The next day passed with excruciating slowness for Jack. Bruce had complained of a severe headache and was acting a bit confused, so his doctor decided to have him remain in the hospital for a few more hours. Josh had gone off the grid, apparently taking a friend’s Huskies on an overnight sled camping trip. And Elizabeth had not returned to her cabin, nor returned his numerous calls and texts of apology.

The previous night, Jack hadn’t known if Elizabeth would be held in jail overnight, so he’d brought Rugby over to his house, fed him, and sent Elizabeth a text—along with a photo of Rugby’s happy face—that he would dog-sit until she told him otherwise. She hadn’t responded, although Jack heard from Tara Guzman at the police department that Elizabeth had been released without charges.

Jack felt Elizabeth’s absence, and couldn’t help a hollow, hopeless fantasy that she might still return to his arms. He imagined reaching out to her in bed and pulling her close, running his hands down the length of her naked body, all bone and sharp angles and yet her skin lotion-soft. He thought of her creamy white legs that opened eagerly for his touch, of the soft gasp she made when he ignited her most tender places.

She was meant to be his, damn it—his lover, his woman, and one day his wife—and he’d do anything in the world to get another chance with her. He’d give up his job. Sell his house. Move away, if that’s what she wanted.

Whatever Elizabeth needed from him, he would spend a lifetime giving it to her.

He took Honest Abe out for a long ride in the feeble afternoon sunshine, hoping the frigid air and exercise would clear his head. Although the northern lights wouldn’t make an appearance for several hours, Jack couldn’t stop thinking of the watercolor swirls of purple and green that had painted the sky that night Elizabeth had come to his house, come to his bed.

As he rode deep into the forest, he thought, too, about the conversation he’d had in the hospital chapel with Doc Bauer, who’d been so decent, as always. Have faith in love, he’d counseled him. Because love has faith in you.

Honest Abe’s breathing and the crunching snow beneath his hooves were the only sounds for miles, and the silence gave Jack the sense of space and perspective he needed. Jack concluded that while Doc Bauer’s advice might work for him, it would never work for Elizabeth. Not with the life she’d led and the experiences she’d had. Faith—in love or him—was too much to ask for from her.

Instead, he had to show her with deeds and actions that he’d do whatever it took to earn her forgiveness. That meant solving the situation in the best and most fair way possible, no matter the cost to him personally. By the time he got Abe stabled and brushed down, he knew what he had to do, and who could help him do it.

When he got back to his house, he tried again to reach Josh and was somewhat surprised when he actually picked up.

“Josh? It’s Jack. You’re back?”

“Yeah. I took my buddy’s dogs out overnight. Needed some time alone to think. Hayley says I’m a bit of a lone wolf at times, as you probably know.”

“Yes, I do.” Jack tried to read his brother’s mood. Josh’s tone was utilitarian and resolved, but Jack didn’t sense anger, and he was glad about that. “I’m calling because we need to decide what to do about the Dad situation.”

“I just talked to Maggie and the twins,” Josh said, referring to their sisters. “They’re planning to call in when you, Dad, and I get together—which should happen soon. Can you meet me at Dad’s house in about an hour?”

“He’s home from the hospital?”

“He got released a couple of hours ago. Hayley and I brought him home and got him settled.”

“Thanks for doing that,” Jack said. “I’ll be over as soon as I can, but first I need to track down Claire Roberts.”

“Claire? What for?”

“I’m hoping she’ll be willing to help us figure out how to move forward with Nate Armstrong. We need someone from outside the family to help us with the community response, and there’s no one better for that than Claire. She gets things done in this town.”

“That’s true.”

“Are you and Dad okay?” Jack asked.

“We will be,” Josh said. “If I learned anything in the military, it’s that no one is promised a tomorrow. I refuse to waste time being angry at the people I love. Dad’s flawed—yep, I already knew that, Jack. We’re all flawed, but the flip side of that is we’re also capable of forgiveness.”

“You’re a wiser man than me,” Jack said. “I’ve spent all this time filled with bitterness toward Dad.”

“Well, you were just nineteen when it all happened, making mistakes left and right,” Josh said. “Your marriage to Jolene kind of proves that, doesn’t it?”

“Ouch.”

“I’m just saying—you were young and dumb and did what you incorrectly thought was best. We—all of us, all the siblings—want you to know we’re bringing you back into the fold even if we’ve got to drag you kicking and screaming.”

“I appreciate that,” Jack said over the lump in his throat. “And you won’t have to drag me anywhere. I’ve missed you guys like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Back at you, bro.”

Jack cleared his voice. “All right, well, before I get all emotional, let me hang up with you and call Claire. I’ll be over to Dad’s as soon as I can.”