9781618857613SacredWaterMichaels

by Lydia Michaels

  They parked to observe a black bear claw the surface of a small stream for fish when Braydon shut off the truck and gave the engine a rest.

  “Will the bear be bothered by us being so close?”

  “Not so long as we stay in the car. That’s one thing about being this high on the trail. You’ve got to be real careful about being out on foot. There’re all kinds of things bigger than you out here. Not to mention more pitfalls than I can list along the trail. You also have to know when people are hunting on the property.”

  “Do you let others use your property for hunting season?”

  “We have a cabin up that mountain there. It’s pretty isolated and primitive. No phones or cable. There’s a radio you can call out from in case of emergencies, but that’s about it. We let some family friends borrow it from time to time, but other than that, no, we don’t let people treat our home as public gaming land.”

  “When you told me you were from the mountains I never imagined anything as magnificent as this.”

  The bear, which was hardly more than a partially grown cub, moved down stream toward the rougher waters. Just past the bend of the stream were large moss covered boulders. The incline of the land created a slight waterfall where rapids fell like white foam into the calmer pools closer to where Sam and Braydon watched.

  “Do they swim?”

  “When they fall in. Sometimes I catch the cubs playing in the shallower parts.”

  The cub cautiously traveled over the falls, balancing on rocks that jetted out of the surface. His head moved back and forth as he tracked his fast swimming prey.

  He was adorable, his big paws swiping deep, the mist coating his brownish nose and black fur. It shook like a large dog trying to dry off. For as cute as the cub was Sam was smart enough to resist the temptation of getting any closer. She’d heard stories of mother bear instincts and even if momma bear wasn’t around, baby bear had claws the size of bananas.

  Sam gasped as the bear jumped into the water. It looked down for a split second then plunged its head under water and came up with a fish. At first it took the fish over to a rock and held it with amazing dexterity as it flopped back and forth. Once the fish stilled the bear pranced off to dryer land, lunch in its mouth, and scurried up the trunk of a tall pine.

  She smiled at Braydon. “That may have been one of the neatest things I’ve ever seen in person.”

  “He gave you a good show for a first timer.”

  He leaned across the seat and kissed her. She hadn’t been expecting a kiss, but didn’t have the heart to stop him. It was more intimate than a friendly peck, but less sexual than what she expected from him. Again, she wondered at the strange bridge of being just friends they couldn’t seem to smoothly cross.

  “I’m glad you like it here.”

  “What’s not to like? It’s amazing. You’re very lucky to have grown up here.”

  “It was a fun place to be a kid,” he agreed. “We better head back if we’re gonna make the game. Do you need to grab anything from the house before we head to the field?”

  “I don’t think so. It’s not like I’m playing.”

  He chuckled. “Fair warning, they’re gonna make you play.”

  * * * *

  The baseball field was only about a fifteen-minute drive over the mountain. It actually was closer than Sam assumed, but because they were traveling down rough terrain they maintained a speed of less than fifteen miles per hour for most of the trip.

  With what she already saw of the McCulloughs, Samantha should’ve expected a traditional field complete with two dugouts and stadium style bleachers, but she was still surprised when they pulled up.

  “Is this still McCullough property?”

  “Yup.” Braydon parked the truck by the fence facing first base. “We have a league with my Aunt Rosemarie’s bar so it made sense for us to have an open field for practice. Colin brings some of the kids from the youth center here from time to time as well.”

  The mention of Colin brought thoughts Samantha had been ignoring all afternoon to the forefront of her mind.

  “How long’s your brother known he wanted to be a priest?”

  “Since college, maybe before then. I’m not really sure. I was a conceited twelve-year-old when he left for university. I think he told the family that winter when he came home for Christmas.”

  “Didn’t he have to go to a special school for that?”

  “Yeah, he goes to seminary at Saint Peter’s, not too far from where we are in the city. That’s where he lives usually. I think what he’s doing now, this Transitional Diaconate period, is like an enforced time of reflection before he takes his vows.”

