He washed hands at the sink, his gaze on the display of things on the table. “Did you spend all day cooking?”
“Not really. Just a few hours.”
Her grin melted his heart. “I’ll go get out of my work clothes, take a quick shower and we can leave, else I’ll be tempted to eat here. Thanks for doing this.”
“You are welcome. We’re all packed.”
“Sure.” He turned and left. He heard her telling Andy to get his boots on. Chance got into his room, peeled off his clothes and jumped into the adjoining shower. Fifteen minutes later, all dressed, he grabbed clean duvets from the closet and stuffed them in his camping bag. Next he took the sleeping bags. It wasn’t so cold so he wouldn’t be needing one. He would use the mattress he kept in the cabin.
He took them out to the truck and then went back to grab pillows. When that was done, he went to help them pack their food and drinks.
“I’m going to get my card games.” Andy announced, and dashed out of the kitchen. Chance got the opportunity. He grabbed Sam and gave her a smacking kiss on the lips and then let her go. Her face turned crimson and he winked at her. “I missed you and kept thinking about you all day.”
“I’m here.” Andy showed his game.
Chance winked at her. “Let’s go then. I’m famished.”
Andy climbed into the backseat of the truck and Chance held the door for Sam. “Did I shock you into silence?” he whispered.
She swiped at him. “You haven’t won.”
“I’ll be looking forward to what you can do in return then.” He closed the door and jogged around to climb in. He was flirting with her and he wanted to. He wanted to find cute ways to make her happy, show her what they could have together.
The drive to the campsite north of his ranch took five minutes. Chance backed up close to the bigger of the two cabins. They still had enough light to set up. “Andy, are you staying with me?”
“Nope. I’m staying with Sam.”
“I shouldn’t have asked,” he said tickling the boy.
“I would’ve sneaked out in the night to stay with her.”
Chance laughed. “When you sleep, the house could be uprooted and you wouldn’t wake up.”
The boy laughed. “Not true.”
“So true. Come show me some muscle.” He handed over his sleeping bag to Andy. “Can you set that up in the bigger cabin, please and thank you.”
Sam was busy setting up their food at the fireplace. Chance took the opportunity to admire her.
“Now, stop staring at me like that.”
He chuckled. “How did you know?”
He went over to help her.
“The hairs on my head are standing at attention.”
He cocked his head. “Two things: It’s either I have that much effect on you or there’s some creepy fellow out there.”
She swung around and looked. Chance laughed. “I got you. This is private property and no one comes here without invitation.”
She swatted him, this time connecting with his shoulder. The speed took him by surprise and he landed on his backside. “Really?”
“Not funny. Don’t make that kind of joke again,” she said laughing. He got up and advanced on her. She rose and backed away. “Don’t you dare.”
“Or what?”
“Or I—”
He lunged for her, cutting off her threat. She took off running around the cabins, her laughter filling the air. Andy poked his head around the cabin door and then came out, a huge grin on his face.
“Andy, catch your daddy.”
Without understanding what was going on, Andy came after him like on autopilot. Chance sidestepped him and grabbed for Sam, his arms coming around her waist. She yelled and struggled to get free. “Gotcha. You should’ve known you couldn’t outrun me.”
She laughed until her strength seemed to seep out of her. Even Andy was laughing.
“Okay, I give up,” she said breathlessly.
Chance let her go, his own breath coming out in puffs. This was what he wanted. After a hard day’s job, he wanted someone he could play with, have fun. “Andy, I need someone to declare me winner.”
Andy came over, took his hand and raised it in the air.
“Ugh! Now you get to sleep in your dad’s cabin and I might just eat all the food alone.” She huffed and started to walk away.
Andy ran after her and grabbed her hand. “I changed my mind. You won.”
She giggled. “I can change your loyalty that quickly? Good to know.”
“You can’t finish the food,” he said as they finally walked back to their food.
“I could’ve tried while you watch me and salivate.”
“I guess the way to a boy’s heart is through his stomach too,” his dad said.
Chance went up to finish setting up the cabin and then gathered wood from the pile to start up a fire.
Sam had a big blanket laid out and had the food set out on it. “I’ll go down by the stream and wash my hands.”
“We have enough bottled water.” Sam said.
“That’d be a waste. Be right back. Start eating.”
He grabbed a flashlight from the open window and jogged into the night. When he reached the stream, he set the torch down and proceeded to wash his hands. God, I need You to show me the right time to ask Sam... I don’t want to scare her away now she’s comfortable with me.
He scrubbed his hands clean, grabbed his torch and went back. He pulled off his boots at the edge of the blanket and padded on to sit beside his son on stocking feet.
“We finished the food already,” Andy said around a mouthful.
“Nope buddy. No talking with a full mouth. And if you have finished the food, I’ll cry. I’m sure you’ve never seen a grown man cry.”
“I want to see you cry.”
“Not nice,” he grinned, tickling Andy. “Besides, I’ve seen Sam eat. It’s like a two-year-old, so I’m not scared.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I only have to try hard for once.” She took a disposable plate and the spoon.
“Let me do it so you can eat.”
“Sure.” She handed him the plate and spoon then the cooler. She also passed him a disposable cup and juice can. They ate in silence for a moment.
“It’s so peaceful out here.”
“Yup,” Chance said. “I love that you can hear the stream from here. It’s tranquil. Dad loved this place and always brought myself and Sierra.” He’d told her before. The first time he brought her here. That was the first time he knew he wanted more with Sam. He’d never brought any woman here before and he wanted her to see the place that was once his dad’s favorite place, and was now his.
They finished their meal and ate the fruit salad she also made. Chance was more than replete. Ordinarily, he would’ve wanted to head to bed to rest his tired body, but it wasn’t every day he got to have Sam for a few more hours.
“I found some marshmallows, chocolate and cookies from our last camping trip. Anyone up for some s’mores?”
“Yes, me!” Andy yelled.
“Of course, there’s no camping without s’mores.”
Chance stood and helped Sam clean up. There were five boulders on the opposite side of the fire. “I’ll grab the blankets and be right back.”
When Chance returned, he handed over Sam’s to her and then draped a smaller one around his son and then took a third seat. Sam already had the marshmallows on sticks and they held them over the fire.
“We roast and you get the chocolate and cookies, okay?”
“I’m all for that.”
“Tell me a story, dad?”
“Which one?” he asked as he put out the cookies and chocolate on a plate.
“The one about grandpa.”
The fire crackled, sending sparks in the air. Chance added some more wood. “Grandpa was born to a family who had nothing. His parents were illegal immigrants and didn’t have a lot. He grew up without any nice things that children loved. So, he made up his mind to never be poor. He left his family for a season and came west. Grandpa had always loved animals. So, when he got a job on a ranch, he knew it was what he was supposed to do. For the next few years, he worked as hard as he could.”
“Mine is ready.”
Chance got up and went to her with the cookie and chocolate so she could place the roasted marshmallow in the middle.
“Continue, daddy.”
“He knew he had a family to think about, his parents and little sister, so he gave it his all. One day, the foreman of the ranch he was working on suddenly retired and daddy became the foreman. The rancher had seen his hard work.