Ryker fiddled with his keys then tossed them in the air and caught them. “I don’t have to stay if you don’t want me to.”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t. The room is on the right. There’s an attached bathroom. You can call Mackenzie and let her know and I’ll see you in there.” He reached for his crutches and headed that way, but his brother’s voice stopped him.
“Thanks, Jacob.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. Hallie was the one thing he cared about in this moment. And as he headed down the hall toward her room, he attempted to come up with the words to thank her for what she’d done for him. She might not realize it, but by leaving him to hash it out with his brother, she’d inadvertently started the healing process.
Her door was ajar and he nudged it open with the rubber tip of his crutch. She was on the floor surrounded by several photographs. Her back was to him and she wore earbuds. Every so often she bobbed her head to whatever she was listening to.
It took a great deal of effort, but he dipped down and picked up the closest photograph. Shock rippled through him when he realized who it was.
He was on the back of the saddle, arm in the air, and a smile on his face. He didn’t know when she’d taken this picture. It was slightly blurry, but based on how old that camera looked, that made sense. He didn’t know much about cameras, but he did know that it took a certain kind to capture objects in motion.
Shifting, he picked up another. This one was of a cow and her calf in a field. Most of the pictures were of nature. Animals. Plants. Landscapes. Sure, there were a handful of people, cowboys mostly. And then there were images of barns and houses on expansive properties.
They were all so compelling.
A gasp ripped through the air just before Hallie snatched the pictures from his hand. “What are you doing?” There was panic in her voice, in her eyes, and the pallor of her skin had grown even worse with each word she uttered.
Jacob was tempted to reach out and brush a knuckle along her cheek—to soothe away that fear he heard. But that would be inappropriate. Instead, he slowly reached for a picture in her hand, retrieving it. “You took these.” It wasn’t a question. He’d caught her red-handed. He’d seen her with her camera. There was no denying it.
A dip of her chin was all she offered. Her eyes swam with emotion he couldn’t read.
“They’re good.”
Hallie exhaled and glanced down at the picture he held. It was the one of him. “Really?” she whispered.
“Hallie,” he murmured a hint of disbelief in his voice, “you are so talented.” He traced his fingers over his face in the picture. “You have an eye for it, that’s undeniable.” There was no hiding the awe in his voice. He glanced up at her and held the picture out for her to take.
She did, her cheeks flooding with color. “Thank you.”
His brows furrowed with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Based on her tone, she didn’t believe him. He couldn’t have been clearer what he thought about her pictures. While she accepted the compliment, she wasn’t allowing herself to fully absorb it. He wished she could have a little more faith in herself.
Jacob grimaced as he rose to his full height. “I’d like to see more of them… when you’re ready.”
Hallie met his gaze then, but her expression was guarded. “I… you don’t have to?—”
“I want to. I can tell you’re not comfortable with sharing this sort of thing, so if you choose not to, I’ll understand.”
She bit down on her lips and rolled them between her teeth. “I’ll think about it.”
Jacob flashed her a smile. “Okay.” He glanced over his shoulder when he heard the bathroom door close. “I wanted to thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Hallie whispered, standing.
“No, you did.” He opened his mouth then snapped it shut as he attempted to put his thoughts into words. Then he shook his head. “You really did.” He bumped the side of his fist against his leg a few times then nodded at her once more. “Anyway, get some sleep. Maybe we can make some breakfast together tomorrow? I think I’m capable of watching the bacon sizzle in the pan if you can mix the pancake batter.”
Her smile was like a warm blanket. It sent currents of electricity through him that made him feel almost lightheaded. “Yeah, okay. I’d love to.”
He backed toward the door. “Goodnight, Hallie.”
“Goodnight, Jacob.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Hallie woketo the sound of laughter.
She jumped up in bed and tossed the covers aside. Shoot! She’d slept in. She hopped into a pair of pajama pants and barely made it out of her bedroom without falling flat on her face. But it was catching sight of the two men in the kitchen that had her stalling.
