for you to come into my house. Letting you into my house was a way for you to enter into my world. In the past, I have blocked you out of any intimate part of my life.” His voice stayed low and deep.
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry I was rude. You didn’t deserve that kind of treatment.”
She smiled. “I accept your apology.”
He kissed her. “I want you in my life, Samantha. You’re the best a guy like me could have.”
“I feel the same about you, Noah.”
“I have fallen in love with you.” He looked deep into her eyes, and tears began to fall down her cheeks. He wrapped his strong arms around her, then lifted her from the picnic table.
“I love you too.” And she meant it. The words were not planned, but she couldn’t help it. She had to tell him because she did.
After dinner, they went back into the trailer and she curled up on the couch with her head on his lap. A soft knock intruded on the small space. She moved away from Noah and shot him a look as if to ask if he was expecting company. He shrugged before pulling the door open.
“Hi, Noah,” her father said.
He held the door open for her dad to walk up the short set of stairs and into the trailer. The three of them filled the small living room, even with Samantha sitting on the couch.
“Is everything okay? Do you need help with something?” asked Noah. The confusion in his eyes was replaced with concern.
“Oh, nothing is wrong, Noah. Well, not technically, but I do need to talk to you.”
Noah motioned for him to sit down in the small built-in swivel chair while he returned to his place next to Samantha.
Dad smiled at Samantha as he sat down in the chair across from them. Samantha smiled back, knowing the purpose of his social call. She also had a feeling it would make Noah’s whole night to know her dad was giving him the farm.
“What is it?” Noah leaned forward and put his hands on his knees, as he did every time he was having a serious conversation or was in deep thought.
“How do you like working on the farm?”
“I enjoy it. Are you reconsidering my job?” Noah raked his fingers through his hair, while looking from Samantha to her dad.
She laughed and received a strange glance from Noah. Cutting the laugh short, she slid her hand over his bare back.
“No. In fact, you are completely wrong. What I’m here for is to discuss you taking over the farm.”
Noah shook his head. “I can’t afford to buy it from you. It’s worth well over what I can pay.”
“Noah, I don’t want your money. I already have your loyalty. You’re like a son to me.”
Noah smiled. “Wow. That means a lot to me, Martin. I feel the same about you.”
“I’m too tired to run it anymore and Samantha will be leaving in a few months for school.”
“I know,” Noah said, letting a touch of sadness enter his voice. That was a subject they hadn’t discussed yet.
“I wanted her to be close to marriage by this time, but since she has chosen a different career path, I’m forced to find someone I feel worthy to take over. I want that person to be you. Please accept.”
He looked down at his work-worn hands. “I’m honored, Martin, but I don’t think I deserve it. Do you have any other relatives so it could be kept in the family?”
Her dad flinched. “If you don’t want it, Noah, that’s okay but I’m telling you it would mean the world to me and Samantha if you accepted the offer. You know the ins-and-outs of the ranch. It’s only right for you to have it.”
“I will accept with some conditions,” Noah said and rose from the couch. “The first condition is that your name stays on the farm until you pass away.”
Her dad smiled. It was the first genuine smile she’d seen on his face since she’d arrived in the beginning of June. “Okay. Anything else?”
“Yes. I want you guys to stay in the main house. I also want to pay you for half of the farm. I don’t want it for free.” Noah smiled once Samantha gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“I don’t want
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry I was rude. You didn’t deserve that kind of treatment.”
She smiled. “I accept your apology.”
He kissed her. “I want you in my life, Samantha. You’re the best a guy like me could have.”
“I feel the same about you, Noah.”
“I have fallen in love with you.” He looked deep into her eyes, and tears began to fall down her cheeks. He wrapped his strong arms around her, then lifted her from the picnic table.
“I love you too.” And she meant it. The words were not planned, but she couldn’t help it. She had to tell him because she did.
After dinner, they went back into the trailer and she curled up on the couch with her head on his lap. A soft knock intruded on the small space. She moved away from Noah and shot him a look as if to ask if he was expecting company. He shrugged before pulling the door open.
“Hi, Noah,” her father said.
He held the door open for her dad to walk up the short set of stairs and into the trailer. The three of them filled the small living room, even with Samantha sitting on the couch.
“Is everything okay? Do you need help with something?” asked Noah. The confusion in his eyes was replaced with concern.
“Oh, nothing is wrong, Noah. Well, not technically, but I do need to talk to you.”
Noah motioned for him to sit down in the small built-in swivel chair while he returned to his place next to Samantha.
Dad smiled at Samantha as he sat down in the chair across from them. Samantha smiled back, knowing the purpose of his social call. She also had a feeling it would make Noah’s whole night to know her dad was giving him the farm.
“What is it?” Noah leaned forward and put his hands on his knees, as he did every time he was having a serious conversation or was in deep thought.
“How do you like working on the farm?”
“I enjoy it. Are you reconsidering my job?” Noah raked his fingers through his hair, while looking from Samantha to her dad.
She laughed and received a strange glance from Noah. Cutting the laugh short, she slid her hand over his bare back.
“No. In fact, you are completely wrong. What I’m here for is to discuss you taking over the farm.”
Noah shook his head. “I can’t afford to buy it from you. It’s worth well over what I can pay.”
“Noah, I don’t want your money. I already have your loyalty. You’re like a son to me.”
Noah smiled. “Wow. That means a lot to me, Martin. I feel the same about you.”
“I’m too tired to run it anymore and Samantha will be leaving in a few months for school.”
“I know,” Noah said, letting a touch of sadness enter his voice. That was a subject they hadn’t discussed yet.
“I wanted her to be close to marriage by this time, but since she has chosen a different career path, I’m forced to find someone I feel worthy to take over. I want that person to be you. Please accept.”
He looked down at his work-worn hands. “I’m honored, Martin, but I don’t think I deserve it. Do you have any other relatives so it could be kept in the family?”
Her dad flinched. “If you don’t want it, Noah, that’s okay but I’m telling you it would mean the world to me and Samantha if you accepted the offer. You know the ins-and-outs of the ranch. It’s only right for you to have it.”
“I will accept with some conditions,” Noah said and rose from the couch. “The first condition is that your name stays on the farm until you pass away.”
Her dad smiled. It was the first genuine smile she’d seen on his face since she’d arrived in the beginning of June. “Okay. Anything else?”
“Yes. I want you guys to stay in the main house. I also want to pay you for half of the farm. I don’t want it for free.” Noah smiled once Samantha gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“I don’t want
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