Chapter 5: Chapter 5

NASH

The instant Nash walked into the house, Moe jumped at him.

“It’s all right, boy,” he said, patting him.

“Nash! We heard gunshots. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

He looked over at Angel. She was breathing heavily, her eyes were wide, and she was covering her mouth with the sleeves of her pullover.

“It was a coyote. He’s gone now.”

“Did you kill it?”

“No, I missed it, but I scared it away. Most likely heading back up into the mountains. They don’t usually come down this far. I’m guessing it’s looking for food after all the snowfall.”

She placed her hand over her throat, swallowing hard. “Will it be back?”

“I don’t think so but I should call some of the neighbors to let them know so they can be on the lookout.”

Putting the gun down, he stepped toward her and pulled her into his arms, holding her. “You don’t have to be afraid. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He felt her body trembling. It was nice when she put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“How about we open up those cinnamon rolls your parents gave us? I could do with a boost of sugar after that scare.”

Nash chuckled. “Sounds like a plan. I have to go and feed the horses first though.”

Angel put her hand on his chest and pushed herself back to look at him.

“But it’s late and getting dark out. What if the coyote comes back?”

It surprised him how worried she was for his safety.

“I doubt it will, but if it will ease your mind, I’ll take my rifle with me. But I need to see to the horses. You wouldn’t want them to starve, would you?”

She shook her head. “Of course not, I’m sorry. You know your ranch and these parts better than I ever could.”

Nash went to leave, but Angel reached out and grabbed his hand, sending a wave of warmth through his arm.

“Don’t be long. I’ll make some hot cocoa and warm up those buns your mom gave us.”

“Sounds good to me.” He smiled at her and leaned in slightly, moving to kiss her, but stopped himself just in time.

ANGEL

She sensed Nash rather than heard him and turned her head. “There was just enough bread and eggs, but we’re out now.”

“I was going to take you for breakfast on our way into town.”

“I know, but I was up early, so I figured I’d use up what was left. Sit.” Angel placed the plates on the table and poured them each a cup of coffee. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

“What way?”

“All smiles and dreamy-eyed.” She felt her face and body becoming warm.

“I was just thinking how at ease you look in my kitchen. Like it’s your home.”

“It is.” She covers her mouth with her hand. “I mean, I do feel comfortable here. You make me feel so welcome. I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”

“No one is unwelcome in my home, least of all you.”

The way he cocked his head as he looked at her made her heart skip. “I made out a shopping list,” she said, trying to change the subject. “Ready to go to town when you are.”

***

In the town’s only grocery store, Nash pushed the cart while she walked beside him, picking up the items on her list and putting them into the cart.

“Oh!” she squealed before running on ahead.

“W-what is it?” Nash glanced left and right frantically.

Reaching the next aisle, Angel grabbed a packet of chunky peanut butter cookies and turned to smile at Nash. “These are my favorites!” Her eyes lit up. “I remember. I actually remember.”

“There, you see? Things are slowly coming back to you. Look around and see if there’s anything else you remember.”

As they rounded the corner, another cart bumped into theirs.

“Oh, so sorry.” A round-faced woman, who seemed to be about the same age as Nash’s mom, peered up and a grin appeared on her face. “Hi, Nash.”

“Sherry, hello.”

The woman looked at Angel. “Now, you must be the girl everyone is talking about. Hi, sweetheart, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Once again, Angel’s reputation preceded her, and she curled her hands around her middle. “How did you…?”

“Mildred and Wade are good friends with my husband and me. They told me all about you. Told me all about your accident, you poor dear.

“You know, you look about the same height and size as my Holly. Drop by my place when you’re done shopping. I have some clothes that will fit you.”

“Oh, wow, that’s so sweet of you.”

But before Angel could say anything else, the woman was trundling down the aisle toward the checkout.

***

After finishing the shop and paying, Nash drove them to Sherry’s home a couple of streets away. The door opened as they reached the front porch.

Boots and coats off, they followed Sherry through into the living room, where a fire was lit in the fireplace. It was a small house but very cozy.

Sherry excused herself to go and make them some tea, returning minutes later. “Do you not remember anything, dear?”

“I’m starting to,” Angel said, accepting the cup. “Just little things though. Not my name or where I come from.”

“Well, you couldn’t have had a nicer young man come across you. Stick with Nash, here, and I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Nash winced and pulled at his collar. Angel thought it cute how uncomfortable he looked.

“Those bags over there”—Sherry pointed into the corner—“are the clothes I mentioned. You’re welcome to them.”

“This really is so kind of you and your daughter, Sherry.”

Angel moved over to the first bag and opened it. “Oh, I’m sorry but I can’t accept these, they’re new. They still have the tags on them. Surely your daughter will want them.

Both Sherry and Nash peered at each other. Nash’s shoulders were sloping, and Sherry’s chin started to wobble.

“My daughter, Holly, was killed in a car accident a year ago.”

Angel’s hand flew to her mouth, and she choked back a sob. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“I’m sorry, Angel,” Nash said, rubbing his face with his hands, “I should have told you on the way over. It completely slipped my mind.”

“There’s no need for you to be sorry,” Sherry said, her voice firm again, “either of you.

“Holly loved going into the city to buy clothes. It happened on her way home from one such shopping trip so she never got the chance to wear these.

“I don’t even know why I kept them. My husband said I should get rid of them, but something told me to hang on to them. Now I know what that was—I was meant to keep them for you.”

“Are you sure you want to give them away?”

Sherry wiped the tear from her eye. “Holly would have wanted them to go to someone who needed them.”

Angel went over and hugged her. “Thank you so much, and I’m so sorry about your daughter.”

Letting the woman go, she glanced at the mantel and saw a picture of a young brunette woman. “Is that Holly?”

