North Dakota Weddings (35 page)

Somehow while sitting in his office, thinking over his concerns for Amber, Brandon had convinced himself that he needed to butt in to her life. When Muriel mentioned horseback riding, of course Brandon had brushed it off as ridiculous. And now, sitting on the back of a horse, his memory was a bit fuzzy. All his well thought out reasons for being here now seemed contrived.

He’d known Tom Snickett for years, and once Brandon made the decision, the deed was as good as done.

He considered his teaching at the previous Wednesday night’s Bible study regarding the apostle Paul. Brandon wished he could teach it again next week, considering he now better understood what the apostle had meant when he said he knew the right thing to do but he did the wrong instead.

Brandon shouldn’t be here. Yet here he was.

Why couldn’t he have seen this clearly before? He had no right to insert himself into Amber’s personal life. Never mind that her roommate had encouraged him. A sour taste formed in his mouth. Even without Muriel’s whispered encouragement, Brandon would have found a way to interrupt Amber’s day. To make sure she was all right. A week of avoiding her hadn’t diminished his concern.

The only good news was that he was at the end of the line. He could turn his horse around and head back without anyone being the wiser. He’d taken Tom’s ride before and knew the trail would soon open up to a field where the riders had more freedom. Amber would see him then if she hadn’t already—that is, if he didn’t turn around now.

He reined the horse out of line but had only ridden a few feet when he heard Tom’s familiar voice behind him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Brandon smiled. “I remembered something I need to do.”

Tom caught up with Brandon, and they stopped.

“On a day like this? You don’t want to miss the view now, do you?” Tom asked.

How could he get out of this? Gladys was right. He really was an absentminded professor, or rather, museum director.

At least…where Amber McKinsey was concerned.

“I guess what I needed to do can wait.” Brandon followed Tom at the end of the line.

The trailhead opened up to a meadow where the riders were allowed to break the line as they headed to the other side. There they would tether the horses and hike a few yards through the trees until they came to a high bluff, offering a scenic viewpoint of the rough terrain of the Little Missouri River Badlands.

“I always get nervous at this part.” Brandon drew his horse to a stop.

“Is that so?”

“Seems to me you’d get nervous, too, giving these inexperienced riders this much freedom.”

“You worry too much, Doc. These horses are gentle. Besides they all know to follow Kevin’s lead.”

“If you say so.”

Tom grinned, then urged his horse into a lope, leaving Brandon who studied the trail behind him, considering his options.

“Dr. Selman! You decided to come.”

At the familiar voice, he turned to see Muriel riding up to him.

“Of course I came. What you said worried me.”

Muriel’s smile seemed to say she held a big secret. “I’m sure you needed some sunshine, too.”

“It’s a beautiful day.”

“Amber isn’t too good on a horse. I probably shouldn’t have left her.”

In his opinion, the riders should have been kept in a tight single-file line for the entire trail ride. Leave it to Tom to be creative. His trail ride was the most popular.

Brandon followed Muriel up the line and then he spotted Amber as several riders spread out to give her space. Her horse appeared skittish, tossing its head. Amber made matters worse by tugging on the reins and kicking the horse with her heels, sending mixed signals.

Kevin and Tom were ahead, their backs to the group. Talking, they were completely unaware of Amber’s predicament. When her horse bolted, Brandon kicked his into a canter, coming alongside Amber. The horse was spooked, but worse, so was Amber. Eyes wide, she clearly didn’t know what to do.

Reaching across the distance between them, he grabbed her reins and brought both horses to a halt. He calmed the horse with soothing tones. Trembling and gasping for breath, Amber placed her hand on her chest.

She gazed over at Brandon, looking sheepish. “Thanks. I don’t know what happened. The horse just got scared. I didn’t know what to—”

“It’s okay. Not everyone is experienced with horses.” He grinned, hoping to inject humor into his comment. “I have an idea. Why don’t we walk?”

“Huh?”

“Tom will have us tether the horses up ahead. Let’s walk the rest of the way. I’ll lead the horses.”

Amber offered a timid smile and nodded her agreement. Brandon hopped off his horse then helped Amber off hers.

