Out of the Depths

That much was true. Still, he’d agreed to come to Serenity for a recuperation period, knowing Becky would undoubtedly try to meddle and insist she was doing it for his own good.

“I must have been taking way too much pain medication when Dad recommended this trip,” Cody muttered. “I can’t believe I agreed.”

In the back of his mind, however, another idea was jumping up and down and screeching like a squad of teenage cheerleaders at a pep rally. Could Trudy Lynn have been on the right track when she’d mentioned the possibility of divine intervention?

Cody immediately rejected that notion. If God had wanted to intercede on his behalf, He was too late. About two months too late.

He snorted derisively. Make that a whole lifetime too late. Considering all that had happened, there was no way he could ever go back to the unquestioning faith he’d leaned on as a lonely, confused child.

Of all the losses he’d experienced, that loss of faith left him feeling the emptiest.

FOUR

Trudy Lynn made sure she was the first person to knock on Cody’s door the following morning. Her arrival was heralded by a chorus of deep woofing and a call of, “Hang on. I’m coming.”

Fidgeting, she waited. When Cody opened the door she greeted him with a wide smile and a cheery, “Good morning.” His clothes were wrinkled. His day’s growth of beard was nearly invisible due to his light coloring but his tousled hair showed he hadn’t expected such an early visit.

Nevertheless, he smiled. “I thought you said I could sleep in?”

“I know I did. I’m sorry. I just wanted to apologize for Will. His mistake was my fault. I should have stopped by his cabin last night and told him you were staying here.”

“At least he didn’t shoot me. Or my dog.”

“Thank God—literally.” She pointed to Sailor who was sitting behind Cody and panting so heartily he looked as if he was smiling. “Want me to walk him for you?”

“Not a good idea. He hates leashes. He’d probably wind up walking you. Besides, he’s already been out once this morning. You’re not the only one who’s an early riser. My furry friend got me up at dawn.”

“Did you rest okay? Is the bed soft enough?”

Cody nodded. “Actually, it’s almost too soft. The less I accidentally move while I’m sleeping, the better.”

“How about now? How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

Trudy Lynn could tell he was far from fine but she figured, if he wanted to deny his pain, that was okay with her. Dwelling on it was probably worse for him, anyway.

“Glad to hear it. Have you eaten?”

“No. To tell you the truth, I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.” He rubbed his palm over his cheek. “Feels like I need a shave, too.”

“And a change of clothes. Did you sleep in those? They look like it.”

“Sure did. After your friend Will scared us silly, I didn’t have enough energy left to get ready for bed.” He glanced at his dog with affection. “Sailor was a great watchdog. Stood right in front of me and kept the dangerous old codger at bay.”

“Poor Will,” Trudy Lynn said. “He was really disappointed when he discovered you weren’t the bad guys, come to ransack a cabin.”

“I hope he put on more clothes before he went to your place to tell you about it. When he showed up here he was dressed in boxers and hiking boots. If he hadn’t been pointing a gun at me I’d have laughed out loud. He has the skinniest, ugliest legs I’ve ever seen, except maybe on a scrawny chicken.”

“That’s because you haven’t seen mine.” Trudy Lynn was instantly sorry she’d been so glib. Cody was now looking her up and down as if he’d just discovered she was a woman, and she didn’t like the awareness his assessing blue eyes revealed.

“You look nice in those jeans,” he finally said.

Flustered, she averted her gaze and unnecessarily smoothed the denim. “Thanks. Now, about breakfast. How soon do you think you can be ready?”

“Ready? Ready for what?”

“The best biscuits and gravy in Fulton County.”

“Are you asking me to go out to breakfast?”

“No.” Her brow wrinkled. “I’m cooking. Actually, it’s all made. I took the biscuits out of the oven before I came down here.” She brightened. “Oh, I get it. You’re thinking of your sister’s cooking. Don’t worry. Mine has won prizes at the county fair.”

“That’s a relief. But really, you don’t have to coddle me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know that.” She rolled her eyes. “Look, Cody. You might as well get used to folks being nice to you for no particular reason. Around here, people are friendly, period. It’s not because you have a problem or because we feel sorry for you. Okay?”

“Okay.” He shrugged. “I am a little hungry. How far is it to your place? Up the hill, right?”

“Right. But don’t try to walk it.” Trudy Lynn pointed to a squat, green, four-wheel-drive vehicle parked in the drive. “I’ll do a few chores, then bring the ATV back and pick you up. How much time will you need to get ready?”

“Ready to ride that? About six months should do it.”

“Cynic. I’ll do the driving. All you’ll have to do is shut up and hang on.”

His wry expression when he said, “That’s what I was afraid of,” was so funny she couldn’t help laughing.

Cody managed to shower and shave in short order. He didn’t think it would hurt to humor Trudy Lynn just this once. Besides, he wanted a chance to ask her more about the vandalism before he got Will’s opinion. He knew there wasn’t a whole lot he could do to apprehend whoever had been damaging the canoes but there was no reason he couldn’t at least try to get a description of them for the police. To his surprise, he was looking forward to having something constructive to occupy his mind for a change.

He was positive that he’d be able to mount the ATV successfully. How he’d stay on it once they were moving promised to be a bit trickier.

Trudy Lynn arrived in a cloud of dust and slid to a stop right in front of him. “Hop on.”

“What about my crutches?”

“We’ll clip them across the rack with a bungee cord. Come on. Gravy’s getting cold.”

Cody got on easily by keeping his injured leg straight and swinging it around and over, brace and all. Once he was in position behind Trudy Lynn, however, he was faced with the decision of whether or not he should slip his arms around her waist. His balance was off due to the knee brace and he didn’t want to wind up flat on his back in the dirt, yet he hardly knew the young woman.

“You’d better hang on to me,” she said, solving his dilemma. “This road’s kind of bumpy.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Trudy Lynn said. “I trust you.”

“Thanks.”

Cody did as she’d instructed, keeping his touch as light and gentlemanly as he could. Only in an emergency would he tighten his hold, he promised himself. Grabbing her like that would be a last resort.