Best Friend's Ex Box Set

"Verity brought a stranger into the house," Honor said grumpily. "He's on the couch and I think he needs a doctor, but she says he's fine. I'm sick of her bossing me around and acting like she knows what's best!"

"Wait, back up, what stranger?" I asked as I turned and looked at her. Honor was well known for her dramatic storytelling skills, so I always tended to wait to hear the full story before drawing any conclusions about what she was saying.

"The stranger who put his car in the ditch!" Honor said impatiently. She had finished hanging the tack on the wall of the barn and had joined me in Titus' stall. "The guy put his Mustang in the ditch and Verity, Danny, and I got him out of it and hauled him to the couch. I told Verity to call 911, but she said it wasn't necessary. He wasn't hurt that bad."

"Are you telling me that there is a strange man in the house?" I asked.

"Grace!" Honor yelled. "You never listen to me!"

She turned and took off toward the back door of the barn running out into the cornfields. I was too tired to chase her. Instead, I hung up the brush and secured Blackie's stall before heading into the house. I wasn't exactly sure what I'd find, but I knew that it would probably be a lot less dramatic than the picture Honor had painted.

"Verity? Danny?" I called as I opened the door and entered the kitchen. The smell of dinner hung in the air and I felt my stomach growl as I looked around and saw a covered plate sitting on top of the stove. I called again, "Verity?"

"Grace, I'm so glad you're home!" my sister said as she walked into the kitchen carrying a tray that held a glass of water and a host of first aid supplies. "It's been awful busy around here today."

"Honor told me," I said eyeing the tray and looking back at Verity. "What's going on?"

"One of the English crashed his car into the ditch across the road and we helped get him out!" she said as her eyes shined with the excitement.

"When did this happen?" I asked.

"This morning after we milked," she replied as she removed the bowl and glass from the tray and moved to the sink.

"This morning?" I exclaimed. "What is he still doing here? Do you know anything about him? He could be dangerous! What were you thinking, Verity?"

"Calm down, Grace," she said smiling. "He's staying over at Mrs. Yoder's place and he had a meeting with Uncle Amos this morning. He's very interesting, you know!"

"Verity," I said sternly. "This is not okay, and you know it."

"But Grace..." she pleaded, ”he's talking to Danny."

"He's what?"

"He's been talking to Danny all day, and Danny's been sitting next to him listening," she said. "Go see for yourself!"

I dropped my things on the kitchen table and walked into the living room. There on the couch under the window that looked out over our backfields, sat the very handsome man who'd been so flip with me the night before. Except now he was dressed in business attire and looked like one of the young executives I regularly worked with in the offices in the Loop.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a flat voice looking him over. He was stretched out on the couch with one of Mamm's quilts spread across his body. It wasn't quite long enough to cover his whole body, so his feet stuck out on one end. His eyes met mine and I couldn't look away. He threw back the quilt and tried to stand, but the pain was too great and he groaned as he sunk back down on the couch.

"Well, if it isn't the irritated store clerk!" he said in a tone that implied we were long lost pals.

"Who are you?" I asked ignoring his pain for the moment.

"I told you last night or did you forget? I'm Adam Wallace," he muttered through clenched teeth wrapping an arm around his mid-section. "You know, that dinner you sold me was outstanding despite the microwave."

"Wonderful, Mr. Wallace," I said in a clipped tone. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now, please tell me what you are doing in my house?"

"He crashed his car in the ditch across the street," Verity said quietly. "Danny, Honor, and I got him out and brought him inside."

"Why on earth would you do that, Verity?" I said as I spun around to face my sister.

"Because he was hurt, Grace!" she cried. "I didn't want to leave him trapped in the car."

"He's a stranger, Verity," I scolded. "Didn't you think about your safety? Or Danny's? You're old enough to know better!"

"Grace," Adam interrupted, "It's true I'm a stranger in town, but I promise I'm not dangerous."

"Your car in the ditch would indicate otherwise, Mr. Wallace," I said dryly.