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"That was six skips!" Annie shrieked with delight as Jacob's rock finally sank into the gently flowing river. "Show me how to do it!"
Jacob knelt down in the water as he showed Annie how to hold the rock.
Phoebe smiled as she watched Jacob with her daughter. He was amazing. The day had been incredible.
Riding. Racing. Picnicking. Taking advantage of every bit of the glorious land the Hart Ranch occupied. They'd seen two bald eagles, seven fox babies peeking out from a pile of rocks, and a herd of local wild horses that the Harts nurtured on their ranch.
Jacob's siblings had been hilarious. They were all so funny and charming, but also the kindest people she'd ever met.
She loved everything about the day, and she knew she was falling head over heels for Jacob and his family.
Phoebe was sitting on a high rock, her knees pulled to her chest as she watched Annie and Jacob play. Lucas was standing beside him, while Tristan sat on his horse atop a distant butte, where he had a longer-range view. Colin was on his horse in the river, letting his mount cool off after a long day of riding.
"What's going on?" Bella climbed and sat down beside her. "You look sad."
"I love your brother."
Bella grinned. "That's obvious. He loves you, too. I'm happy to hear that. He's such a good man."
"I know. I trust him, which I never thought I would do again."
Bella nodded. "I know how you feel. All of us have trust issues. Jacob might be the one with the biggest challenges, and it makes me so happy that you guys found each other. I thought he might never let anyone in."
Phoebe slanted a glance at Bella. "Thanks for being so nice to me and Annie. You've been amazing."
Bella smiled. "Honestly, we all feel that you're like us. Good heart. Good person. Been through enough in life that you appreciate the good moments that come your way. We don't let many people into our circle, but you fit." She bumped her shoulder against Phoebe's. "Wait 'til you meet my sister, Meg. She's awesome. And my brothers Brody and Keegan are both married now to amazing women. You'll love them, and my brothers."
Phoebe took a breath. "I have to leave."
The smile dropped off Bella's face. "For a day? Or forever?"
"For now, at least."
Bella stiffened. "Why?" Her voice was colder now. Defensive. Protective of her brother.
"Because I have to keep Annie safe. It's my sacred duty as her mom."
Bella's jaw dropped open. "Are you kidding? You think she's safer away from us?" She pointed at the river. "Right now, she has four Hart men around her. All armed. All tough. All smart. And she has me up here. And all my other siblings. Plus all our money. If you leave, all she'll have is you. How on earth is she safer away from here?"
"Because Jacob's dad is still out there. He knows he can't get to Jacob now, but he could get to Jacob through Annie. As long as we're with Jacob, it makes Annie a target. She's had a tough enough life so far. I need to make her life safer, not more dangerous."
Bella's jaw jutted out. "So, you're going to let an asshole win?"
"He's not just an asshole. He's a sociopath. He sold Jacob's sister. How can I possibly put Annie on his radar?"
"So, leave now then. Just go."
"I can't. Annie's biological father is looking for her—"
"So, you'll take advantage of all of us to protect Annie from a danger that comes with her, but the minute that's over, you'll take off running because you're too scared to handle what comes with Jacob? You didn't run from Annie even though she came with a possibly murderous appendage, but you're going to run from Jacob?"
"It's different—"
Bella was angry now. "How? How is it different?"
"Because Annie's a child! She needed me. I knew I was her mom the minute I met her. And I'd made a promise to her bio mom to be the one to take care of her—"
"And you didn't make a promise when you fell for Jacob? And you don't think Jacob needs you? The man lives in a self-made prison! Last night was the first time he's let any of us hug him in a decade! Maybe more! You think that's living? It's not. He might be a grown man with a lot of money and resources, but you're vastly underestimating yourself if you think he doesn't need you!"
