Lightning Only Strikes Twice by Stanalei Fletcher

the first time he’d noticed the vertigo disappear when she was near. Something significant happened each time they touched.
    The discovery made his heart pound with excitement. As he guided the horse into town, he wondered what it meant. The more he was around Annie, the more questions he had.
    He wanted to talk with her, bounce some ideas off her, but it was still too soon. She needed time to adjust—maybe not as much as he’d needed, but the last thing he wanted was to push too fast.
    As they rode through town toward the Crawford house, he waited for her questions. Only she didn’t speak.
    When was the last time he’d spent this much time with a woman who didn’t need to listen to the sound of her own voice? If he hadn’t been so concerned with her state of mind, he’d have found it refreshing.
    When they reached the house, Elizabeth rushed out the front door to meet them. She must have been watching for them. “Thank goodness.” Her face was flushed with worry.
    Luke jumped off the horse and helped Annie down.
    Uncertainty and fear filled her eyes.
    His hands tightened around her slender waist and he pulled her close for a moment. “You’ll be okay,” he whispered in her ear. “Give them a chance. I promise I’ll see you later.”
    He didn’t worry too much about leaving her. These good people were her family. She needed time alone with Elizabeth to make amends. If she tried to run away, he’d find her again.
    As he released her, a wave of vertigo washed over him, then settled into the normal wooziness he’d been feeling.
    Annie swayed a little too.
    “Don’t go anywhere without me,” he said and climbed back into the saddle. He tipped his hat to the ladies, and with a kick of his boots, trotted the horse toward his place. There was no doubt in his mind he’d be seeing more of Annie Crawford.
    ****
    Annie watched Luke ride to the end of street. A wave of panic gripped her. He was the only familiar thing in this bizarre nightmare.
    He didn’t look back as he turned the corner and was gone.
    Suddenly, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Annie and hugged her so tightly she could barely breathe.
    The wooziness intensified, but with Elizabeth’s touch, another emotion took over and grew stronger as they embraced.
    She felt as if she’d come home. As if she finally belonged.
    Elizabeth gave Annie another squeeze and stepped back. “Goodness, dear girl. I was fretting something awful. Where on earth did you think you were going?”
    “I’m sorry for the trouble,” Annie said. “I thought I could go home.”
    “I understand. But walking alone to Boise is too dangerous.” Elizabeth draped her arm around Annie’s shoulder and guided her toward the front door. “After Paul told Luke you’d taken off, he explained to us that you’ve been distraught over your grandfather’s death. I’m so sorry. I should have been more sensitive.”
    “It’s not your fault.” Annie didn’t want Elizabeth to feel guilty over something neither of them could control. “I’m just not myself yet.”
    Elizabeth ushered Annie toward the stairs. “The best thing for melancholy is to keep busy. Go on and get changed. I still need to put breakfast on the table before we go to church.”
    The sound advice was something Annie needed to hear. Stay busy. Don’t think too much. Thinking about her situation made her feel ill. Thinking about Luke muddled her even more.
    Back in her bedroom, she found a pitcher full of water next to a large bowl on the dresser. Elizabeth must have brought it up for Annie to wash and saw she was gone.
    Guilt rolled through her. These people had been nothing but kind to her and she’d made them worry.
    She’d had her reason for running away—a reason she could only share with Luke Maxwell. That’s exactly what she planned to do when she got the chance. For now, she’d take his suggestion and try to go along with everything. The path of least resistance.
    She stripped out of her blouse and