A Heart's Desire - Book 1 of the Crossing Midian Series - A Christian Romance

Chapter 10

The rest of the night flew by in a blur for Anna. Once they got to the farmhouse, they told Ruth and James everything that had happened. Then Ruth quickly set about getting some clean sheets and blankets and settled her into Wesley's room.

But sleep never came for Anna. Instead, she spent the entire night tossing and turning. She was too worried about her dad and what was going to happen to him now. Aside from that, she couldn't stop thinking about Wesley.

While they had been at the park, it was like everything else had disappeared. As if they were the only two people left on the planet. After their kiss, they had leaned back against the bars of the jungle gym and had star gazed for the next hour. They talked about their lives and how they wished they could be.

Wesley had talked before about his desire to do something besides farm work, but until last night, it had always seemed like he was talking about some unattainable goal. Something that was only for wishing, but that could never actually happen. But this time it was different. This time, when he talked about leaving the farm and exploring the world, Anna thought it sounded more like he was making plans instead of describing a dream.

Though she knew he would never really leave the farm until he had talked to his dad about it. Anna hoped he did soon. The longer he stayed in Decatur, the more likely it became that he would never leave. And despite her own inability to get out, she truly hoped that Wesley would get the chance.

Even if it meant that she lost him.

Not that she thought she had him in the first place. Especially not with what happened with her dad. How could he? Now he knew everything. The deepest, darkest parts of her. All the parts that she would give anything to have locked away, never to be seen again. How could anyone want to be around her after that?

Anna thought back again to their kiss. She couldn't deny that she had wanted it to happen any more than she could deny the feelings she had been trying to push down over the last couple of weeks. But she wished that it hadn't happened. There was just too much going on. He didn't deserve to be dragged into her mess of a life. He deserved better.

Finally, around four-thirty, Anna gave up on sleep and got up. She opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible and, seeing no one around, quickly made her way down the stairs. When she came into the living room, she noticed Wesley sleeping on the couch, one leg dangling off the side and his right arm tucked under his head.

Anna sighed and continued on into the kitchen, stopping short when she realized that someone else was already there.

Ruth sat at the kitchen table, her head bowed and her bible open in front of her. She looked up when she heard Anna come in.

"Good morning, Anna." Ruth said brightly. "You're up awfully early."

Anna gave a small smile. "Good morning. So are you."

Ruth laughed and stood up, walked over to Anna, and put an arm lightly around her shoulder before leading her over to a seat at the table. "Honey, when you live in a house full of boys, you learn pretty quickly that if you want some time for yourself, you better get up before they do."

Anna sat down and Ruth took in the young woman in front of her. Anna's hair was up in a high messy bun and tendrils of hair had fallen out and curled around her thin face. Dark circles sat deeply under her downcast brown eyes. She wore an old pair of Wesley's pajamas and his black and orange high school t-shirt hung loosely on her slight frame.

Ruth sighed. "Anna, did you manage to get any sleep last night?"

Anna looked up and shook her head. "I tried, but-"