Another steam alert in this one. It's at the end, so if that's not your thing, you can still read the rest of the chapter with no worries. Thanks for reading! Please leave a review. :)
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July 30th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
"Your niece is amazing with that horse," Dalton said to Jack as he moved onto the picnic table.
"Yes, she's been working with him for nearly two months," Jack thought back. "She's been around horses with me since she was old enough to walk. It was only time until she started training her own."
"It's amazing how you've shown her how to do everything with hand signals."
"Oh, no, that's all her. I was working with Spunk one day and asked her to come in. He's mellow enough, so I let her. She started doing different signs with him, and he picked it up like it was the most natural thing."
"Maybe she's got something," Dalton said and rested his arms on his legs.
"I've actually added some into my training," Jack grinned. "I figured it couldn't hurt."
The two men remained on the table and watched Savannah as she taught Spunk another trick. She was up to seven so far and had a few more she wanted to teach him. The gelding was smart and took only a short time to pick up the new things Savannah wanted him to do.
"How's everything been going?" Jack asked.
"Great, mostly. I still have my moments."
Jack sat quietly and nodded as he could not associate with what Dalton had been through.
"Can I tell you something?" Dalton asked.
"Of course," Jack replied and turned to face the man.
Dalton stared down at his hands as he wrung his fingers together over and over. Taking a deep breath, he began. "I don't want to scare you and Elizabeth, and I really don't want to lose my job, but I have to tell you something that happened last night because I don't want ever to put your children in harm's way."
"Okay," Jack replied, slightly uneasy at the man's statement.
Keeping his body forward, Dalton turned his head to look at Jack eye-to-eye. "I was having a nightmare last night, and I guess I was screaming. My dad came running into my room and tried to wake me, but I was in the middle of a war, and I didn't see my dad. I struck out at him, caught the edge of his jaw, and knocked him off the bed."
"Is he alright?"
"Yes. He was far enough from me that, luckily, I didn't make full contact with him. It scared me to death, Jack. I could have hurt him." Dalton's gaze dropped back to his hands.
"But you didn't," Jack stated. "You can't live in fear of the what-ifs. My wife and I learned that the hard way."
Looking back at Jack, Dalton asked, "How?"
Jack shared the story of the twins' birth and how he thought he was losing his wife and children, and how she'd gotten her tubes tied to prevent it from having a worse outcome next time.
"That's horrible," Dalton exclaimed. Then realizing something, his brow furrowed.
"You're wondering about Brianna?" Jack asked.
"Yes."
"She got pregnant, even with the tubal ligation. We didn't know it was possible but discovered it indeed was. We were scared to death."
"What did you do?"
"It took some time," Jack began. "I hovered and got on her nerves, and we prayed, we cried, and we lived on the what ifs. But one day, Elizabeth allowed herself to bask in the blessing God had given us. And from that moment on, we stopped. We stopped asking why and started thanking God. And everything went absolutely perfectly. Elizabeth finally got to experience a normal birth, and I finally saw one of my children come into this world. It was the biggest blessing God could have given us. And once we allowed ourselves to enjoy the miracle that was growing inside Beth, we could finally see that."
Dalton was nodding as he listened, taking everything in as he learned what a miracle the little girl really had been when something puzzled him. And again, he looked at Jack with a furrowed brow.
"And now you're wondering about Jackson," Jack asked with a grin.
"Well, to be honest, yes," Dalton replied with a chuckle. "You have four children, but you and Beth have only truly experienced the birth of one?"
After a quick check on Savannah, Jack began a story of forgiveness and salvation.
Dalton was quiet, thinking of his mother in her final days. He was thankful that she was a believer and knew with his whole being that she was in Heaven. He looked forward to the day that he would see her again.
"That little boy has got to be the luckiest little guy," Dalton said. "Not for losing his mother, but for gaining one like Beth."
"You have no idea," Jack said proudly. "She had every right to hate me. And if she'd left, I would not have blamed her one bit. But she didn't. Instead, she invited Becky into our home and her heart, just as she did Jackson."
"I would have never known that Jackson wasn't her biological child."
"And that's exactly how Beth wants it. For him and everyone looking in. She wants him to feel just as part of this family as the twins and Brianna are."
"You're a very lucky man, Jack."
"Yes, I am. And I thank God every day for that fact."
The men sat silently for a few moments, watching Savannah play with Spunk. Dalton opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, changing his mind. Jack was facing the round pen with his gaze locked on his niece and hadn't noticed Dalton's hesitancy. Dalton opened his mouth one more time, only to change his mind again.
After several minutes of silently arguing with himself, Dalton finally spoke up. "It's my fault my best friend is dead."
Jack's head spun toward the man, and he stared at him blankly. "Excuse me?"
Dalton slowly moved his gaze to Jack as a tear rolled down his cheek. "It was my unit. I was charged with the safety of those eleven men, and I failed them."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"It is." Dalton looked toward Savannah, but Jack could tell that his niece was not in the scene the man envisioned. "I can still smell the stench of rotten meat that lofted from one of the buildings. It was so hot that day, and we were in full battle gear as usual; we were drenched in sweat. We only had two Humvees, two men in each. Eight of us were on foot for better viewpoints to spot the enemy. Denny, my best friend, was twenty yards in front of me, and we were doing a simple patrol through a village we'd been through half a dozen times before. Something felt...off. I should have known to stop. I should have listened to my gut. I heard the shot and saw Denny fall, but before we could react, the missile hit the Humvee near me, taking two men and me down. A second one was launched that took out the other Humvee and the remaining men still standing. I lost eleven men that day, including Denny."
