“Hey there, boy,” she said as she carefully approached him. Lightning struck, followed by a loud clap of thunder. “Whoa,” Grace said, keeping her distance. “It’s okay, boy. I’ve got you.” But the large, powerful Morgan wouldn’t calm down, wouldn’t let Grace within three feet of him.
It took another ten minutes or so, but finally, Grace was able to step inside Sin’s stall, though she kept her back pressed to the gate, not getting too close. Then she suddenly remembered something her father had taught her years ago during a similar thunderstorm.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, making sure the horse was looking her straight in the eyes. “It’s okay.” Then she ran to the office, opened the bottom drawer of Daed’s desk, and pulled out a little box. “There it is,” she said, removing a small brown bottle then running back to the stall.
“Hey boy. Good, good boy,” Grace cooed as she slowly slid inside the stall. She opened the little bottle and sprinkled a few drops of the liquid on the palms of her hands. Carefully, so as not to startle the horse, she extended her hands in Sin’s direction, palms forming a cup.
Grace exhaled slowly as the curious horse took a few steps toward her. “You like that, huh?” she whispered when Cincinnati allowed her to hold her hands up to his nose. “Smells nice, doesn’t it? I like it, too. So calming, eh?”
Not too long later, she was stroking his neck with one hand while keeping the other hand at his nose. Sin nuzzled her head, calming down, much to Grace’s relief. But then suddenly, he lifted his head and backed into a corner of the stall. A split second later, Grace heard what Sin must’ve heard: footsteps running toward the stables.
“Isaac!” she exclaimed.
“I got here as fast as I could,” he said, out of breath, hazel eyes looking frantic in the dim light. “Is he okay?”
Grace didn’t think twice about how he’d appeared from out of nowhere in the middle of the night, completely soaked from the rain still pounding down outside. “I’ve been here for a while,” she said, relieved that he was there. “He’s calm for the moment, but the thunder makes him frantic.”
“Should we secure him? Tie him up so he won’t hurt himself?” Isaac opened the gate and stepped inside just as carefully as Grace had.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Grace said. “But then I remembered the first time we saw him. How he’d been tied up in the back of that trailer.”
“And he broke loose,” Isaac finished for her. “You’re right. That would probably stress him out even more.”
“And bad memories,” she added, turning back to the horse. “Shhh, good boy,” she said, extending her hands again.
“Is that lavender?”
“Essential oil. It calmed him down a minute ago.” She paused to roll her eyes. “I know, I know. You think it’s nonsense.”
Isaac opened his mouth, but then closed it. “Can I smell?” he said after a moment.
Grace pushed out her bottom lip in surprise. “Really?”
He held out his open hand, so Grace passed him the bottle tentatively. She didn’t think he would make fun of her like when she’d first told him about using the oil, but he could be just as strongly opinionated as she could.
Isaac sprinkled some into his palms, just as Grace had. “Hmm,” he said, after taking a little sniff. “It’s…nice.” He smiled and pressed his nose into his hand. “Smells like a meadow.” He chuckled softly. “Makes my eyelids feel droopy.” He glanced at Sin. “I guess I can see how it might feel calming. Will you try it on him again while I watch?”
“Okay,” Grace whispered. Much like before, she slowly approached the Morgan, arms outstretched, palms cupped. It happened quicker this time, as if Sin knew he had nothing to fear.
“Amazing,” Isaac said in a low voice. “Look at that.”
Grace couldn’t help lifting a tiny smile of victory. Not that it was a competition, but she appreciated that Isaac saw merit in another of her techniques. When it came to training, it seemed as though there wasn’t much they didn’t agree on anymore.
“It’s not me,” she said as Sin nuzzled his nose into her palms, then nuzzled her neck, under Grace’s hair. “It’s the smell. He loves it.” She couldn’t help giggling at the sweet horse’s sudden affection.
A moment later, Isaac joined her, and together they stroked Sin’s neck, four hands working in unison. When the next clap of thunder struck, the horse barely seemed to notice.
“I think the storm’s passing,” Isaac said, giving Sin a scratch behind his ears.
Grace exhaled. “About time,” she said. When she heard Isaac laugh softly, she looked at him, clearly, for maybe the first time since he’d arrived. It had been nearly an hour since he’d shown up, but his hair, clothes, and skin were still damp.
“Drenched again, I see,” she said with a doting smile.
Even by the dim lantern light, she saw him smile back. “You were expecting me to run a mile and a half through the rain and not be?”
“Run?” Grace was taken aback. “On foot? All the way from the Chupps’?”
He nodded. “When the thunder woke me, I knew Sin would be anxious. And I wasn’t about to take another horse out into this mess.” He pointed his chin outside.
“You didn’t think I would take care of him?”
“I knew you would. But I didn’t think—I just came.”
When Isaac kept his eyes locked on hers, Grace couldn’t help wondering if maybe it wasn’t just Sin he’d wanted to check. When he still didn’t look away, Grace took a step back. “You must be freezing. Let me find you a towel.”
“I’ll get it,” he said. “I know where they are.”