  Doing quick math in her head, Sam discerned that Colin was almost thirty. The minute Maureen announced he was becoming a priest Samantha was certain she was going to hell. Not thirty seconds before the proud announcement, Sam was picturing the man naked and begging her imagination to make him drop the towel.

  Worse, after the revelation of his holy rank, her dirty mind couldn’t help imagining him like a Chippendale dancer, but instead of a bowtie, he wore a priest’s collar. Yes, she was definitely going to hell.

  They walked through the lot of cars she recognized from the house and some she did not. Katherine was sitting beside her mother and father. Her children were running around on the grassy part of the field. Sam was relieved to see members of the family sitting in the bleachers. Perhaps she wouldn’t be expected to play after all.

  As they crossed the threshold marked by an opening in the chain link fence surrounding the field, Sheilagh yelled, “Finally, we can pick teams. Jen and I are captains.”

  Sam turned and started toward the stands when a sharp whistle sounded. She turned to see Kelly yell, “Where you going, Samantha? The field's this way.”

  She stared back at a gaggle of young McCulloughs and some others she didn’t recognize and stammered, “I’m not real good at sports. I’d figured I’d watch.”

  Kelly gave her a vagabond’s smile. “No can do, love. Since Kate’s prego we need another player. Come on over so we can pick teams.”

  Never one to go against the grain, Sam joined the others by home plate. Everyone was dressed in casual clothes, many wearing kelly-green shirts that said O’Malley’s Bar and Grill. Sheilagh and a young attractive blonde girl with her O’Malley’s shirt tied in a way that showed off her pierced belly button did a quick game of rock, paper, scissors.

  The blonde jumped up and down and cheered, “I get first pick! Luke!”

  Luke walked over to stand beside the blonde and Sheilagh frowned. “Kelly.”

  Kelly joined his sister while the blonde eyed the crowd of players. Sam had a flashback to high school and being picked last. She tried not to take the silly fear seriously.

  When the blonde’s eyes landed on Braydon they lit triumphantly. “Bray.”

  Braydon left Sam’s side to stand beside the leggy blonde. Everyone turned toward Sheilagh. Kelly whispered something in her ear. She smiled. “Samantha.” Sam looked around thinking surely there was someone else with the same name.

  When no one stepped forward she pointed to herself. “Me?”

  “Yeah, you. Come on. Welcome to the winning team,” Sheilagh said tugging her between herself and Kelly.

  The choosing went back and forth until every player was placed on a team. Jen, the blonde captain, had chosen Braydon, Finn, Luke, her sisters Emily and Taylor, the McCullough’s cousin Pat, and another relative named Giovanni. Sam was confused when Kelly informed her Giovanni was in fact related. She wasn’t sure where the Italian hailed from in the big Irish family.

  For their team Sheilagh chose Kelly, Sam, Katherine’s husband Anthony, who everyone called Ant, a cousin named Ryan, a married couple Gina and David, a guy named Tristan, and unfortunately, Colin.

  Sam refused to make eye contact with the soon to be priest.

  “All right, you picked first so we bat first.” After Sheilagh’s announcement, the other team
dispersed onto the field while Sam and the rest of her team lined up in the dugout.

  As Sam took the last seat on the bench, she frowned. The blonde girl, Jen, was in the field laughing and pressing her palm into Braydon’s chest.

  Kelly sat down beside her and followed her gaze. “Ah,” he said, comprehending what caught her attention. “They used to date. Don’t worry. They broke up for a reason. She may look nice from afar, but she’s far from nice.”

  “How sweet.”

  Kelly laughed but it was a sound lacking merriment. “You say that like you think you should care, but I don’t think you really do.”

  Sam turned a hard eye on Kelly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you know, and so do the rest of us, that you and Bray aren’t anything serious.”

  “What makes you say that?” The game started. They slid down the bench in batting order.

  “I don’t know. Maybe the fact you came home with my brother, but won’t share his bed. Or maybe it’s because I’ve yet to see the two of you display anything more than lukewarm affection toward each other. But I’m guessing it has more to do with the fact that Bray’s a fool who’d pick a girl like you because you fit some concocted bill in his mind rather than actually making any kind of fundamental connection.”

