The Corporal and the Choir Girl

Beth rose and opened her arms to embrace Reegan. When Reegan stood, Brandon found he had trouble unlinking their entwined fingers. In the end, he did let go of her hand. She was staying with him.

“I'll stop by tomorrow,” said Beth. “And don’t worry, no one's expecting you at choir practice tonight.”

"No," said Reegan. "I'll be there. More than anything, I need to sing."

"Okay, why don't you come into town with us.”

"I can bring her," said Brandon. The words came out a bit too forceful. He couldn’t help it. The idea of Reegan leaving his sight unsettled him.

Beth gave him another glance over beginning at his booted feet and ending at his hairline. Finally, she gave him one last nod. Then after a stern, sixty-second long gaze from Pastor Barrett that made Brandon feel like a naughty schoolboy, they were gone.

When the door closed behind the Barretts, Reegan slumped back down on the couch and into Brandon’s side. He held her, resting his head atop hers. She'd held a brave front these last few days.

Through it all, the news of her brother, her house burning down, she only showed her vulnerability when she was alone with him. Brandon's chest swelled that she trusted him with her worries and woes.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I keep breaking down around you."

"I've got you,” he assured her. “No one should have this much put on them."

“I’m sure there's a lesson in here somewhere. Otherwise, what's the point?"

There was no point. Bad things happened for no reason. Or simply because men wanted power.

This woman needed a protector. Brandon had spent his life in service. He was sure he was the man for the job.

"Maybe a change will do me good," Reegan said. "I should probably consider California."

He stiffened beside her. He had to struggle to keep his hold on her light and not tighten like a vise. “But your life is here."

He felt her nod her head against his chest. “This community is my family. But I should probably go and be with my actual blood. Aunt Prudence has been after me to come and visit for two years now, and I’ve just never found the time.”

“A visit wouldn’t be so bad.” The words were forced from his mouth. Maybe he could make a road trip out of it, and he could drive her there?

“I thought I’d have a family of my own by now and would have been moved out of the house.”

A terrible thought went through Brandon’s mind. “You’re not … I mean, there’s no one … Are you dating anyone?”

Reegan tilted her head back and looked up at him. She looked so soft and small. He shifted her head so that it was in the nook between his shoulder cap and neck. He could look down at this sight for the rest of his life.

“I’m not interested in any man in town,” she said. “I watched them all grow up. I remember when they ate boogers. How can I kiss someone who ate his own boogers?”

It was funny, but Brandon wasn’t laughing. He was too focused on the implications of that statement. “You've never kissed anyone?"

Reegan’s cheeks reddened. She didn’t lift her head from his shoulder, but she did tilt her gaze down. “I didn't say that."

By the way she looked away from him, Brandon got the feeling she hadn't. What was wrong with the men in this town? How could they resist the taste of the sweetness of her lips? They all were cracked in the head if they preferred boogers to Reegan Cartwright.

But he had to put that aside. He didn’t want her thinking about other men. He definitely didn’t want her thinking of California.

"But you'd rather stay here if you could?" he said.

She lifted her gaze back to his, and his breath caught. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. He would do anything to keep her close to him.

“I would,” she said. “I love it here. I've never had any desire to leave. I'd miss the blooms. I'd miss my friends. I'd miss the choir."

All of a sudden, her words made complete sense to him. He couldn’t see

any reason for leaving this place either? Especially if he saw the blooms while standing at her side. He’d happily mix with her friends. He definitely wanted to hear her sing every day for the rest of his life.