Gary's heart rate picks up for a reason he himself isn't sure of. As if not connected to his thoughts his legs begin to move faster carrying him towards the drivers door. He jerks it open and as he does it is like he jerks his mind back to reality. "Brooke, hey, Brooke it's me Gary. Can you hear me?"

Slowly and with a groan her head lifts and she looks at him through narrowed slits. "Gary?"

Her voice with hoarse, but he still beams a smile. "Yeah. Can you move your toes? How bad does your head hurt?"

Looking down at her feet she wiggles her toes and then looks back at him squatting beside her car. "Yes I can move them. My head doesn't hurt bad. What happened to the deer?"

"Okay good you remember what happened. He is in front of your car. Come on I'll take you home," he says as he stands and extends his hand out to her. Intensely, his gaze watches every move she makes as he places on leg and then the other out of the car and starts to stand up. He keeps ahold of her hand while she walks around to the passenger side door that he quickly opens for her.

"Thank you," she says with a smile as he closes her door.

Once he is around and in the other side of the cab he nods. "No problem."

She sighs. "I have no idea what I would have done if you hadn't come along. With Jeremiah out of town this weekend I don't have many people to call."

He feels his heart sink for some odd reason at the mention of another male in her life. Getting his emotions under control he nods. "Well you can call me anytime you are in trouble. I'm sure I'll be around."

"Thank you, again."

Nodding he forces a smile. Maybe, his evening isn't going as planned, but it would have been a lot better without feeling like he is taking a boyfriends place for the evening. That's just not who Gary Maxwell is. It doesn't matter who it is if the girl is in a relationship you don't mess with her at all. On the other side of the situation, Gary Maxwell doesn't just leave people in trouble, especially people he and his family know.

Brooke quietly gives him directions to her house while watching the inward battle he is obviously having. Every now and again he will shake his head and mumble something to himself. "Right here," she says pointing to the house she calls home.

He hops out before she can and jogs around to open her door for her. "I'm sorry about what happened. When it get's light in the morning I'll bring your car over here."

She smiles at his generosity and shakes her head. "Oh no, don't worry about it. Tomorrow is Sunday, you should be at church."

"Oh I will be."

Happily she nods. "Thank you for helping me out."

"No problem. I hope your boyfriend gets back safely."

The words almost make her burst out in an obnoxious laugh, but she catches herself before she completely embarrasses herself. "Boyfriend? I'm not sure what gave you that idea, but I don't have a boyfriend."

Gary's eyebrows knit together furiously. "You said Jeremiah was out of town. I guess I just thought he was your boyfriend."

She laughs. "Oh no, that's my bad. Jeremiah is my older brother." Studying him a moment she cocks her head to one side and smiles. "Would you like to come in for a glass of tea? I mean I own you one after all your help."

With a smile on his face he lets his gaze settle on her for a moment. Her gaze is curious and hopeful staring back at him, but her eyes hold tiredness. Suddenly a twinge of protectiveness comes over him. Even though she does live in town is it safe for her to be here all alone? It isn't like this is the most protected town in Texas. Far from it. "Alright," he says with a nod. "I'll come in for a bit."

"Good!"

Brooke triumphantly to herself and leads the way to the front door that she unlocks. Gary is quick to take the screen door from her hands with a wink. Oh my am I in for it! One moment he's got a stone wall around his emotions and the next he is practically flirting with me! Oh, Brooke get it together there is no way that he is flirting with you. His deep voice and the sound of a scooting chair draws her from her thoughts.

"How long have you lived in Fort Stockton?" Come on Gary! Get your thoughts together. Okay, so maybe you had mistaken her brother for a boyfriend. No big deal at least it wasn't the other way around! Just carry on a normal conversation with her an life will turn out fine.

She pulls two glasses from the cabinet while counting in her head. "Oh about five years, I guess. You?"

Lightly he laughs. "Well I can't say I'm such a seasoned Stockton'er. I've been here about two months, I think."

Brooke tries hard to hide her inner confusion. Why all of a sudden does someone laughing make my stomach have butterflies? "Ah, well in that amount of time you have already gotten to see everything there is to see," she jokes.

"You'd think, but apparently there is this thing called a summer festival?" And my sister is forcing me to take a date. No! Gary don't be so personal about everything this conversation is suppose to be about Brooke.

Quickly she swallows her sip of tea. "Oh so you've heard? It's a lot of fun. The adults always have just as much fun, or more, than the kids. I'm surprised Jae mentioned it, she's never been a big fan of it. I usually drag her along and she ends up having a good time."

He can't hide his thought this time. "Wait. Little Lynn doesn't like this festival?"

"Not until she is there." Brooke raises and eyebrow. Why?"

Chuckling he says, "You are going to think the Maxwell family has officially lost their mind."

"No I won't, just tell me."

He sighs. "Okay, so Jaelyn told me that is was happening in two weeks and that I better be there with a date or else she is going to find me a date."

Halfway through what he was saying she begins to crack up with laughter. "Oh my goodness! And you've got the pregnancy hormones against you too!"

