Chapter Eleven: Samantha

As they drove away from the ranch, the air in the car seemed to crackle with an electric tension, making it hard to breathe. She risked a glance at Henry, his broad shoulders filling the passenger seat, and quickly snapped her eyes back to the ranch track ahead.

"The kids are going to have a great time," Henry said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"They warmed to your mom straight away," Samantha managed, her own voice sounding strained to her ears. "And they love baking cookies."

Since they got back in the car after dropping off the children, the atmosphere inside the car seemed strained. Heavy. As if there was too much being left unsaid.

But what was there to say?

Hey, I find you irresistibly attractive. Want to make out?

Samantha groaned inwardly. What was she doing? This attraction to Henry was dangerous, a betrayal of Donald's memory. Yet she couldn't deny the aching longing that spread through her whenever Henry was nearby.

As they approached the gate leading from the ranch to the road, Henry shifted in his seat and reached for the door. "I'll open it."

Samantha nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As Henry's warmth left the car, she rolled down the window, gulping in the crisp mountain air and attempting to clear her head.

But her eyes were drawn to Henry's muscular form as he easily swung the heavy gate open. His strength and agility must make him such an asset to the fire department. But she could not deny he seemed equally at home on the ranch.

She sighed. Surely a man like Henry would have a woman to warm his bed.

A twinge of undeniable jealousy at that thought stabbed her heart.

Did he have a woman? Perhaps he truly was just being kind to her, and she was reading the signals all wrong. After all, she was completely out of practice when it came to romance.

Yet, as she drove through the gate, Henry's eyes met hers and there was no mistaking the longing. Was there?

He smiled and her stomach flipped. Could something that felt so right be so wrong?

But then there was Donald. Her husband. She'd always felt like being with another man, even wanting another man was a betrayal of the love, the lives they had together. When she'd said her vows, she had never imagined breaking them. And even though Donald was gone, in many ways those vows still felt binding.

"All set," Henry said as closed the gate and climbed back in the car.

"Thanks," Samantha murmured, her guilt warring with the longing that threatened to overwhelm her.

As they continued down the mountain, Samantha's thoughts turned to Donald. What would he think of her now, feeling this way about another man? The ring she wore on a chain around her neck was suddenly heavy, a reminder of promises made, and a life cut short.

"Are you okay?" Henry's gentle question broke through her reverie.

Samantha forced a smile. "Just thinking about the kids. I hope they're not giving Mary too much trouble with those cookies."

Henry chuckled. "I'm sure they're having a blast. Mary loves having them around."

The easy way he spoke of her children, the genuine affection in his voice, made Samantha's heart ache. It would be so easy to let herself fall, to open her heart again. But the fear of loss, of pain, held her back.

As they descended into the valley, the small town came into view and Samantha forced herself to relax. This meeting with Mabel was crucial to their future in Bear Creek. And that's what she needed to focus on.

Not the man seated next to her.

"Maybe later I could give you a tour of the town," Henry said. She suspected to make conversation as the silence between them stretched out.

"Maybe," she replied, then cursed herself for sounding churlish. "I mean…"

"It depends on what this meeting with Mabel is about," Henry finished for her.

Just like Donald used to finish her sentences.

Samantha closed her eyes and blinked back tears, then she shook her head. It was time she got a grip on her emotions, which had overwhelmed her since their arrival in Bear Creek.

Be kind to yourself. Her mom's words echoed through her head.

"Yes." Samantha glanced at Henry. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do if she withdraws the job offer."

"She won't," Henry spoke with such conviction that Samantha believed him.

"In that case, I'd love a tour," she said softly, surprising herself with the admission. "It would be good to...get to know the town better," Samantha finished, her voice growing steadier even though she also saw it as an excuse to get to know Henry better. "And I'm sure the kids would enjoy it, too."

Henry's face lit up with a smile that held more than a hint of relief. "Great! I know this town like the back of my hand. I can show you all the best spots—the hidden gems that tourists never find."

"I bet you do," she said as she steered the car through town toward the house they were meant to be living in. "And I expect you have some stories to tell."

Henry rested his elbow on the car door and chuckled. "Tales of daring rescues, you mean?"

"Something like that," she replied. "Although I am sure some of them have been harrowing."

His expression darkened, and he half-turned to her. "Some."

"I'm sorry," Samantha said. "That was insensitive of me."

"Not at all," Henry replied. "I try to focus on the good ones, the ones where we saved people. Where we helped. If I focused on the ones we lost…"

"You're right," Samantha said. "Sometimes I find myself slipping into dwelling on what I lost, rather than being grateful for the good times."

"Your husband?" Henry asked.

Samantha's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected Henry to broach the subject of Donald so directly. For a moment, she considered deflecting, but something in Henry's gentle tone made her want to open up.

Samantha nodded, her throat tightening. "Yes, Donald. It's been three years, but sometimes it feels like yesterday."

Henry's voice was gentle. "Loss like that...it stays with you. There's no timeline for grief."

