Chapter 6 #2
Gideon rinsed his face, shut off the sink, and took advantage of being the only person in the bathroom to rest his forehead against the mirror. Once again, he was an idiot. Most of the time he was fine and could leave his shameful past where it belonged, but with Maya . . .
She stirred everything up.
He was going to have to either get himself under control or tell her why he didn’t deserve her trust, her faith in him.
But as soon as he spoke the words, he’d be unable to take them back.
Her eyes would cloud with disappointment.
Maybe even contain a little shock, and she’d try to figure out what to say but wouldn’t be able to find the words.
Then she’d finally walk away, and he’d get a text the next day saying it would be better if they went their separate ways.
He sighed. Get it together, Price.
He could just tell her and get it over with. Get rid of the whole stress of keeping secrets from her.
But then she might send him away. Refuse to ever want to see him again. And telling her would just put her in danger. While she had someone who possibly wanted her dead, he’d keep his mouth shut and protect her.
After that . . . well . . . that was up to God—a fact that Gideon was just coming to accept.
And he supposed keeping Maya safe was also up to God, but maybe he’d use Gideon to do that.
Maybe that was why he was here at this particular time.
He’d once heard a sermon on “divine appointments,” and the preacher had pressed home the point that there were no coincidences with God, that the Almighty had a master plan for each and every person born.
If the preacher was right, that meant Gideon was at Silver Pines for a reason.
And he could think of no better reason than to make sure the person after Maya was stopped.
So, he needed to get it together and get back out there.
If Lila hadn’t been just a few feet away, Gideon wouldn’t have left Maya alone.
And if his purpose here was to keep her safe, he wouldn’t again.
He’d make sure she had someone watching out for her at all times.
He could do that. God, I honestly don’t know what to say or pray other than it’s been a while since we talked.
Everything I know about you points to your being willing to listen in spite of my stubbornness.
If you’ve put me here to look out for Maya, then I’m willing.
Maybe it will make up for being such a disappointment in other areas of my life.
I hope so. He took a deep breath, then stepped out of the bathroom to walk back over to Maya’s table.
He found her talking to Vance Harland.
They both looked up as he approached. Vance smiled. “Looks like great minds think alike. Came down to get some lunch and ran into Maya. I was just explaining that Ellie’s got a migraine.”
“Oh no,” Gideon said, “sorry to hear that. She used to have those when we were younger.”
“Yeah. She doesn’t get them too often these days, but stress is a trigger.
And trust me, she’s super stressed about being trapped here with no cell service or internet.
She doesn’t do well being cut off from the business.
She has some part-time help and likes to keep tabs on them a few times a day. ”
“Please let me know if she’d like me to take a look at her,” Maya said. “I do have some pain meds I can give her if she needs them.”
“She took some but is running low. I’ll let her know you have more if she needs them. Thank you so much.” He looked at Gideon. “Maya’s got some interesting plans for the ranch. Has she told you about them?”
They’d had the ranch conversation in the five minutes he’d been gone? He glanced at his phone. Okay, ten minutes. It could have happened. “She has. They’re amazing plans. Her grandfather would be proud.”
“Tell me more,” Vance said, “like where are you going to get the people to help work it?”
She shrugged. “I’ve already put out feelers. I have several friends who are interested. And a few investors. So, that’s nice.”
“Investors?” Vance asked. “Thought you said you were going to sell off some land.”
“I am, but it never hurts to have people who are willing to invest. I don’t plan to charge the vets or their families.”
“Not charging them?” Vance raised a brow. “So you’re going to be a nonprofit?”
“Exactly. And as such, it’s going to need a steady influx of donations.”
He shook his head. “Better you than me. I don’t do anything unless it’s for profit.”
Gideon frowned. “There are more important things than money.”
Vance scoffed. “I can’t believe that came out of your mouth. When we were growing up, that’s all you talked about. How you were going to have this big construction business and rake in the bucks.”
Gideon flinched. He had said that. More than once. “Yeah, well, once you grow up a little, your priorities can change.”
“Sure, man, if you say so.” Vance didn’t sound like he believed him, but Gideon didn’t really care.
He shot his former friend a tight smile, and Vance must have gotten the message, because he nodded to the two of them and held up his bag of food.
