by Mia Ross
Panic flared in her throat, and she cleared it before trusting herself to speak normally. “You really should ask Sierra. She’s had a lot more experience with educational sessions, and she’s much better at that kind of thing than I am.”
“But you’re the one who found the bird,” Lily reasoned. “You’re the best person to answer the kids’ questions about where she came from and how her rehab is going. Oh, and be prepared for some gory questions about what she eats. These are country kids, so they’re well aware of what hawks hunt down for breakfast.”
“I don’t know, Lily. I’ve never done anything even remotely like this. What if I’m awful at it, and your students hate the lesson more than if you’d taught them out of a book? The whole thing could easily backfire on you.”
“Then we’ll try something different next time.” Patting her shoulder, the stunningly optimistic teacher smiled. “They’re kids, and you’ll be introducing them to something most of them have only seen from a distance. I’m confident they’ll love you and Rosie.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“The sun will still come up the next day,” she said breezily as she stood to go. “It’s not life and death. It’s show-and-tell.”
Reassured, Bekah stood and walked her to the door. “Well, since you put it like that, count me in. Just let me know when you want us.”
“I will. Thanks so much for your help.” And with a bright, encouraging smile, she was gone.
When she was alone again, Bekah went over their brief conversation, trying to figure out what had just happened to her. Basically, she’d been freight-trained by a slender woman who apparently was even more stubborn than her much larger husband. Maybe that was part of what appealed to him, Bekah mused with a smile. She’d always been criticized for her own obstinate character, so she’d assumed it was an innate flaw in her nature that she had to overcome if she wanted to make a relationship work. Could it be there were men in the world who actually considered it a virtue?
The thought had just flitted through her mind when a dark blue pickup whipped into the lot and parked next to her derelict hatchback. Weird as it seemed, she got the distinct feeling that Drew’s sudden appearance was more than a coincidence. When she allowed herself the time to consider how much things had improved for her lately, it had often occurred to her that her life had taken a significant turn for the better the day she met the charming Kentucky farm boy.
Not usually one to believe in destiny, she was beginning to suspect that it was more than an accident that had led her to this picturesque village in the middle of nowhere. While she’d decided that God had led her here to help the rescue center, she couldn’t help wondering if He’d also had a more personal reason for it. Maybe, she thought with a smile, He’d detoured her to Oaks Crossing because it was where she’d finally meet a man who would not only accept her as she was but encourage her to spread her wings.
When Drew strolled through the door holding a beat-up toolbox, he pulled up short when he saw her. “What?”
“What do you mean, what?”
“You’re smiling at me, and I haven’t even said anything yet. When a woman does that, it usually means something’s up.”
“Just smiling,” she assured him, hoping she sounded casual about the whole thing. The startling possibility was still rattling around in her head, and she wasn’t ready to share it just yet. “Did you come by for a reason?”
“I ran into Lily at the house earlier, and she told me about her plan to bring one of the rescued animals into school. It sparked an idea for me, and I wanted to run it past you before I mentioned it to her.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“This.”
Setting down the toolbox, he tapped something on his phone and called up a video of a wildlife presentation in a classroom. The handler held an enormous barn owl on a leather gauntlet on his arm while he explained the bird’s habits and where it liked to make its home. Clearly, it had a broken wing because it sat calmly, blinking its large eyes as it slowly swiveled its tufted head and assessed the circle of breathless elementary-schoolers.
“Rosie’s not tame like that,” Bekah reminded him. “It wouldn’t be safe to take her out in front of all those kids. She’d either hurt someone—” she ticked her index finger “—start flying around in a panic—” she ticked the next finger “—or hurt herself struggling to get loose—” one more finger.
“I know, but wouldn’t it be cool to record her visit and put it up on the website you’re designing? Pictures are great, but videos like this go viral in a few hours. Think of how much exposure we’d get for the center just by recording something you were going to do anyway.”
“There are rules about posting that kind of thing,” she pointed out, even though she was warming to the idea. “We’d have to get waivers from the school and the kids’ parents.”
“Lily can handle that part. You bring the hawk, I’ll bring the camera—it’ll be awesome. If we like the results, we can think about setting up a webcam out in the baby barn. Everyone who visits loves those little critters. Imagine what a hit they’d be online.”
He was so excited, she felt awful that her first instinct was to come up with reasons why his scheme wouldn’t work. In truth, it was a fabulous idea, and she didn’t want to ruin it by being the one negative voice in the room. But for her, there was more at stake than generating much-needed publicity for the rescue center and the fine work it was doing.
Drew seemed to pick up on her reluctance, and his bright expression dimmed considerably. “You’re worried about more than legalities, aren’t you? What is it?”
