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Jagger reached up for Belinda.
She swung her leg over, pulled her other foot from the stirrup, and launched herself at him. Jagger easily caught her, laughing at her exuberance. He let her body slide down against his, holding her firmly to his chest.
Greg led her horse away.
“You came!” She wrapped her arms tight around his neck.
“Of course I came.”
There was so much to say and so much to heal, but kissing had to come first. The dust from the trail created a glowing aura with the sunlight filtering through the trees. Jagger coming for her when she feared she’d never see him again, and especially not in her parents’ ranch yard, made her tingle with anticipation to feel his lips on hers.
“Now it’s all honey for you,” she proclaimed.
He laughed and kissed her.
Wow, did he kiss her! Warmth rushed through her from head to toe. The world was filled with sunshine, music, and sparkles. Every wrong was made right. Of course they would heal together and love everyone around them, including her parents. With love like this, they could even help his friend Shawn heal from losing Mercedes.
When they pulled back for a breath, she could only stare at him in wonder. He glanced over at her mom.
“Don’t mind me.” Her mom dabbed at her tears. “Just watching the show.”
Belinda laughed, but then she sobered. “I’m so sorry about Mercedes and my parents’ lies and all the pain you’ve gone through and are you heartbroken you didn’t get to the funeral and how are Shawn, Hays, and Julie and Mercedes’s dad? And can you ever forgive my mom and dad? They want to love you, but they won’t blame you if you can’t forgive them.”
Jagger’s eyebrows lifted. “Ah, Bee. How I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you,” she cried out.
He grinned and then sobered and just held her. “We found out about Mercedes after she was already gone and the funeral was over. Hays got shot.”
“What?” she exploded.
He nodded soberly. “It was awful. I lost it, but he’s okay. Shawn’s a mess. Franz is worse.”
“Ah, no. I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” He looked her over, then glanced at her mom, who was smiling tentatively at him. “When Hays got shot, it was too much. I prayed like I’ve never prayed in my life. Mercedes dead. Maybe Hays dead too. I know you said you chose me and trusted me, but I worried about … all the details and healing.”
“Of course I choose you, always! But back to Hays,” she urged. “That’s terrifying.”
“The bullet just grazed his head, but one lodged in his arm. Medical leave for him, and I took more personal leave. I might get demoted.” He smiled as if it didn’t matter. “But I was such a mess, and I screamed at heaven instead of trying to assess Hays’s wounds like I would instinctively do any other time.” He shook his head. “It was bad. I humbled myself and told God that I would do anything?—”
A white, four-door Chevy rolled into the barnyard, interrupting the story she wanted to hear. Jagger had humbled himself? Talked to God?
Jagger instinctively released Belinda, ushered her behind him, and stepped back to protect her mom.
Her dad popped out of the driver’s seat and hurried toward them. Her mom hurried to his side.
Belinda stepped up next to Jagger and took his hand.
He glanced down at her, squeezed her hand, and then focused on her dad.
“Jagger …” Her dad and mom stopped a couple feet away. He swiped his hat off his head and wrung it in his hands. His closed mouth twisted in discomfort. It was as penitent as she’d ever seen the man. “There’s no way to make this right, and I don’t know if you can ever forgive me.” He rushed out the words as if Jagger would cut him off. “I was wrong, and I tried to control Belinda and you. I stole happy years from both of your lives. I’m so terribly sorry. Please know I won’t blame you if you can’t forgive me. Don’t blame Aimee or Belle. They’re both innocent angels. I’m sure you know that. Please. If you have to take Belinda away because you’re so angry at us, we’ll understand, but can you let us come visit when you’re on assignment? We wouldn’t subject you having to play nice with us, but we love our girl and we want to love you and we’ll never stop praying for both of you.”
Her dad stopped talking and her mom started crying and Belinda prayed desperately.
Please let Jagger forgive.
She also would understand if he couldn’t. She’d choose him, but she hoped he wouldn’t be so angry at her dad that they couldn’t come visit or Belinda couldn’t go visit them.
