By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition Read Online Free PDF

Sondra looked around her and said,
    “Hi, Chris. Back so soon?”
    Knowing her face was a blotchy mess, Victoria prayed he would leave quickly so she wouldn’t have to acknowledge him.
    Metal jingled in his pocket. “Dylan called. Seems Jeff needed some help on the ranch right away. He asked me to go and get Victoria’s other suitcases for him.”
    Victoria closed her eyes and exhaled. She would have to turn around and talk to him. He would see the red blotches she knew covered her eyes like a raccoon. He’d see the freckles that splattered her face. If her guess was right, he’d also see mascara streaming down her cheeks.
Why did I have to start crying?
    Knowing etiquette demanded she thank the person who had just made a special trip to bring her luggage, she turned and stood slowly to face Chris. Looking up at the towering figure, she nodded and said, “Thank you, Chris. I’ll show you where to put them.”
    He followed her to the bedroom. She stood in the door as he placed both suitcases on the floor. Her heart beat faster when their gazes locked through the mirror above the dresser. He didn’t turn to face her but continued to stare in the mirror.
    “Did I scare you?” His voice was barely audible.
    “What?”
    “Earlier today. Did I scare you?”
    “No.” She frowned. “Why would you think that?”
    “I’m big and I can come across as gruff, and I can see you’ve been …”
    “Crying.” Victoria finished his sentence. “No. That has nothing to do with you.” Embarrassment washed over her, but she couldn’t take her gaze from his. Something about the overgrown, grease-covered man drew her. She wanted to tell him all that had happened. Wanted to hear him say that everything would be okay.
    She peered out the window.
What is wrong with me?
She didn’t know this man, not the first thing about him. For all she knew, he was a horrible criminal.
No, Sondra wouldn’t have let him bring me to her house if that were true
.
    She glanced back at the mirror. He still stood looking at her. She lifted her chin and pushed away from the door. “Well, thank you, Chris.”
    He moved closer until he loomed more than a foot over her. “You’re welcome.”
    Her chest tightened, and Victoria felt she’d soon be gasping for air. She lifted her shoulders and took long, slow breaths, willing herself not to come undone in front of this stranger. “Be sure to let me know how much I’ll owe you for the damages.”
    “Oh, I will.”
    Victoria stepped away from the intensity of his gaze. He walked down the hall, nodded toward Sondra, and then went out the door. Victoria grabbed her chest, watching as he took long strides toward his truck. She had no idea what had just happened, but she felt fairly confident that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

four
     
    A hint of sunlight streamed through Victoria’s window. Glancing at the alarm clock beside her bed, she gasped at the early hour. She slipped out from under her covers and slinked into her robe and slippers. Stretching her arms above her head, Victoria yawned and then rubbed sleep from her eyes. She stumbled to the window just in time to see the sun finish its ascent into the expansive heavens.
Oh Lord, Your handiwork is amazing
.
    Deep green pastures extended as far as she could see. The sky lifted bright and full above her. It reminded her of the enclosure and privacy she felt as a small girl when she would make a fort with extra blankets from her closet; and yet, the sky was not in any way private. It was vast and clear and awesome.
    The bedroom door creaked open. Sondra stuck her head inside and smiled. “You’re up. Great! I came to see if you wanted to gather eggs with me.”
    Victoria smiled and tried to imagine what gathering eggs could possibly be like. Would she have to touch the chickens? Victoria had always heard they were quite disgusting creatures, but then most animals were a bit on the yucky side. “Sure, but what does a gal wear to gather