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  How could Missy do this to her horses? Does she not know what’s happening? Surely she does…this is her red house, right?

  “What are you doing?” I hear a voice shout the same moment a large hand grabs my wrist. I cry out in fear, shrinking away from the tall, overpowering man beside me.

  The man quickly releases my hand and secures the latch on the cage, keeping the animal prisoner. I take a step back, shaking with fright as the man runs a hand through his dark brown hair, spreading a streak of mud through it.

  He looks over at me, his honey brown eyes finding my quaking form. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Ma’am? “I just thought you were trying to let the horse out.”

  “I was,” I say to myself.

  “Please, I mean you no harm. My name is Maddox…and who may you be?” He gives me a small smile that reaches his eyes. As I stare at him, I can’t help but question my ma’s logic.

  This man does not resemble a monster. Yes, he did scare me, but he did apologize. That must mean something, no?

  My eyes travel away from his angular face, down to his broad chest. His shirt is unbuttoned, revealing his tan skin. There are harsh lines running horizontally and vertically, defining his muscles. I don’t stop myself from memorizing every inch of him…

  I have never seen a man this close before…this bare to me. I understand that his size indicates just how strong he is, however he doesn’t seem to make any move to use his strength against me.

  I keep my distance, even stepping back when I see him approach. He quickly halts his advance. “Ma’am? Am I to be given a name?” he asks, his voice soft, so much different from the gravelly voice in my dreams. The voice that keeps me up at night and enlists fear inside me.

  I lift my eyes to see Maddox’s staring intensely at me. “Adelaide,” I whisper.

  Maddox smiles wide, revealing his white teeth. His smile stretches across his whole face, giving me a glimpse of kindness.

  Is it possible that what my ma said might just be false? Maddox couldn’t possibly be cruel and harmful. Not when he notices my fear and keeps a distance between us.

  Why would my ma say something if it wasn’t true? Why would she lie to me?

  I take a step away from Maddox and decide that I must keep my ma’s warnings in mind. Even though he seems kind, I must not get too close.

  My ma was trying to protect me from something…and I intend to find out what it is.

  Dinner With the Cranes

  *Maddox*

  April 16, 2017

  Her light blue eyes look up at me with trepidation, taking a step back. I want to reach out, wrap her in my arms, and whisper in her ear, “It’s all right. I’ll never allow harm to come to you.”

  Of course, I don’t do this.

  She has already been through enough and every sound seems to spook her. She reminds me of a deer caught in headlights, not sure of where to go, or if the car is going to plow right over her.

  Adelaide. A beautiful name, I think.

  Missy Crane has given me minimal information on our new guest, other than Adelaide is her niece and had a secluded childhood.

  What does secluded even mean? Was she homeschooled? Perhaps she wasn’t allowed to date or be around friends. That could explain the fear in her eyes when I pulled her away from the stall. And then, when she was openly staring at every one of my features…

  You would think she’d never seen a man’s chest before.

  Missy has been nervous the last few days, scared about Adelaide settling in here…or the lack of settling. She would rant to me about Adelaide not having friends or understanding the ranch life. I think Missy is scared that all of this will overwhelm Adelaide.

  Therefore, I offered to help Adelaide get comfortable. I was ready to give up hours of my day to show this stranger around town and give her the lay of the land.

  I owe Missy that and more.

  And then, when I saw Adelaide fumbling with the lock on the stall door, I realized this wasn’t going to be a service to Missy…but perhaps a service to myself.

  I looked into Adelaide’s eyes and I knew I was a goner. An uncontrollable urge to protect this innocent girl overcame me. I had an instant desire to know her. And when she softly said her name, I immediately thought of thousands of random topics…just to keep her talking. Her voice is the sound of angels.

  Adelaide takes another step back, bringing me out of my thoughts. I arch an eyebrow. “Do you want me to give you a tour? I can show you around the land if you want…I can even saddle up a few horses, if you don’t want to walk as much.” Oh Lord, shut me up. I sound like a blubbering school boy.

