Bonus Scenes

Kept for Her

Intended for Her Series

Book 2

Bonus scene to Chapter 35

Bonus Ending to Chapter 35

Monday ~ March 30, 2015 ~Late Evening

It had grown dark outside by the time supper had been eaten. George had gone to her room to pack while Candi and Irish dealt with clearing the table, putting food away, and taking care of the dishes. Li’l bug and Tex had gone to the family room to wait for George to finish putting her things together. What few things she had, fit into one suitcase and an old duffle Uncle Jeb had dropped off with a few things early in her stay at the Reynolds’ horse farm.

As she stepped into the hall, Irish was taking li’l bug from Tex’s arms. A tear welled in her left eye. Watching those men with that baby… Gets to me every time. I’m gonna miss seein’ that.

Candi moved forward and clasped George’s biceps in her small but capable hands, while leaning back to look up into her eyes. “Oh, George. Are you positive you’re ready to drive again?” The younger woman’s concerned tone and expression nearly had George wavering on her decision to move home.

Swallowing, she turned to Tex, who’d grabbed a light jacket and had moved closer, waiting for her to tell li’l bug, Candi, and Irish goodbye.

He studied her as though trying to figure out if she’d changed her mind.

Prob’ly heard his sister’s question. I knew this wasn’t gonna be easy.

An understanding light seemed to come into Tex’s eyes as she attempted to plead for help with hers.

Stepping forward, he held his hand out. “I’ll take your bags. Give kiddo junior a hug and kiss, and don’t let Candi hug you so tight you find yourself injured again.” Then, Tex gave his sister a stern look. “Don’t make her feel badly, kiddo. If this is the right thing for her, we need to honor her wishes.”

A big sigh flowed out of Candi. “I knew it had to happen at some point, but I wasn’t thinking it’d be so soon.” She reached forward and drew George into a hug, evidently ignoring her brother’s warning, because George felt the snugness of that hug to her very toes.

“Ye’d not be givin’ the woman room to breathe, me love,” Irish said from behind his wife.

George gazed up at him over Candi’s slight shoulder and grinned as the gal only slightly loosened her hold.

“Oh, George. I’m going to miss you so much. Please, please come up to the house when you’re here to care for your horses,” Candi said.

Not making any promises, George hurriedly pulled away and stepped closer to Irish. “Thank yuh for all the help yuh gave me while I was here. I’m glad yuh and Tex were around every time I needed yuh most.” Moving slightly, she gave li’l bug a tweak on her cheek. “Yuh be good now, yuh hear?”

The baby reached for George, but she quickly backed away, putting space between them and, finally facing Candi, she said, “It’s been awf’ly good gettin’ to know yuh better, and thank yuh for answerin’ so many questions about the Bible, and all the good cookin’, and… well, goin’ the ’xtra mile for me for so long.”

George backed toward the front door. “Oh, Irish. I told Tex, I’ll be settlin’ up with yuh both for the care of my horses and all. Thanks again, both of yuh.” Tossing an abrupt nod she spun, took one step, and ran into a broad chest.

“Hey, there. Easy does it. We don’t want any more whap-n-slaps around this place.” Tex’s voice carried a smile, but George fought tears and didn’t want to look into his face.

“I’d… I… uh… I’d like to go to the stable, then I’ll be ready to leave… if that’s okay with yuh.”

“That’s fine, but let me put these bags in the Jeep first, and I’ll go with you.”

“Don’t have to, Tex.”

“If I want to? Are you alright, Georgianna?”

Don’t need to hear that bull frog-in-a-deep-barrel voice right now and shore don’t need to hear it so gentle like.

“Georgianna?”

That tender tone nearly had her bawling on his jacket. She brushed past him as he opened the cabin door.

He touched her arm lightly and held her cane out. “This was against the hallway wall. You may need it.”

Without looking up, she nodded and took it. Making her way carefully across the porch, she took the steps with him beside her, went across the walkway between, managed the second set of steps, and the last walkway. Waiting while he stowed her bags, she watched him easily put them in the Jeep with one hand. Tossin’ bales into and out of haymows pays off, I’d guess.

As soon as the door had closed, George made her way down the last three steps, across the drive, and into the stable where Tex held the door open for her.

“You did that with very little limp. PT has been worth it, hasn’t it?” Tex’s voice was close.

George nodded. “Yeah.”

They walked side-by-side to the big foaling stall where the chestnut stallion had been housed since they’d brought him to the farm.

Tex reached out to unlatch the door, but he stilled. “What’s your therapist’s name?”

“Bill.” George frowned, looking at Tex’s hand. Isn’t he gonna open that door?”

“Seems like a friendly sort of guy.”

“Guess he is. Tends to think of himself as a comedian, though.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Always crackin’ silly jokes while he works with me. For all his schoolin’ he’s kinda immature. I’ll be glad when I’m done there as much for that reason as well as not havin’ to be traipsin’ off to the place every week when I need to be at work.”

“Won’t be long now, right? You can tell him goodbye pretty soon.”

“Yeah.”

Opening the door of the stall, Tex backed away, and George stepped inside.

The stallion met her with a nod.

“You are a big brute for actin’ like such a baby.”

He took a single step forward, reached out his long neck, and lay his head over her shoulder, snugging her closer to his neck and chest. Tears welled again. I hate leavin’ him and the girls here, but there’s no room at the clinic stable. Now that this one is doin’ so much better, I’ve got to find a place to board them. That’s it, George. Give him a hug and check the mares. Yuh’ve held Tex up plenty long ’nough.

