Chapter 15

Three months had passed since Lynn agreed to stay. In those three months no one of any threat had been seen. In three months Lynn had grown fond of the ranch, and of Jeff and Mija. It was the first time in a long time since she'd felt at home and comfortable. Lynn had become close with Mija like a daughter and really enjoyed the elderly woman's company. They even rode their horses every morning and every evening. The land Jeff owned was massive and there was plenty of it to ride on. On occasion Jeff would ride with them and Lynn really enjoyed it when he did. She would never admit it out loud but she enjoyed his flirtiest manner, which had been building since she began to stay with them.

Over the last three months her relationship with Jeff had grown. Into what, she didn't know. It's been three months and they still hadn't so much as kissed. Not that she was in a hurry, or was she? The tension between them was about to burst and she was afraid of what she might do. She knew he cared about her there was no doubt in her mind about that, but how far he wanted to take that care...that was another matter.

"What are you thinking so hard about over there?" Jeff asked quietly as she strummed a view strings of his guitar.

Lynn sat in a rocking chair with her feet propped up on the porch rail. "Nothing really," she responded equally quiet. She loved sitting on the front porch listening to him play his guitar. It was so soothing to listen to him play. It was almost dark and the atmosphere was warm and quiet.

"When did Mija say she'd be back?" he asked continuing to play softly.

She laughed quietly, "Are you kidding me? She'll be off with Clint all night she ain't coming home."

"Is that what she told you?" he inquired protectively.

She rolled her eyes, "She's a grown woman Jeff you can't be so protective of her."

"I'm a man I know what men think about," he told her.

She out right laughed at him. "And what do men think about?" she asked dramatically.

He smiled, "Sex, lots of sex, and some more sex."

She couldn't contain her laughter anymore as she cracked up. That was one thing she loved about being around him. He made her laugh, really laugh.

"I'm not dumb I know what that old man has on his mind," he spoke his mind. "He just better have the best of intentions."

She shook her head as he laughter died down to a chuckle, "Mija can take care of herself."

"Doesn't mean I don't worry," he voiced as he started to play one of Lynn's favorite tunes.

Her laughter dissipated as she watched and listened to him play. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as the music calmed her instantly. Three months ago she didn't know if she was going to stay, but now...she couldn't imagine leaving.

"Want to tell what you were thinking about?" he asked still playing.

She smiled. Smartass he knew how to get my defenses down' she thought. "You really want to know?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

She thought before she spoke, trying to pick her words wisely. "I was thinking about whether or not I should leave," she said quietly. His playing came to a slow stop and she could feel him looking her direction. "I didn't say I was gonna to leave," she opened her eyes and looked at him. Since her stay, she'd learned his expressions and mannerisms well. She could tell when he was upset, sad, happy, depressed so on and so forth. At the moment, he was in despair. She knew he didn't want her to leave...and she didn't want to leave.

"Then why were you thinking about it?" he inquired curiously.

"I was thinking about how three months ago I was just waiting for the right moment to leave...but now I don't want too," she explained. "For the first time in my life I feel like I belong somewhere...like I make a difference. Mija is like a mother to me and you...I don't know what I'm saying..." she trailed off nervously. "I don't know why I can't just say what I want to say..." she whispered nervously.

He put his guitar down and motioned for her to come to him. "Come here," he whispered gently.

She laughed nervously, "I can't move..." But she stood from the rocking chair and took the few steps towards him and stood over him, not sitting. "What?" she asked shifting to one hip with her hands in her back pockets.

When he noticed she wasn't going to take a seat he stood and faced her. "Are you happy here?" he asked strait forward.

"Yes I'm happy here," she answered instantly.

"Then that's all that matters...you don't have to explain your reasons for staying," he smiled softly then walked past her and into the house.

Lynn stood on the front porch for a few minutes, thinking, before she picked up his guitar and went into the house. She placed it on its stand in the living room and walked into the kitchen to fix a snack. She wanted to kick herself for starting to tell him what she wanted then stopping. She felt like a tease and she hated a tease. She only hoped he was as tortured as she was.

She opened the fridge and took out a pack of shredded cheese and some cut up tomatoes. She placed the items on the counter and mixed them with some salt and pepper. It was her favorite snack she could eat a pound of it in one sitting. It'll go strait to your thighs Mija would tell her playfully. She finished mixing it and sat down at the table and started to eat.