She took a deep breath, ignored the churning in her belly and put it out there.
“I’ve got a friend with one of those teardrop trailers.It’s not much.The inside is basically a bed, but there’s an outdoor kitchen, so it’s camping, even if it’s not as basic as camping off a motorcycle.I could borrow it and hook it to the back of my Jeep.”She couldn’t help the smile that slowly spread across her face.“My Jeep has freedom panels.That means we could pull them and you can feel the wind in your face, almost like you were on a bike, or we can put them in and stay warmer if we want.”
He was quiet for several seconds.She searched his face, looking for any sign of what he was thinking, but found nothing.She was almost ready to ask what was wrong when he spoke.
“Why?”
“Why what?”She blinked and frowned.
“Why would you do that?”A crease formed between his brows.“Why would you try to find a way for me to do something like that?”
She smiled again.
“Because it would be fun.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know you’d never hurt me.I know you’d do everything you can to make sure I’m safe.I know you will never be a danger to me.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“It sounds like fun.I also think it will do you some good.Let you get out of the hospital setting.”
“I’ll be out of here tomorrow, maybe the next day.Fletch says he’s almost got the new place locked down.I’m not sure what they’re waiting on.”
“But you’ll still be in PT for a bit.In a few more weeks once you’re allowed to put weight on that leg, at least some, then we could look at going.Take a month, drive up and have some fun.Some of your brothers could go with us if you want.If you don’t think we could do it on our own.”
“I have no doubt you could do anything you set your mind to, wildcat.I just don’t see why or how we could manage it.Are you serious about this or is it just an idea you’re playing with?”
“I’m serious.I even mentioned it to Dad.He’ll need to know if I’m not going to be around for a month.”
“What did he say?”
“That they can handle things around here as long as I want to be gone.That I’m full grown and can make my decisions for myself.That he’s thankful for the extra time I’ve spent around the ranch, helping out and staying with the family but they’ve always known that I wasn’t meant for this place.And it’s time I found where I am meant for.”She focused on the darkness beside her phone screen, not sure she wanted to see his reaction.
“And you want to do this with me?”His voice had gone soft as if he couldn’t believe he’d heard her right.
“I do.It will be tight quarters if we both want to sleep inside, but I’m sure we can manage it.Or one of us can sleep outside.It wouldn’t be that big of deal to toss in a tent and maybe a cot.”She didn’t say that if she was the one sleeping outside she would definitely need a cot.“Another option would be to leave the trailer altogether and just take the Jeep.We can get what we need in the back, including food, but it will be more rugged and a tighter fit.”
“You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.She wanted to hear what he thought of it.Was he willing to compromise on what he’d dreamed of?Did he not want to do it with her?She could understand it, kind of.They’d only known each other a few weeks.They’d talked a lot, especially over the last week, spent a decent amount of time together, but they’d never even kissed.
“I think I’d like that,” Spider said after a moment.His voice was soft.“You look like you’re getting sleepy.”
“I am, a little, but I don’t want to hang up.I like this.”She shifted to lay on her side, using the teddy bear she’d kept on her bed since she’d been tiny to prop up her phone so she could lay there and see him.
“Hey, how are you holding your phone up like that?”he asked when she tucked both hands under her pillow.Jordon picked her phone up and turned it around to show him.
“I need something like that.Something so I don’t have to hold mine the whole time too.”
“I’ll see what I can come up with,” she said before yawning.She knew there were devices designed to clamp onto the rails of the bed or a table that she could make work.She’d find one and order it in the morning.
They talked a little more.The last thing Jordon remembered was the soft murmur of his voice telling her to sleep well, but she’d been too tired to open her eyes or say anything back.
Then her alarm was chiming and someone was pounding on her door.
“Shut that thing off!”Lane called through the wood.“I don’t care if you’re getting up but turn off that noise.”
