Jake by Beth Williamson

Author:Beth Williamson [Williamson, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Western Romance
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Jake worked the entire afternoon on the waterwheel, his gut churning over all he’d seen and heard. Gabby’s rejection stung the worst, of course. The idea that she would treat him as if he was beneath her, as if he didn’t matter, brought on a bleak feeling that slid through him. So reminiscent of what he’d endured in the past, the darkness threatened to pull him down into the hell he’d escaped.

He hammered the nails into the wood with a vengeance. Each blow reminded him of just how poor his beginnings were, just how little he meant to anyone in the world except for the Devils. Gabby had found a playmate, someone to teach her a few new tricks, and now she was done with him.

Much as he’d like to deny it, it hurt quite a bit. The cloying humidity filled his lungs, making it hard to take a deep breath. After he was done for the day he’d jump into the cool river waters and wash off everything, perhaps even wash himself away if the current was strong enough.

“Need some help?”

Jake glanced down to see Gideon, hammer in hand, smiling up at him. He shook with the notion of what he’d been contemplating. Gideon might have seen something in Jake’s face, an inkling of what he had been thinking. God knew Jake struggled every day with dark thoughts, it wouldn’t do to let Gideon in on that secret.

“I’m coming up. Hang on.” Gone was the smile and in its place was a fierce protectiveness Jake had come to recognize was a part of Gideon’s personality.

As Gideon climbed up the waterwheel, Jake recognized it was always his friends who pulled him back from the brink of disaster. Whether it be prison, jail or the trappings of his own mind, the Devils were always there for him. In a sudden realization, Jake accepted the fact that these four men were his family in every sense of the word, even if they didn’t share a blood tie. They shared something much deeper, their souls.

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Beth Williamson

Gideon reached him in minutes, the hammer stuck in the back of his trousers and a frown etched on his face. He squeezed Jake’s arm. “What happened?”

At Gideon’s softly worded question, Jake’s throat closed up and tears stung his eyes.

He felt so weak, and useless, and unlike any man he’d ever met. Jake was a coward, someone who hid behind his friends and wallowed in the memories he couldn’t seem to forget.

“I made a mistake,” Jake said brokenly. “I trusted someone besides the Devils.”

“The woman.” Gideon nodded. “The black-haired one, right?”

Jake’s smile hurt, but he did it anyway. “I fell in love so fast and so hard, Gid. I couldn’t stop myself. Now, sh-she treats me as if we didn’t— I just don’t know what to think anymore.” He stopped and hugged the wood beside him so hard he knew he’d leave bruises. That was real enough, unlike whatever he’d shared with Gabby.

“I’ve done it myself, Jake.

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