Read Online Rocky Mountain Oasis by Lynnette Bonner - Free Book Online Page B

surprise.
    She wanted to hide her emotion but something held her in check. “Do you really believe God cares?”
    “Yes, I do. The Bible says He does.” His eyes showed genuine interest in her question.
    “And so if the Bible says it, that makes it so?” Her tone held more than a little sarcasm.
    Sky set his sandwich back on his plate. “Yes.” It was a simple statement of faith. “Brooke, I want to talk to you about this morning.”
    She had not expected this so soon. Picking up her sandwich, she took a bite. Her past and how it related to her reaction this morning was the last thing she wanted to talk about. Trying to keep her face free of emotion, she chewed slowly.
    Sky raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what you’ve been through in the past, but I could tell by your reaction to me this morning that it probably hasn’t been pleasant.” He watched her intently.
    She took another bite of sandwich, trying to ignore the pain squeezing her heart.
    “I just want to tell you again that I would never,” he paused, “will never hit or abuse you in any way. I meant what I said to you last night; I will not touch you until you say it’s okay.” He placed his hands on the table. “I will not touch you in any way. Understand?”
    Brooke hated the tears that pooled in her eyes. She nodded mutely, but her skepticism rose to the fore. The probability of his keeping his word is about as good as finding an oasis in the middle of a desert.

    He sat back, apparently satisfied, but still eyed her as though unable to tell what she was thinking.
    She blinked the tears away and turned back to her food, as did he. Finishing his sandwich in five bites, he got up and made himself two more. Brooke, somewhat wide-eyed, made a note to make him several sandwiches in the future and hoped he wouldn’t be too irritated that she had not done so this time.

    Sky watched Brooke as she took in the cellar he’d just shown to her. Cut back into the side of the hill behind the house, it had large heavy doors that kept the room cool on the hottest of summer days and provided enough insulation so that even on very cold winter days the milk did not freeze.
    As he waited for her, he contemplated their earlier conversation. “Do you really believe God cares?” she had asked. Lord, I don’t know what this woman has been through in the past, but it’s obviously been painful for her. Help me to be able to show her Your love. Bring her to know You, Lord. And help me to be thankful. Help me to see the good side of things—not just the inconvenient, uncomfortable side. There are things to be thankful for; please open my mind to them. Help me to be sensitive to this woman. To be kind, thoughtful, and caring. Help me to see Your blessings, Lord. Bring us through this difficult time .
    He stared off at the surrounding countryside. Things to be thankful for... at least I like her. She could have been loud, pushy, and boisterous, or demure, coy, and deceitful but none of these qualities evidenced themselves. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, a protective spirit had risen in him. She was somehow like a wounded animal he needed to nurture back to health. Her blue-green eyes wore a hunted, fearful look that he wanted to soothe.
    His thoughts turned to Jason. I wonder where he is? Thankfulness that he had had the opportunity to talk to his cousin about the Lord welled up in his heart. Jason could have reacted in any number of different ways, but God had worked it out so that Sky could remind him of his past relationship with Jesus. Yes, God is good .
    He brought his attention back to the present, his dark eyes resting on Brooke. She tucked a wind-blown curl behind her ear with one small hand, contentment on her face. I can be thankful that ... But he would not let himself finish the thought. The fact he found Brooke enticingly beautiful was an issue he didn’t yet feel ready to deal with.
    She turned to him with a smile, gesturing to the