Jesse stared out the Jeep window oblivious to fields and fence posts flying by in a blur. Walking in to overhear her grandmother and Gabriel talking about her had been awkward. She couldn’t believe her grandmother told Gabriel that she worries about him when he’s away. Then again, why was she surprised. Her grandmother had only stated the obvious. She certainly didn’t bother hiding her worry the night she ran into Gabriel’s arms to have a crying meltdown. At the memory, her hand came up to touch her warming cheek. Yeah, that was embarrassing.
As Gabriel leaned forward to adjust the temperature setting, Jesse noticed his hair was getting longer. Brown curls flipped up at his collar. So cute, she thought. So cute? Good grief, I’m turning into a thirteen-year-old. She cast another glance at his profile. Thirteen or not, there was no denying his good looks. She couldn’t help but wonder how he’s stayed single all these years. Or is he? Were he and Rachel dating? Rachel’s attraction to Gabriel was obvious but his feelings for her weren’t clear.
“Jesse,” Gabriel called her name, getting her attention.
“What? Oh, I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
He shot her a curious look before turning his attention back to the road. “I asked if you miss Long Beach, but now I’m more interested in knowing what you were thinking about so intently.”
What would he say if she told him? Quickly dismissing the idea, she looked out over the countryside. “This area is beautiful,” she said, scanning the distant skyline. “The mountains are regal, mysterious, even dangerous, but at the same time, nurturing and peaceful.”
He smiled at her romantic portrayal. “I believe you have fallen in love, Miss Hart.”
“In love? What—what makes you say that?”
“Because people who come to the mountains often fall in love and stay.”
She relaxed back into her seat. “Oh, I’m sure that happens a lot. The mountains are beautiful, but so is the ocean. Do you like the beach, Gabriel?”
He smiled. “I’ve never been a beach kind of guy, but I think all of God’s creations are unique and beautiful in their own way. But for me, personally, I prefer the mountains. They just feel more like home.”
She nodded. “Sure, I can see that. You grew up here.”
He seemed to consider the matter before glancing her way. “I imagine Freud has a lot to say about the psychology of preference and attraction. Some people are unconsciously drawn to certain places. Some prefer the mountains, others the ocean, some like living in the country, others prefer the city. I think we’re drawn to people in much the same way. Sometimes we feel a strong connection to someone, a bond, that we can’t easily explain. I guess you’ve felt that kind of connection.
Could he be talking about them? “I—I think, well, yes. A lot of research has been done on attraction, cognitive constructs and interpersonal complexities.” She fell silent. Why was she babbling about cognitive constructs?
She glanced his way before saying, “I have felt deeply connected to someone. I thought about him, cared about him, even when I didn’t want to. I couldn’t control how I felt. From personal experience, I can tell you that I learned attraction isn’t always mutual. Sometimes a person feels connected to someone who doesn’t feel the same about them. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we hope.”
Their eyes met briefly before Gabriel turned his attention back to the road. “I guess you’re talking about the connection you felt with your fiancé. Florence mentioned you were engaged.”
Jesse stared out the window without responding. She never felt connected with Tom. How could she? She had never known Tom, only the masks he wore. She didn’t want Gabriel to think she was emotionally involved with another man, but how could she explain. The dilemma presented no easy way out. If she said she felt deeply for Tom, she would be lying. If she said she wasn’t in love with the man she had agreed to marry, she would sound shallow. But wasn’t that the truth? Her relationship with Tom had been shallow.
She decided to be honest and let Gabriel draw his own conclusions. “No,” she said quietly, “I never felt the kind of connection we’re talking about with Tom. I wish I were clever enough to explain this in a way that wouldn’t expose me as naive, or worse, but the truth is, I was rejected, hurt, when I was very young and after that, I avoided dating. I focused on my studies and volunteer work during college and then I was busy with my career. Tom was—” she paused, dreading the confession she was about to make. “Tom was the first man I ever dated.”
She cringed inwardly. The admission sounded as ridiculous out loud as it had in her head. She could only imagine what he must think. A woman her age going on a first date. She glanced over to check his reaction, expecting him to be smiling, ready to tease her, but his expression was serious, reflective.
“Tom was the first man you ever dated, then?”
