Danni Rose (The Sherwood)

She knew how he felt besides being Matt’s best friend. He had nothing to offer a woman. His parole might be done, three years after serving five years in Lebanon Ohio Correctional. He didn’t have to report any more, so he had left the halfway house he had been living in. The only place he had to live that gave him a roof over his head and a bed for the night.

From the first time that Walker stayed with her it was a silent invitation and acceptance. He said nothing at the time when she told him there would be a chaise in her shed for him. She knew that he wouldn’t sleep inside with her.

A few nights later, he showed up. Quiet-like, he was in the bar, he went to the barn and slept in the lounge chair. Danni had snuck out and covered him with a blanket. He was sleeping so soundly he hadn’t even heard her while she had trouble sleeping most of the time. She had wanted to touch him that night too but was afraid. She was tired of being afraid.

In the morning, he had walked to the creek behind the house and washed his face, hands and neck. Matt told her, he showered at his house and some of their other friends from time to time. He worked out at the local gym and showered there too.

Her brother, Matt never questioned where he slept which didn’t make sense to Danni. How could he not make sure that Walker was taken care of when he was working so hard at Matt’s farm and at the pub? She was going to take Walker an extra blanket since he wouldn’t come inside. The handmade quilt that her grandmother had made would keep him warm. She started to go down the porch steps when Walker called to her.

“Danni, over here.” She stopped and walked to the end of the porch. She leaned over the railing and handed him the quilt. “Thanks.”

“How did you know?”

He chuckled. “You wanted me to come inside so the logical thing was for you to bring me an extra blanket. I know you well, Danni Rose.”

“Sleep well, Walker.”

“You too,” he mumbled.

She watched him turn and start to head towards the barn. “You okay?” She asked.

He hesitated and glanced over his shoulder at her. “I really appreciate you doing this for me, you know. Go inside now,” Walker told her. “I want to be sure you’re safe.”

She chuckled, then she headed across the porch. She knew he waited in the shadows until her front door clicked shut.

It was now three-forty-five in the morning. Danni headed to the bedroom and climbed between the sheets. Her body and her mind were both restless as she tried to go to sleep. Morning was going to come early.

Chapter 6

Walker had breakfast cooking on the stove for her. Sometimes, he did that for her because she gave him a place to stay. It might be her food but at least he was cooking it for her.

“Morning,” he said when she walked up to the island and sat down.

His dark eyes fringed by black lashes were impossibly thick covered his eyes, hiding his emotions. He looked back at the stove to avoid her. She knew him well, but she also knew that he was hiding something from her. Danni didn’t push him.

“Did you sleep well?” She asked.

“I did.”

She didn’t know how that was possible. He was easily six feet four and he weighed two hundred, twenty pounds, two, thirty at most, of solid muscle. She knew that he barely fit into the chaise she put outside for him, but she had to do something because otherwise Walker would have slept on the hard floor. She couldn’t let him do that.

Soon, he put a plate of food in front of her. “You’re a good cook. Dad could give Seth a night off and let you do the cooking.”

“I wash the dishes and I’m grateful to your dad,” he said. He washed up and wiped down the counters while she ate.

“Walker, why don’t you eat too?”

“Not hungry,” he replied. He only ate if she cooked and put the food in front of him.

Walker stared through the window that faced the creek and the woods surrounding her cabin while she finished her breakfast in silence. Danni accepted that this was the way tha

t he liked it, sometimes. He had something on his mind.

When she was done eating, she took her plate to him. He watched her like she was too close to him. Danni glanced up at him. “Walker, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he declared, glancing away. He snatched the plate out of her hands and told her to get ready for work. Danni shook her head at him and walked away.

She went down the hall to her room and dressed in old, faded jeans and a black, Hal’s Garage t-shirt; the name of her Granddad’s garage. She slipped her feet into the work boots and tied up her hair in a ponytail. She walked through the living room heading to the kitchen talking to Walker when she realized that he wasn’t there. He always left her a note when he left like this and this morning was no different.