Christmas Eve found Misty in a bit of a huff. She folded her arms across her chest and frowned at Dalton. "I can't believe you asked the doctor all of those questions. I can't do anything now."
Dalton grinned at her and winked. He knew she was furious, but he also knew she needed to take care of herself. Dalton had no intentions of standing there arguing with her. He turned and walked toward the house with Rachel in his arms.
Misty was mad. "Don't just walk away when I'm talking to you. I mean it. Why did you do that?"
Dalton knew they were being observed. He could see Brock in the barn doorway laughing. He turned and looked at Misty. "You need to take care of yourself. Rachel needs you to do everything by the book. You can be mad all you want. You and I both know you should not have even thought about going riding today."
Misty frowned again. "Riding a horse isn't going to kill me. I wish you had just stayed home." She said in a huff and headed for the house. Anyone looking had no doubt she was madder than a wet hen, and he or she should probably not follow her.
Dalton followed her. He had no intention of letting her stew and get madder. When Chad held his arms out for Rachel, Dalton handed the baby over and went in search of Misty. He walked into the kitchen and waited for her to look at him. When she didn't, he walked over to her. "Misty, you need to stop doing this."
Misty was suddenly very sorry she yelled at him. She started crying. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to have some time alone. I love riding horses."
Dalton sighed as he pulled her into his arms. He rested his chin on her head as he spoke. "I can't sit back and watch you hurt yourself. If you need a moment why not take a walk? Misty, you have to take care of yourself."
Misty nodded against his chest. She knew he was right. It was just so hard not being able to do certain things. She closed her eyes and let him calm her. "I'm so afraid of you leaving." She confessed in a whisper.
Dalton spoke softly. Whether she realized it or not she needed him to leave. "I'll be back in two weeks. Why don't I leave Jamie here with you?"
Misty pulled away and looked up at him. "You would do that? You wouldn’t mind?"
Dalton nodded. "I would do that for you. Misty, you need to talk to someone about this. I will come back. I would rather our friendship not enable a co-dependency. You need me to go, so you know how strong you really are. Does that make sense?"
Misty knew he was right. "I will find someone to talk to after Christmas. I promise. I have never been afraid like this. I don’t even know how to tell my family."
Dalton knew she needed to be more honest with them. "Misty, you have to let them know. They need to be able to help you. They can’t understand you if you don’t let them. They love you, and they will help you find someone to talk to if you ask. Don’t do this alone."
Misty smiled miserably. "I do not like this feeling at all. I have cried more in front of you than I have anyone ever."
Dalton grinned. "We kind have been through a great deal together. If you can't cry in front of me, who can you cry in front of? You are one stubborn woman Misty, but you sure do grow on a person."
Terry walked into the kitchen. She smiled at her daughter. "I have been sent to inform you that your daughter is starting to dance."
Dalton watched her leave and then looked at Terry. "You have a funny look on your face. Care to share?"
Terry smiled at Dalton. "You are a very special man. Thank you for being willing to help Misty through this. I wish she would open up to us more."
Dalton chuckled. "She doesn't make it easy, does she?"
Terry looked at him a bit sheepish. "She takes after her mom."
Dalton laughed. "At least you are mom enough to admit it."
Terry looked at Dalton. "Not to get personal but how have you stayed single? I can't believe no one has snatched you up yet. You are a really nice guy."
Dalton chuckled. "I do have some say in the dating part. I don't know why I haven't found the right 'one' yet. I am just waiting for God to show me who that is."
Terry kissed his cheek. "I think whoever she is will be very lucky."
Dalton smiled down at Terry. "Misty is her mother's daughter. She said the same thing to me."
Chad spoke up behind the two making Terry jump. "Are my eyes deceiving me or is my wife kissing another man?"
Terry laughed at her husband. "You are going to give me heart failure! …and yes, you did see me kissing another man. I was just letting him know how sweet I think he is."
Misty came into the kitchen and smiled at her parents. She walked over to Dalton and grinned. "Are you causing problems?"
Dalton laughed. "I think it may be your dad doing that."
Misty grinned. "He is very good at that. You have to watch my mom too. She can be a stinker."
Dalton pushed a stray hair away from her face as he asked. "Are you still mad at me? I really am trying to help."
Misty shrugged her shoulders. "I can't be mad at the fact you care. I guess I just like to have my own way. I tend to get upset when that doesn’t happen."