“Yes,” she said, sighing. “Pretty pathetic, huh?” Feeling the need to explain, her words began to tumble out. “I just wanted to feel normal, to go on dates like everyone else. And Tom, he seemed like a great guy at first, exciting and charming. And he was charming—all those things, but then—”
When she stopped abruptly, Gabriel glanced over to see her downcast face. “But then, what, Jesse?”
“But then I found out that he uses people, women, for his own amusement.”
“How’d you find that out?”
She stared down at clasped hands. “He told me, in a letter. But it wasn’t all Tom’s fault. We both played our part. I was naive, but still, I knew. Tom and I were never in love. Tom was fascinated by the novelty of being with someone so unlike himself and I was in love with the idea of being in a relationship. Looking back, I see our dates for what they were, therapy sessions. We both used the relationship, friendship, platonic whatever you want to call it, to work through personal issues.”
Thinking she’d shared too much, she turned away to look out the window. After a few minutes, Gabriel broke the silence. “I’m guessing that you and Tom met in a place you wouldn’t normally be.”
“Yes. We met at a restaurant that was way too expensive. But it was Amber’s birthday and I wanted to surprise her, go somewhere special.”
“Tom,” he said the name with a hint of distaste, “a man who occupies himself spending daddy’s money had a bottle of expensive champagne delivered to your table. Before the waiter could say, compliments of, Tom was across the room introducing himself.”
She didn’t respond. Was he guessing? How could he possibly know that? Her eyes shifted to the left to see a muscle twitching in his jaw. He seemed angry. She touched his arm. “You can’t blame Tom for everything. As a counselor, I should have known better.” Her focus moved to the floormat before saying, “It’s hard to explain, I just wanted to date, to feel normal, move on with my life. And Tom—I was flattered. He made me feel—” She blinked back tears to whisper, “pretty.”
Gabriel covered her hand with his own. “Jesse…Jesse,” he said, sighing softly.
She looked over to see his sad expression before jerking her hand away. “I don’t need, or want, your pity, Gabriel.”
“What?” He looked surprised.
She crossed her arms. “You feel sorry for me. Poor, stupid, Jesse. Duped by the first man she goes out with.”
Hearing him chuckle, her head snapped around to glare at him.
“That’s what I was thinking, huh? Poor, stupid, Jesse—duped. I was feeling sorry for you and didn’t realize it. Thanks for clearing that up. I guess I need you around all the time to tell me how I’m feeling, maybe provide me with a list of acceptable emotions and responses for future reference.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief before sitting back in a huff. “I am certain, Mr. James, that you find this conversation way more entertaining than I do. In fact, I’m rather shocked at your unbecoming sense of humor.”
Then she heard it, his outright laughter, a deep, pleasing sound that melted her.
She shook her head, trying to remain unaffected before giving in and punching him lightly in the side. “I cannot believe you, Gabriel.” Struggling not to laugh, she moved to punch him again, but he caught her hand. She tried to keep her face in an angry pose but her lips refused to cooperate. “You’re awful,” she said, pulling her hand from his.
As they neared the business district, Jesse turned her attention to people on the sidewalks. “Why are all these people in town? Where did they come from?”
“Some left cities over violence, fear of another virus, others came because of drought, food shortages.” He swung the Jeep into a parallel parking space across the street from the glass shop and turned off the ignition. Feeling his hand on her arm, she looked up to see his serious expression. “Stay close to me, Jesse.”
Crossing the street, Jesse spotted two men leaning casually against the storefront next to the glass shop. The men looked out of place in their trendy suits. She couldn’t imagine a local man wearing a flaming red scarf or leaving his dress shirt open to the coat button to show off pricey chains. Dark sunglasses made eye contact impossible, but as Gabriel opened the door, she smiled and said hello. Neither man offered a response. At the feel of Gabriel’s hand against the small of her back, she glanced up to see a look of warning in his eyes.
Seeing no one around when they entered the shop, she whispered, “That was strange.”
Before Gabriel could respond, a short, thickset man wearing overalls called out. “Gabriel, good to see you,” as he weaved his way around random panes of glass propped against shelves throughout the store. “Been a while,” the man said in a heavy southern accent.
“It has been a while,” Gabriel said, shaking the man’s hand. “It’s good to see you again, Sam.”
Pushing thick rimmed glasses up the bridge of his pudgy nose, Sam turned to Jesse. “Who’s this you got here with you, Gabriel?”
