That twister must have knocked her for a loop. Probably a good thing he was there or she’d have been all alone and out of it.

“So, what’s your name?” She still seemed shaken so maybe if he started her talking he could jog her memory and bring her back to the present.

“Uh, Kelsey, Kelsey Watson.”

“Nice name, where are you from Kelsey?” She was giving him a steadfast look like he had two heads.

“Back east, New York.”

“Boy, you’re a long way from home, what brings you to Colorado, Kelsey?”

“I ran away.” She was looking intently out the window.

“Aren’t you a little old to be running away?”

“What?” Maybe too many questions, she looked confused.

“Sorry, we can stop talking if you want. I just wanted to make sure you were thinking straight.”

“Oh, no it’s okay. I’m just worried. It looks bad outside. I don’t want to be out in this weather anymore.”

“I don’t blame you there. Tornadoes aren’t really my favorite. I’m driving as fast as I can and we’ll be at my place soon.”

“What did you say your name is?”

“I’m not sure I did actually, sorry about that. I’m Boone.” She gave him a shy smile.

“I like that, Boone. I’ve never met anyone by that name.”

“Thanks, my mom believed in unique, unfamiliar names. But then your name is rare in my part of the country too, never run across a Kelsey before either.”

“I’d like to say my parents named me after someone special but sadly, not the case. My dad wished I was a boy so mom scrambled to find the first girl name she could. I didn’t make a very good Robert I guess.”

“Ha, Robert, really?”

“Yeah, sad, isn’t it? Very political name for a child of an attorney who served in the state legislature and a step up to Lieutenant Governor before being the Governor of the state.”

“Whew, powerful. No wonder you ran away.” He laughed, shaking his head.

“I know, right? So that means I’m not crazy?”

“Let me guess, he picked your school, which was the one he went to, then pulled a few strings to get you a job?”

“Have you been spying on my life?”

“Nice. Okay, here we are.”

Boone pulled in the driveway, stopped out by the barn and jumped out of the truck. As if forgetting for a second he had a passenger, he turned around and held up a finger toward the truck and mouthed that he’d be one second.

“I think we’ll park in the barn just in case we get any harsher weather coming this way.”

“Do you think we will? Did you mean another tornado?”

“I don’t really know but I hope not. Either way, we’ll be safe, I have a basement that has a sealed storm shelter so don’t worry okay?”

He jumped out of the truck again but went around to her side and swung open the door.

“Okay, ready milady?”

* * *

Ready for what?

As Boone scooped her up in his arms she got her answer.

“Oh, okay.”

“I’ll get you in the house and come back for your things if that’s okay?”

“Uh sure, that’s fine.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m just not used to men carrying me places, or even picking me up for that matter.”

“Oh damn, sorry.” Boone placed Kelsey on the ground at the base of the steps. “I didn’t think, I should have asked first. I just thought you were still a little shaky.”

“No, it’s alright, I don’t really mind, as long as you warn me next time.”

“No problem. Can you climb the stairs okay? We need to get inside. The wind is starting to pick up again and that’s probably not a good sign.”

“I think so, I’ll try anyway.” Kelsey started slowly with the first and took one step at a time with Boone hovering right at her side.

“This is your house?”

Boone smiled, seemed proud that she’d asked. “Yep, bought it a few years back and just now getting the chance to do some remodeling.”

“I like it. It’s old, isn’t it?”

“Yeah it’s a hundred years old actually. Needs a bit of work too but that’s why I bought it. I also own a construction company in my off hours so it was right up my alley.”

“Wow, a man of many talents, that’s impressive. And you said you’re a firefighter too?”

“Yes, but not a regular one although, if they needed me I’d definitely volunteer. What I do is forest fires.” He unlocked the front door and motioned for her to go ahead of him.

“Oh Boone, this is beautiful.” She did a three hundred and sixty degree sweep around the foyer area before focusing in on the living room. “That’s a beautiful fireplace too.”

“Thanks. I can’t take the credit for most of it, it was already like this. I’m just doing a little updating, you know, to modernize it. Plumbing and electrical before cosmetic.”

“Well I think you’re doing a good thing. I hate to see old houses torn down for someone to come along and build.”

“A girl after my own heart. That’s exactly what I think too.”

“What is that noise? Sounds like running water.”

“Shit, it better not be.” Boone ran for the staircase and disappeared quickly. Kelsey followed out of pure curiosity. She found him in the bathroom turning off the running water in the bathtub.

“Did you leave your water running?”

“No but I know who did.” He grabbed a hand towel and dried off as he left the room and headed for the stairs.

“Hey if you want to clean yourself up in there, go ahead. I’ll be back up in a minute.”

Kelsey searched through the bathroom unable to find a wash cloth, then found a cabinet in the hall with everything she needed to wash and treat her cut forehead.

“I wonder how I cut my head?”