"That wasn't your fault, Dalton."
"I should have seen them. I missed the sniper and the missile launcher on the hill. We'd been through there so many times before; I was too lax and missed them. I knew better."
"Dalton," Jack said and laid his hand on the man's back. "This was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done differently."
"I lost them all, Jack. They trusted me to keep them safe and to allow them to get home to their families. I failed them and their wives and kids and their mothers."
"Dalton, you can't blame yourself. You did all you could do in the situation. You almost lost your own life."
"But I didn't. And now I have to live the rest of it knowing that eight children lost their fathers; six wives lost their husbands; eleven sets of parents lost their sons."
"And I bet none of them blame you."
"I blame myself enough for everyone."
Jack sat quietly for a moment, trying to visualize what the man had been through, then looked back at Dalton. "What would you have done differently?"
"What?"
"What would you have done if you'd seen the men in the shack?"
Stunned by Jack's question, Dalton thought for a moment. "We would have high-tailed it out of there."
"At what point of your patrol did the shack come into view?" Jack asked.
"As soon as we reached the edge of town."
"Would the missile not reach that far?"
"What?"
"Would the missile reach the edge of town when the shack came into view?"
"Yes, of course, it would."
"So, even if you had noticed the shack, the enemy could have launched it then and still hit your unit."
Dalton sat in silence, stunned. He had spoken to his commander, the Army therapist, and multiple other people, and not one person had switched the perspective in that manner. "Yes, I suppose they could have."
"Then there was nothing you could have done to stop it. Those men had you in their sights from the moment you came into view. There is nothing you could have done to save them. It was their time."
Dalton was overtaken by a sudden flood of emotions that he could not hold back, and tears began to flow. He held his face in his hands, allowing the cleansing surge to wash through him. Of all the times he'd replayed that day in his mind, not once had he seen it play out in a different part of the village. Jack was right. As soon as the men in the shack knew they'd been spotted, they would have attacked sooner, most likely wiping out his entire unit, including himself, as they were grouped tighter together.
The relief he was feeling was indescribable to Dalton. He felt as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from him, but at the same time, the solace had a heaviness.
As the sobs slowed, Dalton wiped his face and looked at Jack. The shock was still evident in his expression. "How did you know to ask that?"
"I told you what happened with my dad?"
"Yes."
"I repeatedly replayed that day over and over in my head for over ten years. I can tell you what each man was wearing working that day, the names of every person who assisted my father, and how high the sun was in the sky. I tried to rewrite the story by thinking of other ways I could have tried to stop my father from getting on that bull. But no matter what I did or said, he still got on—every single time. I couldn't have stopped my father from riding that day any more than I could have stopped the sun from rising. Unfortunately, I wasted over ten years of my life chasing the idea that I should have been able to and blaming myself for his death."
Dalton didn't speak, as he was still trying to comprehend this new concept fully. He sat and listened to Jack, learning more about the man that had become his friend, feeling a new respect for him and his family. When Jack finished, he waited quietly for Dalton to respond.
Finally, after several minutes, the man turned his head to Jack. "I guess it all comes back to God and His design."
"Yes, it really does."
"I believe that He saved me that day, and one day I will know why. I just wish I knew now."
"In His time," Jack stated and laid his hand on the man's shoulder. "But I know it's hard to wait."
…..
July 31st, 2015 – University Hospital
Frank was lying in bed with two pillows tucked along his left side to ease the pressure and prevent bedsores. He had been awake for a few hours and was now listening to his wife read a section from her daily devotional to the family. Jack and Elizabeth were seated to the left of the bed, and Tom was next to his mother on the right. Charlotte was reading from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.
"You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me. People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness, that you learn to rely on Me."
"True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant my desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself, you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faith walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by complete reliance on Me. Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life through deepening your dependence on Me."
Charlotte closed the book and laid it on her lap. She opened her Bible to Psalm 34:17, the verse that went along with the day's devotion, and she began to read.
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Before his family arrived, as Frank lay awake in the dark hospital room alone with his thoughts and pain, he began thinking of everything he would never be able to do again. He felt useless, and the burden he had become on the family was weighing on him heavily. The depression had snuck up on him over the past week, and it had left him overwhelmed in these early hours. A sadness had moved in and taken residence where joy used to live within him, and Frank could feel it like an infection.
He lay quietly as his wife read. When she'd finished, the family bowed their heads, and she prayed, but Frank's eyes were vacant and staring at the void that lay before him. They said Amen, and Frank glanced from face to face, wearing a forced grin, and put on a good show. Tom took Charlotte to the cafeteria to get her something to eat while Jack went down the hall to make a quick phone call to check on things at the ranch.
