Chapter Five: Samantha

Going with the flow had never been her thing. But standing next to Henry, with the mountains in the distance and a vast sky above, Samantha felt an overwhelming sense of peace despite the events of the day. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to simply be in the moment as the wind blew through the pines, ruffling her hair.

But one moment was all she was allowed, as Lewis called out, "Can we go see the ranch now?"

"Coming," Samantha said, shooting Henry a shy smile. She turned and headed back to her car, almost stumbling over her own feet as she felt his gaze following her as if he could not take his eyes off her. Getting behind the wheel, she took a steadying breath and started the engine, acutely aware of Henry as he sauntered back to his truck. She flexed her fingers around the steering wheel, aware of her clammy palms, despite the cool breeze.

How could a man have such an effect on her?

Because he was her hero. She didn't know what she would have done if he hadn't stepped in and saved the day.

What she was feeling was nothing more than intense gratefulness mixed with the remnants of adrenaline from the day's ordeal, she told herself as she put the car in drive and eased her foot down on the gas.

Camille's car led the way through the gate and onto the long dirt track and Samantha followed, focusing her thoughts on the car ahead rather than the man following behind.

As the track bent around to the left, her stomach knotted with nervous excitement as she craned her neck, searching for the first glimpse of the ranch house through the rows of towering pines.

"I see it!" Lewis shouted from the backseat, thrusting his arm forward. "I see the house. It's so big!"

"That's not where we're staying, dummy," Tilly chided, rolling her eyes.

"Your brother is not a dummy," Samantha told Tilly.

"I know," Tilly replied. "Sorry."

Lewis didn't seem to have heard any of the conversation. He was too busy rolling down his window and sticking his head out to get a better look.

Samantha couldn't blame him, as the sprawling brick and timber structure came into view up ahead, framed by the magnificent mountains beyond. "Tilly is right, this is the main ranch house. We're staying in Henry's cabin, which I expect won't be as spacious, but it should have enough room for us."

She still couldn't quite believe Henry's generosity toward them—mere strangers in town. But when their eyes had locked earlier, she'd felt an unmistakable spark, a connection that was anything but unfamiliar.

Or was she just projecting, grasping at straws after losing her husband? The nagging voice of doubt whispered in the back of her mind as they drove past the ranch house, the trail no more than a narrow ribbon of gravel now, winding past a large barn and stables, taking them deeper into the heart of the ranch.

As they rounded another bend, a large log cabin came into view, nestled among a cluster of aspens. Samantha's breath caught in her throat. It was picture-perfect, like something out of a storybook.

"Is that it?" Tilly asked, her eager tone a stark contrast to when she'd gotten out of the car at the gate.

Samantha nodded, unable to suppress a smile at her daughter's newfound enthusiasm. "I think so. It looks perfect, doesn't it?"

"Perfect," Tilly replied absently. "Like something out of a movie."

As they pulled up beside Camille's car, Samantha tried to keep her breathing steady as Henry's truck came to a stop behind them. Why was she acutely aware of him whenever he was close by?

"I love it!" Lewis said and was out of the car before Samantha had even switched off the engine.

"Be careful," Samantha warned. "This is a ranch. And there are horses, and cattle, and machinery."

"I'll go watch him," Tilly offered and raced after her brother, who had reached the porch steps and stood looking up at the cabin.

"I think they like it," Henry said as he came around to the driver's door and stood waiting for her to get out.

Samantha took a moment to compose herself, hoping her legs would support her.

Because of the long drive, of course! Not because of the man standing beside her car, his hand resting on the roof of the car as she opened the driver's door.

Samantha stepped out of the car and teetered slightly as her foot caught on the uneven ground. Henry's strong hand steadied her elbow, sending a jolt of electricity through her arm.

"Careful there," he said, his voice low and rich, reminding her of wild mountain honey.

"It's beautiful," she said, her voice wavering.

"Thank you," Henry replied, his hand lingering on her elbow for a moment longer than necessary. "It's not much, but it's home."

Heat crept across her cheeks as she met his gaze. There was something in his eyes, a warmth and intensity that made her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away, focusing on the cabin instead.

"It's perfect," she whispered. "I can't thank you enough for offering it to us."

Henry's hand dropped from her elbow, and Samantha immediately missed the warmth of his touch. "It's my pleasure," he said, his voice gruff. "I'm just glad I could help."

They stood in companionable silence for a moment. The only sounds were the excited chatter of the children and the gentle rustling of the aspen leaves.

"Let me show you around," Henry offered, gesturing toward the cabin.

Samantha nodded, following Henry up the well-worn path to the cabin's porch. The wooden steps creaked softly under their feet, a homey sound that made Samantha feel instantly at ease. As they approached the front door, she noticed intricate carvings etched into the wood—leaves, pinecones, and what looked like bear paws.

"Did you do these?" she asked, running her fingers over the smooth indentations.

Henry's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "My brother Levi, actually. He's got quite the talent for wood carving."

Samantha marveled at the detail, tracing the outline of a bear's paw with her fingertip. "They're beautiful. Your brother is very talented."

Henry nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "He is. I'm sure you'll get to meet him while you're here." He reached for the door handle, a large wrought iron piece that looked as if it had weathered plenty of storms. "Let's head inside."