Brandon and Amber walked side by side, while Brandon held both horses’ reins, leading them through the meadow. Even though they walked in silence, it was a comfortable quiet. Being next to her like this felt natural and—as he watched the soft breeze lift a few strands of her dark hair—it felt right.

“Dr. Selman, I want to apologize for what I said the night you took me home from Gladys’s.”

“There’s no need, really. I understand. You didn’t want to tell me what upset you.”

She looked down, her hair swinging forward to hide her face. “It seems like every time something bad happens, you’re there.”

Brandon felt as if she’d struck him. What was she saying? He recalled that he’d knocked her over when they’d first met, colliding on their jog.

Eyes wide, she looked up at him. “No, that didn’t come out right. I keep having trouble, and you keep being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Or maybe it’s the right place at the right time.”

She smiled gently. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful you’ve been there. I’m embarrassed, that’s all. I wish you could somehow know a different side of me.”

I’d love to
. But he kept the errant thought to himself. “I’m just glad I could be of assistance.”

“Is that why you’re here today?”

“What? A man can’t go horseback riding?”

That elicited a snicker. “Sure he can. I don’t mean to suggest that you’re here for me. It’s just that Muriel told me she invited you.”

Now it was Brandon’s turn to be embarrassed. “Honestly, I’ve been concerned about you ever since that night when you were upset. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

They approached the tethering line—a rope tied between two trees. Brandon grinned and offered Blue’s reins to Amber.

Looking anything but thrilled, she gave a half laugh then reached for them. Her soft fingers swept over his skin, stirring a longing inside him. He focused on the others who were already hiking the trail to the viewpoint.

“Thank you for your concern. It means a lot to me that you would go out of your way.”

How could he tell her that it was no trouble at all? He inhaled the crisp air. “Would you like to come to Bible study this Wednesday?”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

Warmth buzzed around in Brandon’s chest where it had no right to buzz. She was his sister in Christ and an intern at the museum and…his protégé.

“There you are. You guys are going to miss the view if you don’t hurry.” Muriel walked alongside them, appearing out of nowhere. That seemed to be her modus operandi.

“Did you tell Amber about the new assignment?”

Drawing a blank, Brandon stared at Muriel.

“You know—the reason you called today.” Muriel’s smile irritated Brandon. She started up the narrow trail, leading the way.

Brandon felt like an idiot. Following behind Amber as they made their way to the viewpoint, he noticed her slight form. He liked her runner’s physique.

“What’s the new assignment?” she asked.

Ah yes, the phone call that had led to trail riding with Amber. “We’ve a shipment arriving next week—the Hamlin Exhibit on loan. I’m hoping you’ll assist me with receiving the collection and cataloging the artifacts.”

She stopped and turned to face him. “Really?” Her smile beamed and her eyes brimmed with joy. “Helping you with artifacts, working alongside you—it’s the sort of experience I came here to do. I’d feel like a real professional.”

She turned away to continue the hike.

Grand. While she might feel like a professional working beside him, beside her…he felt anything but.

G
ood morning, Gladys.” Amber stepped through the doorway of the gift store and smiled at Gladys as the woman prepared to open her register for the day.

“Don’t you look happy this morning.” She stepped from behind the counter to hug Amber.

Gladys was so good to her. “I feel rested.” Amber thought back to the horseback ride. Dr. Selman had come to her rescue. Again.

Did she actually
need
rescuing? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that he’d endeared himself to her, deepening what would otherwise be a strong crush.

Though she’d been timid about sitting on a horse, especially when Blue decided she had a mind of her own, Dr. Selman had been there to calm the beast and more…he calmed Amber’s racing heart.

Gladys cleared her throat, bringing Amber back from her musings. “Looks like you feel more than rested, hon. You’re fairly glowing.”

Amber played with the dinosaur paraphernalia on the counter. “I went on a trail ride and saw a spectacular view.” Muriel had been right about Amber enjoying the trail ride through the Badlands. But Amber knew the experience was even more memorable because Dr. Selman had shared it with her. He’d sounded eager to convey his knowledge of the Badlands with her. She could still hear the enthusiasm in his voice.

