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For so long now Sage had been straddling the line between truth and deception.
Looking into Hank’s eyes made her feel ashamed of all the secrets she’d been harboring. He was a good and decent man who made his living enforcing the law. From everything he’d told her about his past, there was no doubt in her mind that deceit and dishonesty were off-limits.
What if she opened her mouth and confessed who she really was? Would Hank take her under his protective arm and help her tell the North family about the circumstances leading to her trek to Owl Creek? Would he lend her his unwavering support? Or would he react with disgust and dismay? Perhaps he would think she was a horrible person for not coming cle
an the moment she’d gotten off the ferry.
I can’t abide lies or liars. A little while ago he’d made things quite plain with his statement. It gave her chills to recall the intensity in his eyes when he had uttered those words.
In her heart Sage wanted to believe everything would be all right if she spilled the truth. But the situation was so complex. And she had landed smack-dab in the middle of it, steeped in her mother’s deception.
Yet again it was abundantly clear that she needed to keep quiet about her ties to the North family and the town itself. She didn’t want to run the risk of losing Hank’s goodwill. It was probably selfish of her, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment by making such an explosive admission. Just for tonight she wanted to push it to the back of her mind and simply enjoy all that Owl Creek and Hank Crawford had to offer.
* * *
Hank reached out and swept a few snowflakes off Sage’s rosy cheeks. He didn’t see how it was possible, but she looked even more radiant than usual. When she’d started to cry, he had pulled her off to a side trail where onlookers wouldn’t be able to witness her raw emotion. In a town like Owl Creek gossip spread like lightning and he didn’t want Sage to be the topic of flapping gums.
Little beads of moisture dotted her sooty lashes, leftover remnants from her tears.
“Alaska suits you, Sage Duncan.” He let out a sigh. “You might just be the prettiest woman Owl Creek has ever seen.”
She ducked her head down, the hint of a smile playing around the sides of her mouth.
“That’s mighty fine praise, Hank. I’m not sure if I deserve it, especially with a tearstained face.”
“I’m simply speaking the truth. Tears can’t diminish true beauty.”
Sage was beautiful inside and out. Her revelations this evening made him see her with a more generous heart. What he’d viewed previously as her being cagey could have been signs of deep mourning for her mother. He felt ashamed of himself for being so wary of her. His tumultuous history with Theresa had really impacted his ability to trust women. Mama was right. He was walking around with the shadows of the past following him.
Lord, he prayed. Please open up my heart and mind so I can treat people with a wide-open spirit instead of always being guarded. I know it’s wrong to judge yet I’m constantly finding fault with Sage. I don’t want to be guided by fear and suspicions.
He had a long way to go before he conquered his issues from the past, but asking the Lord for assistance felt like reaching out for a life preserver. Although he pretended everything was fine with him on a day-to-day basis, he knew he wasn’t living his best life. He was jaded due to his prior experiences. The shell he’d built around himself had been born out of heartache, but tonight had shown him that little by little Sage was chipping away at it. She was stirring up feelings he’d stuffed down for a long time.
You’ll never know if you don’t try. It was something his father used to tell him. Whether it was trying out for the Little League baseball team or working to put together a massive Lego set, those words of encouragement had been thrown in his direction.
Tug Crawford had been a bighearted, generous man who had loved freely and without reservation. Hank had always wanted to live up to his dad’s larger-than-life image. He had always imagined he could do so through his career in law enforcement. Perhaps another way of doing so would be to put himself out there with Sage despite his reservations.
He wanted to kiss her. Truthfully, he had wanted to kiss her for quite some time now, but his desire to steer clear of complications had veered him off course. His head had ruled his emotions. And why shouldn’t he share an embrace with a lovely woman with whom he’d established a special connection? This opportunity might never crop up again. Sage would be leaving town soon and he would be left with a host of regrets if he didn’t at least try to act on his instincts.
Hank dipped his head down and pressed his lips against Sage’s. Her sweet aroma filled his nostrils—a mixture of a floral scent and the hint of evergreen. Her lips were soft and tasted like the hot cocoa she’d just finished. Once his lips touched hers, he knew there was no going back. He was stepping out on a limb of faith and going for it. She kissed him back with equal intensity, her lips moving tenderly against his own. He felt her clinging to the fabric of his winter coat as if he was literally sweeping her off her feet.
This embrace was the culmination of every moment, every thought he’d ever had about this fascinating woman since he’d first seen her on the ferry. When they pulled apart, Sage’s face was still upturned toward his own. When she opened her russet-colored eyes they were shining brightly. If he could, Hank would have stretched this moment out a bit longer. He drew in a ragged breath to steady himself. Kissing Sage had been a dizzying experience, one he’d thoroughly enjoyed.
When they returned to the main path, they walked side by side with their arms touching.
Along the way they were met with a few raised eyebrows and curious glances. Hank smiled to himself at the notion that he and Sage would be on the lips of the townsfolk tomorrow morning. Normally, he would hate being the subject of gossip, but strangely, this didn’t bother him at all. Maybe this was progress, he realized.
Perhaps there was hope for him after all.
* * *
As the night wound down, Sage settled herself by the roaring fire in order to warm up her chilled bones. The temperature in Owl Creek gave a whole new meaning to the word frosty. She’d been all right for most of the evening, but her nose and cheeks now felt frozen. Sitting by herself gave her the opportunity to reflect on her romantic interlude with Hank. The kiss had been enjoyable, even though it hadn’t been the smartest move on her part. Hank Crawford represented truth and honor. If he had a single clue as to the secrets she was keeping, he would be full of outrage and condemnation. And she wouldn’t blame him. Not one single bit. It made her feel awful just knowing she was keeping things from him, especially after Theresa had put him through the ringer. She let out an anguished sigh. She shouldn’t have kissed him! It only served to complicate matters.
Her chest tightened at the thought of Hank’s disapproval if he knew her truths. She hadn’t planned on caring about him; it had happened when she’d let her guard down. Sharing a kiss with Hank had been emotionally satisfying and romantic, yet it wasn’t going to amount to anything other than a moment in the moonlight. There wasn’t a future for them. She’d be leaving Owl Creek soon, and she would take this beautiful memory with her, all the while regretting lying to him.
She raised her fingers to her lips, reliving the sweetness of Hank’s kiss. If only she could truly explore this incredible connection with Hank without so much hanging over her head. She might regret not being able to do so for the rest of her life. Forgetting Sheriff Hank Crawford would be near impossible. But a life with him was as far out of reach as the constellations in the dark Alaskan sky.
Suddenly, Willa appeared, taking a seat by the fire next to Sage. The presence of her birth mother was comforting. She exuded such an air of grace and tranquility. Sage remembered reading about Willa’s and Nate’s faith in one of the old newspaper articles. They had talked about how their belief in God had led them through the darkness and allowed them to still believe in the light. It had given her chills when she’d read it.
