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  “Have you tried asking your brother what happened?” Winnie’s voice was gentle.

  Rebekah shook her head. “No. I haven’t talked with him since he left. I called Mom, but she said he hadn’t come home and hadn’t even told them what happened. We’re all worried about him. Josh isn’t a quitter and everything’s always come easy for him, easier than for me.” Rebekah’s tone held not a trace of jealousy or envy. “He’s not used to resentment and forcible ejection either. It must have been a crushing blow to his ego.”

  “All right then, come with me.” Getting up from her bed, Lexa headed toward the screen door.

  “What?” Rebekah stared at her, wide-eyed.

  “You heard me. Let’s go over to Sam’s office right now. If he’s there, you can ask him what happened with Josh. This situation is eating you up inside, and that’s not good for anyone, especially you. It’s time to clear this up so you can put it past you.”

  “I’m not sure,” Rebekah protested.

  “It’s a great idea, Beck.” Winnie jumped up and ran over to Rebekah and put a light hand on her arm. At least she didn’t shrug her away. “Lexa’s right, sweetie. Go straighten all this out with Sam. That way you’ll finally know what happened. You know it’s the only way to get past this anger and bitterness you’re harboring.” Pulling her off the bed, Winnie practically dragged her over to the door beside Lexa.

  “How do you know I’m going to like Sam’s answer?”

  Rebekah’s voice was so quiet, Lexa had to strain to hear the question. “Is that what you’re afraid of? What Sam’s going to say if you ask him?”

  With a slow nod, Rebekah’s eyes filled with tears as they met Lexa’s. “Yes. You’re right about Sam making careful decisions. I think there’s a part of me that’s scared of what Josh might have done to get himself kicked out.”

  “Well, instead of blaming Sam, let’s ask him and get it over with. Then you can deal with it and hopefully work out this tension between you. Come on.” Stepping outside and holding the door, Lexa paused long enough to make sure Rebekah followed.

  The walk across the campsite to Sam’s office was silent. Knocking on the door, Lexa’s breathing grew shallow. If she was this nervous, she could just imagine how Rebekah felt.

  Chapter 33

  “Come in.” It was dim inside the office, and Lexa hesitated, waiting for her eyes to adjust. Sam sat up straighter behind the desk and smiled. “Ah, two of my favorite workers. Come in, please. Have a seat.” Removing his glasses, he motioned for them to take the chairs in front of his desk. “What’s on your mind?”

  When Rebekah remained silent, Lexa spoke up, getting right to the heart of the matter. “Rebekah wants to know why you ordered Josh to leave the camp.”

  “Is that right?” Sam looked from Lexa over to Rebekah. The latter nodded silently.

  Sam put down the pen he’d been holding. “Lexa, would you mind leaving us so that Rebekah and I can talk privately, please?” He looked so earnest, and his eyes implored hers.

  “Certainly,” she mumbled, rising from her seat and heading to the door. This must be what it felt like to be dismissed from the principal’s office. But she respected and understood Sam’s need for privacy. He quickly walked across the room to pull open the door for her. With a lingering glance at Rebekah, nodding at her for reassurance, Lexa turned to leave.

  “No, wait! I want her to stay. You can’t say anything to me that Lexa can’t hear.” At Rebekah’s words, Sam hung his head and muttered something unintelligible.

  “Please, Sam,” Rebekah reiterated.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?” Sam shook his head. “You should talk to your brother. He should be the one to explain it to you.”

  Rebekah groaned and her eyes lit with anger. “No one knows where Josh is right now, so it’s not like I can just call him up and talk to him. I’m sick and tired of everyone telling me to talk to Josh. I’m here to talk to you. I want some answers, and I’m not leaving your office until I get them.” She crossed her arms and sat up straighter in the chair.

  “I guess your mind’s made up then.” Sam’s voice was resigned, and he eased himself back down into his chair. He nodded at Lexa to take her place again. “In a way, this actually concerns you, too, Lexa.”

  Her brows shot up in surprise as she once again sat next to Rebekah. Although she’d suspected as much, she couldn’t be sure. A rising sense of dread stirred in the pit of her stomach. Sam appeared uneasy, chewing his lip, his brow furrowed.

