“Please leave me,” he managed between sobs.
“No.”
“Leave me!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her flinch at his shout, but then she stepped even closer.
“I don’t want you to see me like this, Samantha.Please go.”
“Then I’ll close my eyes.”
She sat down on the floor next to him and placed her hand on top of his.For the first time in years, he wasn’t alone.God how he missed his mother.How was he supposed to do this without her?She should still be here.Maggie needed her.He needed her.As he sobbed, Samantha’s thumb caressed the back of his hand.
The swell of emotions slowly eased, and he looked up at her.Her encouraging smile was waiting for him.He closed his eyes as more tears ran down his cheeks, a jumble of thoughts filling his mind.Why was she so kind to him?Why was everyone so kind to him?How was she so strong?How could anyone have ever hurt her?
With a deep breath, he pushed himself onto his knees.“I don’t know whether I should thank you or apologize.Both probably.”
Brennan’s voice sounded not far from the barn.“Mr.Gibson?”
He wiped desperately at his tears as panic flooded him.“What is he going to think of me?”
Samantha stood and pulled on his wrist.“Get up to the loft.Hurry!”
“But I?—”
“Go!”she ordered.
Without further argument, he launched himself up the ladder and onto his stomach, hopefully out of sight, as the door to the barn opened.
“Good afternoon, Mr.Brennan.Can I help you with something?”Samantha sounded perfectly innocent, but Brennan wasn’t stupid.He didn’t speak for a moment, probably assessing the situation.
“Is Mr.Gibson in here?”
“No, I’m sorry.It’s just me and my sketchbook, I’m afraid.”
“Apologies.I thought I might find him here.If you do see him, it’s nothing urgent, but let him know I’m heading over to the western fence.”
“I will certainly do that.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your… sketching.”
Trent cringed.Somehow this just went from bad to worse.If he’d simply answered the door himself, Brennan would have known he was crying.Instead, he now thought Trent was having a tryst with the woman in his care.
He rubbed a frustrated hand over his forehead.When he turned over, to sit up, Samantha was already at the top of the ladder.
“Are you alright?”she asked.
With a tortured sigh, he nodded.“I won’t be when Brennan tells Ash and your brother that we’re having assignations in the barn.”
She giggled before crawling over to lay her head on his shoulder.
“I’m glad you find humor in my inevitable demise.”
She laughed again.Hearing that would be worth any beating he might have to endure.
“You don't have anything to worry about, Trent.You’ve been nothing but a perfect gentleman.”
“Would a perfect gentleman be lying alone with you in a hayloft?”
