When Love's Gone Country - By Merri Hiatt Page 0,25

through that. You did the right thing by telling about what happened.”

Bobby stood next to Meg. “You know how people say that you’re only as strong as your weakest link?”

Jacob nodded. He really didn’t want to hear about how he was the weakest link, but he took a deep breath and braced himself for his Dad’s words.

“You’re the strongest link in this chain.”

“What?” Jacob said.

“Yeah, what?” Courtney said.

“The fact that you couldn’t come to one of us, any of us, and tell us what was going on, that’s our weakness, not yours. If you felt like we would listen to you and take you seriously, you would have taken one of us aside and told us last night. I’m sorry we let you down. It won’t happen again.”

“He’s right,” Meg said. “We should be able to talk about anything – good, bad or ugly. I’m sorry you didn’t believe we would have your back.”

“I get what you’re saying, but it’s a two-way street,” Courtney said. “I’ve tried a bunch of times to talk with you and you just shut me down. You’re one of my favorite people in the world, Jacob, but sometimes you look at me like I’m your worst enemy. I’m not. And I don’t want to be. I love you.” She felt the tears prick her eyes. “Damn it! You know how I hate to cry!” Court got up from the gazebo steps and wrapped her arms around Jacob. “I’ll always be here for you. Always.”

“That goes double for us,” Purity said.

Alex nodded.

“We’re in this together,” Brad said. “All for one…”

“And one for all,” they all said together.

It was Jeremy who noticed Jacob hadn’t joined in with the others.

Later that afternoon Jacob and Jeremy were paired together to ride the fences looking for repairs that needed to be made. It wasn’t a horse they were riding, though. It was a golf cart that whisked them down the dirt path parallel to the fence.

“Who’d have thought they’d use a golf cart on a ranch?” Jeremy said. “This is awesome!”

“Faster, too,” Jacob said.

The pace was a bit slow, but necessary, as they were looking for signs of wear and tear as well as places where the wood was rotting away or a post had become unsteady.

“You still plannin’ on leavin’?” Jeremy asked.

“I don’t know.”

“You didn’t say it.”

“What?”

“And one for all. You mouthed the words. I don’t think nobody else saw, but I did.”

“I don’t expect you to understand.”

“I get more than you think I do. I grew up in that house, too, you know.”

“It was different for you. You had me to protect you. I didn’t have nobody.”

“If I’d a been older, I would have protected you.”

“I know. I ain’t blamin’ you. I’m glad things weren’t as bad for you.”

“Don’t make it no easier on you, though, does it?”

“I wish it did.”

“I know you got a gun.”

Jacob glared at Jeremy, then nodded his head toward the two ranch hands in the front seat.

“I ain’t gonna tell nobody. I just want you to know that I know. Does it make you feel better, stronger?”

“In a way. No one is ever gonna hurt me again.”

Jeremy nodded his head and chewed on the inside of his cheek.

“You boys look over to the right,” TJ said.

“It’s a bird,” Jeremy said.

“It’s an eagle,” Jacob said. “Look at that wing span!”

“He’s a beauty all right,” Bart said. “There’s a couple of nests here at the ranch. I never get tired of seein’ ‘em fly across the sky.”

“Is that water I hear?” Jeremy asked.

“Yep. Got ourselves a waterfall ‘bout half a mile up ahead.”

“Must be a big one to hear the water from here.”

“It is. Downstream is good for fishin’, too.”

“Do you think we could go fishin’?” Jeremy asked.

“Don’t see why not. Swimmin’, too.”

“You don’t have a swing, do you?”

“Now how could we be country and not have a swimmin’ hole with a swing?”

Jeremy nudged Jacob. “Did ya hear that? We get to go swimmin’ and swingin’ and fishin’. This is the best vacation ever!”

Chapter Sixteen

After a dinner with roast chicken as the star, Bobby declared, “I’ve eaten more in the last two days than I usually eat all month.” He pushed his chair back and stood up. “Oh.” His hand instinctively began unknotting the muscle in his lower back.

“I think we’re all going to be saying that.” Meg stood up and felt a strain in both her thighs.

“You think you’re sore now, wait until tomorrow morning,” Courtney said. “And no hot shower before chores to