Page 38 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

There were more men working at the farm today than yesterday. Suddenly, emotions rolled around in her tummy. These wonderful veteran volunteers didn’t know how much this meant to her. How their being here had put a new light in her father’s eyes. She got out of her car and many of the workers in the yard smiled or waved at her, their greetings warming her heart. What a battalion of volunteers Sam had inspired.

And speak of the devil. Before she could take another breath, Sam was heading over, a big silly smile on his face. He looked like he’d just won the lottery or something. He stopped in front of her. “Afternoon, Autumn.” He grabbed the briefcase out of her hands and set it on the car’s hood.

“Sam, what’s going on?”

“Come with me, I have something to show you.”

“Really? Can’t it wait?”

“Nope, it can’t. It’s something I think you’re going to like.”

She blinked a few times. What was he up to now? “Well, okay.”

“Good. Great.” He took her hand and led her away from the car, past the house and barn.

He had no idea how much she liked holding his hand. It seemed like such a natural thing for him to do, grab her hand and sweep her away. But there was something more than hand-holding going on.

And then she saw the cornfields. “Oh. My. Goodness.”

“I know, it’s a-maze-ing.”

She blinked, looked at Sam’s grinning face, and the two of them burst out laughing. Joy rolled over and over in her stomach. “I can’t believe it. How did you manage this?”

The cornfields hadn’t yielded like they had in the past. There were still acres and acres of stalks yet to be removed. And now she stood facing the entrance of a corn maze.

“I had extra volunteers today and I figured it was time to see how far we could get. It’s not done, but we only have a little way to go.”

“This is truly… amazing.”

“C’mon. Want to try it? There’s one more surprise.”

She set her hand over her heart. “Be still my heart. I don’t think I can take another surprise.”

“I think you can. I think you can do whatever you set your mind on doing, Autumn.” He offered her his hand.

Her heart was truly bursting. Sam was being all kinds of wonderful to her. And she had trouble refusing any of his requests. She placed her hand in his. He gave it a little squeeze and they locked eyes. It was a moment. A beautiful passage of time when they were in total sync with each other. She felt it down to her toes. Sam must feel it too.

“Ready to get lost with me?”

She was already lost. Didn’t he know? “But you know the way.”

“Do I?” He raised one brow.

“You probably designed it.”

“Did I?”

“Sam, you’re being silly.”

They walked into the maze, tall rows of stalks serving as their walls. When they reached the first fork, Sam asked, “Left or right? Which way do you want to go?”

“Oh, I’m always… right.”

He chuckled. “You always think you are.”

“You wouldn’t lead me astray, would you Sam?”

“I’d never intentionally send you down the wrong path, Autumn. But this is your puzzle to figure out.” They turned right and continued on.

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