“Sam, this is Jesse Hart, Florence’s granddaughter.”
“Florence’s granddaughter, eh? Well, now, it’s good to meet you, Jesse,” he said, shaking Jesse’s hand before pulling a handkerchief from the front of his overalls to wipe his sweaty brow. Stepping behind the counter, he bent over with a soft grunt. “I reckon you come for the window,” he said, placing a small pane of glass on the counter. When Gabriel took out his wallet, Sam held up a hand. “Now, you know better than that. After all you done for me and my family, why, it’s the least I can do.”
Gabriel hesitated before putting his wallet away. “Thanks, Sam.”
“Sure,” he said, leaning forward to rest his arms on the countertop. “I’m glad you come by today. I wanted to let you know that I’m closing up shop for a while. I thought you might worry if you come by and I wasn’t here.”
“Is your family okay?” Gabriel asked.
“Oh, family’s fine. Just worries me, that’s all, leaving Mandy and Cindy home alone with the way things are right now.” Turning his weight to lean on one elbow, he looked out the front window. “I didn’t worry too much during the day, but I made sure I was home before dark. God help a body caught out alone after dark.” Sighing, he shook his head. “Just don’t know what to think anymore. After what happened to Mr. Drake, I reckon nobody could blame a man for staying home to protect his own.”
Recognizing the name, Jesse looked up to see Gabriel’s face darken. “What happened to Mr. Drake, Sam?”
Sam straightened and looked back at Gabriel with widening eyes. “You mean you don’t know? Mr. Drake was found tied up and beat unconscious right in his own house.” He looked around as if worried he might be overheard before saying, “Hoodlums done it in broad daylight. Two neighborhood boys taking a shortcut home seen Mr. Drake’s back door standing wide open. They knew something wasn’t right so they went for help. Last I heard, Mr. Drake was in the hospital in bad shape.”
Gabriel picked up the pane of glass. “I think you’re right to stay home with your family, Sam. You know you’re welcome at the shelter anytime.” Taking Jesse’s hand, he led her toward the door. He called to Sam over his shoulder. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
Inside the Jeep, Jesse fastened her seatbelt before noticing the two men that had been in front of the store earlier moving briskly along the sidewalk toward them. The man wearing the scarf undid his coat button before swinging the lower part of his jacket back over his right hip. Suddenly, both men stopped. They had an odd, startled expression and seemed to be watching something just above the Jeep. “Gabriel,” Jesse said in a frightened voice. When he didn’t respond, she looked over to see him focused on the men with his left hand on the door handle. Looking back at the men, she watched them take a few steps back before turning to walk away.
As they pulled away from the curb, Jesse’s head fell back against the headrest. “I thought they were going to…” She didn’t finish the sentence. What did she think they were going to do? She had felt threatened, but why? The men ignored her when she said hello and walked toward them on the sidewalk. That was no reason to think they were dangerous. Still, their body language had been intimidating, and the way they stopped so abruptly was strange. She turned to Gabriel. “Do you think they were watching us?” Before he could respond, she answered her own question. “No, why would they?”
As they drove through town, Gabriel kept an eye on the rearview mirror. “They were watching us. I know who they are.”
"You know them? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I don’t know them personally. I guess I should say, I know what they are, Satanists. I sensed a strong presence of evil nearby.”
She looked at him, surprised. “You can you sense evil? How?”
“The same way you sensed it. When you saw them walking toward us, you felt threatened. That’s spiritual discernment, the ability to sense good and evil.”
Pulling along the curb in front of Mr. Drake’s house, he turned to her. “I’m going to look around, make sure everything is locked up.
“I’ll go with you,” she said, unfastening her seatbelt.
Halfway up the walk, she hesitated. “Isn’t this a crime scene? Maybe we shouldn’t be here.”
“I don't see any sign that police have restricted the area," he said.
The front door was locked. After checking the backdoor, they were on their way back around the house when Gabriel glanced into a side window. Whatever he saw stopped him in his tracks. Curious, Jesse put her fingers on the ledge to pull herself up so she could see what he was staring at. Just as she was about to push up onto her toes, an arm came around her waist to haul her back. “No, Jesse,” he said sternly.
Swinging around to face him, her anger quickly turned to concern when she saw his expression. “What’s wrong? What did you see?”
