Rescued by the Farmer (13 page)

What harm could it do? she wondered, not at all surprised when her well-conditioned mind began making a list of things that had gone awry in the past. But this was Drew, someone who’d been nothing but good to her since their paths had crossed so unexpectedly. Without him, she’d likely still be wandering around Kentucky, searching for a job and a place to live.

Or worse, she’d have come to the conclusion that Richie was right, and she wasn’t equipped to make it on her own. As soon as that thought rolled through her mind, she rejected it with a firmness that both startled and impressed her.

She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been proud of herself, and she knew the upswing in her perspective was closely tied to the positive things that had happened to her since she found herself in Oaks Crossing. She’d been stuck here because of her car, and she recognized that once the windshield was fixed, she could go anywhere she wanted.

But, to her astonishment, she was no longer keen to leave town the moment she was able. With Drew’s promise to shelter her echoing in her ears, she cast aside the last of her reservations and relented with a smile. “Well, since you’re willing to wash up, how could I say no?”

“Awesome,” he approved, hazel eyes lighting with anticipation. “I should warn you, though, I’m not much of a housekeeper.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Mom feeds me at the farm most nights, and by the time I get home, I’m so beat, I just go to bed. I don’t even have any plants.”

Having seen how Maggie doted on her grown children, his account sounded about right to Bekah. “You live close by, then?”

“About a half mile down the road, second driveway on the left. It used to be the farm manager’s house, so it’s not much to look at, but the price is right.”

“Speaking of price,” she commented as she glared at her ruined windshield, “how much do you think that will cost?”

“Let’s find out.” Whipping out his phone, he typed something in and handed it over so she could see the result.

“The tutoring money Sierra’s going to pay me will cover that, and then some,” Bekah said, relieved by yet another piece of good news. They were starting to add up, and she was gradually losing her I-can’t-believe-it attitude. Flipping Drew’s phone over, she admired the sleek design and the sturdy case that protected it from the dirt and knocks he probably subjected it to on a daily basis. “This is nice.”

“And easy to use, even for a low-tech guy like me. They’ve got a deal going right now. Once you pay the monthly charge, the phone’s free.”

It was the monthly fee that had tripped her up before, which was why her old cell phone was currently a useless paperweight. Living on the razor’s edge didn’t appeal to her, and she had no intention of ever being that hard off again.

She reluctantly handed the gadget back before she had a chance to get too attached to something she couldn’t possibly afford. “Unless you need an extra pair of hands out here, I’ll get out of your way.”

“You’re not in my way,” he assured her as he pocketed his phone. He picked up the gas can, and she turned to go. “Bekah?”

Facing him again, she replied, “Yes?”

“God’s on your side, and things’ll work out the way He means for them to,” he told her in a gentle voice. “You’ll see.”

Not long ago, she’d have politely accepted his kind gesture, knowing in her heart that while he meant well, he was wrong. But now, the tiny hopeful part of her that still existed stood up a bit straighter, wanting to believe. “I hope you’re right.”

He flashed her an encouraging smile, and she did her best to return it before heading inside. Up until now, he’d been true to his word, and she’d learned that it was safe for her to trust in his honesty. The problem was, her past was something that even God couldn’t control.

She dreaded the day that past came crashing down on her like a brick wall, destroying the very fragile existence she’d started to build for herself. Then again, continuing to flee from those demons hadn’t worked out, either. Maybe Drew was right, and the time had finally come for her to dig in somewhere and stand her ground. Much as the prospect of confronting her abusive ex-boyfriend terrified her, it was far more appealing to her than running away again.

At least here, she had a steady job and her own place to live. Like Drew had said about his own house, it wasn’t ideal, but the price was right.

So, at least for the time being, she’d be staying put. She prayed that someday Richie would be a blip in her memory’s rearview mirror, and she’d hardly think about him except to wonder how she’d fallen so far that she’d actually given up control of her life to someone else.

While she checked the clinic’s new emails, she took comfort in the fact that she’d emerged from all that turmoil stronger and wiser than she’d been before. For the first time she could remember, she was firmly holding the reins that guided her toward a future that she’d chosen for herself, by herself.

