Eli headed straightout the front door toward the rental car. Sarah was slow to keep up, but Eli wanted to get done and get home. If she didn’t work it right, she wasn’t even going to get the precious three hours of sleep from four to seven in the morning before she had to get up and do her morning chores. In the mud. Which was her absolute favorite way to do morning chores, or any chores for that matter. Sarcasm intended.
She waited at the trunk of the car, but Sarah didn’t move. Raising an eyebrow, Eli shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket and took a good look at Sarah, at least what she could see of her in the light at her back. She must be a nervous wreck. Her hair was stringy from the rain that continued to fall, she shivered in the dimness of the night, and she refused to look Eli in the eye.
Drawing in a deep breath, Eli reprimanded herself. She needed to have a bit more compassion for this woman who was stranded in the middle of nowhere, where she knew no one, and in the country, where she clearly was not used to being. Her high-priced bomber jacket and boots told that to anyone within a mile.
Eli said nothing as she moved to the driver’s door and opened it. She popped the trunk and then walked to the back. She gripped Sarah’s small roller suitcase in one hand and her guitar in the other. As soon as she turned to step toward the truck, Sarah was right there, taking the guitar from her and holding it against her chest.
“O…kay…” Eli swallowed and pushed down the feeling that bubbled up in her throat because she wasn’t sure she wanted to analyze it. She closed the trunk and then moved to her vehicle. Opening the back door, she shoved the suitcase in before holding her hand out for the guitar case. Sarah, clearly reluctant, handed it over.
Eli put it on the seat so it wouldn’t move more than necessary and wouldn’t get crushed by the suitcase. Then she opened the passenger door, holding her hand out for Sarah to climb in. Sarah let out a short breath before she gripped the door and seat, then stepped onto the runner board.
Eli wasn’t happy about bringing her nice new truck out into the fields, but she would never deny a request from Mrs. Hargrave. She had to check on Dwaine, who they all knew shouldn’t be out there anyway. She just hoped nothing was awry and he had no calves being born that couldn’t handle themselves, because she really didn’t want any more drama that night.
With the door shut, Eli straightened her shoulders. She had to get a better grip on herself because she knew she was making an awful first impression on her guest, someone who could easily make or break her little bed-and-breakfast. One comment from Sadie Bade and her business could boom or bust.
Swinging behind the wheel, Eli shoved the truck into reverse and started to back out when Sarah spoke. “Stop.”
“What?”
“Shouldn’t we…I mean, should we make sure Mrs. Hargrave locks the car?”
Eli chuckled. “Ain’t nobody around to get into your car. What’d you leave in it that you want?”
“Uh…nothing.” Sarah seemed to close in on herself.
Narrowing her gaze, Eli took a risk and reached over, brushing her fingers against Sarah’s forearm. It was a long day for both of them, she had to keep reminding herself. “We shouldn’t be too long. Their pastures are pretty close to the house, luckily.”
“What?”
“To check on Dwaine.”
“Oh. Right.”
“I’m sorry to drag you out like this, but I can’t say no to her.”
“You two seem to have history.”
Laughing, Eli pulled out of the driveway and onto the dirt road. She was going to have to go back to the highway, turn on it, and then take the next exit south of the house, which was even farther from her own home.
“She was my math teacher in high school.”
“Oh.”
“She’s the only math teacher for high school, so I had her for all four years.”
Sarah didn’t answer. Eli pressed her boot down onto the gas as she came up to the creek. She splashed through it, and Sarah drew in a deep breath, pressing her hand to the center seat between them. Eli grabbed her fingers and squeezed hard before she pulled up on the other side of the creek.
“Relax, Sarah. I know these roads like the back of my hand.”
She nodded. “Is it always like this?”
“The storms?”
“Yeah.”
“When we have them. This one is a bit early. Normally they start in March and go through to June. Typically, if we have a storm this time of year it’s snow, because we always get snow during calving season.”
“Ginger said that, too.”