“You know, I like being friends with you.” Johnny didn’t want to let Sara Beth’s fingers go. He really had missed her, couldn’t stop thinking about her. And the fact that Lisa was probably poisoning Sara Beth with lies about him addled his brain.

 

The teasing humor melted from her face. “But you know we can’t be anything more than that, right? We are just friends.” Her head bobbed with the last four syllables like a staccato for impact.

 

Four words that stung more and more with each head bounce.

 

“Well, we could be more. Don’t discount it so quickly.” Johnny would love to be able to sit with Sara Beth because he wanted to, stare at her, take in her laughter, maybe even lean in to briefly kiss her cheek – just because.

 

A faint smile added a bittersweet edge to her words. “Don’t do that. I’m not like the other girls you date or dated or whatever. I’m not Lisa. I don’t think you’re going to sexually harass me or anything. There’s nothing about me that’s sexy.” She huffed with incredulous laughter, gasping as if the very thought might give her a heart attack.

 

“I never said anything about the girls I’ve dated or even Lisa. Maybe I’m ready for a change from women who are interested only in makeup and how they walk and how many calories are in their lettuce.” He leaned down and fingered a small gleaming curl. “And, Sara Beth? There’s everything sexy about you.”

 

“No, I’m not.” She pushed softly at his shoulder, slowly closing her eyes and opening them in a disbelieving blink. “How old are you anyway?”

 

He straightened. How old did he look? Was she thinking he was some kind of pervert or something? “I’m twenty-four. Why? Do I look older?” He glanced around like he expected some full-length mirrors to be setup so he could double check.

 

Her genuine laugh warmed his chest with its sincere joy. “No, silly. You just talk like you’ve been around so long and you’re not much older than I am.”

 

“How old are you? Twelve?” He winked, sparking her mirth again. He wanted to kiss her, desperately. But even if she weren’t trying to choke him with her friend-talk, it wasn’t the time or the place to take advantage of their newly mended fences.

 

“Hardly. I’m nineteen.” Sadness shadowed her eyes. “Kind of young for all this, you know?” She opened her hands and encompassed her legs and chair.

 

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You sure like to jump into those pity parties, don’t you? Is there a special place to buy the invitations?”

 

Her teeth parted in surprise. She bit the tip of her pink tongue. “Oh, you’re bad. Okay, I see how this is going to go. Fair enough. You tell me when I’m getting to be pathetic and I’ll tell you when you’re being harassing.” She brought her shoulder to her cheek and fluttered her lashes.

 

Johnny considered her for a moment. She had offered him more time with her with that statement, even if it wasn’t a direct promise. He nodded slowly. “Alright, that sounds fair.” He reached out and tugged gently on her sleeve. “Hey, why haven’t we talked about our age before now?”

 

Licking her lips, Sara Beth didn’t release his gaze. “I don’t know. Maybe it hadn’t mattered before now?”

 

The front door on the house slammed shut – startling Johnny and Sara Beth from their gaze-lock. Rosie called down to Sara Beth. “Hey, you okay down there?”

 

“Yeah, just going for a… roll?” Sara Beth wrinkled her lips up, watching Johnny for a cue.

 

“Well, come on in. We need to fill out this paperwork and Michael said he needs to talk to you.” She disappeared into the house, leaving Johnny to stare at Sara Beth.

 

She offered a slight frown. “I need to go apparently. Want to come see me tomorrow after lunch? You can have some lemonade and we can stay in the shade. It’s my favorite time of the day.” Hope lit up her eyes with a sparkling intensity.

 

He couldn’t say no, even if he wanted. Which he didn’t, even a bit. “Sounds great. Thanks.”

 

She maneuvered the chair back around.

 

Without thinking, Johnny leapt forward and grabbed the handles on the back of the seat. He pushed her up the ramp to the front door.

 

“Thank you.” She glanced at him through dark brown lashes.

 

Johnny could only nod as she followed her sister inside.

 

She wanted to see the horses and he wanted to help her – more than Lisa could.