And despite all the uncertainties that still remained for her, it felt wonderful.

Chapter Nine

“A
nd this,” Lily said, motioning toward the covered cage, “is the very special guest I was telling you about earlier.”

Taking her cue, Bekah whipped away the canvas cover to reveal Rosie, sitting upright on her branch like a soldier at attention. Drew zoomed in to catch the bird’s regal pose, then isolated her face, complete with bright eyes that were studying her young audience with hawkish curiosity. For their part, the kids were completely silent, wide eyes glued to the bird in fascination. Or fear. It was hard to tell.

“A few weeks ago, Bekah Holloway found this beautiful hawk injured at the side of the road and took her to the Oaks Crossing Rescue Center,” Lily continued, conveniently leaving out the part about the accident. “Now she works there with Rosie and the other animals, helping to get them ready for new homes or to go back into the wild. She’s here to tell you about her job and answer questions for you. Quietly and one at a time,” she added in the gentle but firm tone Drew recognized from many of her conversations with his big brother.

Muting a grin that would jar the camera’s focus, he shifted the lens to Bekah. She looked composed on-screen, but out of the frame he noticed her fingers threaded together so tightly, their knuckles were pale. Fortunately, the kids didn’t seem to notice, and she relaxed as she warmed to her subject.

Most of what she told them came straight out of the new flyer she was designing, listing the services the clinic offered, along with their hopes for future expansion. When she was finished, she spread her hands open wide. “Okay, those are the basics. What would you like to ask me?”

Small hands shot into the air, and she called on each kid in turn, answering their questions carefully and honestly. One girl asked, “Are you going to keep Rosie?”

“Oh, no,” Bekah replied, shaking her head for emphasis. “She’s a wild creature, and she wouldn’t be happy living in a cage for very long. We’re going to release her later this month, from a clearing in the woods out near the center. The details will be on our new website soon, so if any of you want to come, you can have a grown-up help you find the information there. You and your families are welcome to join us.”

Brilliant
, Drew congratulated her silently. Folks these days were so wired in, these kids and their parents were probably online every day. Directing them to the newly revamped website was a great way to get the word out that the center was not only expanding, but solidly up-to-date on the latest technology, too.

When she called on a young boy, he said, “Hawks eat mice and stuff. How do you catch those for her?”

Bekah looked him dead in the face and with just the hint of a smile replied, “With cheese.”

The kids all laughed, and Lily gave her a subtle “okay” sign. Despite Bekah’s concerns that this presentation would be a disaster, Drew thought that she had handled every single question with the perfect blend of sincerity and humor. Knowing how far she’d come from the skittish woman he’d first met on that deserted country road, Drew couldn’t have been prouder of her.

When the class finally ran out of questions, Lily stood back up to regain their attention. “All right, guys, that’s it for now. Let’s give Miss Holloway and Rosie a nice, gentle round of applause.”

Somehow, they managed to show their appreciation without spooking the bird, and Drew set the camera on a nearby desk to keep it rolling while he went over to help Bekah wrangle the oversize cage.

“Great job,” he murmured as they dropped the canvas into place. “They all loved you.”

“It’s Rosie,” Bekah corrected him with her usual humility. “She’s so beautiful and smart, people can’t help loving her.”

Drew wanted to echo the compliment for her, but he knew she’d just brush it off. Instead, he said, “You both did a terrific job here today. For yourselves and for the center.”

After saying goodbye to Lily and her class, they headed out to where he’d parked his truck.

While they got Rosie’s cage latched tightly into place, Bekah asked, “Did the video come out okay? Was I speaking loud enough? My heart was racing so fast, I felt like my voice was shaking the entire time.”

“Why don’t we head to the clinic and get Rosie settled? Then we can watch the recording and see what you think.”

“But what did
you
think?”

“I told you, I thought you did great.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, ducking her head in the hesitant old gesture he hadn’t missed in the least. “I didn’t mean to hassle you.”