Elizabeth stood at the side of the bed, watching Frank's expressions as the family left the room. She remained silent as the man blankly stared through the doorway. Then, realizing Elizabeth's presence, his eyes slowly tracked to hers.
"Hey, Pops," she said with a smile that would light up a room. "What's going on?"
Frank gave her another forced smile and simply shrugged his shoulders.
After gently lowering the side rail, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Frank's hand, holding it between hers. "Talk to me, Pops," she said firmly. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"
Frank shook his head and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, cutting off the impending tears. When he opened them, Elizabeth was leaning over him, and the dam broke at the sight of her face.
"Frank, what's going on? Do I need to get the doctor?" she asked as she stroked his cheek.
"No," he said between choked sobs. "No."
"Pops, are you okay?" she asked again, her tone changing when the realization of what might really be wrong with him came to light.
"I can't do this to the family," he finally said.
"You aren't doing anything to this family other than completing it."
Frank's gaze moved to her face once more. "I am a burden."
"Frank, that's nonsense. You are not a burden on anyone."
"I am. Financially and physically. It's going to be months before I can get around on my own...if even then. These hospital bills will just continue to grow as they try to get me to whatever stage I will be stuck in."
"Hey, you know the money doesn't matter to this family," Elizabeth assured him. "Not one bit. And no one thinks of you as a burden. We all love you very much and would do anything for you."
"But I don't want you to. I need to hold my own and make my own worth."
"Pops, you do that every day," Elizabeth said, holding his hand to her chest, pressing her own around his. "You are a light to this family. Look what you did for Jack. We all love you and are so thankful that you came into his life. And Charlotte's, too. She hasn't been this happy since Thomas. You are needed."
"But I need to be able to earn my keep. I need to help around the ranch, work at the church, help watch the kids when you have plans."
"All of that is taken care of. We need you to be well. We need you to come home. Not to work the ranch, not to babysit, but to be there. We need you in our lives as the father and grandfather you are, as the brother in Christ you are. You aren't a hired hand that can be replaced. You're a vital part of this family; if you weren't here, there would be a huge void in all our lives," Elizabeth said, almost pleading.
Jack had returned at the beginning of their conversation and listened, unnoticed, from the doorway. With Elizabeth's words, he stepped forward and moved in on the opposite side of the bed from his wife. With the side rail down, Jack sat down and laid his hand on Frank's chest.
"She has said nothing but truth, Pops. All that other stuff is trivial. You are part of this family."
"I know, Jack," Frank replied and placed his hand over Jack's. "But I have to be able to help. There's so much to do, and I am not one to sit back and watch others do it."
"I know, Pops. And we all love you so much for that. We love the kind of man you are and how much you've stepped in to do. But most of all, we love how you love our mom. That's what's important. Not that you can mow the lawn, move calves, or cut hay, but that you make Mom happy. You make all of us happy. Our lives wouldn't be the same without you, and it has nothing to do with working around the ranch."
"Thank you, Jack. And you, too, Elizabeth," Frank said, squeezing both their hands.
"We mean it, Pops," Elizabeth reiterated. "And all the grandkids love you so much."
Frank nodded as tears pooled in his eyes once more. "And I love them."
"So, we're going to do everything we can to break you out of this joint as quickly as possible," Jack said and patted his stepfather's chest. "As soon as they allow it, I'll be here daily to help you with your therapy. Deal?"
Frank smiled, and it was genuine for the first time all morning, and it shone in his eyes. "Deal."
…..
Frank's spirits were still down per his usual pre-accident chipper self, but he was definitely better that afternoon than he had been earlier in the day. Sam was on break and had joined them now, and the three couples discussed the plans of the foundation and a few items regarding their ranch. As they went over calf numbers, Rebecca entered the room along with Dr. Legum and Trace. The Thorntons knew today was the day they wanted Frank to sit on the edge of the bed, and they stood and moved out of the way.
"Good afternoon, Frank," Dr. Legum said as he read over his patient's chart. "It looks like you're right on track with your therapy." The doctor moved from the computer to Frank's side. "How have you been feeling?"
"Still quite a bit of pain, but it's been getting better."
"That's good. That's what I like to hear. Well," the doctor started and placed his hand on Frank's wrist. "I believe you know why I'm here today."
"Yes, sir," Frank replied.
"Okay, then. No time like the present. Let's get you sitting up."
Dr. Legum dropped the side rail as Rebecca and Trace moved two chairs out of the way. Rebecca repositioned the IVs and catheter, preparing for Frank to swing his legs to the right of the bed. With tubes, wires, and the covers situated, Rebecca stood on Frank's right and Trace on his left. Dr. Legum moved to the foot of the bed and patted Frank's leg.
"Are you ready to give this a try?" he asked.
Frank nodded and felt the warmth of the pain meds Dr. Legum had added to the IV as they entered his bloodstream.
Rebecca and Trace held their arms out while the doctor instructed Frank to grip onto their wrists and pull himself up. Frank prepared for the worst and did.
"Bring your legs around," Rebecca explained.
As Frank moved his right leg over, the doctor assisted him with the cast-covered portion, and Frank was quickly at the edge of the bed. The pain had been excruciating, and Frank groaned loudly as he moved. He sat on the edge of the bed with help from Rebecca and Dr. Legum, steadying him while his body quivered slightly.