As Henry pushed open the heavy wooden door, the rich scent of cedar wafted out, beckoning her inside. When she stepped over the threshold, a soft gasp escaped her lips. The interior was even more charming than she had imagined. Warm, honey-colored wood paneling covered the walls, and a stone fireplace dominated one end of the spacious living area. Comfortable-looking furniture was arranged invitingly around a plush rug, and large windows offered stunning views of the surrounding forest and mountains.

"Oh, Henry," Samantha breathed, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. "This is absolutely lovely."

Henry rubbed the back of his neck, looking pleased but a bit embarrassed by her praise. "It's not much, but it's comfortable. Come on, I'll show you the rest."

He led her through the cabin, pointing out the well-equipped kitchen with its gleaming copper pots hanging from a rack, a wonderful table made from a cross-section of a massive tree trunk, and a range stove that would be perfect to sit around on a cold winter's night.

Unless she was snuggled up next to Henry, that is.

Why did these thoughts creep into her head unbidden?

"Want to see the bedrooms?" Henry asked, not helping squash those unbidden thoughts.

"Sure," she said.

"I'll unload the car and the truck while you give Samantha a tour of upstairs," Ezra called out.

"Okay, I'll give you a hand in a second," Henry replied as he grabbed the handrail and went upstairs.

Samantha paused for a moment and then followed. This was all kinds of surreal.

"The kids can choose between these two rooms," Henry said, gesturing to two almost identical rooms at the back of the cabin. Both were obviously guest rooms, with handmade closets and beds covered in colorful quilts. "And you can have…my room."

He led her down the hallway and opened a door to a room at the front of the house, with views toward the mountains. As Henry went inside, she hesitated and then berated herself for being stupid, and stepped inside, skirting around the large bed as she made her way to the window.

"I… Are you sure?" she asked. "This is your personal space. The couch will be fine for me."

Henry shook his head firmly. "Nonsense. You need a proper rest after everything you've been through. I insist."

Their eyes met, and Samantha felt that spark again, like a current of electricity passing between them. She opened her mouth to argue further, but Henry's gentle smile silenced her.

"All right," she conceded. "Thank you."

"I want you to think of this as your home," Henry said.

"I'll try," Samantha replied as she edged toward the door. Was it her or had the temperature crept up about ten degrees? "We should go and help Ezra."

"I think your kids already are," Henry said, cracking a grin at the sound of Lewis directing Ezra as he emptied the truck.

As they made their way back downstairs to the living room, her eyes were drawn to a large oil painting above the fireplace. It depicted a majestic grizzly bear standing in a field of wildflowers, the mountains rising behind it. Something about the bear's eyes seemed familiar.

Almost...human.

"That's beautiful," she murmured, stepping closer to examine it.

Henry cleared his throat. "Ah, yes. That was painted by my cousin, Matt."

"You have a talented family," Samantha said.

Henry cracked a grin. "Any artistic talent passed me by."

Samantha studied the painting more closely, intrigued by the lifelike quality of the bear's eyes. There was an intelligence there, a depth that seemed almost impossible to capture on canvas. She found herself mesmerized, unable to look away.

"It's remarkable," she said softly.

Henry stepped closer, and once again she was acutely aware of him. "Matt has a way of...capturing the essence of his subjects."

There was something in his tone that made Samantha glance at him curiously. Henry's eyes were fixed on the painting, a strange mixture of pride and something else—something almost wistful—in his expression.

"Where can I put my books?" Tilly asked as she staggered inside, clutching the box containing her precious books.

"I could clear out my bookshelf," Henry offered and took a step toward the small bookshelf at the far corner of the living room.

"No," Samantha said, perhaps a little too sharply. "You have done enough allowing us to stay here. We can't expect you to turn your home upside down for us."

Yet, when her eyes met Henry's gaze, she was certain that he would do exactly that if she asked. And more.

Henry's expression softened as he looked at Samantha. "It's no trouble, really. I want you all to feel at home here."

A lump formed in her throat at his kindness. "Thank you, but we'll manage. Tilly, why don't you put your books in here for now? We can figure out a more permanent solution later."

Tilly nodded and headed toward the other side of the room, her arms still wrapped protectively around her box of books. Then she carefully set the box down next to the bookcase, her eyes scanning the shelves. "You have The Secret Garden ?" she asked, reaching out to trail her fingers over the spine of the book.

Henry chuckled and looked kind of awkward. "I do. It's my favorite book."

"It is?" Samantha found herself asking, curious about this rugged man who seemed full of surprises.

Henry shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "In some ways, I don't think I have ever grown up. I'm still a child at heart."

"I like a man who is willing to admit that," Samantha told him.

"Well, I've found that being honest about who you are is the best policy. No use pretending to be something you're not."

As she returned his smile, his faded a little, and she was left wondering if he was being as honest as he said. "Is there anything we should know about the cabin? Any quirks or things to be careful of?"

Henry rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, the hot water can be a bit temperamental. You might need to jiggle the handle in the shower a bit. And the back door sticks sometimes, so give it a good push if it doesn't want to open."

Samantha nodded, committing the information to memory. "Got it. Anything else?"

"Not that I can think of. But if you have any problems, call me, day or night," Henry said, his eyes lingering on her face.

"I will." Samantha nodded, and then added, "Maybe we should go and help Ezra."

"Oh, we should," Henry replied, as if he'd forgotten that anything else in the world existed besides them.