Once we moved to the front room I sat on the couch as Grayson headed further into the house, returning a few minutes later with a small stack of clothes folded over one arm. "Here you go. Not sure if they'll fit through." He told me and I nodded, taking the clothes from him.

"Thanks for your help, Harlan. When I ended up in that stream I wasn't thinking about a change of clothes." I said and he just grinned, watching as I picked out a light blue shirt but when I pushed myself to my feet he blinked his head tilting to one side when I started to unbutton the still damp shirt I was wearing. I froze when Grayson whistled, enjoying the faint blush that spread across my face.

"You don't need to stop on my account, Mia," Grayson commented and I coughed, unable to believe that I nearly stripped in front of my possible boyfriend. When I raised an eyebrow at him he finally rolled his eyes at me, nodding towards a door. "You can change in there." He sighed and I nodded, grabbing the rest of the clothes he'd brought me. As I pushed open the door with my arm I could feel Grayson's eyes on me and I grinned, leaving the front room.

"That woman's somethin' else," Grayson muttered to himself, taking in a seat on the couch while he wanted for me to return.

Now standing in the bathroom later that day I pulled off my pants thankfully that Grayson had lent me a pair though these were so long I had to roll them up. "Glad I can roll these up. Never noticed how long his legs were before." I muttered, neatly folding the pants he'd given me before I set them down on the sink. "At least the shirt fits….sort of," I added, carefully buttoning it up before I checked out my reflection in the mirror noting that the shirt hung past my waist. "Guess it'll do for now. I can always grab my clothes when I feel up to going back to the hotel."

"Still not sure what I was thinking when I started to change with him in the room," I whispered, unable to figure out when I'd ever been that unobservant. "Though it was nice of him to lend me something to wear." Looking down at the shirt I realized that it still looked too loose so I tucked it into my pants, hoping that Grayson wouldn't tease me about how big the shirt looked on me.

Grayson looked up as soon as he heard the door open and he blinked, giving me a slow smile once he saw that I had my shirt tucked into my pants. "Huh, I thought my shirt wouldn't fit ya." He teased, chuckling when my cheeks started to redden. "Kind of cute on you now actually." He added and I snorted, closing the door behind me as he climbed from the couch. "Now let's get those bandages changed." He offered and I nodded, making my way towards the couch. Once I was seated he sat beside me and I flinched as he touched my bandaged hand, his eyes on my face.

"Sorry," I muttered, chewing my lip as Grayson carefully unwrapped my bandages. Too busy thinking about the scar I'd most likely have I didn't even notice that Grayson had finished dressing my arm his eyes on my face and he blinked, a little alarmed to find me sniffing.

"Mia, what's the matter? I didn't hurt you did I?" He asked but I shook my head, his hand holding mine. Unsure as to what he should do Grayson just sat there silently but when tears started to leak down my cheeks he finally figured out what to do and when he gently pulled me into a hug I rested my head on his shoulders.

"Thanks, Harlan," I whispered as I closed my eyes against the stream of tears, secretly pleased at how kind he could be. When my tears finally dried I lifted my head a faint smile on my lips and Grayson gave me one in return. "I think I needed that."

"If you're worried about havin' a scar don't be. You'll look pretty tough with one, Mia. Not many could take on Lepray and win." Grayson told me and I brightened, kissing the rancher so fast his eyes widened.

"You're really good at this comfort thing," I told him, blushing when he cupped my chin and as he drew me into a much longer and deeper kiss I couldn't help wondering how wrong my friends were about him. A few minutes later I rested my head on Grayson's shoulder as he settled back on the couch, one arm draped around my waist.

"Never thought I'd been sitting in your house on the couch with you, Harlan," I commented and he chuckled, tracing my bandages with a grin on his lips. "What's so funny?" I asked him, raising my head to stare directly at his face.

"If someone said I'd been here with you, Mia I would have called them a liar," Grayson admitted and I snorted resting my head back on his shoulder. The silence between us was soon broken by a yawn and I covered my mouth hoping that Grayson hadn't noticed but when he turned his head to stare at me I sighed. "If you're tired you should be resting, Mia. Why don't you sleep on the couch?" He suggested as I rubbed at my eyes trying in vain to fight off just how exhausted I was but Grayson shook his head staring at me in silence until I yawned a second time, louder this time.

Giving me a tiny smile Grayson helped me lie back on the couch. I didn't even notice that I'd fallen asleep but when I next opened my eyes I found myself covered by a soft blanket and that brought a weak smile to my lips as I settled back, closing my eyes again.

Grayson woke hours later to a loud crash and he leaped out of bed, grabbing the lantern before he started to head towards the front room, suddenly worried that someone had tried to break in.

If they've hurt Mia….

His thoughts trailed off when he reached the front room finding me kneeling on the floor and as he stared at me, still partially in shadow, Grayson saw that I was trying to scoop up what looked like the remains of a lamp. Suddenly afraid I'd cut myself Grayson quickly headed my way and I jerked when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Easy there, Mia. I heard a crash and I thought…." He trailed off when he saw my shoulders shaking and he let out a breath. "Didn't mean to scare you but I was worried someone broke in." He explained, helping me to my feet before I could reach for the broken lamp again.

"The storm woke me up and I think I broke the lamp," I explained, jumping when a bolt of lightning outside lit up the night sky. Seeing me shaking even worse now Grayson draped an arm around my shoulders and I didn't move, not noticing his eyes as he stared at my face.

"Come on you're staying with me tonight," Grayson told me and as his words hit me I felt my face start to flush. Realizing just what he'd said and how badly I was blushing he cleared his throat with a faint smile. "You're trembling and I'm not going to let you sleep out here if you're that scared. Come on, I promise to be on my best behavior."

"Uh-huh." I finally responded and he chuckled, leading me towards the back of the house. "You sure this is okay? Me staying in your room?" I asked him and he snorted, pausing once we reached a door that I assumed would lead us into his bedroom.

"Just for the night, Mia. Unless that makes you uncomfortable?" Grayson asked but I shook my head, silently grateful as he turned the doorknob. "Let me know if you need anything." He added once I was lying on the right side of the bed. When he didn't hear an answer he looked over to find that I was curled up and he gave me a smile, reaching over and I sighed as he ran a hand through my hair. "Guess not. Night, Mia." He whispered, reaching over to turn off the light as I started to fall asleep beside him.