Without responding, he took her hand and pulled her along to the vehicle. From the passenger seat, she watched him, waiting for an explanation. He sat quietly before saying, “Do you remember the horror movie we watched when we were teenagers?”
Remember? How could she forget. That was one of the worst ideas she’d ever had. Ghastly scenes had stuck in her mind for weeks. “Of course, I remember. I had nightmares and didn’t sleep for days.”
He reached to turn the ignition. “I remember that, too.”
Noting his strained expression, she didn’t question him further. She touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he said, his hand briefly covering hers.
On the other side of town, Jesse read the sign, Mountain Valley Medical Center. She looked at Gabriel curiously before he answered her unspoken question. “I want to see Mr. Drake.”
The wind whipped Jesse’s hair across her face as they crossed the parking lot. She looked up at dark clouds gathered in the sky before quickening her pace. “Looks like a storm is headed this way.”
“I think you’re right,” he said, glancing up at the sky.
Passing the information desk, Gabriel led her down a corridor toward the intensive care unit where a woman wearing white scrubs sitting at the nurses’ station watched them approach. “Hey, Gabriel. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Hello, Linda,” Gabriel said, before asking for the name of Mr. Drake’s doctor.
Nimble fingers flew over a keyboard. “Thought so. Dr. Haynes is the attending physician.”
“Do you know if Dr. Haynes is on the grounds?”
Her eyes rolled up in thought. “Hmm, don’t think so. He made his rounds earlier this morning. I’m almost certain he’s left for the day. Can I take a message?”
“No, thank you,” Gabriel said, turning to leave.
Jesse wondered at the conversation. Gabriel seemed almost guarded when talking to the nurse. When they didn’t go back the same way they’d come in, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“It’s nearly lunchtime. I want to see if Dr. Haynes is in the cafeteria.”
“But the nurse said he’s away from the hospital.”
“Yes, she did, but I’d like to see for myself.”
The faint smell of coffee lingered in the small cafeteria. If Dr. Haynes was among the handful of people sitting around square tables in groups of two and three, he wouldn’t be hard to locate. “Over there,” Gabriel said, nodding in the direction of two men sitting at a table in the far corner.
As they neared, Jesse identified Dr. Haynes by the name, Jerry Haynes, M.D., stitched on his white lab coat. The doctor looked to be in his late fifties with wavy, white hair. Seeing them approach, his face brightened before standing to shake Gabriel’s hand.
“Gabriel, what a pleasant surprise,” Dr. Haynes said before turning his attention to Jesse.
Hearing Jesse introduced as Florence’s granddaughter, Dr. Haynes inspected her face more closely. “Yes, I can see the resemblance,” he said with a deepening smile. “You are genetically blessed, indeed, to take after Florence. She’s a lovely woman.”
The man sitting at the table with Dr. Haynes stood, waiting to be introduced. On casual inspection, the expensive suit seemed to be the most interesting thing about the man, introduced as Mark Banner, until meeting his gaze. Reaching out to shake hands, Jesse’s smile froze as she stared into the palest eyes she had ever seen. His eyes looked like chiseled ice with the faintest hint of blue.
After introductions, Gabriel turned to Dr. Haynes. “I’m sorry to interrupt your lunch, Jerry, but I was hoping you could spare a few minutes.”
As Mr. Banner took his seat, Dr. Haynes gestured at the two empty chairs. “Mark and I have already finished lunch. Please, sit down.”
Gabriel darted a glance at Mr. Banner before looking back at the doctor. “Maybe we can talk in private later today.”
The older man’s brows rose slightly before turning to his lunch companion. “Mark, would you mind excusing us, please?”
Without taking his eyes off Gabriel, the corners of Mr. Banner’s mouth tilted upward slightly. “Of course, you want to talk in private.” Rising from his chair, his hand slid leisurely down the front of his red silk tie before looking back at Gabriel to say, “Gabriel, the one who stands in the presence of God.”
Jesse and Gabriel both heard the softly spoken comment. Gabriel turned to face the man. “Excuse me?”
Blinking like a lazy cat, Mr. Banner returned Gabriel’s gaze. “I believe that is how the archangel, Gabriel, refers to himself in the Bible.” The name rolled off his tongue with slow pronunciation. “Gabriel. Interesting Biblical name.” Mr. Banner seemed to be waiting for a response. When there was none, he smiled. “I’ll leave you to your discussion then. Pleasure meeting you both.”