"How are you doing, Frank?" the doctor asked.
"Okay," Frank answered, his eyes pinched shut and his head down.
"Are you okay with sitting here for a few minutes?" Dr. Legum checked.
"Yes."
Trace stepped in and gripped Frank's hand, taking it from the doctor, and placed his other hand on the man's back for support. Frank's grip was firm, signaling that he was in pain, but he wasn't letting it take control of his therapy. The metal rods of the fixators pressed into Frank's thighs slightly, only causing minor discomfort on his legs.
The longer he sat up, the more it felt like someone had taken hold of the daggers deep into his pelvis and begun twisting them. The stabbing pain had started to throb, and the increasing shakiness of his hands was alerting Rebecca to the fact.
"How are you holding up, Frank?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he answered flatly.
"I think this has been long enough. We'll try to go a little longer next time," she stated.
Taking this as his cue, Trace moved around the bed and assisted Rebecca with getting Frank turned and laying back down while Dr. Legum typed more information into the computer.
"You did very well, Frank. Rebecca will continue to work with you on this until you can do it on your own; then, we'll move you into a chair. How's that sound?"
"Sounds like a step closer to freedom," Frank answered with a smirk, but the pain was still evident in his eyes.
"Keep thinking like that," the doctor said, tapping Frank's arm. "You'll be home before you know it."
Once Frank was comfortable, and the pillows were tucked along his right side, Rebecca and Trace quietly left the room.
"How are you feeling, Pops?" Jack asked as he and the family moved to the sides of the bed.
"Been better, but I'll be fine," he answered with closed eyes. Attempting to think of something else at the moment was not working for Frank, as all he could focus on was the pain he could physically feel radiating through his pelvis and hips. If he concentrated hard enough, he could trace the path the pain was traveling through his body: beginning centered in his pelvis, flowing out into his hips, and finishing its journey down his legs.
"It will get easier, sweetheart," Charlotte said as she leaned over him, her face mere inches from his.
Frank opened his eyes, stared into hers, and smiled. "There's my girl," he said quietly, only for his wife to hear.
Charlotte laid her hand on his cheek as Frank placed his on her shoulder, and she gently kissed him.
Jack, Elizabeth, Tom, and Sam all watched with warm hearts, having heard Frank's private words to their mother.
"Let's give them a moment," Tom whispered and slid his hand into Sam's.
Once in the hall, they turned and looked back into the room. Charlotte's face was still close to Frank's, and the couple was lost in an intimate conversation.
"I need to get back to work," Sam stated. "My break was over five minutes ago."
"Okay, Babe. I'll see you at home tonight," Tom said and kissed her goodbye.
"Want to sit in the waiting room?" Jack asked.
"Sure," Tom replied.
Jack took Elizabeth's hand, and the three walked to the nearby room. Tom absentmindedly flipped through the cable channels while Jack turned Elizabeth's hand over in his. He brushed his thumb along her palm, then turned it over, rolling her rings back and forth.
"I think Frank is getting depressed," Jack finally said to his brother.
He and Elizabeth shared the conversation they'd had with Frank, telling Tom everything and how they felt about Frank's emotional state. They all agreed to keep a close eye on him and alert the doctor if Frank was falling back into his funk. Tom would update Sam, but no one wanted to worry Charlotte, so they would not involve her.
…..
Rebecca, Trace, and Dr. Legum returned that afternoon to work with Frank once more for the day. This turn seemed more painful than the last, as Frank called out in pain as he swung his legs around. The family could tell he'd tried to hold back his cries, but he'd reached a point in his pain that he could no longer do so.
Everyone could see Frank's hands shaking as he gripped onto Rebecca and Trace. His eyes were pinched tightly shut, as was his mouth. He was breathing heavily, trying to get through it, and Rebecca continued to talk softly to him.
When the time ended, they eased Frank back around and made sure he was comfortable before they left.
"I can't keep doing this," Frank said once they were out of earshot.
"What?" Charlotte asked and rushed to his side. "What are you talking about? Of course, you can."
"It hurts so much, Char."
"Pops, you need to let them know. Stop trying to be tough and hide it," Tom stated as he sat on the edge of the bed opposite his mother.
This was the first time Frank had been open about the pain, and the family knew then just how much he'd been in. Everyone was quiet as they watched him. His eyes were closed, and his face twisted as he breathed through the agony he was currently in.
"I'm going to find Sam," Tom stated, then left the room.
They returned a few short minutes later, and Sam was at Frank's side. She sat on the edge of the bed and laid her hand on the man's forehead.
"Frank, I need you to talk to me. How much are you hurting?"
"Beyond ten."
"Why didn't you tell Rebecca?"
"I was trying to get through it."
"I'm calling the doctor in. He needs more pain management," Sam said as she stood.
Within the next half hour, Frank had been given morphine, the pillows had been adjusted to ease some of the discomforts, and he had drifted off to sleep. The family could finally relax as they saw Frank's face do the same, and they pulled their chairs around his bed while he slept.
Jack moved his chair beside his mother's and laid his hand over hers. "The doctor said in the beginning that it was going to be a long, rough road for Pops."
