The Magic of Light

Chapter

Fifteen

Sawyer

What was it with having issues on the gravel roads of Rhodes County? It was as if they had all united against me. I blew a strand of hair out of my face as I mentally went through the list of people that could help. I’d love to say I knew how to change my own tire, but I didn’t. I had never had anyone teach me. Talia and Rob were gone on a day trip to Kansas City, and my coworkers were already maxed out. And that was the end of my painfully short list. I waited for the gravel dust to settle, unbuckled, and climbed out, already knowing what I would find.

Flat tire on the driver’s rear side. I could call roadside assistance, but who knew how long that would take? My phone remarkably had two cell bars so I could attempt to call for help. I kicked the tire in frustration. A noisy, old gray pickup rumbled down the road, and a gangly looking, thin man rolled down the window. I gripped my cell phone tighter in my hand. Of course, in a small town like this, people would stop to offer to help. Panic gripped my lungs as I took in my surroundings. I was miles away from anyone. My heart picked up speed at the recognition of how alone I was.

“Need any help, darlin’?” the man called out. He smiled kindly, but I knew immediately I couldn’t do this.

“Uh, I have a friend coming!” I called rather loudly, trying to make the lie sound true.

“Alrighty then, didn’t want to leave you stuck out here without stopping to ask.”

He was harmless, but what if the next passerby wasn’t? The only person I knew in the area was Soren. Ugh. Surely, he’d have a suggestion for a mechanic or tow company, even though I despised the idea of asking him for help. I pulled up his number as the man drove away, raising his hand out the window. I locked myself back in my Jeep to text Soren.

Sawyer:

Hi. Is there a mechanic you recommend in the area?

Three dots appeared and disappeared, and then my phone was ringing. Of course he simply wouldn’t respond by text. I took a deep breath and answered.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Sawyer. What do you need a mechanic for?” Straight to the point. What did I expect?

“Something mechanic-y.” Ugh. I was such a freak. Why did I text him?

That tall, thin man was clearly perfectly harmless. He could have helped me, and I wouldn’t have had to call Soren. He gave a small laugh, and chill bumps skated across my skin.

“Mechanic-y?” You could hear the laughter in his voice.

“Yeah.”

“Are you nearby?” he asked, as if he was looking around.

“Maybe, but I don’t want to bother you. Can you just tell me who to call?” I reasoned.

“You could never bother me. Tell me where you are.” His voice was serious, mirroring the first time I met him.

“I had a little incident . . . with a rock, and I have a flat tire. I’m sure a mechanic can fix it.”

“Where are you?” His voice brooked no argument.

“I liked it better when you were talking nicely to me,” I replied.

“Well. I’ll like it better when I know that you’re safe.” I hated being a burden.

I didn’t know what to say. I desperately needed help, but I was hesitant to be around him again. I had turned down his two previous offers to get together, and I honestly didn’t know why. He made me feel safe even when he was grumpy, but it was the way he saw all of me that came across as unnerving.

“Drop me a pin of your location. Please.” He ground out that ‘please’ like it killed him to say it.

“Uh. Okay. I’m sorry.” I blew out a breath and sent the location pin.

“There’s no reason to be sorry, Pretty Girl. I’m on my way.” Click.

I spent the next ten minutes spiraling about how much I hated being a burden to people and lamenting the fact I didn’t know how to change a tire. How does one learn that as an adult if you never had someone teach you? I’d search for some YouTube videos tonight before bed. I heard the crunch of gravel and glanced in my rearview mirror to see Soren’s forest green mammoth of a truck pull in behind me. Well, here we go.

I unlocked my door and slid out. Soren’s long-legged denim-clad stride ate up the gravel between us, his eyes pinning me down. Concern was evident on his face.

“Are you okay?”

He wrapped me in a hug, and my body went ramrod straight. It wasn’t that I didn’t want a hug. It had completely shocked me. Sometimes I had to sit in a moment before I could make my body and brain get on the same page. He quickly pulled away, and I swore I saw hurt as one of the many emotions that rapidly crossed his face before he turned.

“Yeah, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to stop what you’re doing to help me,” I supplied.

“I will always stop for you,” he stated matter-of-factly.

My fingers had already found my chain, and my thumb brushed against the raised words, processing his statement. “I’ve never learned how to change a tire, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Roll your sleeves up, Pretty Girl. I’m putting you to work.” My eyes jumped to his, and his eyes crinkled in the corners in a smile.

Over the next twenty minutes, Soren walked me through every step and answered every question as if it was the best question he’d ever heard. He even let me twist this metal tool that I now knew was a lug wrench. We put the replacement tire on before he went around one more time, pulling strenuously and making his biceps flex. I had changed my first tire! And this was way better than learning through an instructional online video. I would certainly be noting this in my journal tonight. Look out tires, Sawyer was here to save the day! I felt so independent and strong because he had taken the time to teach me, and he had a way of doing it where I didn’t feel dumb or small. I snapped a few photos as reminders throughout the various stages, in case I had to employ this newly learned skill again.

“You really lucked out with having a real spare tire and not just a donut. What are you doing for the rest of the day?” Soren asked while wiping his hands on a rag.

“Grocery shopping and then some baking.”

“What do you think about seeing some baby calves?” he asked with a grin.