“Yes, and I swore I’d never let it happen to me.” A weight settled in Amy’s stomach at the reminder that she’d failed.
“But then you fell in love with Lance.”
Amy nodded. “The worst part was, deep down, I knew what kind of man Lance was. I knew he’d end up hurting me.” She gave a wry chuckle. “I thought it would just be emotionally, but I guess I should have expected the physical abuse too.”
Ben reached out and lifted her chin until she looked at him. The warmth she saw in his eyes touched something deep inside her. “We all want someone to care about us, Amy, and we have an innate need to love others. It doesn’t make us weak; it makes us human.” He smirked. “They say love is blind, but the truth is, love is powerful. Countries have gone to war over love.”
* * *
Ben’s wordsrang in Amy’s head long after he clicked his tongue and flicked the reins to set the horses in motion again. She couldn’t argue with him. Lovewaspowerful, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt that kind of love. Yes, Lance had flattered and charmed her, but she wasn’t sure she would have ever been willing to fight for him, let alone go to war for him. Only Kallie had ever evoked that kind of intense emotion.
Amy couldn’t ignore the tingles Ben’s fingers under her chin had set off, though. Attraction. That’s all it was. Not love. It couldn’t be. Amy wasn’t going to fall in love again.But doesn’t attraction often lead to love?
They rode a little longer, until they came to an area where the land rose above them in a steep, rocky slope. Before they hit the steepest part of the incline, Ben turned his horse toward a small clearing at the base of the outcropping. He led them to a pool of water—a result of a waterfall twenty yards upstream.
The view took Amy’s breath away. Peace blanketed her as she took in the crystal-clear water, lush golden grass, and clear blue sky, scattered with fluffy, white clouds. She was convinced a prettier place didn’t exist. Even the air smelled refreshing and inviting.
Ben stopped his horse near a fir tree and swung himself down in one fluid motion. Honey stopped near Apollo, patiently waiting for Amy to dismount. Amy was as unsure about getting off as she had been about getting on. Ben made it look so easy and graceful, but he’d also made getting on appear easy, and Amy was anything but graceful.
Seeing her hesitation, Ben stood close and told her to support her weight in the left stirrup while swinging her right leg over the horse’s back and down to the ground.
Following his instructions, she slowly swung herself down, smiling at her success. She gasped when the muscles in her legs spasmed, and her knees buckled. Her hands flew out, grabbing a hold of the closest supports—Honey’s saddle and Ben’s shoulder.
Ben grasped her waist to steady her. “Sorry, I forgot to warn you about that part. It takes a moment for the muscles in your legs to adjust.” His warm breath tickled her cheek.
Amy’s breath caught in her throat and her mouth went dry at his nearness and the feel of the firm muscle of his shoulder beneath her palm. He exuded warmth and security, and his spicy-citrus scent mingled with the smell of the horses made her stomach take flight. Her legs experienced a whole new weakness.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
His hands lingered at her waist for a moment before he released her and turned to unstrap the blanket from behind his saddle.
Amy sucked in a deep breath.What’s the matter with me?She remained near the horses and studied him from a distance. Ben looked especially attractive today in his jeans and denim shirt, but the man was grieving his wife for goodness’ sake.
Ben walked to the water’s edge and shook out the blanket in the shade of the trees. He turned upstream toward the waterfall, and his movements slowed. Then his shoulders slumped, and the blanket fell to the ground.
Catching the change in his demeanor, Amy walked over to him. “Ben?”
“I don’t think I can do this.” His voice came out choked.
“Memories can be painful.” Sharing her own difficult memories had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. “I’m sure you have many wonderful memories of this place. Don’t fight them!” Her words came out a fervent whisper.
A pained expression filled his face. Turning, he walked upstream toward the outcropping where the water spilled down from above. Amy watched him drop onto a large flat-top boulder near the stream’s edge. She ached to go to him. To hold him, comfort him, as he’d held and comforted her last Sunday. But Hope had said Ben liked to be alone with his grief.
Does he really need to be alone though, or does he need a friend?
She watched as he planted his elbows on his knees and dropped his head in his hands. His shoulders shook. The tightness she hadn’t realized had seized her stomach eased, and at the same moment her heart twisted.
Amy squeezed her eyes shut.Please let these tears provide the healing he needs.
Fighting the desire to go to him, she turned away to let him grieve in peace. Hopefully, he would feel like talking to her later.
She picked up the blanket Ben had left in a heap, shook it out, and spread it on the ground.