  Adelaide’s eyes widen even further…I didn’t think it was possible. Her mouth opens and closes, like a fish out of water.

  Her fingers fidget with a loose strand on her brown skirt, trying to ease her nerves. “I think I’ll go back to the house,” she whispers.

  I do not attempt to keep the frown off my face…that was not the answer I was expecting. But how could I have expected different after the way I phrased my question?

  Adelaide’s expression turns to confusion before she turns on the balls of her feet and briskly walks out of the barn, her eyes on the ground. I run a hand over my face, letting out an exasperated sigh.

  “I see you met the freak.” I hear hoofbeats and look over to see Jeremy leading in his black gelding. I raise my eyebrows in silent question. Jeremy points to the direction of Adelaide’s exit, offering me no more words.

  He ties Raven, his horse, to the wall and begins taking the saddle off. “You’ve heard about her…Ma’s told you what Adelaide’s life was like, right?” Jeremy asks.

  I grab a brush from the tack room and begin grooming the horse, brushing away sweat marks. I avoid Jeremy’s eyes as I give a simple “no.”

  The name he called Adelaide twists something in my stomach. It doesn’t settle right with me and I am sort of surprised Jeremy would even say it.

  Jeremy is the spitting image of his father, tall with black hair and dark eyes. He’s twenty years old and sports a proper beard. Even though he looks like his father, he has his mother’s personality. He is usually welcoming and has an approachable quality. I don’t understand why he would bash a girl he doesn’t know.

  “Well, I don’t really think it’s my place to tell you…but it’s messed up,” Jeremy says, taking Raven into his designated stall. I watch as he gives the horse a carrot and a loving pat before he locks the stall. “I’ll see you at dinner,” Jeremy says.

  “Yeah.” He walks past me, and just as he was about to exit the barn, I call for his attention. “Never call her a freak in my presence again. Are we clear?” I ask, my tone harsh. Jeremy looks surprised, but nods his head, leaving my sight.

  I grumble incoherently and walk over to my pregnant mare. Serendipity was a gift from Missy, after my first year of working with them. I have treasured my horse and decided to breed her with a jumper, hoping to one day sell the foal.

  I glance at my horse, meeting her gentle eyes. She gives me a sense of comfort, calming my racing heart.

  Why am I even upset? I just met this girl thirty minutes ago and already I am defending her.

  Shaking my head, I grab a broom and continue with the rest of my chores before I am able to go enjoy dinner.

  I sit at the kitchen table, Kristy at my right. Jeremy sits directly across from me while Adelaide is across from Kristy. Adam and Missy sit at the ends.

  Even though I’m starving, I hardly touch my food. Instead, I watch as Adelaide stares at the dish in front of her with uncertainty. Apprehension flickers across her eyes before she looks up and sees me staring at her. I arch an eyebrow in question.

  “Something wrong, darling?” Missy asks, reaching over to touch Adelaide’s hand, but the timid girl removes it from the table.

  Adelaide shakes her head and I sit up straight, wanting to assess the situation and fix it.

  “Why won’t you eat then?” Missy
continues.

  Adelaide gazes down at her food, a frown marring her features before she looks up and meets my eyes again, for just a moment. She then looks back to her aunt. “What is it?” she softly asks, her voice barely heard even though the whole room is silent.

  “It’s lasagna. Have you never had it before?” Adelaide shakes her head and I glance to see Missy’s eyes begin to water. She looks across the table to her husband and the two seem to have a silent conversation. “Have you ever had spaghetti?” Adelaide again shakes her head.

  My heart is racing within my chest. Why does it feel so wrong that these questions are being asked as if there is a heavy meaning behind them? And why has Adelaide never had the pleasantries of trying spaghetti and lasagna?!

  Missy lets out a sniffle and rises to her feet, walking out of the dining area.