Taking a seat, Jesse watched Mr. Banner walk away. She found the man disturbing—his strange expressionless face, the way he stared at Gabriel. She had never used the word to describe anyone before meeting Mark Banner. The man was creepy.
Dr. Haynes leaned back in his chair. “Mark is a curious fellow. He seems to pick up on things associated with the Bible. Your name, for instance.”
“Yes, curious,” Gabriel said. “You say he’s familiar with the Bible?”
“He seems to be educated on the Bible but I wouldn’t assume he’s a Christian. When I started to pray before our meal, he excused himself, and his language, well, let’s just say, he should close the office door when he’s on the telephone.”
Gabriel gave Dr. Haynes a questioning look. “And you invited him to lunch?”
“No, actually, Mark invited me to lunch. I didn’t have the time, really, but I felt sorry for him. You see, Mark is here doing a special audit of the hospital’s financial records. As you might imagine, he’s not exactly swamped with lunch invitations.”
“No,” Gabriel said, “I suppose not.”
Dr. Haynes glanced at his watch. “So, tell me. What brings you by today?”
“We were hoping to visit Mr. Drake.”
“I see. You heard what happened, then?”
“Yes. I saw Sam Huskins earlier. He said Mr. Drake was attacked in his home.”
Dr. Haynes shook his head sadly “Can you believe that? And I doubt he’d be alive today if not found so quickly. Adam Russell was one of the lads that went for help.” He drummed his fingers lightly on the table. “I can’t remember the other boy’s name.”
“John,” Gabriel said. “Adam and John.”
“Yes, indeed. That’s it, John.” He looked around to make sure he wouldn’t be overheard before lowering his voice to say, “To be quite frank, Mr. Drake’s condition is serious. He hasn’t regained consciousness since admission. If he had family, I would have called them in already.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Gabriel said. “Would it be possible to visit Mr. Drake?”
In response to the doctor’s quizzical expression, Gabriel explained that they want to pray for the man.
Dr. Haynes got up from the table. “Come with me,” he said, starting for the door.
They followed the doctor’s quick pace to the intensive care unit where the same nurse they talked to earlier was still working on the computer.
Leaning an elbow on the counter surrounding the nurses’ station, Dr. Haynes said, “Nurse, Gabriel and Jesse have my permission to see Mr. Drake.”
Color fused the nurse’s cheeks. “Dr. Haynes, that’s against hospital policy. Only family can visit patients in the ICU.”
Dr. Haynes’s surprised expression quickly shifted into a scowl. “Are you refusing to follow a doctor’s order, Nurse?”
Visibly wilting, the nurse’s eyes fell to the computer keyboard. “No, of course not, Doctor. Whatever you say.”
Dr. Haynes turned to Gabriel. “I’ll write a standing order in Mr. Drake’s chart giving you permission to visit any time during regular visiting hours. You may want to visit when I’m not here.”
Gabriel shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you, Jerry. This means a great deal to us.”
“No, Gabriel, thank you for coming by. Medically, we’ve done all we can for Mr. Drake. He’s in God’s hands now.”
The spirited man Jesse remembered fussing about a broken window lay pale and motionless under the white hospital blanket. His chest rose rhythmically with each breath forced into his body. Bandages around his head didn’t completely cover the deep purple bruising along his temple that fanned out to encircle his right eye. Careful of wires and tubes, she moved to his bedside.
Tears pricked her eyes. Who could do such a thing? She bent close to his ear. “Mr. Drake, your friends are here,” she said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She hoped he knew they were there, that someone cared.
Gabriel knelt on the opposite side of the bed and started to pray. “Father in heaven. Holy, sovereign God, I plead the covering blood of Jesus as I come before Your throne, requesting an audience with the Alpha and Omega, Creator and keeper of all things. Your Word tells us that Jesus bore our sins in His own body on a cross, by whose stripes we are healed. You are the restorer of health and the healer of wounds.”
The conviction in Gabriel’s voice gave Jesse confidence. She felt certain God would listen to him. “Please,” she whispered, “heal Mr. Drake.”
She looked across the bed at Gabriel’s bowed face. His voice softened as if God were standing right next to him. “In the name of Jesus, the one given all authority in heaven and on Earth and by the power of the Word of truth, I ask for this man’s life.”