“I guess I’ll get this back to Ellie. Thanks for understanding. ”
“Of course,” Maya said. “See you in the morning. I’ll be at the clinic until around six. Can we do breakfast around eight thirty or so?”
“That should be fine. Just know if we don’t show, it’s because Ellie’s not feeling any better and I couldn’t find a kid to send a message.”
“Got it. Tell her I’m here for her if she needs it.”
“Thank you, Maya, appreciate it.” He gave them a small salute and walked toward the exit.
Gideon dropped into the seat opposite her. “I’m sorry I stormed off like a brat. There’s no excuse other than the fact that I have stuff I’m dealing with. Which is one of the reasons I’m here. To deal. But then the avalanche happened and I haven’t had a chance to think, much less deal.”
“I can understand that,” she said, her voice neutral. No, compassionate. “I don’t understand what I said that upset you, though.”
He rubbed his chin, thinking. Would it help to talk to her? “I’m seeing a therapist,” he finally blurted.
She blinked, but other than that, her expression never changed. “Okay.”
“That’s it? Just . . . okay?”
“What would you like me to say?”
What did he want her to say? “I don’t know. I guess I thought you’d be surprised or . . .” He shrugged and looked away.
“Judgmental?”
“No. Maybe.” He took a deep breath. “Yeah.” He could feel her studying him. Like literally feel her eyes on him. He wanted to squirm.
“What was her name?”
He stilled. Then lifted his gaze to hers. “Jade.”
“And what did she say when you told her you were seeing a therapist?”
“That I . . .”
Could he voice it?
Maya simply waited. Not pushing him. Her eyes compassionate and calm.
“It doesn’t matter,” he finally said.
“Okay.”
There was that word in that tone again. He wasn’t fooling anyone. It did matter. He rubbed a hand down the side of his face. “She said I was weak.”
“She’s an idiot.”
Maya didn’t even hesitate on her response. That fact combined with her simple declaration allowed the tension to release from his shoulders and he laughed.
Actually laughed. Out loud.
She smiled and shrugged. “Sometimes I can be blunt. Sorry.”
“No apologies necessary. I can appreciate blunt.” His mirth faded. “But that experience with her made me realize that it’s not fair to burden others with my . . . uh . . . issues.”
“What if it’s not considered a burden? What if sharing them makes the weight lighter?”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that.”
“It’s in the Bible, Gideon. We’re told to bear one another’s burdens. You believe in God, I know you do.”
“I believe in him, I’m just not sure I like him very much right now.” In spite of the fact that he’d just prayed for God to help him keep this woman safe. And even though he was starting to see that he needed God. That unsettled him. He didn’t really want to need anyone.
“Ouch. That’s a tough one. Thankfully, God loves you whether you like him or not.” She smiled and it took the sting out of her words. There was no rebuke, just a gentle reminder.
He sighed. “I know. And it’s not really that I don’t like him, I just don’t understand some things and need to spend some time figuring those things out.”
“Which is why you’re here.”
“Yes.”
“And instead of doing that, you’re playing bodyguard.” She leaned forward and gripped his hand. “I’m sorry, Gideon. Please, take the time you need to focus on the reason you’re here.”
“I was thinking about that in the bathroom, and honestly, I think at least one of the reasons I’m here is to help keep you safe. So it’s all good. Okay? And . . . I prayed for God’s protection, so maybe I like him a little more than I think I do.”
She bit her lip, then nodded. “All right, well, if you want to vent or need a sounding board, I’m here.”
He did want to. And he didn’t. “Thank you.” He shook his head. “Enough of this heavy stuff. Want to revisit our childhood and go treasure hunting after I put in an hour or so of digging and you get some work done on the ranch plans?”
“Treasure hunting, huh?”
“Yep. It entails using snowmobiles again, though.”
She grimaced. Then shrugged. “It’s like falling off a horse. You should get back on, right?”
“Exactly.”
“But where?”
“I have a spot in mind. I saw it as we were racing down the mountain.”
“What spot?”
“It’s in the middle of the avalanche slide.”
“Fabulous.”
“Exactly. I’ll see what Lila thinks about snowmobiling.”