Grace nodded, then turned her attention back to Cincinnati, running a hand down his broad face, though she couldn’t help looking over her shoulder to see Isaac walking toward the tack shelves. When he returned, he was carrying a towel in one hand and a big quilt in the other.
“Here,” he said, handing her the quilt. He took the towel and began drying his face and behind his neck.
“Danke,” Grace said reflexively. “But aren’t you cold?” She attempted to hand the quilt back to him.
“Nay,” he said while drying his hands and forearms. “It’s for you. I figure you weren’t about to go back inside but wanted to stay with the horses.”
Grace’s chest felt warm, comforted by how well he knew her. “You’re right,” she admitted.
“I also figured you’d want to be comfortable.” He pointed at the quilt. “And, since you’re not leaving anytime soon, neither am I.”
Grace had never felt like this before. Yes, her parents had always taken good care of her, but it was different coming from Isaac. She’d wanted to take care of him when he’d gotten hurt at the mud sale, and now here he was, taking care of her just the same.
Isaac arranged the quilt on the floor, giving Cincinnati plenty of room to walk around if he wanted. “Sit,” Isaac said. Grace obeyed. But then Isaac disappeared, returning a moment later with another blanket. “Here,” he said. “You got wet too, you know. And whatever that thing is doesn’t look very, um, thick.”
Grace suddenly remembered she’d come straight from bed, at least having the foresight to have grabbed her dressing gown on the way outside, but not dressed properly at all.
“Oh!” She reached for the blanket, immediately wrapping it around her body, covering robe and nightgown.
Isaac laughed softly. “Please don’t be embarrassed. I hardly noticed.” He sent her a look with a crooked grin that made her tingle.
“Sit,” she said a moment later, gesturing to a spot on the opposite side of the quilt.
“Long day,” he said after lowering to the ground. Grace noticed then that Isaac wasn’t dressed all that properly, either. He was still in his sleeping shirt, which was looser and thinner and more open at the throat than his regular
shirts. He must’ve caught her staring because a second later, he adjusted the towel to cover his chest.
Grace felt heat rise to her cheeks when she looked away. The physical desires swimming through her mind and body were coming more often, even when she tried to—halfheartedly—pray them away.
“Very long day,” she agreed. “I realize rain is a blessing from Gott, but honestly, I’ve had enough blessings this week.”
“It’s been fun for the kinnahs,” he said. “Sadie loves the rain. Even if it’s only sprinkling, she’ll find a puddle and stomp away until she’s soaked to the skin.” He dipped his head and smiled. “I was just like that as a boy.”
Grace leaned back, balancing on her hands. “Tell me more about when you were a child.”
While the flame of the lamp flickered gently and the rain continued outside, Isaac shared delightful stories about a childhood filled with boyhood adventures, lessons from goodly parents, and a security and happiness that could come only from a home full of love.
“Anna sounds like so much fun,” Grace said after he’d shared about the time his youngest sister tried to train her twin goats to fetch like dogs. “I’d like to meet her someday.”
“I’m sure you will, Grace,” he said.
Another wave of warmth and tingles filled her chest. Similar waves had been washing over her ever since they’d sat down together in the dimly lit stable, the sounds of the rain and the random horse whinny filling the night.
“She was the last of us to marry,” he continued. “She got engaged quite young, but her husband is a good man. Very upstanding. I was relieved because it happened right before Martha…”
“Before she passed away?” Grace finished for him.
“Aye. It was one less worry for me. Otherwise, she might’ve come to live with me at Martha’s parents’ home.” He paused and bowed his head. “I would’ve hated to expose her to that.”
Grace couldn’t help it. She needed to touch him, to let him know she cared. So she reached out and took his hand.
“I’m sorry,” Isaac said. “I don’t mean to speak so harshly. They have positive qualities, too.”
Grace couldn’t help but exhale a light laugh. “You see the good in everyone.”
“I try.” He gave her hand a squeeze, and they shared a happy, meaningful look that made Grace feel like she was glowing. “Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything, Isaac. Don’t you know that?”
“I do,” he said. “It’s just… I can’t believe how much my life has changed since…since I moved here.”
“Jah?”
“I’m hopeful about the future for the first time in, well, I don’t know how long it’s been. I would never disrespect the memory of Sadie’s mother, but we weren’t very happy at the end. All I could do was try to be the best man and best father that I could.”
“Isaac.” She squeezed his hand. “I’ve seen you with Sadie. You’re wonderful with her. She adores you.” She moved closer and took his hand in both of hers. “You’re the best man I know.”
“You don’t know how much that means to me. I never thought I’d…”
When his voice faded out and he dropped his chin, she pulled at his hand, nudging him to finish.
“I never thought I would meet someone like you,” he finally said. “Being around you lifts me, makes me happy.” He looked up. “I’m a better man because of you.”
No one had ever said anything like that to Grace. She was so happy, she thought she just might fly up to heaven. For weeks, they’d been tiptoeing around their feelings for each other, but now Grace really knew.
“I’ve been thinking,” Isaac continued. “I’m pretty sure we should go ahead and count the mud sale as our first date—non-officially.”
“Why?” Grace asked.
“Wait.” Isaac held up a finger. “You’ll see my logic in a minute.”
