Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
“I don’t know if it was God taking the pain away, or if I was just too hyper from the situation, but I swear I didn’t feel a thing until after we got the rustlers tied up and walked onto Dean’s father’s ranch.
We grabbed a few more men and marched the rustlers to the sheriff's station. It wasn’t until they were behind bars that I started to feel anything, or notice how much blood I had lost. One minute I was standing with Dean and Logan, looking at the rustlers from the other side of the cell bars.
The next I was on my back in Doc Fulton’s office; Dean and Logan holding me down on the table while the Doc was trying to fish the bullet out. ”
Garrett went silent for a moment, then loosed a breath, as if relieved after all that he’d shared the story with her. He then shrugged his massive shoulders, his lips forming an almost goofy grin.
“And that’s it,” he said nonchalantly, “That’s the story.”
Hannah’s brows flew up.
“That’s. It?” She echoed.
That’s it. Like it was no big deal that he’d been shot. That he’d been the target of an attempted murder. That if Logan had not shown up he would have likely lost his life. Hannah shook her head, amazed that he seemed truly unbothered by it all.
“It was something that could have stopped me,” Garrett replied, his fingers smoothing from her hand to her arm, sending delightful little sparks through her veins, “But God didn’t allow it.
That’s why I didn’t tell you about getting shot.
Or that the ranch might be in trouble. I trust Him.
Trust His path for me. I have my moments of fear and doubt, yes, but Logan reminded me the other day that He will provide me with what is meant for me. ”
Hannah loosed a slow breath as she slowly let her hand slip from his shoulder; her flesh instantly missing his.
“I admire your faith,” she confessed.
Garrett flinched at her words, his smile shifting toward a grimace.
“I think I’m making it sound more solid than it feels at times,” he confessed.
“I definitely have my moments of panic. I think what is important though is that despite them, I still do my best to be at ease with God’s plan through the good and the bad.
Right now, with the ranch at stake, it’s a bad time.
The point, though, Logan reminded me, is that I get through it and not let it stop me.
Just like I didn’t let that bullet stop me. ”
Amazed by his faith and truth, Hannah mustered a smile as she took a step back.
“Thank you for telling me. About your shoulder, and about the ranch,” she replied. “I want to help you, Garrett. Not find reasons to walk away.”
The relief on Garrett’s face was evident as he reached one of his well-muscled arms up to sheepishly scratch the back of his head.
“I see that now. Now more than ever,” he replied, “And I promise, I’m done with secrets.”
What little tension between them that still lingered faded then, and as Garrett held open his arms in silent invitation, Hannah found herself going to him.
She sighed in relief as he wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly, and she hummed in delight as she rested her head on his chest and found his steady heartbeat.
They stayed that way for a long moment, both seeming to revel in the way one another’s touch comforted one another, then Garrett kissed the top of her head.
“I do, though, think that’s enough confession for one night,” he murmured into her hair.
Hannah laughed huskily as she nodded.
“It is getting late,” she agreed, starting to pull away from his embrace, “And you need your sleep.”
“I do,” Garrett agreed, letting his arms slide away from her, “We both do. But tonight… tonight I want to sleep here. With you.”
Relief and alarm slammed into Hannah at once, the two opposing emotions causing her heart to race as she glanced repeatedly from Garrett to the bed.
It was what she wanted ever since she’d woken up that morning after he’d carried her to bed.
She’d feared he’d left because he didn’t want to be that close to her, and now he was proving to her that that fear was unfounded.
However, what did sharing a bed with him mean to him?
That he was ready to claim his rights as a husband?
Did he expect her to perform that sacred duty that they had been putting off for weeks?
As if Garrett could see the panic rising within her, he cupped her cheek and tilted her head until she was looking at him.
“Just sleep,” he said, his dark eyes calm as he met her worry-filled gaze.
He stroked his thumb affectionately over her cheek, soothing away her fear with that simple touch.
“I don’t want to push you,” he whispered, his grip on her face turning into a caress as he took a step closer.
“Make no mistake. I want you, Hannah. But when we take that step, I want you to be absolutely sure that you’re ready to share that with me, and it’s absolutely alright if tonight is not that night. ”
Relief, guilt, shame, and affection all weaved a tangled web around Hannah’s heart as she lowered her head and rested against his chest. She’d forgotten, in her anger and hurt, how incredibly patient Garrett had been with her from the very beginning.