  “Should I be insulted by what you just said?”

  “Absolutely not. I like you, Sam. I like you a lot.” That wicked gleam returned to his eyes. “But don’t go getting too excited. I’m just lookin out. I’m not trying to gain a pass at your fanny.”

  He leaned back on his elbow to watch the game “No matter how sweet I bet it is.”

  Colin was up to bat. Sam watched as he scuffed his foot over home plate. His T-shirt clung to his tapered waist as he swung the bat back and forth in preparation for his turn. Luke was pitching. His hat was now twisted backwards.

  Colin stepped up to the plate and pointed his bat toward the outfield reminiscent of the renowned Babe Ruth.

  “Is he good?” she wondered aloud.

  Hearing her curiosity, Kelly replied, “Who? Luke or Colin? Luke excels at all sports, but Colin,” he laughed, “I have yet to see something Colin isn’t good at. Watch…”

  The crack of the bat had the rest of her team rushing to their feet. Colin rounded first as Sheilagh slid home. By the time he was passing second, Ant earned their team another homerun. It didn’t take long for Colin to get there himself.

  He was glorious. The way his limbs carried him around the diamond and back to home plate was something to behold. He smiled and laughed at his brother Luke who obviously expected no less from him.

  Sam swallowed a hard lump in her throat as the involuntary yearning to run to him overwhelmed her. He was a priest! Or at least he was going to be by the end of summer. She needed to get ahold of herself and knock off the impure thoughts she was having about the man.

  “You’re up, love.”

  Sam turned to Kelly. She quickly stood and climbed out of the dugout. As she was stepping onto the sanded part of the field Colin was stepping off.

  A sheen of sweat clung to his skin, but it did nothing to detract from his appearance. Under the thin worn cotton of his shirt she could see his tight abdomen pulling with each breath from his exertion. For a priest he was in incredible shape.

  “Pardon me.”

  Sam jumped out of his way as if he had the plague. God, she was a moron. And the way he apologized for stepping in her way only reminded her of seeing him naked all over again.

  Pardon me. I forgot to lock the door.

  Maybe a ball would hit her in the head and she’d forget all about what she saw.

  She plucked a bat out of a pile lined up against the fence. Unsure if there was a process to selecting a bat, she thought this one seemed fine. Stepping up to the plate she swung the bat a few times before looking at Luke.

  “Helmet,” he yelled.

  “What?”

  “You need a helmet.”

  “Oh.” Sam turned and saw the helmet right where Colin tossed it. She scooped it up and settled it on her head. It was warm from the sun and held a heady masculine scent.

  “Eeeeeasy out!”

  What the hell?

  Sam looked toward right field and spotted Jen laughing and looking toward Braydon. He was frowning. Apparently her attempt at being funny didn’t impress him.

  Sam bent at the knees and faced the pitcher again. Maybe she was good at baseball. Maybe if she kept her eye on the ball and swung real hard she could hit the ball right into right field and into the dumb blonde’s head. And it was nasty thoughts like that that were a perfect example of why she should not be around a holy man.

  * * * *

  “Nice play.”

  “Thanks.” Colin took a seat next to Kelly and watched as Samantha took the plate. “She any good?”

  “I have no idea. She looks nervous,” Kelly commented watching the newest player.

  Colin thought that was what she always looked like. At least that’s how she looked whenever he was around. He felt terrible for not locking the bathroom door this morning. Although it was Braydon’s bathroom too, he wasn’t used to his brother being home. And he never expected a strange woman to be sleeping in the room next to him. He’d clearly embarrassed her and that was never his intention.

  “Helmet,” Luke yelled from the pitcher’s mound.

  “What?” Samantha yelled back.

  “Oh boy,” Kelly said out of the corner of his mouth. “This ought’a be good.”

  Colin watched as Samantha fitted the helmet to her head, her freckled cheeks a shade pinker.

  “Eeeeeasy out!”

  Kelly groaned and Colin frowned. “God, she is such a bitch,” his younger brother complained.

