Page 15 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

“You were Joe’s little sis, and I was leaving town. It was a fool move on my part.”

“I thought you felt something. I thought you finally saw me as a woman.”

“Believe me, I did. That’s why I had to put an end to it. It wasn’t fair to you.”

“You stopped writing to me, Sam. I lived for your letters. One a week for six solid months, and then… nothing. No more letters came. But like a fool, I kept on writing. I was worried sick about you. I didn’t know if something bad had happened to you. Papa said you were busy saving the country and not to worry. But I did. For weeks. I couldn’t sleep. I’d run out to the mailbox every day and come back inside, disappointed and worried. And then I finally decided to question Joe about you, because I didn’t know if you were alive or…”

“Autumn, the guys thought it best for me not to write to you anymore. They said I was stringing you along.”

“Theguys? What guys?”

Sam looked like he’d been trapped in a foxhole with no way out. “You know. Uh, the guys I bunked with. We were a tight-knit group.”

“You spoke to them about me?” Heat scurried up her throat. Her humiliation ran deep. “Goodness, Sam! What did you tell them?”

“Nothing.”

“You must’ve said something.”

“They knew you were Joe’s sister. They also knew how old you were and, well, they saw how many letters you kept sending. They only pointed out the obvious. I knew you were reading things into that night that simply weren’t…” Breath blew from his parted lips, making a slight frustrated noise. “Well, it wasn’t…”

“Wasn’t what?”

“Real, Autumn. It wasn’t real or right. And I take full responsibility.”

“Oh God.” She turned away from him, tears misting her eyes. “You must’ve thought I was the biggest fool,” she whispered.

“Hey,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder, turning her to him. “I didn’t. I thought you were sweet. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

The warmth of his hand seared her skin. She’d always longed for him to touch her, to comfort her, to give her the love she’d wanted. “Well, you did. Hurt me. I guess that makes me an even bigger fool.”

“You’re not a fool, Autumn. I’m the fool and I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know how deep your feelings were.” Sam inhaled, removing his hand from her shoulder. “I was a young guy myself and didn’t realize that you’d be so hurt when I stopped writing. I figured you’d forget all about me and have a great senior year in high school. Then some lucky boy would wind up as your guy.”

“That didn’t happen.”

“Not because of me, though? Right?”

Lord, she did have some pride left. How could she tell him that she’d loved him since she was a child? Even to her own ears, it sounded ridiculous. The grown-ups in her life would say it was puppy love or infatuation. Maybe it was. Maybe they would’ve been right. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. It didn’t make her feelings for Sam disappear. Eventually, her feelings for him changed from love to resentment and then anger. So much anger at having him and Joe gone. At having no real life of her own. “I was busy with the farm.”

“But you did have boyfriends? I mean, I can’t imagine you not dating and…” He looked her over, his gaze traveling the length of her and she trembled inside. It was as if his eyes touched her, an admiring stroke that brought butterflies to her stomach. “You’re very special, Autumn.”

“Finally, we agree on something.”

He smiled, and all the worry lines at his brow disappeared. “We do.”

“But stop complimenting me, okay?”

He paused for a second and sighed. “Sure. No more compliments. Got it.”

“We have a job to do. Let’s focus on making this festival the best one ever.”

“I’m in. Maybe now you won’t hate having me around so much.”

“I never said I hated you.”

“Well, then. That’s progress.” Another smile from him sent her heart soaring.

She couldn’t fall into that trap again. She couldn’t let Sam back in. She’d never recover from the devastation he would cause.

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