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Hannah nodded, agreeing with her brother and getting off the horse to stretch her legs. Grace got down slowly and was happy to have her feet on the ground again for a little while.
“Next time we’ll picnic here or go out to Bear Creek Lake. It’s a big lake where you can go boating and swimming. It’s a popular place to hangout.” Jackson smiled at her as he got off his own horse. “The water is cold but it feels good on those really hot days. Can you swim?”
“Like a fish thanks to my cousin Billy throwing me into a pool when we were seven,” Grace answered.
“I know him. He is a few years older than me.” Hannah smiled. “He’s been gone for a while but I remember him being a hottie.”
Grace laughed when Jackson threw a clump of grass at his sister. “You don’t need to be noticing any hot guys and neither does Grace.”
They sat in the grass for a while and Grace listened to Hannah and Jackson tell her some childhood memories, making her laugh at their antics. They didn’t ride too much so Grace wouldn’t get sore. It was getting dark by the time they reached the house but it had been fun, she admitted.
Jackson and Grace were sitting on the porch swing holding hands and rocking it slowly. Hannah had wanted to check on one of the horses and left them alone to talk.
“Why don’t you just stay the night?” Jackson suggested, playing with her hair and nuzzling her cheek playfully and making her giggle. “I don’t want you to leave yet. We have a guest room and we can watch a movie. A scary one so I can have the excuse to hold you.”
Grace agreed, leaning against him. She was enjoying herself and reluctant to leave, too. Hannah shrieked with delight when Jackson told her Grace was staying the night. The two girls went to Hannah’s bedroom to change into pajamas while Jackson and Ida took care of the snacks and picked a movie. While changing their clothes Hannah saw Grace’s scar and let out a gasp.
“Oh Grace, what happened?” she asked. Grace sat on the bed, knowing she had to tell Hannah the whole story. It was a little easier this time, and once she was done, Hannah hugged Grace tearfully. “That bastard, I hope he rots in jail forever. How dare he do that to you.” Hannah cried in outrage. “Oh, Grace, I am so sorry I forced you to go to the dance.”
Grace shook her head. “It’s okay, Hannah. It’s all forgotten. Now let’s go downstairs before your brother comes looking for us.”
Hannah smiled, gently hugging Grace again. “Jackson may have acted like a grouchy jerk before but he’d never hurt you, Grace. You know that, right?”
“I know. I feel safe with your brother and I hope you don’t mind that we are dating,” Grace asked cautiously, looking at Hannah’s reaction, but Hannah smiled, her blue eyes bright with mischief.
“It makes me so happy and I might get a sister-in-law, too.”
Grace laughed and pushed Hannah playfully. “We are only dating, Hannah.”
Hannah ignored that statement and whistled happily as they went down the stairs together.
When they got to the living room, Jackson insisted Grace snuggle up with him on the couch. She loved being so close to him and had a hard time concentrating on the movie. The four of them watched a comedy that Ida picked out and had them all laughing. She felt so happy at this moment and she realized what a profound step this was for her. She was actually entering into another relationship after swearing never to do that again. But she trusted Jackson. Sure, he was grumpy and bossy, but he was real and he had honor. He would never lay a finger on her in anger. Jackson walked Grace to the guest bedroom door after the movie and kissed her goodnight thoroughly until they were both breathing hard. “I loved having you here, sweetheart, and I’d prefer to have you in my bed but Ida would kick my ass. If you get scared, come and get me, and I’ll sit up with you or watch TV with you.”
“Thanks, but I carry my sleeping pills in my purse. Besides I have a companion for the night,” she said, looking at Roxy wagging her tail and waiting on Grace. Molly had followed Hannah to her room already but Roxy obviously wanted to be with Grace tonight.
“How quickly I got replaced,” he joked, trying to look sad, but Grace kissed him and shooed him away.
Chapter 10
Grace turned into her pillow and felt a tongue licking her cheek. Guessing Jackson wouldn’t be licking her cheek she laughed and reached out her
hand to touch soft fur. She opened one eye and saw Roxy wagging her tail happily and the sun shining through the window. She had actually slept all night without one nightmare! Feeling happy, she stretched and told Roxy, “Okay, go tell Jackson I am up.”
Roxy barked and took off out the bedroom door and running down the stairs. Grace laughed and quickly showered, put her hair up in a ponytail, and dressed and went downstairs.
“I smell coffee,” she groaned, inhaling the wonderful, rich aroma coming from the dining room.
“What a sleepyhead,” Jackson teased, pouring her a cup and setting it on the table in front of Grace. “I’ve been up for hours already.”
“No one likes a bragger,” Grace said, sipping the hot coffee, holding her smile in.
“That’s right, dear brother,” Hannah agreed, coming into the dining room yawning and pouring a cup for herself and groaning with pleasure. Ida had placed a plate of fruit and pancakes on the table and they all sat down to eat. Grace felt comfortable with them and relaxed as she ate and they talked about their day.
Grace regretted the fact that she had to work. She would love to spend the day seeing more of the ranch. She promised Jackson that on her next day off she would spend the day with him on the ranch. Jackson walked her to Hannah’s truck and kissed her good-bye so long that Hannah honked the horn loudly so Jackson would let her go.
* * * *
Jackson spent all his free time with Grace over the next two weeks. He hadn’t felt this lighthearted and happy in a long time. He enjoyed spending time with her as much as he could. She was easy to talk to and so unspoiled that it shocked him at first. He had been swamped with duties on the ranch for two days and had finally called her for a date. He had been expecting her to be mad for ignoring her like his past girlfriends had, especially Kelly. Instead she had been understanding and agreed to spend the day with him on the ranch. He took her and Hannah horseback riding to the creek. They had taken a picnic and spent all day swimming and laughing in the water. Then they had all dressed up and went to Austin for dinner, including Ida. He loved the fact that she didn’t mind spending time with his family because family was important to him. Ida and Hannah loved Grace and already treated her like part of the family.