 

An idea tickled at the back of his mind. He had to speak to Michael first and make some calls, but if his plan worked, she’d stop talking about this “friend” crap and start looking at him the way she should be looking at him – like her knight on a horse, who continued saving the day.

 

~~~

 

Nerves clanging in his chest, Johnny strolled – careful to keep his pace normal – around the deck the next afternoon. He’d set everything up and still he was nervous as hell that she wouldn’t like his surprise. It’d taken extreme cajoling to get people into place on such short notice. She had to like it… she just had to.

 

Rounding the corner of the house, he stopped, startled at Sara Beth’s appearance.

 

Where normally a hastily pulled-back ponytail and clean face were, she’d allowed her golden curls to fall around her face, clipped carefully to the side. She glanced over his way and a soft pinking of her lips enhanced the clear blue of her eyes which were framed by dark lashes. She’d discarded her normal t-shirt and yoga pants for jeans and a flannel with purple coloring.

 

It was the first time he’d seen her in something other than mud, hospital gown, or comfort. He liked the change. A lot.

 

“Sara Beth, you look amazing.” He approached her carefully, like maybe she was going to tell him she had to cancel because she had plans with someone else… gulp… some other guy. He almost couldn’t breathe with the possibility looming over him.

 

She reached for her hair, pushing it around as she tried to cover a smile. “Thanks. I’m getting sick of looking like an invalid, you know?” She reached forward to hand him a glass of yellow liquid clanking with ice cubes. “So, what should we do this afternoon? Rosie said we have chess or other board games inside. She’d be happy to bring us one, if you’d like?” She placed her hand on his forearm, stopping him from taking a drink, concern marring her features. “You know how to play chess, right?”

 

“Of course. Chess has the ships, right?” He sipped his juice, careful not to give away the abundance of excitement zinging through him. He laughed at her dismayed expression. “I’m kidding. Actually, I was wondering if you’d be interested in going with me for a drive. We can take the truck and we won’t be gone too long.”

 

Her amusement faded and she glanced over her shoulder, then down into her lap. Shaking her head, she inspected her soft pink nails. “No, I better not. I don’t think Rosie would like it.” She glanced up and then quickly back down.

 

“Well, you know what? I already asked Rosie and Michael and we have their full support. In fact, Michael is getting a seat ready for you in the truck as we speak.” He rested his glass on the railing and then stood to the side while he waited for Sara Beth to copy him.

 

When she did, elation welled within his chest and goose bumps raised on his arms. She really did trust him. She hadn’t even asked where they were going.

 

She preceded him along the perimeter of the deck to the ramp where Johnny seized the handles. The last thing he wanted was to see her roll forward and then fall. He helped her down the gradual incline, adjusting his Stetson before pulling her up alongside the ranch truck.

 

Michael double-checked a seatbelt and then motioned for Johnny to get on the other side of Sara Beth. Each with an arm behind her back and an arm locked under her legs, they carefully lifted her up into the passenger seat. Johnny turned her carefully on the cushion until she faced forward. While Michael assisted her in buckling her seatbelt, Johnny folded up the wheelchair and lifted it to the bed of the truck.

 

Closing her door, Michael approached Johnny and spoke in low tones. “If for any reason, she doesn’t want to do it, don’t push her. You understand?”

 

“I won’t. I’m doing this only because I want her to be happy. That’s all. She’s not going to get hurt.” Johnny reassured himself more than Michael with his pep talk. Yet, Michael nodded his head and slapped Johnny’s shoulder before heading toward the house.

 

Climbing into the driver’s seat, Johnny patted the steering wheel and turned the key. “Ready, Sara Beth?”

 

“I think so.” She watched out the windshield with excitement lighting her normally somber face. “Where are we going?”

 

“Without sounding creepy – you’ll see.” He reached across the seat, resting his hand between them. He wanted to touch her. And even though she was adamant that they were just friends, maybe she’d take him up on the offer to hold hands. He just needed that connection. His nerves clanged louder.

 

She met him half-way and her fingers mingled with his.

 

Man, he was definitely on the rebound. Hopefully, she wasn’t keeping score. Because at that point, he’d put himself out there more than he was ready to.

 

More than he had cautioned himself to.