maybe youâre not going to be George Strait anytime soon.â
âHe does rope, doesnât he?â
âYep.â
âI stink. Tell Duckie Iâm sorry.â
Jayâs smile dissolved. âCome on, let me help you up. You sound a little loopy and I want to make sure youâre okay.â
âI donât sound loopy. Iâm fine.â She eased herself to a sitting position, aware of his arm around her back and that cinnamon-gum scent.
If she turned he would be close, really close. And being near him upset her balance more than the fall sheâd taken.
âYouâre not fine. That was a hard spill.â
âHelp me up.â She stood, slow and steady, and a little sore. âNothing broke.â
âJay, is she okay?â Bill stood at the gate. Lacey smiled at Jayâs dad and saluted.
âSheâs fine.â Lacey answered. âMy pride is hurt. I really thought roping would be easy.â
âCome on out here so we can take a look at you.â
Jayâs arm was around her, holding her close like she mattered. âWhy in the world did you jump?â he asked.
âI thought it would be better than being thrown.â
Jay and his dad both laughed. Jay shook his head. âDid you really?â
âYes, I really did. And I was wrong. I can admit that.â
âNext time grip her with your legs and hold steady on the reins. She spooked, but she wasnât going to throw you.â
âIâll remember that. Stay on horse, donât try to jump. Got it.â
Jayâs arm tightened around her waist and he pulled her against his side. âLacey, I havenât smiledâ¦â
And then he was quiet and Lacey didnât know why he didnât smile. But she was glad it was time to go home.
Â
Laceyâs phone rang late the next afternoon. She was stiff from the fall and from working all day. As she reached for the phone she grimaced a little. Bailey was sitting at the dining room table and she laughed. But she had promised not to mention the fall again.
âLacey, theyâve got Corry in custody.â
Lacey closed her eyes. âOkay. What now?â
âIâll pick you up and take you to Springfield. Family Services has Rachel.â
âWill they let me have her?â
âWeâre making phone calls.â Jay paused. âItâll work out. Iâll be down there in a few minutes.â
Lacey hung up and then turned to Bailey. âThey have her in custody.â
âJayâs taking you to Springfield?â
âHe is.â Lacey tossed her cell phone in her purse. âIâm scared to death.â
âDonât be. This is going to work out. Call me when you get home, so I know youâre okay.â
Lacey nodded. âIâll call.â
Five minutes later Jayâs black truck pulled up in front of the house. Lacey had popped a few ibuprofen and she met him at the front door. He stepped out of the truck, leaving his hat behind.
He was the one there for her.
No, not for her. She pushed that thought away, because it was dangerous to her heart. That thought didnât even belong. It was like a kidâs activity book, one of these things doesnât belong. The thing that didnât belong was Jay Blackhorse in her life.
This was about Corry in trouble, the baby and the police. Jay wasnât in her life. He wasâ¦
She wasnât sure and now wasnât the time to deal with suspicion, worrying that he had other motives for helping. She didnât want to get caught up in questions, prodding her to ask why he was involved in her life and what he wanted.
âCall me.â Bailey stood behind her. âAnd stop looking like the sky is falling. That isnât you, Lacey. Youâre my sunshine friend, not a dark cloud.â
Lacey turned and smiled at Bailey, remembering a time when they were on opposite sides of this fence and Lacey had been the
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