Page 63 of Loving Justice

“He paid you to follow me and snap the photos?”

“He gave me money and I put it in Ilene’s college fund.”

She felt like she’d been blasted by an internal explosion. “Well, I’m glad to know this is a business arrangement because that makes this much easier. I’m walking away now and do us both a favor and don’t follow me.”

Tears filled her eyes as she took each step further away from Jinx.

She took her phone out of her pocket and texted Freedom.Can I see you?

Yes, of course,she responded.

Justice would respect Daddy’s wishes but she and Freedom had a lot to discuss.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jinx polished the saddle with a vigor that originated from his anger at himself. Two weeks had gone by and Justice still wanted nothing to do with him.

“Are you going to tell me what you did?”

He looked over at Ilene who was helping him polish the saddles. Since she’d come to live at the ranch she’d been enjoying working and learning the ropes. She seemed a lot happier, except right now her frown monopolized her features.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” he grumbled.

“I’m almost sixteen, not six. And I’m not stupid.” She pierced him with her perceptive blue eyes.

He paused in his polishing. “I screwed up. Your brother has the tendency to do that with the women in his life.”

“Really? That’s something new,” she said sarcastically.

“Keep polishing. You missed a spot.” He pointed out an area of the saddle.

“Whatever you did must not have been too bad. Otherwise, we would have been kicked out and homeless.”

“We wouldn’t be homeless. I wouldn’t let that happen, but I know how happy you are here.” He hung the saddle back on its designated hook.

“I love it here. And I love Justice. Don’t screw this up, Jinx.” She worked hard on the leather.

“They call them mistakes for a reason.” He dragged off his gloves and tossed them onto the work table. “Justice cares for you too. No matter what you’ll always have a relationship with her.”

“You two won’t get a divorce, right?”

He wanted to assure her that he and Justice would find a way past the issue, but he had little hope. He’d betrayed her and he saw the hurt he’d caused her. There was no excuse for what he did. He should have told her the truth from the very beginning.

“Don’t worry about that, Ilene.” He checked his watch. “Don’t you have plans with your friends?”

Her eyes lit and some of the worry melted away. “I do. Can you finish the saddle?”

“Sure. Go on and be careful. Be home by nine.”

“Nine? What about eleven?” she droned. Instead of arguing she relinquished. “Fine. See you later.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and took off out of the barn in a near skip.

If only he shared his sister’s enthusiasm.

*****

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.” Lanah stared down into her coffee as she stirred the contents. “It wasn’t easy reaching out to you, but I know it’s the right thing to do.”

When Justice received Lanah's call, her first instinct was to find an excuse not to meet. Yet, Lanah had been dragged into a situation outside of her control. “I don’t have much time.”