The More I See Read Online Free PDF Page A

cowboys do anyway. I spend a lot of time training the dogs outside, but I'm not out in the fields in direct sun for long periods of time like you are."
    His sunglasses protected his eyes and hid the scarring, the marbleization that most likely occurred as a result of the chemical burn. She'd seen enough burn victims to know how truly awful it could be.
    "How did it happen?" she asked. Immediately, his body tensed. "We don't have to talk about it if it's too painful."
    Cody's voice was low when he finally spoke. "We had a young ranch hand who got a little impatient and decided to mix a nasty cocktail of chemicals to unclog a drain. I came along just as he was done mixing his potion."
    She closed her eyes imagining the horrible scene in her mind. Lye burns were
    devastating. "Was he hurt badly?"
    Cody bit his lip. "No. I pushed him out of the way and got the brunt of it myself."
    A peculiar warmth enveloped Lyssa, making her smile. "You saved him."
    "Some would see it that way."
    She chuckled at his modesty. "You're a hero, Cody. He could have been killed mixing drain cleaners that way."
    He averted his head, his expression closed off from her. "He learned a good lesson he's not likely to forget."
    In the short time she'd known Cody, she'd already surmised he wasn't a man who spoke big about his accomplishments. He wasn't someone who needed affirmation that he'd done well.
    He just did what had to be done.
    Admiration for what he'd done filled her anyway as she leaned forward in the chair, resting her elbows on her bare thighs. The skin on skin contact felt sticky.
    "Why don't we get real daring and move beyond talk about sunscreen and accidents ... oh, I don't know, go for a walk. Otis and I have been getting acquainted with the area. You could show me around the stables and tell me all about your horses. What was the name of the one Beau was training—"
    "I'm not in the mood."
    She nibbled on her lip. "Look, I know how scary it can be."
    "Do you?"
    "Yes, I've been there."
    "I'm sure you have. I'll just bet you've met lots of useless men like me who can't even find the bathroom stall unless they're taken by hand like a two-year-old."
    She changed her voice, knowing beyond the harsh edge of Cody's voice lay a lot of fear.
    And she did know that fear too well. "I've helped a lot of people move beyond anger and frustration to a better life."
    "Great, then you've earned a nice big gold star and automatic entry into heaven for being a hero."
    "I'm not a hero, Cody. But you can be. To yourself. By getting out of that chair."
    Lyssa's voice rose higher than she'd intended it to. And she realized for the first time since she'd arrived at the ranch that she was becoming desperate herself. Desperate that she'd fail.
    He laughed wryly. "Sorry, Alyssandra, but you won't be finding a hero in a man who can't even cut his steak without some help."
    Lyssa flinched. What nagged at her more than Cody's attitude was the fact that there was more than a grain of truth in his words. No, not the hero part.
    She knew if Cody just opened himself up to the idea of how Otis could change his life, he would be a hero to himself and regain his independence. That is, if the rest of the family would stop treating him like that two-year-old he constantly complained about being.
    Last night, she'd sat down at the dinner table and watched him with frustration as he tried to cut the steak they'd had for their meal. If Cody had gone to some classes for the blind, he would have learned how to deal with these things, gotten to a point where he felt comfortable asking for help if he needed it. Instead, he'd fumbled with his knife and fork only to have a slab of steak fall off the plate and onto the clean white linen tablecloth.
    Nothing was said, but Isadore immediate brought him another dish with a fresh piece of steak, this time cut into smaller pieces for him.
    It had to have been humiliating. But Cody never uttered a word. He didn't have to. He just didn't