  “Freak,” I just barely hear Jeremy mutter under his breath. I snap my head in his direction and give him a bruising kick under the table. He meets my gaze and shoots daggers my way.

  “Enough, boys,” Adam says, causing Jeremy to sink into his chair. I shake my head, running a hand through my hair before I look back at Adelaide.

  Just how isolated was this poor girl’s life?

  I can see her uneasiness, as if it were a flashing light. She must know that her answers weren’t normal…that spaghetti and lasagna are popular dishes she didn’t have the privilege to try.

  Missy walks back into the room with a plate in her hand. She sets it down in front of Adelaide and just barely runs a hand over her niece’s head. “This is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I know you’ve had these…they were my sister’s favorite. Try the lasagna, darling…if you don’t like it, you can have the sandwich.”

  Adelaide seems grateful for the suggestion, seemingly more comfortable with the familiarity of a PB and J.

  “I don’t like lasagna…can I have a PB and J?” Kristy says, finally speaking up.

  “No,” both Adam and Missy say at the same time.

  I chuckle, forking a piece of lasagna and placing it in my mouth. I don’t understand how Kristy doesn’t like her mother’s famous dish. I could live off her homemade lasagna.

  I feel the pressure of eyes on me and peek over at Adelaide. She is watching me eat, almost as if seeing what the proper way to eat lasagna is. So, I slightly turn my body to her, grab another forkful and take the bite. Her eyes follow my every movement and I slightly smile at her as I chew.

  Adelaide follows my silent instructions and when she has her first taste, everyone chuckles as her eyes brighten with astonishment. She looks down at her plate as if she just found the Holy Grail.

  “So, Adelaide, I was thinking you and I could go shopping tomorrow. I’ll take you around the mall…it’s about an hour away, but—”

  “Mall?” Adelaide asks, her head popping up to look at Kristy with confusion. I bite my bottom lip, listening intently to the conversation.

  “It’s a building filled with different stores. It’s where we buy clothing.” Kristy says, giving a basic definition. Adelaide still looks confused but nods her head.

  “Okay,” she replies softly.

  I look at Missy to see her eyes are already on me. I give her a look that pretty much conveys I am in disbelief.

  Missy left a lot out about Adelaide and I know it’s not exactly my business, but I also need to know what not to say or expect.

  How much of our world does she know? She doesn’t know what a mall is. Did she live somewhere where there were no malls? She also hasn’t had the most common of meals. And she looks as if a speck of dust landing on her shoulder could mentally break her. She is lost and frightened, that much is obvious.

  But I want to know why. Why doesn’t she know these things? Why is she scared of people? Of men more so than women, from what I’ve seen.

  As I watch the frighten girl eat her lasagna, I gain another urge to wrap her up and protect her from the unknown.

  Care for her, beloved.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath, feeling God’s words slowly caress and embrace me. They overwhelm me, sinking into my very pores and gripping tight at my heart. I am so consumed with His love and grace that I become light-headed.

  In that moment, God has made it clear the He sent Adelaide to me…to take care of her and cherish her.

  I’m scared that I am not up for the task. This little dove is frightened of any sound or flicker of light. How am I to show her I mean her no harm? How am I to gain her trust?

  My past is full of demons…demons that will terrify this timid girl. How am I to care for her with tainted hands?

  I look back over at Adelaide to see her watching as the Cranes speak. She is interested in their conversation but remains silent.

  She is beautiful.

  My heart races within my chest yet again and I subtly place a hand over its beating pulse. The raw feelings I suddenly have cannot be explained. I have been given a great and difficult task, but I have no intention of failing.

  I want Adelaide to see the world as I do. I want her to run into the barn, saddle up a horse, and run through the fields with all her fears in the past. I want her to come to a point where she will never question her unknown. I want her to be confident. I want those blue eyes to shine with self-assurance.

  And I hope I will one day be able to help her reach these goals.