  “What do you want to know, exactly?” Sam watched Rebekah through veiled blue eyes. His mouth settled into a grim, straight line, but he held her gaze steady.

  “Lexa just told you,” Rebekah cried in exasperation, throwing her hands in the air. “I want to know what happened between you and Josh, and why you threw him out of the camp.”

  Sam sighed and raked his hand through his hair. “It has to do with Shelby.”

  “Shelby? What about Shelby?” Rebekah shook her head, surprise mingled with confusion etched in her expression.

  “I wasn’t the only one having a relationship with her.”

  Rebekah stared at Sam. “Josh?” She was incredulous. “You’re trying to tell me that Josh and Shelby . . . ?” She hesitated to absorb this latest bit of information. “No way!” Bounding out of the chair, Rebekah stalked across the floor. Leaning back against a file cabinet, she shook her head slowly back and forth. “I can’t believe it. I won’t believe it.”

  “Not only did he have a relationship with her, but it was a physical one. Josh and Shelby were apparently deeply involved.” The words were quiet but firm, leaving no room for doubt.

  “You’re crazy! I can’t believe you’ve deluded yourself into believing these lies!” Tears streamed from her eyes and down her cheeks as Rebekah glared at him. “That can’t possibly be true! You’ve made all this up to justify Shelby’s death in some sick, twisted way.”

  “Beck, sit down and let’s talk about this calmly.” Sam’s voice remained steady as he motioned for her to take her seat again.

  “Don’t you come near me, Sam Lewis!” Rebekah visibly withdrew and turned her head. Sam crossed the room and reached out in an attempt to draw Rebekah back over to the chair. He murmured quiet, soothing words, but Rebekah shook her head, putting her hands over her eyes.

  Lexa didn’t doubt the truth of any of it. Josh was the man with whom Shelby was involved. As horrible as it was, Sam spoke the truth. Her heart ached for them all.

  “You were angry with Shelby that night. She told me all about it,” Rebekah spouted, the words harsh and bitter, wounded. With the back of her hand, she sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her eyes were full of hurt as she dared to look up at Sam. “You made her cry, and she ran off into the city with Jake because you pushed her away.”

  Sam hung his head and when he looked back up, Lexa saw his tears. “True, we quarreled the night she died. I gave Shelby an ultimatum. It was either Josh or me. I told her I was willing to forgive her relationship with him if she repented of her sin and asked forgiveness.”

  “Oh, you’d never forgive her and you know it! You wouldn’t forgive a betrayal like that,” Rebekah shot back. “You backed Shelby into a corner, and she felt like she had no way out. She was like this trapped, little scared animal at your will and mercy. You used her just like you use everyone else in your life!”

  For a fleeting moment, Lexa glimpsed his deep hurt. Sam flinched, his jaw visibly tightened and his fists clenched at his sides. His voice was thick with emotion when he spoke. “It wasn’t my forgiveness Shelby needed.”

  Sam’s gaze moved over to Lexa. “She needed to repent and ask forgiveness from the Lord.” He paced across the room, gathering his thoughts. Lexa knew he wanted to be as gentle as he could with Rebekah, softening the harsh truth to spare her feelings. “In my heart, I believe Shelby knew what she was doing was wrong. The problem is, Josh didn’t think it was wrong then, and he apparently still doesn’
t.”

  Lexa fully expected Rebekah to erupt again, but she stood motionless, her eyes dull. When she spoke again, her voice was flat, eerily devoid of emotion. “How does Lexa fit into this picture?”

  Lexa shrank back against the hard, wooden chair. This whole situation was unnerving. It should be a private exchange where she had no place. But Rebekah had asked the primary question lingering in her own mind, one she was afraid to voice.

  Sam’s eyes softened as they found hers again. “Quite frankly, Josh wanted to know if I was through with her, as he so crudely put it. Sorry, Lexa.” Sam’s focus darted back to Rebekah. “You know I never want to hurt you, Beck. I care deeply about both you and Josh, but your brother has some problems he needs to deal with, and I pray he gets the help he needs. He’s a great guy—strong, intelligent and more than capable of doing anything he wants—but he definitely needs to put a leash on his behavior or he’s going to get into even deeper trouble somewhere down the line.”