"I know! And not many people get in an argument with her and wants to tell about it without the help of her being pregnant." Suddenly a thought comes to him. If Brooke is already going maybe should would be his date. She's pretty, nice, fun to be around so it's not the worst that could happen. Get real Gary you have a candle light of feelings for a woman you barely know.

The conversation falls flat leaving the two of them to their wildly blowing thoughts for a little bit.

Brooke, don't get ahead for yourself. There is nothing that you can guarantee, so just drop it. Besides! Relax a bit. You are only sitting at your own kitchen table with a couple glasses of tea chatting. There is absolutely nothing formal about it.

Deep breaths Gary, deep breaths. It's not that big of a deal, just a couple hours with a ton of people floating around you. Besides, you have gotten to know here a bit lately so what could it hurt? No, it's too soon. I'm not risking her heart or mine either. Where did this crazy idea even come from?

Gary sighs and runs his hands over his face before staring at the clock on the wall a moment. Nine o'clock. "Well, it's getting late. I should head home and get the horses fed."

They both stand and Brooke tries to hide her disappointment. "Yeah, okay."

He smiles a small smile at her before holding up his finger. "Here let me give you my number. Anytime you get in trouble don't hesitate to call me. I'm always happy to help."

A bright genuine smile breaks out on Brooke's lips. "Thank you that is very kind."

After they exchange numbers Brooke walks him out to his pickup and once again thanks him. As she watches him leave she can't keep a smile from her lips. Even if it did start off with wrecking her car the evening has been fun and she wouldn't trade if for a thing. Walking back inside she cleans up the kitchen before slipping into the shower.
***

"Gary, can you please go pick Brooke up for church? She said something about her car needing to be fixed," Jaelyn says as she scurries around the kitchen trying to get all her vitamins and such taken before they are late for church.

Gary shrugs. "Sure, I'll meet y'all there."

Tyson and Jaelyn both nod, but Gary doesn't notice as he is already out the door and making his way to the cab of his pickup. He easily guides it to town and down the quiet streets until coming to the house he had visited just the day before. Slowly, he gets out and strolls to the door where he knocks a couple of times.

In a few short seconds it swings open to reveal a slightly flustered, but very beautiful Brooke. Her hair is pulled to the side with a clip and the ends are curled the slightest bit, a knit bodice connected to a silky tribal print skirt of the dress forms to her body in a pretty, but modest way.

Gary isn't sure what to say. He has obviously been caught checking her out, so there is no point in denying it. "You look nice this morning."

A deep blush takes place on her cheeks, causing a light smirk on his lips. "Thank you, so do you."

"Well thank you ma'am." Extending his elbow out for her to take he can't help a chuckle at the shaking of her head.

She takes his arm and walks with him to his pickup where he opens the door for her and closes it once he is sure she is settled. Her gaze follows him around the front of the pickup and as he pulls himself into his side of the cab. His muscles flex as he does and when he looks over and winks at her she blushes, yet again.

The radio plays old hymns in the background as they make the couple of blocks drive to the church. There Gary kills the engine and sends her the one fingered 'wait' sign as he gets out, grabbing his bible on the way, and jogging around to open her door for her.

"You know you really don't have to do everything for me," Brooke says as they start to walk towards the front entrance of the fair sized church.

He chuckles and shakes his head. "I am fully aware, but that's the way I was raised and being a gentleman is something I value. With that being said I politely ask you to at least play along with it."

Understandingly she nods. "Okay, I can do that."

"Thank you."

The pastor is preaching from Titus chapter starting from the first verse. He reads the first two verses before pausing. "I like how in verse two here it points out that God does not lie. You want someone who will never let you down? You have to look outside of Earth and find Christ. I'm goin to read this verse again and I want to point out to you that this is a verse we need to hold onto in these coming days of severe trials. Now, I don't say that to scare you, but to encourage you."

He begins to pace with his bible in hand. "Titus chapter one verse two says: A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time."

The sermon is a short one on this particular Sunday, but very effective. A few more points are made before the closing song then everyone is dismissed. Very soon after the dismissal Tyson, Jaelyn, Brooke and Gary file out and to their vehicles. There Brooke and Jaelyn have a chat before everyone departs from the parking lot.
***

After the four of them eat at a small café down town Gary drives Brooke home. He pulls up in the driveway and cuts the engine, but makes no move get out and get her door for her. Instead he touches her arm lightly. "Brooke, I've had a really great time hanging out with you today. I know I said yesterday that Little Lynn is forcing me to have a date for the summer festival, and that is true, but I was wondering if you would consider going with me. And before you say anything she is not the reason I'm asking you. You are a lot of fun to be around and I want to get to know you."

Brooke swallows hard taken aback by his question. "You mean as a date?"

"Maybe just as friends," he offers becoming a bit shy.

Smiling she nods. "Friends. I would like that."

A/N
Sorry I missed last week guys!

Random question:
Do you think Brooke needs a dog or a new job?