"I know," she replied, the sadness evident in her voice.
"He'll be home before you know it, though. We'll help with anything we can to speed that up."
"Thank you, Jack." Charlotte laid her hand on her son's cheek and gave him a forced smile. "Maybe you can bring my grandbabies in again soon. That seemed to cheer Frank up. You, too, Tom. Bring the kids by."
"We will, Ma. They'll love that."
…..
August 9th, 2015 – Tom and Sam's Ranch
The week following that horrific therapy session had been rough. They continued to work with him, but it took three days before the pain finally began to improve. Now Frank was pulling himself up and around with a bit of assistance, and his time up was getting longer. His spirits seemed to be rising, too, which had Jack and Tom feeling much at ease.
The rodeo the weekend prior hadn't gone as they'd hoped. Due to so much time off and their minds being elsewhere, no one had done well.
It was a couple of days before Savannah's thirteenth birthday, and Tom and Sam had a family meal planned, along with a few of her school friends.
She had been disappointed that Dakota and her rodeo friends couldn't be there, but they were not nearby. She still enjoyed her school friends, who all seemed to be having a perfect time.
Charlotte was with them, wishing her husband was as well, but she would not have missed her granddaughter's birthday. She carried the barrel horse cake she'd made to the table and watched as Savannah blew out the candles. Sam took videos so they could show Frank later when they all stopped by to visit.
Some normalcy had returned to the Thornton's lives. Frank seemed to be progressing nicely in his recovery, so their time spent at the hospital had lessened so they could catch up with the work on the three ranches.
Savannah's wish for her birthday was to take the boat out on the lake, so after lunch and cake, that's what they did. It had been precisely what the whole family had needed. The birthday girl, her friends, and her brothers laughed and screamed as they went down the slide. With Jack's guidance and supervision, Jackson, Peyton, Colton, and the Coulter girls also took many trips down the slide. Even Jack and Tom made certain to get their turns in.
Charlotte loved it: getting fresh air that wasn't laced with hospital smells, no codes being called out from other rooms with staff running by to take care of them, and her grandchildren surrounding her.
It had been a great day for everyone, and although Frank was sad he'd missed it, he loved hearing the stories, watching the videos, and seeing the refreshed expressions on everyone's faces.
…..
August 12th, 2015 - Hope Meadows Ranch
Elizabeth returned home from the grocery store and carried the few bags into the house. After placing them on the island, she headed upstairs to check on Jack and the kids. The house was silent except for the country music playing faintly over the house system, so she thought they might be outside.
Elizabeth peered into Peyton's room to find it empty, then checked on the boys. They were both curled up in Colton's bottom bunk, a book between them, and sound asleep. Pulling the door closed partway as she left, Elizabeth started to the main bedroom. The door was opened just a bit, and she pushed it the rest of the way and saw Jack lying in bed. As she moved to the foot of the bed, she could see Peyton snuggled against Jack's chest, and his arm draped across her. Jack's hand was lying on Brianna's stomach, and the three were also sound asleep.
Elizabeth moved closer to the bed and watched over half her family. Brianna was on her back, her face turned toward her daddy, her arms framed her head, and her little mouth would curl into a smile and then relax. Peyton's arms were drawn up in front of her as she lay facing her daddy. Her thumb was in her mouth, and Elizabeth could see her bottom lip quiver slightly as if she was about to suck on it.
Jack was breathing deeply, on the verge of snoring, and looked at peace. She stood and watched them for a few minutes, wanting to lie with them, but she knew that would wake them up. Brianna began to fuss and started wiggling beneath Jack's hand, so Elizabeth carefully moved his hand off her and pulled her down the bed until she could slide a hand under her to pick her up. Jack and Peyton hadn't moved an inch, so Elizabeth snuck out the door and down the stairs.
Once situated on the couch, she began nursing Brianna and watched her daughter while she ate. She was growing so quickly, making Elizabeth both sad and excited. She was excited to see the kind of woman Brianna would grow up to be, but at the same time, she wanted to keep her in her arms forever. She'd felt the same way with the twins and missed these moments with them.
The house was silent except for the slight hum of the air conditioner, and once Brianna was finished nursing, Elizabeth lay on her side along the couch with her daughter beside her. She held her hand and spoke softly to her, getting a few soft giggles and grins in return. Then Brianna drifted back to sleep, and Elizabeth joined her.
When she woke, Brianna was gone, and Elizabeth quickly sat up and looked around. She heard voices from the kitchen and went to see if that was where her daughter had gone off to.
Colton and Peyton were sitting on the edge of the island, each with a plastic bowl and wooden spoons in their hands. Brianna was in her bouncy seat, kicking her legs out and cooing, and Jackson was standing next to his father with his own bowl in his hand. Jack scraped something into the kids' bowls, then helped each one start mixing.
"What's going on in here?"
"We're making chocolate chip cookies," Peyton shouted.
"Sounds yummy." Elizabeth took a seat on the opposite side of the island from her husband and children and watched.
"Have a nice nap, Beautiful?" Jack asked with a smile.
"I did. You?"
"Perfect. Though I will say I panicked for a minute when I woke up and found Brianna gone."