“And where will you work this week?”

“Dr. Selman asked me to assist him with the new artifacts.”

Gladys lowered her glasses to peer at Amber. “I see.”

The look Gladys gave was disconcerting. Was Amber’s admiration for Dr. Selman so obvious? “It’s what I’m here to do, don’t you know? Not crafts with children or playacting the part of Sacagawea.”

“Why so defensive?”

Amber sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Gladys returned her attention to opening the register. “I’m the one who’s sorry, hon. You were happy when you came through the door, now I’ve ruined it.”

“Oh Gladys, don’t let my disposition upset you. I’m just ready to be involved in serious work, that’s all. Please, don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed working with the children and participating in the drama, too.”

The cash register drawer opened. Gladys began counting her bills. “Care to come over for dinner tonight?”

Amber almost laughed. Gladys appeared to be using Amber’s guilt against her, coaxing her to dinner. “I’d love to. I didn’t get to try your dessert. Is it as good as your pot roast?” In truth, she’d wanted to make up for skipping out. “Maybe I can even do the dishes for you this time.”

“Are you saying Muriel didn’t rave about my strawberry-rhubarb pie?” Gladys was now counting her pennies.

“Rave about it? I couldn’t get her to shut up.” Amber joined in Gladys’s laughter, happy she’d turned the tension around.

“Tonight then. I look forward to hearing about your day off.” The look in Gladys’s eyes said she knew more about Amber’s experience than she’d told her.

Uh-oh. “As a matter of fact I’d better get to work, too.” She needed to douse her emotions where Dr. Selman was concerned.

She didn’t dare ruin this opportunity. Her time here, working under Dr. Selman would be important when listing her experience on her résumé or curriculum vitae. And maybe, just maybe…she could get into a good grad school and finally make a break from the past.

Shaking Michael from her thoughts, she focused once again on Dr. Selman. Though she was happy he’d chosen to join her on the trail ride, his appearance more than confused her. Then, he’d invited her to his Bible study. With the way she acted around him, he probably considered her a broken fossil in need of repair. In that case, he’d better have a big bottle of glue.

In the ladies’ room, she composed herself, brushing her hair back to make sure it was smooth and shiny.
Stop it
. His concern was that of her mentor and a fellow Christian—they shared that commonality, unusual especially in this field. It was nothing more.

Keeping that in mind, she could stay focused on her work. This was an opportunity to crawl from the deep hole Michael had dug for them both. Chin up, Amber pushed through the glass door into the climate-controlled room where they received collections. Wearing gloves, Dr. Selman looked up from the pottery he studied.

“There you are. You’re just in time.”

Amber let her backpack slide to the floor next to the wall. “What is it?” She moved next to him.

“You’re looking at a Hisatsinom pot, AD 600.”

Amber angled her head in question.

“The cliff dwellers of the Southwest. They’re also called Anasazi, the ancestors of the Hopi.”

“I’m vaguely familiar with them.”

“They were basket makers but eventually made pottery. This is an early grayware piece with black on red designs. Later, they used more colors. Their artifacts are the best preserved. The Hamlin Exhibit, particularly valuable.”

Dr. Selman’s gaze shifted to Amber’s face. “They’ve made a new discovery in the Hell Creek Formation.”

“Of pottery?”

He chuckled. “No. What looks to be a complete triceratops.”

Amber straightened at the news, wishing she could have been there, wishing her time in the dinosaur digs hadn’t been so short. But…why was he telling her this? She realized he was studying her. Was he giving her a choice? Waiting on her to make a decision? She had the strong feeling that he wanted to know where her heart truly lay.

If only
she
knew.

His left brow arched. “I’m offering you an opportunity, Amber, if you want it.”

Unsure which opportunity he meant, she considered his words. She thought of Muriel, who was sure now she wanted to study paleontology. Still, working at a new dig site would certainly mean Amber wouldn’t be with Dr. Selman. “I’m here to learn everything you want to teach me.”

He nodded, appearing to approve of her response. “The fossils will be brought here to study, of course. You can see them then.”