  “Why are you lying about this?” Rebekah accused, her anger overtaking her once more as she stalked toward the door. “Are you trying to protect your precious reputation? Trying to make it look good for Lexa?”

  Sam made no move to stop her as she put one hand on the door. “I’m not trying to make it look good for anyone.” He looked beaten down, desperate, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “I’m telling you the truth. I’m sorry. I never meant for you to find out this way. I think when you calm down and think about it, you’ll realize in your heart that what I’m saying is true.”

  He blew out a long, ragged breath. “I have absolutely nothing to gain by lying. You and I have been through too much together, Beck, and you know it. Maybe you don’t believe me now, but in time you will.”

  Without another word, Rebekah stormed out the door, and it slammed hard behind her. Sam was visibly shaken, his face pale, his eyes glazed as he slumped down into his chair. He hung his head, defeat in his sagging shoulders.

  Lexa silently rose from her chair and moved behind the desk to stand beside him. When he looked up at her, his eyes shining, Lexa opened her arms. Reaching for her, Sam clung tight, his dark head resting against her stomach. His arms found their way around her. His hold tightened, and he closed his eyes. A tear escaped, followed by another.

  “I’m so sorry, Sam.” Lexa stroked gentle fingers through his thick, dark hair. She brushed a kiss over her the top of his head and leaned her head against his.

  Finally surrendering to the overwhelming emotion, Sam wept. His shoulders shook, and he burrowed his head against her, muffling quiet sobs. She’d hold on as long as he needed her, thankful he wasn’t embarrassed. Most men considered tears a sign of weakness, vulnerability and a concession to male pride. Sam Lewis was a giant among men in so many ways. But in that moment, he needed the comfort only a woman can give. A woman who truly loved him, heart and soul.

  Chapter 34

  The next evening, sharing leaning rights at the tree, Sam made yet another startling announcement. “I think you should know I never would have married Shelby.”

  Lexa couldn’t hide her shock. “Why not?”

  Taking a moment to compose his thoughts, Sam released a long sigh. “Shelby was all about trying to prove something to the world. But she was too young. It never would have worked out between us for the long haul.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Lexa didn’t bother reminding him that, being five years older than Rebekah, she was also Shelby’s age. She also understood he meant something other than chronological age.

  “I should think you’d be somewhat relieved.” He chuckled and drew up his knees, his arms clasped around them. Leaning his chin on his arms, he looked over at Lexa with a thoughtful expression.

  “Why?”

  “I think you know why, Lexa. A lot of my friends were getting married at the time, so I figured it was also time for me to move on to that natural, expected phase of my life. Sad, I know, but true all the same. Shelby just happened to be there at the time, and she was certainly more than willing.”

  He shrugged and stared straight ahead. “She actually brought up the whole marriage thing. Out of convenience as much as anything else, I went along with it. We didn’t date that long, if you can even call it that.” He paused. “When we fought that last night, I think we both knew in our hearts that it was over. We were just kidding ourselves.”

  Lexa shifted. “Did you ever truly forgive Shelby for the affair with Josh?”

  Sam’s eyes never left her face. “I still struggle with that one. Put it this way—my head forgave her, but it’s taken a lot longer for my heart.”

  “I’m sure it takes a lot of time to heal from something like that.”

  He nodded, and waited a long moment before speaking. “Before Shelby, I was too focused on my career and ministry with TeamWork to try and develop a lasting relationship with a woman. And after . . . well, after what happened with Shelby, I’ve poured myself back into the ministry so much that it’s pretty much consumed me. Little by little, I’m learning to surrender my bitterness to the Lord. It’s one of my biggest struggles.” He rubbed his hand over his brow and leaned back against the tree, shaking his head.

  Lexa settled beside him. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I’ll pray that you can surrender those feelings to the Lord. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you. To be betrayed by someone you love.” She captured his hand in hers and ran a light finger over the callus on his palm. His hands were strong and yet so gentle. Kind of like the man himself—strong on the outside, but tender and soft on the inside.

