Sneak Peek! Zeke and Agatha’s Story…

What was she doing?

This was Zeke Callahan—the rough around the edges man who everyone in town had a thing or two to say regarding his temperament.

Cautiously, she extricated herself from his embrace. Without meeting his gaze, she mumbled, “Thank you for finding the book.”

He made a noise that didn’t sound like much more than what an animal might make.

Quickly wiping at her eyes, she glanced at him, then down to the album in her hands. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

“I’m sure I could wager a guess.”

She let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

Zeke peered up at the house, his eyes narrowing slightly. “The stairs are unusable. I’m assuming if you have anything upstairs, it’s taken the brunt of the smoke damage. Where is your bedroom?”

“Upstairs,” she murmured.

“Right. So that means all your clothing and bedding won’t be usable.”

“Not likely,” she sighed. This was what she’d figured when they’d arrived. The fire started upstairs in the back of the house and swept through the house a heck of a lot faster than she would have thought. “I guess I’m going to have to—”

“You’re going shopping.”

She stilled. “What?” The single word escaped her lips with a small laugh riding its tail.

“I needed to head to town anyway. I can take you.”

Agatha shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t have any way to pay for it. Everything I owned, including my wallet, was in my room. It’ll be a few days before I can get replacements. And my bank isn’t based in Copper Creek. I hadn’t started moving things over to a local credit union yet.” She flushed at that confession. What person moves out to a place like this and doesn’t make that change right away?

“My treat.” Zeke threw the statement at her before brushing past her and heading around back where they’d parked.

Marching after him, she stumbled in the oversized boots and nearly collided with him in her haste. “What? No. I’m not going to let you do that.”

Zeke stopped and faced her, his expression curious. “Why not?”

She stiffened. “You’re asking me why I won’t let you spend money on me?”

“Yeah. Let’s go with that. Why can’t I give you some money for new clothes?”

“Well,” she sputtered, “for one thing you’re not my husband.”

“So?”

The heat that came along with those words was excruciating, and it took every ounce of power she had to maintain eye contact with him. “You don’t owe me anything. I’m fine. I lost my house and my belongings, but that’s what insurance is for. I’ll get everything sent to me, and in the meantime, I’ll wear this.” Agatha gestured toward her outfit with mild contempt.

“Are you Christian?”

Her head snapped up at his forward question. “What?”

“I’m beginning to think you need your ears checked. Are. You. Christian?”

“What does that have anything to do with anything?” she demanded. “It’s none of your business if I’m Christian or not.”

“Just answer the question.”

She crossed her arms, a scowl creeping across her features. “I was raised Christian, yes.”

“Then is it not true that we should accept service as much as we give it?”

Agatha gaped at him, hating the way he could make a smug smile look almost attractive. He’d caught her, and he knew it. There were no other arguments she could make to his statement.

“And as someone who has lost so much, would it not be pertinent for you to humble yourself and accept help from a friend?”

“We’re not—”

“On top of that, wouldn’t dismissing my offer be just as detrimental? You would then be taking away the opportunity I have to provide some service as well.”

She snapped her mouth shut, gritting her teeth so hard her jaw ached. Once again, he made a point she profusely agreed with. If their situations had been swapped, she’d demand something similar.

He crossed his arms, and his smile widened. “I have more than enough to provide for my family and friends. I help out in the community where I can. And if a damsel in distress needs some extra help, I will offer it.”

“I’m not some damsel in—”

“Besides,” Zeke continued, “it’s only money. I doubt you could spend more than some of my daughters when they go on a shopping spree.” He jerked his head over toward the ATV. “Come on. Let’s get back to my place and we can take the truck. Somehow, I don’t think you’d want to ride to town with your arms around me.” He paused, giving her another funny look. “Unless you’re into that.”

She made a disgruntled sound, charging past him. He’d won this time. She couldn’t argue with his logic in this instance, but that wouldn’t stop her from putting up a fight any chance she got.