Elizabeth didn't say a word; she just grinned.
"What's next, Daddy?" Colton asked as he held his bowl out.
"Now it's time to add the chocolate chips."
The children held their bowls out and watched with wide eyes as Jack poured a little amount of the chocolate morsels into each bowl. Each kid stole a few pieces of candy before mixing them into their dough.
Elizabeth enjoyed herself as she continued to watch her perfect little family. Jack helped them spoon the dough onto two cookie sheets, placed them in the oven, then assisted Peyton with setting the timer. The kids ran off to play while they waited for their cookies, and Jack sat across from Elizabeth at the island. They visited about their day, played with Brianna, then Jack removed the cookies while the kids patiently waited for their first warm and gooey cookie.
…..
August 13th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
Jack leaned against the wall separating the kitchen and living room and watched Elizabeth cutting vegetables on the island. She looked at him, smiled, and returned to her task. My Eyes by Blake Shelton began to play through the speakers, and Jack slowly crossed the room to his wife.
Those high heels with that sun dress
Turquoise heart hanging 'round your neck
Red lips like wine, wanna drink 'em up
And keep on drinkin' 'til you make me drunk
Jack stood behind her and slid his hands down her arms; stopping on her hands; he removed the knife. He turned her to face him and moved his hand into hers, pulling her to the middle of the floor. With his hand pressed into the small of her back, Jack guided her across the room, keeping her close to him.
Tied up here, wanna let it down
And just let the rest fall to the ground
You take beautiful to the max
Can't help myself when you look like that
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, girl the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, love the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Jack held his arm up, still gripping her hand, and slowly turned Elizabeth. He pulled her against him, her back to his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. Elizabeth tipped her head against her husband, breathing in his cologne and the scent of hay. She closed her eyes and settled into his warm and loving embrace. Elizabeth loved the feel of his arms around her and the security and feeling of home they gave her.
There's a million stars dancing in the sky
A picture perfect moon so bright
But I don't care, I'm looking at you
From where I stand you can beat the view
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, girl the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Jack lifted his hand again, pushed her away from his body into a spin, then pulled her to him, pressing his hand into the small of her back once more. He drew her in tight as they danced to the tune, moving slowly as one.
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, love the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
My eyes have seen
Some amazing things
But girl, my eyes ain't seen
Nothing quite like you, hey baby
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, girl the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Jack's wanting gaze scanned his wife's face, locking with her eyes. They continued to move to the music as Jack's hand on her lower back held her tight against him. Jackson ran into the room and slid across the floor to a stop when he spotted his parents. He stood quietly, smiling hugely, watching them lost in their own little world.
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, love the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Come a little closer, come a little closer
Come a little closer, love the way you look tonight
My eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you
Jack sent his wife out into another spin and pulled her back quickly, causing her to chuckle as he caught her against his body. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, he rocked back and forth in exaggerated motions until they heard tiny giggles from the side of the room. They turned to find all three kids watching them, smiling ear to ear. Peyton's hand covered her mouth as she continued to giggle.
Jack released his wife, hunched over, and quickly moved to the kids with his arms outstretched and fingers wiggling. Jackson, Colton, and Peyton ran in three different directions, narrowly escaping their daddy's impending tickle attack. Jack turned back toward his wife, smiles filling both their faces and they continued dancing through the slow song that had begun.
…..
August 14th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
Dalton was leaning into a horse stall with the manure fork, sifting the dry woodchips from the muck, when he heard a woman's voice.
"Jack?"
Dalton straightened and took a step back. He turned toward the voice and his eyes locked on a beautiful brunette walking his way.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were Jack," she said and stepped back.
"No, ma'am. My name's Dalton." He wiped his hand against his dirty jeans and held it out toward her, but she held the distance between them.
"Hello, Dalton. My name is Sarah."
"Sarah? Oh, Sarah," he said when he realized just who she was and dropped his hand. "Very nice to finally meet you."
Sarah tilted her head and gave him a funny look. "You know who I am?"
"Yes, ma'am. Jack and Elizabeth have talked about you frequently, wondering how you were doing."
"Oh, okay," she said. "So, who exactly are you?"
Dalton quickly pulled his baseball cap from his head and held it to his chest. "I'm the ranch hand. I help Jack and Lee with horse training and around Charlotte's farm."
"Oh, okay." Sarah's nerves were still on edge as they stood in awkward silence.
"I'm sorry for my terrible manners, ma'am," Dalton finally said. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Dalton's voice was very deep, and his size was intimidating, causing Sarah to take another step back. "No, I was just looking for Jack or Elizabeth."
"Beth is in the house with the kids, and Jack should be back any minute. He had to run to the hardware store." Dalton sensed her uneasiness and moved back into the doorway of the stall. He knew all too well about being uncomfortable in certain situations.
This simple gesture put Sarah at ease, and her shoulders relaxed a bit. "I assume you know about my hearing, then?"
"Yes, ma'am," Dalton answered as he twisted his cap in his hands. "I do, and I'm very sorry for what happened to you."
"Thank you. Well, the trial starts Tuesday, so I came to town a few days early to meet with the prosecuting attorney and see a few friends."