Bekah was torn between being honest with him and keeping her fears to herself. She wasn’t used to confiding in anyone, and she hesitated to do it now for fear of sounding paranoid. Then again, being supercautious and keeping her head down was what had kept her safe since leaving Cleveland.
While she hesitated, understanding dawned on his face. “You’re worried Richie will find you here. Is that it?”
Grateful that he’d saved her from having to voice it out loud, she nodded. “I told that reporter my name, and I’ve been regretting it ever since.”
Stepping closer, Drew gave her a you-can-count-on-me grin. “I promise, if Richie ever shows his slimy face within ten feet of you, I’ll take care of him.”
“It’s sweet of you to offer, but you don’t know what he’s like.”
“Ornery? Insane? Oh, wait,” he went on, eyes twinkling in fun. “He’s got two heads. With horns.”
Actually, the description wasn’t far off of how Richie had appeared in her nightmares. Used to, she added silently. Come to think of it, she hadn’t had one of those since the day Drew had handed her the key to her tiny apartment and given her something she’d begun to think she’d never have.
A place to belong.
Gazing up at this wonderful man who’d picked her up off the ground and helped her regain her footing, she sensed something flickering to life inside her. She hadn’t felt it in so long, she hardly recognized it, but it felt like hope.
“You still want to be my hero, is that what you’re saying?” All on its own, a smile was inching across her face, and this time she didn’t bother trying to stop it.
“Well, I’m not exactly Superman, but I’ll give it a shot.”
“Why?”
“Because I like seeing you smile.”
“Oh, you’re good,” she teased, which was very unlike her. “You probably say that to all the girls.”
“Only if it’s true.”
She noticed he didn’t deny that he’d said it before, and she appreciated his honesty more than she could say. A guy as good-looking and thoughtful as Drew must’ve had dozens of girlfriends over the years, and yet here he was, doing everything he could to make her feel better.
/> So, because she trusted him to keep his end of their bargain, she put aside her misgivings and decided to take a chance. “Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ll do the video with Rosie.”
“Fantastic!” Hugging her quickly, he held her at arm’s length and nearly blinded her with a boyish grin. “This is gonna turn out great for everyone, Bekah. You’ll see.”
She did her best to return the smile, but in the back of her mind a well-entrenched voice cautioned her that it would be much wiser for her to stick to the shadows and avoid shining a spotlight on herself. She’d been doing that for so long, it had grown from short-term survival technique to long-standing habit.
Living in constant fear wasn’t something she relished. Eventually, she knew she’d have to put the past behind her and make a new plan for the future. In this tight-knit community, with Drew and his family supporting her, maybe now was the time.
And if not, she didn’t even want to think about how their little experiment would end.
Then she remembered the toolbox he’d brought in with him, and it occurred to her that he must have stopped by for a reason that had nothing to do with Lily’s spur-of-the-moment idea. “Did you need something?”
“Came to fix that cranky sliding door Sierra’s been harping on me about. I know you’ve been busy and all, but have you called your insurance company about replacing your windshield?”
“I don’t have that kind of insurance,” she confessed. “Glass coverage was more than I could afford.”
“You and me both,” he said in a way that made her feel slightly less pathetic. Opening the front door for her, he went on. “We can probably find one in a junkyard and get it installed for next to nothing. Meantime, I figured we could start with this.”
Reaching down, he picked up a can of gas he’d brought with him. It was a large one, and she suspected it held more fuel than she’d been able to buy at any one time all summer long. While things had been going fairly well, she’d tucked away as much money as she could, hoping it would last until she found somewhere to crash for a few months. Then her car had started acting up, and harvest season had drawn to a close, and the safety net she’d so painstakingly scraped together had vanished in a few short days.
Judging by Drew’s sympathetic look, he knew all that. Grateful that she didn’t have to explain it to him, she forced herself to look on the bright side as they walked over to where her car was parked.
“Gas is expensive these days,” she felt obliged to point out. “Let me know how much you gave me, and I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She’d learned that his cavalier attitude was part of his personality, but accepting handouts wasn’t going to help her become more independent. “I appreciate the offer, but I already owe you for the mechanic you hired, and now this. I’d feel better if you’d let me pay my own expenses.”
“Tell you what,” he replied with a slow grin. “Make me dinner sometime.”
The suggestion was ludicrous, considering her current living arrangements, and she laughed. “In my gourmet kitchen?”
“I’ve got a decent setup at my place, so we can get together there. You bring the ingredients, I’ll supply the pots and pans.”
It sounded cozy, but in the interest of being up-front with him, she hesitated. As tempting as spending an evening with him was, she didn’t want to create the impression that there was a possibility for more between them. “I don’t know.”
“Aw, come on,” he wheedled in a practiced tone that told her he’d done it many times before. “I’ll even take care of the dishes.”
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
“And 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.
