By Proxy(9)

Moving quickly, Sam opened her back door and grabbed the parka from the floor where it lay tossed and crumpled.

“Easy now.” He reminded her as she stood up. “You could be in shock. Maybe we should have your car towed, and I’ll drive us both back.”

“No. I’m okay, Sam.” She spoke clearly and decisively but softened her delivery with a smile, then stepped into the coat as he held it for her. She zipped it up and pulled the hood over her head, turning to him. The white fur framed her face and her eyes were even bluer after crying. “I’ve spun out before. Lots of times. I don’t know why it got me so upset this time.”

“Hey, it’s pretty upsetting to lose control like that. You’re entitled to some nerves. You think you’re okay to drive?”

Jenny nodded. “I do.”

“Sure?”

She gave him a small smile and nodded. Sam turned, heading to his car.

“Sam?”

He faced her, eyebrows raised.

“I’m grateful to you,” she whispered, holding his eyes with an earnest intensity.

He smiled at her again before returning to his car.

***

It took Jenny a few turns to get her car pointed back in the right direction. Back on the interstate, she took it easy, driving slower than she normally would.

He was right. She was shaken up.

She couldn’t remember the moment she had lost control of her car, but she had let up on the gas and remembered not to slam on the brakes as soon as she realized that the car wasn’t responding. Mostly she held onto the steering wheel with an iron grip so that regardless of what the car was doing, she wouldn’t make it worse by jerking the wheel.

Her heart was finally slowing down and her breathing was returning to normal, but the adrenaline rush left her eyes heavy and thick, and she rolled down her window, thankful for the bracing gust of cold air against her burning cheeks.

Jenny had been in several spinouts in her life. No one could live her whole life in Montana and not hit a patch of black ice now and then, but truth be told, she hadn’t had an accident in several years—certainly not since her mother’s death. The thought of her father and brothers having to face her loss after suffering so brutally through the loss of her mother made her wince. Stinging tears sprang back up, unwanted, in her eyes. Stop crying, Jenny. Nothing happened. You’re fine.

She looked in her rearview mirror and was comforted to see Sam following behind. I must look a sight. She groaned. He probably thought she was a crazy woman: crying, then laughing, then apologizing for her behavior at the courthouse. But, Lord, she couldn’t let him think she was the bitter person he thought she was, and apologizing seemed more important than anything else in that moment.

The sound of his rumbling baritone saying her name imprinted itself on her brain and she listened for his voice in her head, savoring its warm concern. He had spoken to her so gently, his brown eyes so earnest and solicitous of her. Holding her hands. Giving her his coat. Giving her a mulligan. “I was worried.”

Jenny shook her head, ashamed of herself. She had misjudged Sam from the start.

She promised not to make that mistake again.

***

Jenny pulled into the parking lot of the Lone Wolf Lodge and idled for a moment as Sam parked his car and walked the short distance over to her. She rolled down her window.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Yes. I was just a little shaken up is all. My car’s fine. I’m fine. Really.” She kept her voice as polite and controlled as possible, offering him a poised smile. Certainly he had had enough of her hysterics for one afternoon. “Thanks for…everything, Sam.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll…” He gestured to the office then walked away, swinging his bag onto his shoulder with masculine ease.

She rolled up the window and pulled out of the parking lot, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she watched him amble away.

What a day! Goodness gracious, Jenny, you should get in bed and throw the covers over your head. With your streak of bad luck, you’ll probably be hit by lightning if you leave your apartment tonight!

She shook her head, smiling at her silliness as she drove the short distance home. She was a sensible girl, not prone to superstition and fancy. Anyway, she’d had Sam there to look out for her, hadn’t she?

Sam. Sam’s brown eyes hovering over her so concerned, taking her hand to warm it in his… A shiver went down her spine as awareness spread warm through her middle. Although she would trade the reason it ended up there, she liked feeling her hand between his.

Once home, she took off her heels and stockings and carefully hung her gray dress on a hanger and put it back in her closet. She took out her favorite jeans, a white turtleneck and an old Norwegian sweater that used to be her mother’s. It felt good to be out of those Sunday clothes, and besides, she needed a hug from her Mom after the day she’d had. Wearing her sweater was the only way Jenny would get one.