"That sounds like a very nice plan, ma'am. I truly hope the trial goes as you need it."
"Thank you. Dalton, was it?"
"Yes, ma'am." Dalton wanted to shake her hand, but he knew she must be afraid of unknown men, and he kept his distance.
But Sarah felt safe with Dalton, and she took the first move by stepping forward with her hand out. "It's very nice to meet you."
Dalton took the cue and moved toward her to shake her hand. "You, too, ma'am."
Dalton thought Sarah was lovely, even with the few small scars that had remained on her face from her latest attack. Their handshake lingered longer than either had expected until Sarah's gaze dropped, along with her hand, and her cheeks burned red.
"Beth is at the house if you want to see her."
"Thank you, Dalton. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around again this week."
"Looking forward to it."
Dalton stood where he was as he watched her leave the barn. Just before Sarah stepped outside, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him again. Dalton smacked his hat against his dirty jeans, returned it to his head, picked up the manure fork, and continued with his chore.
…..
"Sarah. Oh, my goodness, it's so nice to see you," Elizabeth exclaimed when she'd opened the door. "I'm so glad you decided to come to see us."
"Of course. You and Jack have done so much for me."
"Come inside. I'll pour us some coffee."
Sarah sat at the island while Elizabeth took down two cups from the cupboard and filled each with coffee.
"So, what's the story on Dalton?"
"Oh, did you just meet him?"
"Yes. I thought maybe Jack was in there, so I stopped at the barn first."
"Well, he's been here for a little over three weeks, and he's great with horses. He's an army vet and spent a lot of time in combat. It messed him up a bit. So, the horses are his therapists," Elizabeth added with a smile.
"He's quite handsome," Sarah said, grinning. "And he seems very well-mannered."
"He is. He's a country boy through and through, like Jack, and he seems like he'll do anything for anyone. He's very kind."
The women visited a little more about Dalton, and then the conversation turned to the trial. The kids had run in and out a few times, requesting different things, and Brianna woke and needed to be nursed. They moved into the living room, where Elizabeth could feed Brianna more comfortably, and continued their talk.
"I heard about Frank. How's he doing?"
"It was really rough for a while. He was in so much pain, and the therapy aggravated it constantly. But he's doing much better. They want to move him into a chair next week, which is great. One step closer to getting him home."
"I'm glad to hear that. I would love to see him if that would be possible."
"Of course. He'd love that. So, what have you been up to?"
"Well, I got a job in a doctor's office. I just file and make appointments, but the people are nice, and I love it."
"That's wonderful. I'm so glad everything seems to be working out for you."
"I've been seeing a therapist weekly and found a great support group. They've really helped me."
Elizabeth reached out with her free and took Sarah's in hers, squeezing it. "Keep it up. That did wonders for Jack and helped him sort through things."
"I will. I've already noticed a difference, and I don't want to go back to the way things were."
Jack returned home, and when Sarah saw him, she ran to him and wrapped him in a hug, thanking him for everything he'd done. The three sat around the island and visited a bit longer before Sarah had to leave.
"We'll see you Tuesday," Elizabeth said as she hugged her goodbye.
"Thank you for going to the trial. It means a lot."
"We wouldn't miss it," Elizabeth said.
The couple stood in the doorway, Jack's arm around his wife, waving to Sarah while she drove away. It was suppertime now, but with Sarah having been there, Elizabeth hadn't gotten anything started. They worked together, quickly had the meal ready, helped their kids onto their seats, and filled their plates.
…..
August 15th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
Elizabeth dropped off the kids with Charlotte, then headed back home. As she drove past the barn, she saw Jack working with a young colt in the round pen. With a smile on her face, she continued around the line of trees and to the house.
With laundry already done and the dishwasher going, Elizabeth set off to clean Jack's office as she'd had planned for weeks but hadn't had the time. With her cleaning supplies in hand, she crossed the porch toward the garage. Taking one more look past the barn at the round pen, she could see Jack still working with the same horse.
The shelves were dusted, the floor was swept, and the catalogs and magazines were straightened. It didn't take her long, as Jack always kept a clean office. Elizabeth gathered her things and returned them to the house and to the closet. She glanced around the kitchen, and feeling good about her housework being done, she grabbed a water jug and went to watch Jack.
As she crossed the lawn toward the barn, she noticed the colt was still in the pen, but Jack was not. Thinking he was fetching some training tools from the tack room, Elizabeth continued to the round pen to wait for him.
The young grey colt that Jack called Smokey met Elizabeth at the railing for some much-desired love. Jack always said that once in a while, a horse will pick you, much like Wrangler had picked Elizabeth, and this colt was no exception. Since the day he was born, Smokey had been by Jack's side every chance he got.
After several minutes passed and Jack hadn't returned, Elizabeth decided to check the barn. She stopped and petted each of the horses as she passed by them. Annie, Duke, and Tucker were excited to see her, and Harley whinnied as she started to him. Stopping at Wrangler's stall last, she spent a little extra time with him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed in the fragrance she had grown to love.
Elizabeth walked around the barn, searched the tack room, and checked Maverick's area but could not find Jack. Feeling her heart beat faster, she hurried out the door and stopped in her tracks. The tractor was out of the shed and parked beside the barn. It appeared that he'd been working on it as boards were lying beneath the bucket like it had been propped up, but the supports had fallen.
