I walked across the large back yard toward the barn that my husband had built the year that we got married. That had been seven years ago. My long dress and black boots kicked up dust as I walked. We desperately needed some rain. Glancing out toward the field I saw that the corn looked too dry. As I entered the barn I heard the soft nicker of the large bay mare that stood in the first stall. Walking over to the feed bin I scooped a bit of feed for her and carried it to her. Her soft muzzle reached out and brushed against my cheek in her way of giving me thanks. It was then that I heard the rustling in the hayloft. Glancing up I saw a few pieces of hay drift down from the loft. "Who's there?", I called as I stepped back, wiping my hands on my apron. "I don't want any trouble. If you'll come out now I won't yell for my husband."

Just when I thought I was going to have to do something, I saw a man peek up over the hay bales at the edge of the loft. His hair was longer than any man's hair I had ever seen, but his eyes looked kind and soulful. He held up his hands, "I'm not going to hurt you. You don't have to call your husband. I just need a place to crash for a few days." "Why don't you come down here and we'll talk about this.", I said almost hesitantly but I didn't want him to see that I feared him a little. I watched as he walked to the ladder and climbed down. I averted my eyes when I saw how his jeans clung to his hips.

When he was on the ground he stood several inches taller than me. I had to look up at him as if I was a child and he was a grown man. Surprisingly I didn't feel threatened by this hulk of a man though. "My name is Sam Winchester. My brother and I had a disagreement and then something happened to him. He wasn't where he was supposed to be when I returned to the motel room we shared. I needed to get away from there. Do you think that you and your husband could put me up for a few days?" My mind raced with what all I should reveal to him. What could I tell this man that had just somehow shown up in my barn? Feeling as if it were safe I answered, "My name is Grace. I live here by myself now. My husband was killed in an explosion at the shop where he worked a couple years ago." Sam's eyes looked pained as he listened to my story. "You may stay here for as long as you wish but know that there is no electricity as you are in an Amish community. I do run an inn and I have plenty of open rooms right now."

Sam nodded at me as I spoke, "Thank you so much. I would be glad to help out around here as much as possible." "It's settled then, follow me to the house and we'll get you set up in a room." Sam followed close behind as I walked back toward the house and into the front parlor. I pointed to the right, "In there is the kitchen. I'll let you know when the meals are ready. In the meantime if you're hungry there are apples in the bowl on the counter." I then turned left, "The bathroom is here.", I said as I motioned toward that door. "And here is the room where you will be staying.", I opened the door and stepped back for him to step through. The room was modestly furnished with a bed and a small chest of drawers and a stuffed chair over by the window where the light came in nicely. "This is perfect.", he said with a smile. It was then that I noticed the deep dimples that graced the sides of his face. His eyes were a beautiful shade of bluish green too where the sun shown and lit them up.

I lowered my gaze to the floor and answered, "Lunch will be in an hour if you would like to clean up. I'll see what I can find you to change into unless you have a bag that I haven't seen." Sam nodded at me, "I do have one that's back in the barn.", he looked sheepish. I nodded and then left him to do as he wished. I felt flushed and my breath hitched in my throat. What was I getting myself into? I hadn't seen a man that beautiful since my Eric had passed away. He had been a wonderful God fearing man that had courted me from the age of 15. We had married when I was 17 and he was 18 and had been married for five years before he was killed. We had not been blessed with children. I feared that I was unable to have children. I may never know at this point.

I didn't know where Dean was. We had argued over something so trivial and I had left because I couldn't be around him at that moment. When I came back to the run down motel room he was gone. The room looked as if there had been a struggle so I knew something or someone had gotten him. I hotwired the Impala and then drove until I found this secluded place in Tennessee where I found a place to hide the car. I walked until I found this farm, when I saw a woman leave the house I thought I would only watch her so I hid in the hay loft of the barn where I could. Soon she walked softly into the barn. I heard her scooping feed and the mare in the stall nickered softly to her. She was small and a bit of honey colored hair peeked out from under her prayer cap.

I must have shifted my weight or something because soon she was calling out to me. I figured it was best to come out from my hiding place. As I made my way down from the loft I noticed that even though she was smaller than I first thought she stood her ground and was unafraid of me. I found out that she ran an inn and offered to let me stay. I followed her to the large white house with a rambling front porch. She showed me around and then left me at my room so she could go fix lunch. After she walked off I realized I was glad she was fixing lunch because my stomach rumbled. Shaking my head I walked back out of the house and climbed the steps to the loft where I had left the green duffle bag that had a couple changes of clothes and a few weapons in it. When I had retrieved it I slung it over my shoulder and carried it back into the house.

When I had cleaned up a little and kind of got myself settled I walked out of the room and into the living room. I looked around at the sparsely furnished but cozy room. The furniture was handmade and very beautiful. There were quilts, also handmade, hanging on the backs of some of the furniture. I did notice that there weren't any pictures and remembered that the Amish didn't really believe in photographs. Hearing soft foot falls I turned just as Grace walked into the room. "Lunch is ready if you would like to follow me.", she was meek but not mousy by any means. I cleared my throat and ran my hand through my hair, "That sounds good." Holding my hand out I answered, "After you." She turned and I watched her hips sway beneath the black dress that she wore. It was loose fitting but it was obvious that she had full hips and a trim waist.

I smelled the deliciousness before we entered the room, "Wow! It smells wonderful! I didn't realize how hungry I was until now.", I said as we walked into the kitchen. I knew the food would be fresh and from the smells it was going to be amazing. There was a plate of fried chicken, sliced tomatoes, squash and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy and of course a loaf of fresh baked bread that was still piping hot. Grace motioned for me to sit so I did. She picked up my plate, "I didn't think to ask you what you liked. Some of this I had already started before you showed up.", she smiled sweetly at me as she waited to fix my plate. "Everything here is great. I'm not really picky and this all smells so good that I think I'll try it all." She nodded at that and began placing food items on my plate before sitting it back in front of me. She then walked to a cabinet and pulled out two glasses and poured water in both. She placed the glasses on the table and then helped her own plate.

When I sat down across from the handsome stranger that was now occupying my home, I could tell that he was watching me. I cleared my throat and said, "Is it ok with you if we bless the food?" He beamed at me across the small table, deepening his dimples, "I would love it." I nodded and bowed my head, "Father thank you for the bountiful harvest that you have provided. Thank you for bringing Sam here to my humble farm. May you bless him abundantly and help him find his brother. Bless our food and bless the rest of our day." I raised my head and Sam simply said, "Thank you." I noticed that his eyes were the color of a greenish blue stream. He had an almost innocent look about him but with an underlying layer of dangerousness. I simply nodded and picked up my fork to spear some of the squash.

Sam ate heartily, "This is delicious.", he said as he looked up at me. "Your husband was a lucky man to get to eat like this all the time." I blushed and brushed the strings of my prayer cap out of the way, "My Gran was a great cook. She taught me at a very young age. Thank you." I ate a few more bites of my food, we were both quiet for that length of time. Finally I said, "Tell me about your brother." Sam took a drink of water and then placed his forearms on the table on each side of his half eaten food on the plate. "He is four years older than I am. I've been looking up to him for as long as I can remember but he has his faults. Sometimes he pushes me to the brink and I snap. I suppose that is pretty normal for siblings." I laughed softly, "I would say so. I have seven brothers and three sisters and it's sometimes that way with us." The next couple of hours were spent enjoying the food and exchanging polite conversation.