  “I think you know more about it than you realize.” When she looked up at him, scooting closer, Sam leaned his forehead against hers. “Your dad, Lexa.”

  Lexa lowered her head to his broad shoulder. “I never thought about it like that. I’m sure he didn’t mean to betray me. He just wasn’t a sensitive man, and he didn’t know how to show his love. But I know he did. Deep down, I know he cared more about me and my mom than he ever showed us. I hope he didn’t feel betrayed because my mom died, leaving him alone with me.” She shook her head, pushing wayward strands of hair away from her cheek. Raising her head, her eyes searched his. “I can’t think that way. I know what my heart needs to know.”

  Sam kissed her then, stirring all of Lexa’s senses. How long it went on, she couldn’t know. It was more sweet than passionate, and as tender as she could ever imagine. Before he drew away, he sighed, and she felt his smile.

  “I never felt about Shelby the way I feel about you, Lexa.” Sam’s lips traced a light path across her cheek. She gloried in his nearness, wondering if he’d take the leap of faith and tell her he loved her. If he did, how would she respond? They were quite the pair.

  Closing her eyes, Lexa sighed in contentment. Tomorrow would take care of itself. She’d read a verse about that very thing in the Book of Matthew. It also talked about each day having enough trouble of its own. True enough. Better to enjoy this time of peace and quiet while it lasted.

  They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, hands clasped tightly together. Lexa snuggled against Sam, and he put his arm around her, nestling her even closer. At least it wasn’t too humid, and a slight breeze ruffled through the tree overhead.

  “What’s your favorite movie?”

  He chuckled. “What brought that on?”

  “You can tell a lot about someone by the movies they like, you know. Kind of like learning about their fears.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Answer the question, please.”

  “Okay. The Ten Commandments.”

  Lexa rolled her eyes. “Biblical epics don’t count. They’re a given.”

  He thought a moment. “Then, I’d have to say Star Wars is pretty cool. Planet of the Apes was fascinating.” He snapped his fingers. “Witness! I loved that one.” His lips spread in a wide grin. “Have at it.”

  “That’s an easy one, cowboy.” She stretched out her legs beside him and leaned
back against the tree. “The whole fish out of water element appeals to you. Philly cop plopped down in the land of the Amish. It challenges you, gets your blood pumping through your veins. My Dad liked it, too.”

  “True. But the whole barn-raising thing is great since it’s like our TeamWork project here in San Antonio. Neighbor helping neighbor.” He smiled. “And your favorite movie is The Sound of Music.”

  “How did you . . . ?” She snapped her mouth closed.

  “You mentioned it the first day we met. In the car. You brought up singing . . . and skipping. You like the idea of family, of belonging. Even though it’s entirely unrealistic for people to burst into song at any given moment.” He laughed.

  It was Lexa’s turn to laugh. “Right. And intergalactic wars and apes annihilating humans and taking over the world is realistic.” She shook her head. “Do you remember everything?”

  Leaning close, Sam whispered, “Everything, beautiful girl.” The warmth of his lips sent shivers everywhere. It was amazing what a brush, a glance, a kiss from this man could do.

  Lexa gave him a coy smile.

  He laughed. “Oh, oh. I’m in for trouble now.”

  “I’m sure you left something out in the description of your dating history.”

  “Explain thyself, please.” A smile tipped the corners of his mouth.

  Lexa took a deep breath. “I’m sure you’ve dated your share of women. After all . . . well, take a good look at you.” However lame it sounded, it was true. Although he looked surprised, she could tell he was pleased. “And you can’t tell me the way you kiss is merely a God-given talent, Sam. It takes practice to be that good.”

  Sam looked at her with a look so loving it stole her breath. “No, Lexa.”

  “No . . . what, exactly?”

  “It doesn’t take practice. All it takes is finding the right woman.”

  Sam’s statement would silence most women, but she couldn’t let it go without comment. He shouldn’t be surprised. “Are you actually telling me you haven’t kissed many women?”