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"Macie? Where are you?"

She had to be hearing things Why would he be here now?

The deep voice became louder "Macie? It’s me Carter Carter McKay"

"Carter?"

"Yeah Where are you?" Ooof exploded fros as she tackled his clarips She’d didn’t care he was sopping wet; she didn’t care that she immediately burst into tears

"Hey, now Ssh It’s okay I’ot you Ssh Take a deep breath"

He slah the galley style kitchen He cursed when his knee hit the edge of theto him

Carter shifted her body He settled her on his lap, not atterip her li her He rested his chin on her head

Her breath stuttered She buried her face in his solid warhed

"Better?" he murmured

"A little"

"Pleased as I am to have you in my arms, can I ask why you’re actin’ so…"

Please, don’t say childish

"…skittish?"

Although thankful he wasn’t uts to answer

"Macie?"

She wasn’t surprised he kept prodding her But it was his gentle tone that uessed that"

Rain beat on the roof in the silence,her fear

"I’ve been terrified of theht help if you tell me what happened"

Macie suspected he wouldn’t quit pestering her until she told him the truth "When I was about four, I woke up in thein a two-bedroom trailer in Texas I went into my mom’s room, only to find she wasn’t there So I crawled in her bed and waited for her Scared out of my mind that someone had broken in and kidnapped her I hid under a blanket, but I couldn’t even cry because I thoughtwas so close I re straight up

"Then a hailstorh and hailstones the size of baseballs pounded the roof, and beat on the side of the trailer hard enough the bedroo was soaking wet from the rain I remember it was so dark and I was alone and I couldn’t move For hours It seemed like I spent a solid lifeti helpless and alone--"

"Ssh Macie, darlin’, I’m here You’re not alone now" Carter rocked her

She released another shuddering sigh "My mom never understood why I was afraid, so I’ve never told anyone else"

"I’lad you toldnot to have outgrown that childhood fear"

"It seems perfectly justified to me Besides, we all have fears we try to hide"

"Even you?"

He laughed softly "Even me"

Macie lifted her head and peered in his eyes "You know mine, it’s only fair you tell h?"

She nodded

Absentmindedly, he brushed the damp hair from her cheek "See, I’m orse off than you because I have two The first one is, I’?"

"Stupid, huh?"

"Why? Did you have a cowgirl spurn you at a junior high dance or so?"

"No I’m afraid I’ll look like a fool It is a bone-deep fear that keeps me far, far away from weddin’ dances and the dance floor in honky-tonks"

"You’ve never two-stepped?"

"Nope"

"Slow danced?"

"Nope"

"So, your high school proer afterward"