Free Out of Darkness by Ruth Price Page A

Sofia did as instructed and Samuel placed his fingers at her front hairline, deftly running them in a line towards her neck to create a part. "You're going to have to braid this tightly," he said. "Your hair is a bit short, but it should do I think." He took the first half and combed it gently with his fingers. "Why do you dye it?" he asked.
    Sofia shrugged.
    "Right, you wouldn't know. But you should stop. Your natural color is prettier at your roots. It's got amber highlights."
    Sofia's face heated. She wondered if the blush was apparent all the way to the back of her neck. Thankfully the light in here was dim. Samuel's fingers worked gently through her wavy hair, tugging at the knots. Then he put it into three sections and braided it tightly. He was close, the light spice of his soap or aftershave or maybe just him caressed her nose, just as his fingers gently worked her hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the languid sensuality of his hands, the gentle movements of the breeze over the slats of the shed, and the caress of the cooling night air.
    When he had finished, he handed her a piece of string and asked, "Can you finish the rest?"
    Sofia took the string and wove it around the end of her hair, leaving a short wavy curl at the bottom as  Samuel finished the second braid. When she had tied the second, she allowed herself to lean back into the chair. Samuel stared at her.
    "What is it?" Sofia asked, touching one of the braids. "Is something wrong?"
    "Aside from the eyebrows, you really look plain. No! I mean, like us."
    Sofia laughed. "Thank you, I guess."
    "No, it's good. You still need to put on the kapp."
    Sofia took the kapp from where it had fallen on her lap and placed it on her head.
    "No. Like this," Samuel leaned over to adjust it, his fingers brushing her cheeks as he tied it in a bow below her neck. When he was finished, his fingers lingered. He gazed into her eyes, and a tendril of desire curled in Sofia's belly.  He didn't make her feel safe like Abram, but she liked his energy, the optimistic way he went about thing in spite of the difficult decisions he had to face. Still, she was far too much of a mess to offer him anything. She ran her thumb over the wrist hem of the dress that Abram had given her. Abram's wife's dress, a woman who he had loved so deeply and with all of his heart. Somehow, kissing another man in these clothes felt like a betrayal of that gift. Outside, an owl cried. Embarrassed, Sofia turned her head to look out the side window. "Thank you," she said.
    "I'm sorry," Samuel said, settling back into his chair. "I didn't meant to make you uncomfortable."
    "You haven't."
    "We should get going to my mom's. The singing circle should have wrapped up by now. I'll just explain what's going on and ask if you can sleep in my sister's room."
    "Are you sure that's okay?"
    "It's a little odd, but she'll listen to me, and she wouldn't put a lady out after dark. Especially not someone in need."
    "I can't thank you enough. For everything."
    "God tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves and help those in need. Abram might be a bit of a stick in the mud, but he's right about that."
    "He's not a stick!" Sofia said, eager to defend Abram. Quiet and steady, certainly, but beneath that, he had a depth that came not only from pain but from a confidence that couldn't be faked. Abram knew who and what he was.
    Samuel cocked his head. "Ahhh..." His lips ghosted a smile. "I see."
    "What?"
    "Well, I've always enjoyed a challenge, ja." Not waiting for a response, Samuel opened the car door. "Are you ready to go?"
    "Yes." Sofia said. Not that Sofia hadn't enjoyed Samuel's company. Not that she didn't want to feel his lips on hers. It was all so confusing! Sofia hoped it would all become clear in the morning. Maybe more of her memories would come back, and she'd know what the police officer had done to her and why. All she knew was that he had hurt her.
    "Good. I need to get something from the glove compartment, then