Love Inspired January 2014(12)

                On her terms.

                And knocking out walls was just the beginning. Just as Uncle Harvey had intended. He’d recognized that she was struggling emotionally and floundering to find meaning in it all after finally being released from the hospital.

                Walking to the sink, she flipped on the cold water and looked out the window as she stuck the pot under the spray. Two young men were carrying fallen tree branches to her burn pile!

                Lucy jumped at the unexpected sight and sloshed water on herself. Setting the pot down, she grabbed a dishrag and wiped her hands as she headed for the door. What is going on?

                She stormed out onto her back porch and caught her breath when Rowdy stepped around the corner.

                “You,” she gasped. “I should have known. What is going on here?” This was what she was talking about—control. “Just because you saved me doesn’t give you the right to just disregard my wishes—”

                “Look, I knew you needed help. I just brought the fellas over to pick up a few limbs for you.”

                Teens, not men, watching them from the burn pile, clearly uncertain whether to come near or not. They could probably see steam shooting out of her ears.

                “They’ve cleaned up a lot. We’ve been at it since about six.”

                “Six!” It was eight-thirty now. How had she not heard them?

                “We tried to be quiet so we wouldn’t wake you.”

                Her mouth fell open. What did he think he was doing?

                “You were quiet because you didn’t want me to know you were here.”

                His eyes flashed briefly. “I wanted to surprise you.”

                “You just can’t take no for an answer.”

                He stared at her, his jaw tensed, and a sense of guilt overcame her. Guilt. He was the one who should be guilty.

                Right?

                She was glaring at him when his gaze drifted to her neck and it was only then that she realized she hadn’t pulled on her work shirt yet over her long-sleeved T-shirt.

                He was staring at the scar. It licked up from the back of her neck, out from the protection of her hair, and curled around, stopping jaggedly just below her jawline.

                “You’ve been burned.” There was shock in his voice.

                “Yes.” Turning, she went back into the house to get the work shirt draped over the kitchen chair. Her hands shook as she slipped it on. Rowdy barreled inside behind her.

                “Lucy, I’m sorry we startled you like we did. You have every right to be angry.”

                Angry? She could barely think, she was so embarrassed. Striding to the living room, she grabbed for her sledgehammer, and without putting on her goggles she took a swing at the wall. Her back and shoulders lashed out at her, forcing her to set the hammer down immediately. She was being ridiculous and she knew it. Why was she so afraid to let Rowdy help her?

                The man was obstinate, that was why. Arrogant even, by showing up here to work anyway.

                “I’m sorry about that burn. It looks like it must have been terribly painful.”