It hadn’t occurred to him that she’d interpret his comment as irritation, and he wanted to kick himself for not being more considerate. This woman had been abused in more ways than he cared to think about. While he’d done everything he could to make her feel safe, what she needed most from him was patience. And after he’d given her that, more patience.

Sneaking his finger under her chin, he gently tipped her face up so she was looking directly at him. He wasn’t humble by nature, but he recognized that he’d handled the situation badly, and he wasn’t about to let the moment pass without at least trying to make it right. “You weren’t hassling me. If what I said gave you that impression, then I apologize.”

“Really?” When he nodded, she gave him a wan smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I can be a little dense sometimes, so you’ll have to let me know when I screw up. Okay?”

He could almost see the wheels turning in that quick mind of hers, examining his request for some kind of trick. Mistrustful as she was in general, it amazed him that she was standing here, looking him in the eye, discussing something so deeply personal. To his mind, that was progress. For both of them.

* * *

Saturday night.

Sprawled out on the sofa in the clothes he’d worn all day, Drew was trying to convince himself to get up and throw some of his mother’s leftovers in the microwave. Or take a shower. But so far he’d barely managed to toe off his work boots, listening to them thud on the battered wide plank floor before the house fell silent again.

Pathetic, he scolded himself with all the energy of a snail going uphill. At least the snail had a plan, he thought wryly. Him, he had nothing. And considering how bushed he was, he didn’t envision that situation changing anytime soon. Working his usual long hours at the farm and extra time at the rescue center had finally worn him out.

When someone knocked at the front door, he ignored it. After all, the cottage was dark, so if he kept quiet, they might just assume he’d hit the sack early. Then he heard Bekah’s voice.

“Drew, I know you’re still awake in there. Open the door.”

If it had been anyone else standing on his porch, he wouldn’t have moved an inch. But since it was Bekah, he hauled himself up off the couch and trudged to the door. Pulling it open, he hung on it with a wan smile. “Hey.”

“Wow, you look terrible.”

“Thanks for noticing. What’d you need?”

In answer, she held up a large box. “I made you dinner.”

“Seriously?” Fingering open the top, he got a whiff of a rich, homey smell that made his mouth water. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Roast beef and potatoes.”

Despite his exhaustion, he felt a smile creeping in. “My favorite.”

“That’s what your mom said when I asked her. I splurged on a slow cooker the other day, and I decided to try it out.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“There isn’t one,” she admitted shyly. “I got this month’s tutoring fee from Sierra today, and now that I have a new windshield, I didn’t need it for anything in particular. Then I remembered that I was supposed to make dinner for you, to pay you back for the gas you put in my car when you came by to make repairs at the kennel.”

He almost told her to forget about the debt, then recalled how adamant she’d been about paying what she owed. The fact that she felt confident enough in their friendship to oppose him on something, even something this trivial, was a good sign. “Okay, then. Come on in.”

He reached out for the box, but she stubbornly held it out of his reach. “I’ll handle this while you go get cleaned up.”

“Is that a hint?”

She wrinkled her cute little nose. “I could make it more direct if you want.”

“No,” he replied with a chuckle. “I get the drift. Help yourself to whatever’s in the kitchen. I’ll be out soon.”

“Sierra’s at the clinic doing inventory with some of our volunteers, so I’ve got a couple of hours. Take your time.”

Drew wasn’t a fussy kind of guy, so ten minutes later he was scrubbed from head to toe and had shed his filthy jeans and T-shirt for clean ones. Padding out of the single bedroom in his bare feet, he smelled something that was almost unheard-of in what Mom called his Bachelor Cave: fresh, home-cooked food.

Leaning on the pass-through that went into the living room, Bekah gave him a chiding look. “Your fridge is full of take-out containers and plastic cups.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not much of a cook,” he confided with a laugh. “I pretty much exist on leftovers and pizza.”

“So you’re saying I should leave you the extra?”

She was taunting him, and he wondered if this was the same woman who could barely look him in the eye only a few weeks ago. Picking up on her teasing, he retorted, “Only if it’s good.”

“I guess that depends on how you like your beef. I do a nice peppercorn rub and then simmer it for a few hours in my secret sauce.”

