“If that’s all right?

“Uh, I guess.”

Amy unfolded her arms and reached out her hand, briefly touching his arm. “It’s okay, you can relax. I haven’t come here to accuse you of anything or to bite your head off. I came because I got your message.”

“You spoke with Peggy?”

“This morning, yes. She passed along everything you asked her to say, and I wanted to let you know that I’m not mad. I get it. I understand what you were doing in my room.”

The knots in Ryan’s stomach finally began to unwind as he exhaled a big sigh of relief.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I am.” He wiped his brow. “For a second there I wondered if you might still be upset, which would be completely understandable, you know, if you were still upset.”

Amy stepped closer. “Completely the opposite, believe me. I’m grateful for what you did.”

“Well, thanks, but I only did what anyone else would have done.”

“Don’t be so sure. If you hadn’t woken me, who knows what might’ve happened. The situation could’ve been worse. Like, a lot worse.”

Ryan fidgeted with the brim of his hat; for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. “It’s my pleasure. But really, you didn’t need to come all this way just to tell me that.”

“Yeah, I did, especially with how I reacted. You were only trying to help, and instead you got me screaming my head off, which, can I just add, I feel really bad about. Really bad.”

“Honestly, it’s okay. You had every right.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that I feel terrible about it.”

“Trust me, you needn’t.”

“Even still, for the record, can I just say that I’m sorry?”

“It’s really not necessary. Truly.” Ryan wholeheartedly meant that; her assertion that he was due some kind of apology was patently ridiculous. “I’m just pleased you’re okay.”

“Thanks. I am.”

After shuffling his feet through an awkward silence, Ryan gathered up the nerve to ask her if she’d like to come inside for a drink. After coming all this way, he figured it was the least he could do. “I don’t have much to offer, but I’ve got lemonade? It’s fresh.”

Amy tilted her head to one side. A lock of hair fell across her face. “That’s kind of you, but I should really get going.”

“Are you sure? So soon?”

“Yeah, my ride is waiting, and I don’t want to take up any more of your time. That’s all I came to say.” She shoved her hands in her pockets, rocked back on the heels of her boots, then flashed him a smile that made his throat go dry. “So, no hard feelings?”

“Course not.”