Love Inspired May 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Carrie Lighte

Author:Carrie Lighte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“I have to hand it to you, Grace. Coming here was an awesome idea.”

Jack paused in his photo shoot of Lizzie to beam at her. Grace felt the telltale rush of color in her cheeks and quickly swerved her gaze away from him, pretending to study his granddaughter as she cooed and petted the Shetland ponies who lived on a small ranch just outside Middlebrook. She basked in his compliment.

“I’m glad you approve. I thought these folks might agree to bring a couple of their ponies to our rodeo to entertain children not participating in the events. I know you’re anxious for Lizzie to ride again,” she added hurriedly. “But there’s something blocking her from doing that. I’ve encouraged her in several ways, but she refuses to even discuss the possibility of riding, as well as anything that goes with it. Like those new boots,” she reminded.

“Which she rejected. So, you thought getting her to remember riding at our ranch by petting these ponies and making that book you both talk about would help.” He nodded approvingly. “Good plan.”

“But that’s not what I thought at all!” Why couldn’t he understand that forcing things was not a solution?

“Then?” He glanced from Lizzie to her, his face a question mark.

“I want your granddaughter to explore her feelings, to figure out in her own way, and her own time, why she doesn’t want to continue doing something she once enjoyed.” Grace saw he still didn’t get it. “Lizzie’s struggling to work out her place in this new world she’s in, Jack. I think her feelings have to do with abandonment, or something like that, but—”

“She wasn’t abandoned!” Jack huffed, obviously irritated as his eyes darkened with fury. “I’m right here.”

“Listen to me now, Pops,” Grace insisted. She laid her hand on his arm for fear he’d stomp away in anger before hearing what she had to say. “First, let’s take you and your feelings out of this equation.”

“But—”

“No buts. This isn’t about you, Jack. Or me. It’s all about Lizzie. Whether you think her issues make sense or not is irrelevant. It’s what she feels that matters.” She lifted her hand away and let it drop to her side because the warm tingles emanating from touching him were too strong. “Anyway,” she said soothingly. “I didn’t say abandonment was her issue. I said it could be. Or it may be something else. The point is, we need to find out.”

Jack thought about it for a moment, his gaze resting on the laughing girl who was enjoying the ponies as they snatched bits of carrot from her palm. He took several more shots to add to the hundred or so he’d already taken before finally letting his camera hang around his neck. He huffed a sigh of resignation as his gaze met and locked with Grace’s.

“I’ll give it some thought.” He pointed to a nearby bench, and when she nodded, began walking toward it.

“Better?” she guessed when he exhaled as he sank onto the metal.

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