  “It looks like Braydon’s saying something to her now. She has to know he isn’t going to react kindly to her disrespecting his girlfriend.”

  Kelly laughed. “I think you give Jen Miller too much credit where brains are concerned. The woman’s a viper.”

  Colin grunted in response. He watched as Luke threw out a slow pitch. Samantha swung with the enthusiasm and determination of a major leaguer. Unfortunately, she missed completely.

  Jen Miller’s laugh echoed across the field.

  “Take your time, love,” Kelly yelled encouragingly from beside him.

  Luke threw another slow ball and she swung again, this time without as much zeal.

  “Strike two!”

  Before he realized he left his seat, Colin yelled, “Come on, Sammy. You can do it!”

  She turned sharply to look back at him, a surprised expression on her face. Was she not used to encouragement? She looked back to Luke and adjusted her stance.

  Luke opted for an underhand pitch this time, which wasn’t allowed, but no one seemed to complain. Colin didn’t miss the silencing look Braydon gave Jen when she noticed the exception being made.

  When the bat hit the ball Samantha stared as it bounced across the field.

  “Run!” the team shouted all at once.

  Samantha gave a startled yelp, dropped the bat, and hauled ass to first base. Colin actually heard himself laugh out loud. By the time she was halfway there the other team already fielded the ball and was sending it toward first base. Luckily Braydon was manning the base. When Finn threw him the ball with ridiculously obvious bad aim, Braydon ran in almost slow motion to retrieve it.

  “Get the ball!” Jen shrilled.

  By the time Braydon had the ball in hand Sam was safe at first. He earned a severe scowl from Jen when he gave Samantha an encouraging swat on the rump. Oddly, the act seemed to startle Samantha as if she were not used to Braydon’s touch.

  Were they a couple? Had he misinterpreted their relationship? Perhaps they were just friends.

  The ball went back to Luke and Kelly stepped up to bat. After Kelly’s turn Sam had moved all the way to third. It wasn’t until Kelly was actually close enough to whisper in her ear that she realized she ne
eded to move past second, but she made it to third all the same.

  She was really quite beautiful. Nothing like what Colin imagined was Braydon’s taste. His brother’s usual type was Jen Miller, but nicer. Samantha was the exact antithesis of Jen.

  Samantha was soft and sweet, an obvious degree of honesty shone clear in her eyes. She appeared up for anything, quite agreeable, and was refreshingly trusting. She had that girl next-door kind of beauty, yet Colin could think of no one who remotely resembled her. The way her deep brown hair hung and swayed from her ponytail made him want to smile. He liked the way the finest dusting of freckles crested her cheeks, like cinnamon sprinkled over velvety whipped cream. Her lashes were thick and without make up, making them a unique shade of dusty brown.

  The sound of the bat cracked again and Colin was distracted from his thoughts. What had he been thinking anyway?

  Samantha ran home and Kelly crossed home plate moments after her, colliding with her and practically knocking her to the ground. Sam laughed and Kelly swung her around as they each jumped up and down. Samantha’s smile took over her face and Colin felt his own lips curving in happiness.

  “I did it!” she shouted, holding Kelly by the shoulders, still bouncing like a child. “I did it! I got a home run!”

  Colin regretted being outside of the moment. He wanted to run out of the dugout and celebrate with them. He wanted to swing Samantha around in his arms.

  A small shiver of excitement knifed through his stomach, causing an unfamiliar tingle inside of him. What was he doing? Samantha was Braydon’s girlfriend and Colin was in seminary. The longing that pulled deep in his body was so unwelcome and took him so off guard he found himself in a panic. Turning his back on his teammates, he quickly said a prayer.

  Chapter Four

  The game ended when Luke hit a home run with bases fully loaded. Sam’s team kept up well, but still lost by two points. She thoroughly enjoyed playing with the McCulloughs. The only person she didn’t enjoy was Jen Miller.

  Jen Miller was one of those girls who needed to constantly be the center of attention. At first Sam was only mildly offended by the brazen way the girl touched Braydon right in front of her. It was unexpected and insulting, as if she were saying see he likes me enough to disrespect you.