Feeling nausea beginning to set in, Elizabeth ran into the shed and called Jack's name. He was not to be found, but blood ran down the workbench leg and a small amount pooled on the floor. Elizabeth slowly crossed the building to get a closer look and saw more blood on the top of the bench beside a vice and grinder.
Elizabeth pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Jack's number, only for it to go straight to voicemail. Feeling like she might throw up, she ran across the ranch toward the house as fast as possible. Throwing the front door open, Elizabeth burst into their home and began frantically searching for her husband. With no sign of him on the main level, she ran upstairs to the bedroom and into the bathroom. As soon as she stepped into the room, she froze, doubled over, and covered her mouth with her hand as the tears began to flow.
Elizabeth straightened and drew in a long slow breath. She glanced around the room and saw Jack's blood-stained shirt and dirt-covered jeans on the floor, and he was in the shower with his head under the water and hadn't heard her come in. Elizabeth quickly crossed the room, pulled open the shower door, and stepped inside. She grabbed Jack's arm, startling him, and spun him around to face her.
"What's wrong, Beth?" Jack asked when he saw his wife's face as white as a sheet.
Elizabeth scanned Jack's body but saw nothing wrong with him. "What happened?" she asked, her voice cracking and tears still flowing.
"What do you mean? What is wrong? What's going on? Is someone hurt?" he asked, gripping her arms.
"I thought you were," she said as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Me? Why did you think something was wrong with me?"
"I was out looking for you, but all I found was blood all over your workbench. I tried calling, but it just went to voicemail."
"Oh, Beth. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Elizabeth grabbed his arm again, turning him one way, then the other.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing?"
"There's blood in the shed and all over your clothes. Where are you hurt?"
"Blood? Oh, baby," Jack said as he cupped her face, trying to calm her. "That's not blood. It's transmission fluid. I was working on the tractor and reached up to grab something. I hit the can and knocked it over. It spilled all over my shirt and workbench, so I came in here to wash up."
"Oh, my God," Elizabeth stated and rested her hand against the shower wall. She looked down and noticed she was still dressed and soaked head to toe and pulled her shirt from her skin.
"Beth, I'm fine," Jack assured her.
"But the tractor bucket...the boards...they were on the ground...then the blood."
Jack put his arms around her and drew her in. "Elizabeth. I'm just fine. I'm not hurt."
Elizabeth looked up at Jack, and her eyes searched his. "It's just that...after Frank...and then I saw the tractor."
Jack covered her mouth with his, hoping to calm her and prove that he was okay, and Elizabeth pushed him to the wall, kissing him harder. Jack straightened and looked down at his wife, and upon seeing the look in her eyes, he gripped the hem of her soaked shirt and pulled it over her head. Elizabeth hurriedly unfastened her jeans and, with Jack's help, worked the wet denim off her legs. With all her clothes discarded onto the shower floor, Jack picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles behind him. He pushed her against the wall and entered her hard, as Elizabeth arched her back to better accept him as he filled her.
Moans and heavy breaths increased as his body surged into hers, over and over. Jack leaned down, and Elizabeth arched her back once more as his mouth closed about her breast. Breathy moans emanating from her lips made Jack even more rigid and engorged as he drove into her. He moved his mouth to hers and kissed her with a driving passion as water dripped from their hair and down their faces.
As a numbing wave washed through her, Jack could feel Elizabeth tighten around him. Jack pushed into her one more time, hard and deep, as he released and joined her in an all-consuming climax. He moved his hands to her thighs, supporting her legs, as Elizabeth relaxed against him.
Keeping her in his arms, Jack reached over and turned off the water, then carried Elizabeth out of the shower. He gently lowered her to the floor and grabbed her towel from the hook. After drying her hair and body, Jack quickly dried himself, scooped Elizabeth into his arms, and carried her to the bed.
Leaning over the bed, Jack lowered Elizabeth, then moved to the end of the mattress by her legs. He lifted one and pressed his lips to her skin, and kissed along the inside of her calf and thigh. Lowering her leg, he lifted the other, laid it on his shoulder, and slowly left a damp trail of kisses from her ankle to her inner thigh while grazing his hand along the curve of her hip.
Jack moved her leg from his shoulder, eased her knees apart, and inched along her body. With his hands on her sides, he pressed his lips to her flat stomach, weaving back and forth along her abdomen, constantly kissing her before moving between her legs. He spent a long time and close attention to her inner thighs and her heated depths, sending Elizabeth into multiple orgasms as he waited for his body to recover so he could make love to her again.
When he was ready again, he moved up and slid his hands along her arms, clutched her wrists, and pressed them down above her head. Elizabeth tipped her head back, leaving an open invitation to her neck, and Jack kissed the hollow of her throat before moving up to her ear.
As he covered her lips with his, Jack eased into her slowly until he was entirely inside once more. His rhythm was slow and steady, and Elizabeth matched his every rise and fall.
They made love for hours that day. Triggered by the thought of losing her husband, Elizabeth wanted to keep him as close to her as possible. And so she did.