Sam walked into the kitchen to find Tim sitting at the head of the table shaking his head at whatever Darian was telling him. They all turned to stare at her when she walked into the room.
Determined to get through this as quickly as possible, she raised her chin and walked over to the counter. She turned on the tap, took down two glasses and filled them with water before handing one to Jace and the other to his brother. Both men offered their thanks before quickly downing the water, making her feel worse than ever for not offering it sooner.
“Samantha Rose Calloway.”
She flinched slightly when Tim used her full name, but faced him squarely. “Yeah?”
“What kind of a mess have you gotten yourself into, girl?” Tim rubbed his hand over his bearded chin.
She shrugged. “It wasn’t my fault. I was walking the fields, minding my own business, when I found them.”
Tim sighed. “Don’t rightly know what to do or what to tell you.”
She frowned at him. “What’s to do? I’m home now.”
Tim pushed to his feet and came around the table to stand in front of her. “From what I understand, you still have a choice to make. You can go home with them when this tapestry returns.”
“If it returns,” she muttered. She didn’t look at either brother. She felt awful for even suggesting such a thing.
“There is that,” Tim agreed. “Of course, either of these men could choose to stay here. Or even both of them could stay if they were so inclined.”
Even as her heart jumped at the possibility, Sam was shaking her head. “Their mother would be devastated. Plus, they have a lot of folks depending on them.”
“And what do you have here, Sam?” Tim asked in a gentle voice that made tears well in her eyes. “Your parents and John are gone and you’re struggling every day to hold on to the farm. It’s a hard life for a woman alone.”
“What are you suggesting?” she cried. How could Tim even propose such a thing? This was her home. Where she belonged.
Tim pulled her into his strong arms and hugged her. He smelled slightly of the same soap her father had used and Sam closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and, for a brief moment, pretended it was her father holding her.
“I’m not suggesting anything, Sam. I’m telling you to weigh your options and really think things through before you make any decisions. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you.”
Sam’s head was spinning. Tim was actually suggesting she leave her home, her only connection to her family, take a leap of faith and go back to an unknown world with two men she’d met less than two days ago. The implications were staggering.
Tim released her and took a step back. “Think about it. If you want to talk, come on over to the house.” He collected his rifle and turned a hard gaze on the Hunter brothers. “You take good care of her. You hurt her and it won’t matter if you’re in another world. I’ll find you.”
Jace inclined his head. “You have our word.”
“Good enough.” Tim rubbed his hand across the top of her head. “You think on what I said, little girl. You know where to find me if you need me.” He handed her his phone. “You said you lost yours. You call Mary’s number if you need me.”
Tim departed, leaving her alone with Jace and Darian. She wasn’t ready to face either of them at the moment. She was so confused. Mostly, she missed her family—her father, her mother and her brother. She missed her father’s gruff voice, the way her brother teased her mercilessly and the way her mother always smelled of honeysuckle soap.
The last two days had rocked her world. First, there was the threat of losing the farm and everything her family had worked for if she couldn’t manage to turn things around. Then there was the whole tapestry thing and the trip to Javara. Was it any wonder she was feeling so emotional?
Sam knew she couldn’t hold it together much longer. She had to get away before she broke down and started crying like a baby. “There’s food in the refrigerator if you’re hungry.” She gestured toward the twenty-year-old, white refrigerator so they’d know what she was talking about. “I’ll be back.”
She walked toward the back door and pushed it open. Tim’s truck was a cloud of dust in the distance. Sam blinked as the image wavered. Just dust in her eyes. That’s all.
Darian called her name, but she ignored him and hurried toward the barn as fast as her feet could carry her. It was empty now, but still carried the scent of the horses that had once lived there. Practically running now, she pushed the door open and stepped into the cool shade.
Arrow stepped out of the shadows and meowed at her as if to ask where the heck she’d been. His food and water dishes were empty. “I’m sorry.” She worked quickly to fill both bowls and the cat dove into the food with great zeal. From his reaction, you’d swear the cat hadn’t eaten for a week instead of a day. And Sam knew darn well the cat caught the occasional mouse to feast on.
The minute she was finished the chore, the first sob broke from her lips. Sam stumbled toward a bale of hay in the corner. Before she got there, strong arms closed around her, protective and sheltering. Arrow hissed his displeasure at the intrusion and darted away. The cat didn’t like strangers and would probably stay away as long as Jace and Darian were around.
Sam burst into tears. As appalled as she was by her emotional outburst, she couldn’t stop it. Now that the dam had burst open, there was no way to close it.
“Everything will be all right, Sam.” Jace held her in his arms as he walked toward several bales of hay and sat, settling her on his lap. Darian lowered himself onto the bale beside them and Jace could feel and see his brother’s concern.
Was there anything that could make a man feel more helpless than a woman’s pain and tears? If there was, he hoped never to find out. Jace ached for Sam, for everything she’d been through and every trial she had yet to face in her life.
From what Tim had told them and what little Sam had shared, he knew her life hadn’t been an easy one. All her family was gone and she was alone. Jace wanted to roar at the heavens, demanding they return her loved ones to her. But that was impossible.
It was probably the reason the tapestry had brought her to Javara in the first place. She was a woman alone, a woman who could make a life in their world.
But she was still too deeply attached to her family and the land they owned. Jace couldn’t fault her for that. All he wanted was to return home. But he wanted her to go with them.
For the first time, he truly understood how unfair the tapestry was to the women it brought to Javara. His entire life, all he’d thought about were the benefits of having a tapestry bride—a woman to love, children, family and a future. He’d never truly understood the magnitude of what each woman had to give up when they stayed.
Like any world, this one had its problems. Sam’s brother had been killed in a war and the land seemed harsh and unforgiving. But Sam had neighbors who cared and people who loved her. She had land and a family legacy.
Asking her to give this all up and step into the unknown with him and Darian was too much.
“Shh.” He rocked her like he would a child, but the woman in his arms was no child and his senses stirred. The warmth of her skin enticed him even as her tears wet his bare chest. He wanted to keep her safe in his arms and he wanted to strip her naked and fuck her. The polar emotions had him on edge.
“Sam, you’re home and you’re safe.” Jace didn’t know what to say to get her to stop crying. He kissed the top of her head before tilting her back slightly so he could see her face. Her cheeks were blotchy, her eyes red.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead, her nose and both cheekbones. She sniffed and he could see her trying to pull herself back together. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, swiping at the tears rolling down her face.