Dalton nodded. "I am sorry for upsetting you, but I would do it again. I just can't stand the idea of seeing you get hurt."
Misty grinned. "Brent was always making me mad too. I was kind of a handful sometimes."
Dalton muttered jokingly. "Sometimes…?"
"Now that is just being mean…" Misty said as she playfully punched him in the stomach.
Dalton held his stomach in exaggerated pain. "I think I need a doctor."
Chad laughed as the two of them joked around. He couldn't help but wonder if these two would be more than friends. Looking at them now, he knew that was all that it could be at the moment, but he still had to wonder if one day they both would realize there was something more for them. "Are you two going to the candlelight service with us tonight?"
Dalton looked at Misty and nodded. "I would like to go, but if Misty wants to stay home, I'll stay with her."
Misty wanted to go. She gave Dalton a frown and said. "The doctor didn't say I had to skip church. So as long as this doctor says it is ok. I would like to go too."
Dalton laughed. "This doctor says it is ok. I thought you told me you forgave me."
Misty giggled. "I did forgive you. This would have been an entirely different fight."
Dalton shook his head. "This is going to be a very exhausting friendship."
Misty gave him another playful punch. "You really are mean."
Dalton pulled her into his arms to keep her from punching him again. "Ok. I give. I'm sorry you are going to be exhausting."
Misty looked up at him. Her eyes were sparkling with laughter. "I will get an apology out of you for that one."
Dalton winked at her. "If I say sorry now will you hit me again?"
Misty cocked her head to the side. "It depends on if it is like your last one. It needs to be from the heart."
Dalton smiled. He put a dramatic tone to his voice as he said. "I'm sorry for calling you exhausting. Misty, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive such a grievance? Does that appease you?"
Misty grinned at the theatrical display. "I forgive you. The drama was a very nice touch."
Terry looked at Chad. If the look on his face was any indication, he was thinking the same thing too. Dalton and Misty were good together. She said a silent prayer asking God to make a way for them to see that. She knew Misty still needed to mourn, but she hoped that her daughter would find love again when that time passed.
Dalton tweaked Misty's nose as they heard Rachel's cry over the monitor. "I think someone is lonely and is calling for her mommy. Your time of tormenting the innocent is over."
Misty grinned as she elbowed him. "My time is never up." She said as she headed toward the door.
Dalton looked at Terry and Chad and grinned. "Yup she is difficult."
Chad busted out laughing. "You are in trouble if she finds out you said that."
Dalton sobered a bit. "That is 'if' she finds out. You wouldn’t tell, would you?"
Terry chuckled. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with us."
Chad looked at Dalton. He needed to know certain things. Especially if what he had thought about earlier happened. "Does it bother you when she talks about Brent?"
Dalton looked a bit surprised. "Why would that bother me?"
"I don't know. I guess some people would not want to know about her life with him." Chad answered.
Dalton thought for a moment and then spoke. "I guess when I see her I know that Brent is a part of who she is. I like Misty just the way she is. I would not ask her to give that up. Brent also gave all of us Rachel. A part of me is sad I was not able to know him."
Chad had to agree. "Brent was a unique part of this family. The man who wins Misty's heart from him will be just as special."
Terry watched Dalton's face. She knew the moment he understood why Chad was asking the questions he was. "You know you are special right, Dalton? We would not be upset if you started feeling more than friendship" she spoke softly.
Dalton looked at the couple. He was not sure what he should say. He was friends with Misty. Or was he? Was it possible that she was God's choice for him? He asked softly. "Do you think my feelings for her will change?"
Chad smiled. "I think they will grow. I don’t see how that won’t lead to more than friendship."
Terry looked at him. "Do you hug other women like you do Misty? When she is upset, you don’t even hesitate to just hold her. You seem more than comfortable doing that."
Dalton shook his head. "I don't treat other women that way, but I have not been through such a harrowing experience with others. We didn't have much of a choice. We had to become comfortable fast. Her life depended on it."
Chad smiled at the man. "You don't have to figure this out now. Misty still has some mourning to do but should your feelings change I want you to know we are ok with it."
Dalton nodded his head. He was not sure what to do with what they were thinking. He smiled as he said. "I will be praying about what you are saying."
Terry walked up and gave Dalton a hug. She looked up at him and said. "No matter what you are family now. Make sure you don't forget that."
Dalton looked down at the woman in his arms. "I will not forget. I promise."