She held up a bottle of commercial seasoning, and he laughed. “What a coincidence. That’s just how I like it.”

“You’re not fooling anyone here, farm boy,” she informed him, waving a wooden spoon for emphasis. “You’d probably say that no matter what, just to get a free meal.”

The meal wasn’t what he was interested in, he thought as he strolled through the archway into the kitchen. It was the chef. While it was the absolute truth, he knew she’d probably think he was handing her a well-rehearsed line. So he made a show of looking around and asked, “What can I do to help?”

“I was just hunting up a knife to cut the bread before I warm it in the oven.”

She’d given him the easiest, most foolproof job possible, he mused while he dug out the gourmet knife set Erin had given him last Christmas. There was a dusty red bow on top of the box, and Bekah gave him an amused look. “Let me guess. You’re not much good in the chopping and dicing department.”

“Guilty as charged. My little sister would scream if she knew these things were still in the original box.”

“And then some,” Bekah added, taking out the shiny slicing blade and washing it off before handing it to him. “You boys must know you drive her completely bonkers.”

He just grinned, and she shook her head at him. “That’s mean.”

“Yeah, but she makes it so easy.”

“With Lily in the family now, the balance of power around here is shifting over to the girls. Pretty soon Abby will be old enough to give you a hard time, and you guys will have to start behaving yourselves.”

“Don’t count on it,” he challenged her, snapping the end from a celery stick with his teeth. “Things work fine just the way they are, and we’re not likely to change ’em anytime soon.”

“We’ll see.”

Her cryptic response was accompanied by an equally cryptic smile, the kind women wore when they believed they knew significantly more about something than he did. Drew was mulling that over when it occurred to him that she’d implied she’d be around to see his brothers and him get their attitudes adjusted. The idea of her staying in Oaks Crossing appealed to him a lot more than it should have for someone committed to keeping this beautiful, perplexing woman at arm’s length.

And then there was Colorado. He still hadn’t made up his mind about that, and he knew Nolan couldn’t wait much longer.

Eager to get something decided, Drew searched for a way to find out her plans without making it sound as if he was overly invested in her decision. “Y’know, I was thinking earlier that if you’re planning to stay in town, you should find a more permanent place to live. That old office isn’t heated, and it’s gonna get pretty chilly in there come January.”

Her eyes narrowed in a suspicious feminine look he recognized immediately, and she pinned him with a hard stare. “What are you getting at?”

“Nothing,” he insisted, cutting up the bread as though his life depended on it. “Forget I said anything.”

After several incredibly awkward moments of silence, her small hand settled on his, and he stopped slicing. When he looked up, he saw understanding in those soft blue eyes. “Are you trying to ask me when I’m leaving?”

Other women he’d known were much easier to fool, accepting whatever he told them because they didn’t bother looking beneath the surface for a deeper meaning. Maybe because it didn’t occur to them that he might have another level beyond the one he showed them.

Bekah was a different story altogether, and there wasn’t much point in fencing with her. He’d never win. “Actually, I’m trying
not
to ask you.”

“Why?”

“’Cause it’s none of my business. If you want to go, you should go.”

“What if I want to stay?”

“You should do that, too.” He winced at the moronic turn this conversation had taken. Normally, he was smooth and self-assured around women, but right now he reminded himself of Josh, who still got tongue-tied around girls he liked. Giving himself a mental shake, Drew made a desperate attempt to redeem himself. “I mean, you should do whatever makes you happy. You’ve had a tough time, and you deserve to be happy.”

She rewarded him with a heartwarming smile that made him feel slightly less stupid. “That’s very sweet. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Fortunately for him, the oven timer went off, and her attention shifted from him to their dinner. Anxious to put all this foolishness behind him, he quickly laid two place settings on the breakfast bar he used as a table. After rescuing the spare stool from its television-holding duty, he went through the fridge, hoping to find a stray pitcher of something to drink.

“Sorry,” he apologized when he came up empty, “but all I’ve got is water.”

“That’s okay. I prefer that, anyway.”