Read Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 for Free Online Page B

eighteen players. “I couldn’t have done it without
     you.”
    “You could have but were choosing not to,” she corrected him smoothly. “And that’s
     not the Jack I knew. That Jack took everything in stride, the good, the bad and the
     ugly, and went with it. Until you hurt your arm.”
    She refused to sugarcoat his actions. He’d let an injury change him, alter his ways,
     upset his life. He faced her, looking uncertain, but then dipped his chin in acknowledgment.
     “It was a stupid thing to do, Liv, and I’m sorry.”
    She studied him for long seconds, squinted slightly, then nodded. “It’s a start.”
    * * *
    A start. That’s what he’d wanted, right? A new beginning, a chance to mend old wrongs,
     set things right. She got up and walked him to the truck, and when he opened the door,
     the scent of wildflowers escaped in a rush of late-summer sweetness. Liv sniffed the
     air and spotted the bouquet. Realization brightened her face as she tipped her head
     back to look up at him. “You brought me flowers.”
    “Yes. And then chickened out when your father approached with his nail gun.”
    A tiny grin lit her face like a morning sunrise. “So. What now?”
    He frowned, not understanding.
    She directed her look to the flowers. “Do I get them now?”
    “I— Um...they’re kind of sad looking now, aren’t they?”
    She shook her head as he reached across the seat to grasp the slightly wilted bouquet.
     “A good drink of water and they’ll spruce up fine.”
    “You think?”
    “Yup.” She reached out and he set the somewhat woebegone flowers in her hand. “Water’s
     an amazing thing.”
    “‘With joy you shall draw water,’” Jack began, and when Liv finished the sweet words
     of Isaiah, his heart opened just a little bit more.
    “‘From the streams of salvation.’”
    “You remembered.”
    “Your mother has that painted on the little sign above your barn doors. Is it still
     there?”
    It was, kind of like most everything else his mother had done or placed. He and Dad
     hadn’t moved much of anything. At first that was fine. Now it seemed like neither
     one knew how to start the process of change. “It is. I think of her every time I walk
     into that section of the barn.”
    “She was a wonderful person, Jack. And she wanted you to be happy.”
    He frowned, glanced down and shrugged. “I kind of blew that, didn’t I?”
    “Then? Yes. Now?” She gazed up at him once more, and the look she offered him said
     he wasn’t doing all that badly and that made him feel good inside. Really good. “I
     think you are happy now. Happy to be here, to be part of the ranch, the town. As long
     as you break the hermit habit, I expect you’ll do just fine, Jack McGuire.”
    Funny how words could make things seem real. Hearing her assessment, he felt better.
     As if he was taking big leaps instead of small steps. Was that because he was moving
     with more force or because Livvie showed faith in him?
    Maybe both. He smiled down at her and raised his hand, gently grazing her left cheek
     with one work-roughened finger. “Thanks, Liv. For everything.”
    “And thank you.” She stepped back, creating a distance, but raised the bouquet slightly.
     “I love the flowers.”
    He climbed into the truck feeling better than he had in a long while, and as he backed
     down the driveway, the sight of her standing there, holding a bouquet of native-grown
     flowers in her hand, made him wonder what she’d look like as a bride.
    Would she consider getting married again? Ever?
    Would she consider you trustworthy enough to take a chance on, you mean? Probably
     not. You broke her heart once. Why would she trust you to treasure it again?
    Because he was older. More mature. Stronger. More faithful.
    Actions speak louder than words, his conscience reminded him, and it sounded slightly doubtful. Give it your best shot, but you heard her father. Think hard. Real hard.
    He would, Jack decided. But he wouldn’t