Cas chuckled. “Actually, you’re in luck. My dad’s looking to sell one of our old trucks at the ranch. It’s in good shape. I think it’d be perfect for you.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened. “Wow. That’s great. Do you think I could look at it soon?”
“Of course,” he replied. “You can take it for a test drive when you come by to check out the wood and my house.”
As they talked, Harper tugged at one of the desk drawers, which seemed stuck. She frowned, giving it a few more tugs. “Dang. This drawer won’t budge.”
“Let me help,” Cas offered, stepping closer. He grasped the drawer’s handle beside her hand, their fingers brushing for a moment. He ignored the jolt of electricity that shot up his arm and focused on the task. “On three, we’ll both pull. One, two, three…”
They pulled in unison, and the drawer creaked and groaned, finally giving way with a loud pop. The sudden release sent them both stumbling back a step. He immediately reached out and set a hand on her back to steady her as they caught their balance.
“We got it,” she said, immediately moving away from his touch, then she frowned at the empty drawer space. “What’s that?”
Cas noticed the change in her expression and followed her gaze, then he watched as Harper carefully reached inside, pulling out a small, leather-bound book, its edges worn and faded with age. She stared at it with a mixture of curiosity and awe while running her fingers over the cracked leather cover, brushing off the dust.
“It looks like a diary. My great-grandmother’s, maybe?”
Cas felt a surge of interest. “A diary? Hidden in the desk?”
Harper nodded. “I never knew she kept one,” she replied, her voice soft with wonder. “This must have been here for years. Decades, even.”
More than curious, he leaned closer, peering at the faded handwriting on the cover. “That’s pretty amazing.”
She traced the edges of the cover with her fingers as if feeling the history within its pages.
“I wonder what’s inside.” She hesitated, glancing up at him. “I’m almost scared to open it. What if it’s something…I don’t know, something private?”
Cas sent her a reassuring smile. “It’s your family’s history, Harper. You’ve got every right to read it. Maybe there’s something important in there, something she wanted someone to find one day.”
The beauty nodded slowly, as if convincing herself. “You’re right. Maybe there’s a reason it found its way to me now.”
Inhaling, she carefully opened the diary to the first page, her fingers gentle on the fragile paper. The handwriting was elegant but shaky in places, like someone had written it with emotion behind every word. Harper began to read aloud softly, her voice almost reverent.
“April 12th, 1937. Today, I saw something I wish I hadn’t. Something that will stay with me forever.”
She paused, glancing up at Cas, her brow furrowed. “What do you think she’s talking about?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not sure. Could be a number of things, but it sounds like there’s a story in there. Something she needed to tell, even if it was just to herself.”
“True.” Harper nodded, turning another page. “I guess I’ll have to read through it, see what she left behind. And I need to show it to Sadie, too.”
Cas shifted closer, feeling a strange sense of connection to the moment. “Maybe it’s a good thing you found this desk. Sometimes, things have a way of resurfacing when they’re needed most.”
Harper looked at him, and for a moment, their eyes held, a quiet understanding passing between them. She seemed to realize it too and quickly looked away, clearing her throat.
“So, about that truck,” she said, once again, changing the subject. “You really think it’s something I could work with?”
He smiled, going along with the shift in topic. “Definitely. According to my father, it’s a sturdy and reliable vehicle. Could be just what you need.”
“Great,” Harper replied, nodding. “I’d love to see it. Maybe tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow works for me,” Cas replied, still watching her with a hint of curiosity. “I’ll be around all day. Just swing by the ranch when you’re ready. Or why don’t I pick you up around ten?”
He felt an odd pull toward her, something about her that made him want to know more, to stay longer. She was a puzzle, and he’d always loved a good challenge.
“Thanks, that’d be great.” She smiled that shy but determined look he was beginning to recognize. “I appreciate all your help.”
“Anytime,” he replied softly. “I mean it.”
