A Careless Wind (Kansas Crossroads Book 7) by Amelia C. Adams

Author:Amelia C. Adams [Adams, Amelia C.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“So, he’s back,” Sarah said as she placed a dishtowel over the last cherry pie.

“He is indeed.” Rachel leaned up against the kitchen table, suddenly exhausted. “And he looks fairly well. He’s on crutches, of course, but he’s able to use them well, and he can feed himself. It could be so much worse.”

“It is a blessing.” Sarah put the pie on the shelf, then turned to face her friend. “Sit down. Tell me how you are.”

Rachel sat at the table, then laid her head on her crossed arms in front of her. “I don’t know how I am.”

“You’re glad to see him, aren’t you?”

“I’m glad he’s all right. I’m not sure if I’m glad to see him.”

Sarah chuckled. “I think you’re glad, and you feel guilty because of it. I still haven’t figured out that part of your story. Just what is it that’s eating you alive? You said you parted ways as friends and with his blessing. Why this animosity now?”

Rachel straightened back up. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. When I see him or when I think about him, it’s as though a giant wall of thorns grows up to cover my heart. It simply happens—I’m not even aware of it until I’ve lashed out at him.”

“Does it really just happen, or did you plant the seeds for those thorns a long time ago?”

Rachel scowled. “You aren’t supposed to be smarter than I am.”

Sarah lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize that was a rule here at the hotel.”

“It should be. I’ll suggest it to Elizabeth.” Rachel traced a line on the tablecloth with her finger. “All I know is that it feels wrong somehow to open myself back up to Nicholas, even if it’s just to say hello. I’m betraying Daniel all over again.”

“Don’t you think it’s time you stopped punishing yourself?” Sarah reached out and touched Rachel’s hand. “What’s done is done. The past is in the past. All you can do now is learn from it and make different choices in the future. That’s all any of us can do. If you keep dredging up every regrettable mistake you’ve ever made and wearing them like a string of pearls around your neck, you’re just weighing yourself down for no good reason.”

“You’re right. You’re always right.” Rachel passed a hand across her face. “And next you’ll be telling me that I should go upstairs and talk to him.”

Sarah shrugged. “You’re the only one who can make that choice. I’m just sitting here, having no opinions whatsoever.”

“Yes, I can see just how few opinions you have. I remember when you first got here—you were a quiet little thing. What happened?”

Sarah smiled. “I started spending time with all of you.”

Rachel stood up. “I’ll go talk to him. I really will. I just don’t know if it will be today or tomorrow or when.”

“Being willing is a good first step.”

Rachel tucked a loose strand of hair back in her braid as she walked into the dining room to make sure it was ready for the next meal.

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