Still holding Mr. Drake’s hand, Jesse watched his face, waiting. With no sign of improvement, she moved to look at the monitors. “Gabriel, maybe you should pray again.”
He came around the bed to stand next to her. “You expected Mr. Drake to wake up?”
“I don’t know. I guess so. Your voice held such conviction.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
She leaned over to whisper in Mr. Drake’s ear. “I love you.”
In the hospital cafeteria, Jesse glanced up from her coffee to see Gabriel staring off across the room, lost in thought. After a few moments, he spoke. “You don’t understand why Mr. Drake didn’t seem to get better after we prayed.”
“No, I guess I don’t. Your prayer was so powerful. I was just sure it would work. I wanted him to wake up so badly. But he didn’t
“I know you’re disappointed, Jesse. You have a great compassion for people. That’s one of the reasons I—I admire you.”
She smiled at his compliment. “That’s nice of you to say but I think most people are compassionate. I don’t think I’m unique in that regard.”
He sat back, watching her. “Perhaps you’re right. Maybe I should give people more credit. In any event, I know you’re disappointed. I think you may have been expecting a miracle.”
“Of course. Isn’t that what we prayed for? We prayed for Mr. Drake to be healed.”
“Yes,” he said, “we prayed for healing. But there’s a difference between healing and a miracle. A miracle is often an immediate supernatural occurrence that goes against known scientific laws.”
“Okay then—miracle. I guess I expected a miracle.”
“We didn’t pray for a miracle. We prayed for Mr. Drake to be healed. God may choose to heal by miracle, or He may choose to heal through doctors and time or, if it’s not God’s will, he may not be healed at all. I pray and leave the answer, the timing and method up to Him. Above all else, I pray for God’s will to be done.”
She sat back in her chair, thinking. “I guess that makes sense.
Walking out of the hospital, Jesse looked up to see black, menacing clouds hanging low in the sky. Was God angry with her? She wasn’t getting off to a great start at being a Christian. Faced with disappointment, her faith had plummeted. Inside the Jeep, she turned to Gabriel. “Sometimes I over analyze and ask too many questions. Sorry if I’m, I don’t know, irksome. There’s just so much to figure out.”
Smiling, he turned to look at her. “Did you just use the word, irksome?”
“Sure, why not? It’s a word. Irksome, look it up.”
“I know it’s a word,” he said, chuckling. “It’s just a quirky word not often used.”
“Seriously? You just used quirky to describe irksome.”
As Gabriel reached to pull the gearshift into reverse, she touched his arm. “Look,” she said, keeping an eye on the man and woman standing by a silver Jaguar across the parking lot. “Isn’t that the nurse from ICU and, um—what’s his name?”
“Mark Banner, and yes, it is.”
Jesse noted the nurse’s crossed arms and Mr. Banner’s annoyed expression. “They seem to be arguing.”
Gabriel looked out at the sky. “I’m sure they’ll wrap whatever it is up quickly unless Mr. Banner wants his fancy suit wet.”
As they pulled onto the main road, a few fat raindrops splashed against the windshield before a clap of thunder rumbled in the distance. Within minutes, they were driving through a downpour with windshield wipers swishing at their highest speed. A loud clap of thunder followed by lightning made Jesse flinch. Turning on the stereo, Gabriel said, “I think it’s starting to move past us now.” Reassured by his calm, she settled back in her seat and tried to relax.
The worst of the storm was over by the time they arrived home, but it was still raining. Seeing two cars in the drive, Gabriel said, “Looks like Florence has visitors.” He pulled a lever to recline his seat. “I don’t have an umbrella. I guess you want to wait it out.”
Rivulets of rain coursed down the windshield but there was no lightning and only the occasional rumble of distant thunder. Watching him get comfortable, she was struck by the urge to contradict his assumption. “A little rain never hurt anyone.”
He sat up with a surprised look. “A woman willing to get her hair wet, I’m impressed,” he said before opening the door to dash out into the rain. Not waiting for him to come around, Jesse ran to meet him at the at the back of the Jeep before they both took off toward the house. She could feel her blouse starting to cling to her body as she ran up the slight incline of the front yard. At her grandmother’s freshly tilled flowerbed, her left foot slid back on the wet grass causing her upper body to pitch forward. Unable to regain her balance, she fell to the ground. Her hands sank