Sherry picked up the silver frame and looked at it with love. “Yes, this is my little girl. I know you two would have gotten on well. She was the sweetest person with a big heart.”

A big burly man came into the room, rubbing his hands together. “Hello, Nash, so great to see you, son. This has to be the girl from the lake, yes? The one I’ve been hearing about.”

“Angel,” Sherry said, wiping the tear from her cheek before placing her hand on the back of the man’s arm, “this is my husband, Gordon.”

“Delighted to meet you, young lady. I see Sherry has already given you the clothes. Holly would be pleased to know they’ve gone to someone in need.”

Nash stood up. “It’s good to see you, Gordon. You, too, Sherry, and thanks again for the clothes. We need to get the food back before it freezes in the truck.”

Angel gave Sherry another big hug.

Gordon escorted them to the front door. “Of course. Anyway, we’ll be seeing you both on Friday at the church hall for the baking and the chili-making, right?”

“We’ll be there,” Nash answered before waving goodbye.

As soon as Angel was in the truck, the tears began to fall. “I feel so bad for them. To lose their daughter like that, so suddenly, so young. How were they able to get over something like that?”

Nash frowned. “They’ll never get over it, but with the love and support of the town, and their belief in God, I think they’re through the worst of it.

“Holly was their only child; she was an amazing person.”

“You knew her well?”

“All of my life. We went to school together.”

***

Back at the ranch, while Nash was outside doing some repairs, Angel put her clothes away and prepared dinner—meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn.

Every now and then, she lost herself to the snow falling and the mountains beyond and thought about how beautiful the place was.

The heat from the fireplace made the whole place warm and cozy, just as the fire in Sherry’s house had made her feel welcome and familiar.

While mashing the potatoes, she heard Nash and Moe come inside, and she felt the tension of the day release through her shoulders, feet, and fingertips.

“Dinner smells really good,” Nash said, kicking off his boots. “I’m just going to take a quick shower and change before we eat.”

He came back fifteen minutes later, his hair still wet and his shirt open. Angel’s eyes went to his chest, and a tingle moved through her, right down deep into her core, when she saw his hard muscles.

She bit her lower lip, watching as he did up the buttons over his six-pack, then she dished out the food to take her mind off his body.

After dinner, he put more wood on the fireplace, and they sat down in the living room. She had a glass of wine, he had a beer, and Moe had the rug by the fire.

Angel looked around the space. “You know what you need?”

“What?”

“A Christmas tree.” She got up and walked toward the corner. “One would look great right here.”

“I actually cut one down a few days ago but I haven’t had a chance to bring it inside yet. I could put it up now if you want me to.”

“It is still early, so why not? Do you have some decorations?”

He finishes his beer and stands up. “Yes, in the laundry room, there’s a closet. I’ll get the tree if you’d like to bring them in here.”

Angel walked through the kitchen and into the laundry room.

While she was pulling out the box and tree stand, she happened to notice a picture frame inside one of the boxes. Picking it up, she saw the photo inside was of Nash and a pretty woman with dark hair.

Hearing him coming back into the house, heaving the tree behind him, she put the picture back inside the box and carried everything into the other room.

“Wow,” she said, walking back into the lounge, “I can’t believe how big it is.”

After helping him to put the tree in the stand, they both got to work putting the lights on and decorating it.

“It looks beautiful,” Angel said with a tear in her eye. “Thanks for doing this with me.”

“There’s just one thing missing.”

She turned around to see Nash holding out a golden star.

“Will you do the honors?”

Angel giggled while putting a chair next to the tree. She climbed up to put the star at the top of the tree when the chair wobbled.

“Nash! Help!”

Before she could hit the floor, Nash caught her in his arms.

“T-thank you,” she said, her arm around his neck as she stared into his deep blue eyes. “That’s twice you’ve caught me now.”

He winked at her. “Three times if you count the lake.”

“You can put me down now.”

Smiling, he put her down. “Ready for me to turn the lights on?”

She nodded, standing back when he went to plug them in.

“Oh, my… We did a great job decorating the tree.”

“Very pretty indeed,” he said, hands on his hips.

“Speaking of pretty…” Angel lifted the photo out of the box. “Who is she?”

Nash took the picture from her to look at it. “That is Charlotte, my ex-girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend? You both look so happy together.”

“We were, or I thought we were.”

“What happened? Oh, I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”

“No, it’s okay. We dated for over a year, but one day, she told me she was in love with someone else. Turned out she and my friend Mike had fallen in love.”

“Oh, that’s terrible, you must have been so hurt.”

“I was furious at first. I wanted to kill him. But when I saw how in love they were, I stopped being mad. They’re good people. They were afraid to tell me because they didn’t want to hurt me.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “For what it’s worth, I think she was a fool. Any woman would be lucky to have a man like you.”

“I’m happy for them, really. It was meant to be. They’re married and have a son.”

“Do you ever see them?”

“They live a few miles from here, so, yeah, I see them all the time.”

“Are you and Mike still friends?”

“Yes, though we aren’t as close as we once were, he’s still a good person.” He looked at the picture. “I don’t know why I kept this. I should throw it away.”

“Don’t do that. She was a part of your life for a while, and I’m sure you had some good times with her.”

“We did. But thinking back, I realize there was no spark between us.” He placed his hand over hers.

“My heart never beat fast when she was around, there were no butterflies in my stomach, no passion in our kisses. So, I’m glad she found someone that felt those things for her.”

Her head started to spin, her throat felt dry, and she had to look away. “And you don’t hold it against Mike?”

When she glanced back at Nash, he gazed into her eyes before glancing at her mouth. “I guess one can’t help who they fall in love with.”