Leave it for the Rain: A Love She Couldn't Remember—A Woman He Couldn't Forget (Grayson Brothers Book 6) by Wendy Lindstrom Page B

filled with big dreams that made their father laugh and their mother cringe. Tyler and Hannah listened with one ear trained on the adult conversation and the other on the giggling chatter between Sarah and Emma whose main topic focused on catching frogs and crawfish in the creek that ran through the apple orchard.
    Rebecca had nothing to say. She had no memories and no dreams to share.
    She had only emptiness and pain, which would have further burdened them.
    So she’d said nothing.
    The awkwardness and discomfort had driven her to the porch after supper. From the porch, she studied the world around her, hoping she might recognize the massive oak in the yard or the rope swing Emma and Sarah were playing on. Her gaze traveled beyond them to the orchard and low-limbed apple trees. Apparently, she had spent many hours of her life playing there, her parents assured her, but she didn’t remember a minute of it.
    The sound of someone climbing the porch steps broke her reverie. The pace was too slow for the girls, who seemed to run wherever they went. She expected to see Tyler, who was a deep thinker and moved through his day with a studious, keen attention that required a slower pace. But it wasn’t Tyler or any of her siblings.
    It was Adam.
    She started to stand, thinking she would tell him that she was unwell and must retire to her room, but not a word crossed her lips because the truth was she was curious about him.
    He reached out and clasped her hand in his warm grip. “Hello. I’m Adam Dearborn. I’m thirteen years old and I’ve never seen a more beautiful girl than you, ReBECca,” he said, his voice breaking in an odd manner. “My voice is changing, my feet are too big, and I don’t feel worthy of even touching your hand.” He grinned. “Thankfully, you have no reservations about befriending a mop-haired, clumsy boy who has nothing to offer you.”
    “W-what?” she asked, at a loss.
    “Today I hauled firewood for our stove, washed my face, and tried to get out of the house before Faith combed my hair. I pulled on my torn jacket and headed to the gorge, because that’s my favorite place and because I wanted to get out of working the greenhouse. The sheriff was there again, and I didn’t want him to see me and give me another lecture.”
    “Adam, I’m not following.” Rebecca shook her head, wondering if her thoughts were scrambling again.
    “Your uncle Duke is trying to court my sister, Faith. I don’t like him much because he caught me stealing a brush from Brown and Shepherd’s store.”
    “Perhaps it’s my headache,” she said, touching her temple.
    A crooked grin tilted his mouth. “I’m thirteen years old and all I can think about is a brown-eyed girl named Rebecca Grayson.”
    In that moment she caught on to what he was doing. The idea was so unusual and so... sweet it made her smile. “Oh, my,” she said, pressing her fingers to her lips.
    He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze and said, “I’m Adam Dearborn and I’m pleased to MEET you.”
    The sound of her own laughter surprised her and seemed to please him.
    He stepped back, his gaze softening as he looked at her. Leaning one strong shoulder against the porch pillar, a half-smile lifted his lips. “Welcome to the first day we met.”
    That he was reenacting their first meeting as if they were strangers instead of two adults with years of history between them moved her in a way she hadn’t felt since her first moment with Star.
    She sat back on the swing and lowered her hands to her lap. “I’m afraid I don’t know what to say other than thank you.”
    “Tell me about your day.” He sat in the chair catty-corner to the porch swing she was sitting on. “What was your best moment?”
    Surprise made her lift her eyebrows.
    “It’s a game I play with my friend Rebecca Grayson,” he said.
    “All right,” she said, somewhat hesitantly, but she liked the idea of starting over, of not being expected to remember everything. “I