  Serendipity

  *Adelaide*

  April 21, 2017

  I have now been with the Crane’s, my family, for five days. And these five days have been the most exciting, yet the most terrifying, of my life. Everything is so different. I am so different. I can tell it bothers Jeremy.

  The way he looks at me differs from Missy, Maddox, Kristy, and even Adam. I feel safe in the presence of those four, however I am uneasy with Jeremy. However, even when he looks at me with anger and hatred, I don’t see justice to my ma’s words.

  Jeremy, Maddox, and Adam are all large. They tower over me and yet, glares and all, I do not perceive any of them as monsters.

  Monday morning, Kristy took me shopping. I have never seen so many clothes in all my life…or so many people clustered together. I would often get bumped while walking, and at first, I thought that someone was attempting to attack me. Kristy proceeded to tell me they meant no harm, that with the space being cramped, it is common for people to run into one another.

  We went to about five stores, and I tried on so many clothes. Kristy helped, recommending what is in fashion. While I got many pairs of what she called jeans and blouses, I couldn’t help but refer to my norm, my comfort. I also got a few floor-length skirts with matching shirts. Kristy didn’t seem opposed to the clothing, so I guess that’s a good thing.

  After shopping, we went home to have dinner. This time we had steak with mashed potatoes. Another meal I’m not familiar with. Adam helped cut my steak, and then Maddox suggested I pour this brown sauce over it called A1…it was delicious. I could have eaten three of those steaks alone. The mashed potatoes were a weird texture in my mouth, but once I saw through it, I enjoyed them as well.

  On Tuesday, Missy showed me around her land a bit. She boasted about her garden, and when she saw that I was intently gazing upon it, she offered to teach me how to garden. “A task for another day, darling,” she said and continued to the red building. Barn? What an odd name. What does barn even mean?

  Once inside, I saw the cages were opened and the horses were not locked away. Missy proceeded to teach me a bit about the barn, that the cages were called stalls, and that the horses are only placed in them at night, to keep them safe from predators. She then taught me about all the tack used on horses.

  We then walked along the pathway following the edge of the pasture. “Pastures are areas that horses graze in…um, graze means eating grass. The pastures are fenced, to keep the horses from running off,” Missy had explained.

  My mind was racing with all this new information, but I wasn’t about to tell Missy to slow down. I have been eage
r to learn this information all my life…there is no way I was going pass this up.

  We got to a large pasture filled with many large animals that vaguely resembled horses. I jog through my memory and think back to when my ma taught me about animals. Cows, I think, and smile softly when Missy confirms it. “We have around two hundred cows here. You can see Maddox and Adam working them right now! Afternoon, Maddox, Adam!”

  I squint to see through the sun and spot two men in the midst of the cows. They wave back at us.

  Wednesday, I got sunglasses. Kristy bought me a pair that she said would look good with the shape of my face. What does that mean?

  I also helped Missy in the garden, and as we were doing so, the sound of hoofbeats met my ears. I was beginning to get used to that sound, even though I had only been here three days at the time. We both looked up to see Maddox and Adam walking toward us. Adam smiled, tossed Maddox his reins, and ran forward to embrace his wife. Their affection made me uncomfortable, so I looked at Maddox.

  He leaned back in his saddle, one hand placed on the horn while the other grabbed his hat. He took it off in order to rub away a sheen of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, before putting the hat back on. I couldn’t help but watch every movement he made. He then smiled and leaned forward. “Adelaide.” The way he said my name, soft, as if it were breakable, had my mind racing. I walked up to his side, keeping a distance away from the horse. “You, me, and Kristy should watch a movie tonight…I know you don’t know what that is, so I intend to educate you.” With that, he sent me a wink and went to the barn with Adam and the horses.

  That night, we watched a movie called True Grit, starring a famous actor named John Wayne. I was enthralled by what I had seen. Pictures, moving right before me. I was so enraptured by the idea, I didn’t even listen to the words that came out of the TV. How was such a thing even possible?