His understanding touched something deep inside her and Samantha felt a sudden urge to share more, to let Henry in just a little. "It's hardest on the kids," she admitted. "Especially Tilly. She was so close to her dad."

Henry nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can imagine. Kids that age...they understand enough to feel the loss deeply, but not enough to fully process it."

Samantha glanced at him, surprised by his insight. "That's exactly it. Some days Tilly seems fine, and others..." She trailed off, remembering her daughter's tear-stained face just last week, clutching one of Donald's old sweaters they had found at the back of a closet as they packed for the move.

Henry's voice was soft. "And others, it's like the wound is fresh all over again."

Samantha nodded, blinking back tears. "Exactly. Lewis was younger when it happened, so in some ways, it's easier for him. But he still has moments where he asks about his dad, wondering why he can't come back."

Henry's hand twitched as if he wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he kept it resting on his knee. "That must be so hard for you, having to be strong for them while dealing with your own grief."

Samantha let out a shaky breath. "It is. Some days I feel like I'm barely keeping it together. But then I look at their faces, and I know I have to keep going. For them."

They drove in silence for a few moments, the weight of their conversation settling between them. Samantha felt oddly lighter at having shared even that small piece of her grief with Henry.

As they approached the house, Henry cleared his throat softly. "Samantha, I just want you to know...if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. About anything—the kids, the job, or...just to listen."

"Thanks, Henry." She parked the car outside the wrecked house and looked up at it. Maybe this was a sign.

A sign that she had not been ready to leave her old life and move on. She'd thought the move to Bear Creek would give them all a chance to start afresh, without the constant reminders of Donald.

But maybe she'd gotten it wrong, and this was fate's way of telling her.

"Samantha." Mabel knocked on the driver's side window and Samantha nearly jumped out of her skin. She rolled down the window, trying to compose herself.

"Mabel, hi," Samantha said, forcing a smile. "Sorry, we're a little late."

"No worries at all," Mabel said, her eyes darting between Samantha and Henry. "I just got here myself. Good morning, Henry."

Henry cleared his throat, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "Morning, Mabel. I came to offer Samantha moral support."

"Ah. Good, good." Mabel's smile slipped. "Because I'm afraid I have some bad news, Samantha."

Samantha's stomach dropped. "Do I still have a job?"

"Oh, yes," Mabel gushed. "We very much want to keep your job on schedule. But the house…"

"The house?" Samantha prompted, her heart sinking as she looked at the damaged structure before them.

Mabel sighed, her usually cheerful demeanor subdued. "I'm afraid it's going to take longer than I initially thought for the repairs. The insurance company has been inundated with claims after the storm…"

Samantha's heart sank as she took in Mabel's apologetic expression. "How much longer?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"At least a month, maybe two," Mabel replied, gripping the clipboard in her hands tighter. "And then…"

"It's okay, Mabel," Henry butted in. "If it's all right with Samantha, she and the children can stay at my place for as long as necessary."

Mabel's eyes were almost hawklike as they narrowed in on Henry. "That's incredibly kind of you, Henry. I'm sure you wouldn't make that kind of offer to just anyone."

Henry smothered a smile, and once more Samantha got the distinct impression something was going on that she did not comprehend. "You're right. I would not give my home over to just anyone. But Samantha isn't just anyone. We all know how excited you were to snag her to work for you."

"Which is why I wanted to personally apologize to you and ask you to stay, even though things are not exactly as we planned," Mabel said.

"Life rarely is," Samantha said, glancing at Henry. "But the children already like it here. If I'm honest, for them, it's turned into an adventure, and they love the ranch. So, if the job is still mine, and Henry is okay with me staying at his cabin, then we'll go ahead as planned."

"Great," Mabel said, looking relieved. "If you are settled, why don't you bring the children over to the wildlife sanctuary this afternoon? We can give you a tour and then arrange for you to start."

"That sounds like a plan." Samantha nodded, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

"Thank you for being so understanding. I'll see you later. I cannot wait for you to see the wildlife sanctuary and discuss our plans. They are exciting." Mabel checked her watch. "Okay, I have to run. See you about two?"

"We'll be there." As Mabel walked away, Samantha turned to Henry, her eyes wide. "Are you sure about this? Having us stay at your cabin for so long."

Henry nodded and shrugged. "Two months is not a long time in the whole scheme of things. And having my mom's home-cooked food will be like old times. What's not to like?"

"You're a great guy," Samantha told him, and then her mouth turned down at the corners and she covered her mouth as her emotions threatened to bubble over. "I really thought she was going to say the job was gone along with the house."

"Hey." He reached out and this time he didn't pull back. Instead, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. Instantly, Samantha stiffened for a moment at Henry's touch, but then allowed herself to relax into him, accepting the comfort he was offering. His arm around her shoulders felt strong and reassuring, and she found herself leaning into him despite her earlier reservations.

"It's okay," Henry murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "You've been through a lot. It's natural to feel overwhelmed."

Samantha took a shaky breath. "I want to do my best, create the perfect life for them. But I never expected to have to do it alone, you know?"

As he held her in his arms, for the first time since she had lost Donald, she did not feel alone.