Grace smiled as his hazel eyes became animated, his face so handsome. So very kind.
“The evening ride home after the mud sale should definitely count as date number two.”
“Okay,” Grace agreed, though she didn’t see what he was up to yet. “What about when you came home after the fire?” she asked. “We spent quite a bit of time together then. Is that date three?”
“I knew you were smart.” Isaac grinned. “Date three, huh? Well, then…” Without removing his hand from inside her grip, he moved so he was sitting right at her side. “I think this is allowed.”
Grace felt another wonderful rush as Isaac put an arm around her, gently pulling her close. “Jah?” she managed to say, though her breaths were shallow and short.
“The first day of the rainstorm,” Isaac continued, “when we reorganized all the tack.” Tenderly, Isaac shifted closer, moving his mouth right to her ear. “Pretty sure that was number four,” he whispered, his warm breath tickling the side of her neck, sending delicious shivers all over her body.
Grace closed her eyes. “Wh-what about date five?”
“Do you think we’ve had one?” Isaac asked, his voice soft like a breeze.
“Jah.” She let the word drift out of her mouth, unable to stop it. A moment later, she felt his hand on her cheek, his thumb stroking across her skin. Grace almost couldn’t breathe. “Tonight,” she whispered.
“Ah.” He moved her hand that was holding his to press against his chest. Then a moment later, it moved to her other cheek. “Grace,” he whispered, cupping her face, tilting it toward his. “Are you sure?”
It took everything in her, but Grace filled her lungs, then lifted her chin so she could show him she was sure; so she could look him in his hazel eyes and tell him everything else.
Before she could fill her lungs again, she felt herself slowly being pulled forward. The soft touch of his lips on hers felt as welcome and natural as anything. Then instantly, it felt as though her heart was on fire, her pulse galloping like a runaway horse. Instinctively, she leaned in to him, allowing herself to submit, to enjoy every touch and breath and explosion inside her body.
Her life would never be the same again.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
It hadn’t been Isaac’s plan to kiss Grace tonight, but somewhere inside he knew all the time they’d spent together would eventually come to a head. His feelings for her had been building stronger and stronger until she was all he could think about.
Thinking led to acting, and every bone in his body was calling to her as she sat on that quilt in the dimly lit horse stall, reminding him of all they’d been through and all the ways he’d been falling for her.
Just like her father had suspected.
A clap of sudden lightning startled him, and for a split second, he wondered if it was a sign from Gott to pull back. But then he felt Grace grasp the front of his shirt, their lips still connected, and Isaac knew it wasn’t time yet to pull away.
Her skin was soft and smooth between his hands as he held her cheeks. He’d do anything to brand this memory onto his brain forever. But time could not last forever.
The sweetness of hearing Grace gasp for breath made his already pounding heart race even faster, as if he was the old Cincinnati, broken loose and running at top speed. Fearing he would want to kiss her again, right then, Isaac touched his forehead to hers. For a moment, they just breathed together, Grace still clutching the front of his shirt in her hands.
“Wow.”
Her whisper made him chuckle softly.
“Yeah?” He whispered back.
“Oh jah.”
They snickered at each other as the rain continued to pour, large drops hitting the barn roof.
“I didn’t know…” Grace began in a whisper.
“Know what?” Isaac asked, his forehead still pressed to hers so he couldn’t see her eyes.
She took a beat, then sighed. Isaac felt he
r breath like a warm wave on his face. “I didn’t know it would feel like that,” she said. “I didn’t know I could feel like that.” Finally she pulled back and lifted her chin. Her blue eyes were beautiful. “Like this.”
“Can I tell you something?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
Isaac first took a pause. He wasn’t sure he should admit this, though he’d been thinking about it ever since the kiss had begun. “I didn’t know I could feel like this, either. Grace, I never have.” He reached down and took her hand. “Not with anyone.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “Not ever.”
He hoped she understood what he meant. He’d been in love before—at least he’d thought so. He’d courted a woman, proposed, married, had a daughter. Yet, he’d never felt so happy, so alive and strong as he did right this second…sitting in a barn with Grace Zook in the middle of a rainstorm.
Grace gazed into his eyes, sparking all those physical yearnings to come alive again. He knew he shouldn’t kiss her a second time. He wasn’t that strong.
“I should go home.”
“No!” Grace practically yelled the word. Then she dropped her chin and laughed quietly. “Please don’t go yet.”
Isaac took in a deep breath. “It’s hard for me to sit here with you,” he admitted. “I want to keep kissing you. I want to take you in my arms, Grace, and hold you close to me. You know I can’t, though.”
“I know,” she said, nodding. Then she looked him in the eyes. “Maybe after another five dates?”
He couldn’t help laughing. “I think it would be more appropriate then.”
After her own quiet laugh, Grace reached up and took his face between her hands, staring him in the eyes. Isaac couldn’t move, could barely breathe as she looked at him with an intensity he didn’t realize she had.
“You’re the best man I’ve ever known, Isaac King,” she whispered. Then she leaned forward, kissing him on one cheek.
Isaac clenched his fists together, forcing himself not to touch her, not to give in to the physical desires to love this woman properly, fully.
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