George pushed her balled fist into the muscle at the base of the chestnut’s chest, and he lifted his head while backing away. She patted his neck. “Good job! I’ll see yuh in the mornin’.”

The stallion nodded, watching her every move.

Once she’d left his stall, she made quick work of whispering her goodbyes to the mares. Their soft nickered responses were soothing.

Then, before she turned, she made sure her eyes were blinked clear of tears. God, help me not to worry. Guide me into doin’ the right things. I want to be shore I do everything Yur way. Jesus’ name… amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cam drove the Jeep into the parking lot of the veterinary clinic then swung it around to the back of the building.

A light appeared to be on in what was probably the apartment where George had been living. He could tell his brows were drawing together, and he did his best to curb his angst. She’d been living in the place far longer than he’d been aware of and must have been doing just fine on her own. Why is this bothering me so much? I didn’t even want her to spend time recuperating at our cabin, but here I am not wanting to bring her… home? Lord, please show me that it’s much better and larger inside than it looks to be from this view.

Be still, son.

He sucked in a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, he put his arm out and placed his hand on her forearm. “Hang on a minute. I want to be sure you don’t slip in the dark on your way to the door.” Maybe I should see that she has a security light out here.

“Thanks, Tex. I noticed the drops on the windshield were no longer running off… ’pears to be icy.”

“Yup. I’m afraid that’s the case.” Cam withdrew from the Jeep, shut his door behind him, and walked around the front to open her door.

When she moved to get out, he took her carefully by the arm she’d injured in the accident, not wanting to jerk it, even if they had said it was fully healed.

“I c-c-can make it from here. If yuh’d get my stuff from the back, I’ll jist open the door and haul it in.”

Something in Georgianna’s tone of voice… the hesitancy to allow him to help her inside, warned Cam to take it easy. She’s embarrassed about her place. The size? He only waited a few seconds before stating, “You really want to chance a fall here?” Cam strove to keep his words and tone light.

“No.”

“Let’s do this together, then.” They walked slowly to the small patio in front of the slider door, with Cam’s guiding arm around her back.

She halted under the small overhang near the dim light coming from inside the door. “I don’t… uh… I’m not shore… uh.” Georgianna looked away. “Uncle Jeb said he’d try to get the place cleaned up before I came home tonight, but…”

So, it’s not the size of the place so much as her fear Doc Swihart left without cleaning up after himself. Cam grinned. “Georgianna Zeller, I’m not concerned with messy. I’m concerned about you. There’s no need to be out in this cold, wet mess. Let’s get you inside, and I’ll go grab your belongings.”

Once Cam had the sliding door open, he swallowed something closer to frustration. No lock on the door? Really? What if her brother…

Be still and know I am God.

Yes, Lord.

As George stepped inside the room, a draft of warm air seeped out toward Cam, where he stood. Good. At least she’ll be warm tonight. He turned and hurried to the Jeep, gathering her two bags in one hand. For as many months as she spent with us, she doesn’t have much to call her own. He frowned again.

He neared the door, and Georgianna opened it for him.

“Come on in outa the cold, Tex.”

Cam stepped inside, and it only took him a moment to realize the apartment was nothing but one large room. A kitchenette filled one corner with a very narrow counter on either side of the two-welled sink. A dinky microwave filled one of those counters, and a toaster took up much of the space on the other. A door at the open end of the counter went to what? Bedroom or bathroom. Maybe? Was there a bedroom? He glanced around. A table with two chairs hugged the same wall the microwave counter was against. Two narrow easy chairs and one ottoman sat on a round, braided rug just inside the door. Nothing was out of place. No dishes stood in the sink or on counter the toaster sat on. “This is cozy, Georgianna. I like the colors you’ve chosen, too.”

She stared at him. “I… uh… didn’t choose a thing here. Uncle Jeb’s old assistant did everything yuh see. I’m hopeless at home decoratin’. As hopeless with that as I am with cookin’. Yuh’re right, though. It is cozy.” She dropped her coat on one of the chairs then picked it back up and hung it on one of three hooks next to the wide door.

Another glance around the space, and Cam suddenly pictured her in front of the cabin’s mammoth fireplace, her honey gold braid over one shoulder as she ate cinnamon toast and drank a big mug of hot cocoa. He had an urge to toss her coat to her, pick up her bags, and get her back in the Jeep to take her home to the cabin with space and more comfort.

Swallowing with difficulty, he asked, instead, “Is there anything I can do for you before I go?” In spite of how rotten the weather had turned, Cam found himself in no hurry to leave, since he couldn’t take her with him. He didn’t bother to question himself about those feelings, but looked at her instead, waiting.

“No. I’m fine, now. Thanks. Please be careful goin’ back. I didn’t mean to drag yuh out in this kind of weather. Makes me wonder if we’ll see Spring this year.”

Cam chuckled. Yup. Keep it light, Reynolds. “We probably will, but the following week we’ll be roasting in heat and humidity, no doubt.” He took the two steps to the door, turned back, and clasped one of her hands in both of his. “Sleep well, Georgianna. I will definitely miss seeing you at the breakfast table tomorrow morning.”

She scowled. “Uh… yeah. Yuh, too.” The color in her face darkened, and she glanced away.

Pivoting, Cam opened the door and ran to the Jeep, grinning. “Shocked her so badly, she didn’t think to yank her hand away.” As he drove home, even with the cool steering wheel under his hands, the softness of hers lingered.