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about getting us a new cook. An all-around housekeeper might be better.”
    In the shower, with the water beating down on her weary body, Nealy cried, her tears mingling with the water cascading all about her. She’d broken one of Jess’s rules, one of the rules he said it was okay to break from time to time: never let them see you sweat. She’d let Smitty and Ruby see her bruised heart, let them see her tears. Well, that was then and this is now. She stepped from the shower, towel dried her hair, dressed in clean clothes and was back in the kitchen just as the percolator made its last plopping sound. She filled a thermos for Ruby and one for herself. She was back in the barn in less than fifteen minutes.
    â€œYou okay, Nealy?” Ruby asked as she reached for her thermos.
    â€œNo. But I will be.” The door to Flyby’s stall lay at her feet. “He really did a number on that stall, didn’t he?”
    â€œYes, he did. He didn’t like your tone of voice, didn’t like what was going on. And they say these guys are stupid lumps. Not this guy. You should have seen what he did, Nealy. He burst out of his stall and pushed Nick into the tack room. It was almost funny the way he did it, like he was trying to make your point for you. Nick said he hurt him, but I think he just scared the hell out of him. I know it scared the hell out of me, and he wasn’t even after me. I put him in a new stall. He’s fine, so don’t worry.”
    â€œI know you might find this hard to believe, but that horse understands everything that goes on where I’m concerned. His daddy, Stardancer, was the same way.” Nealy opened Misty Blue’s stall door and smiled when she saw that the colt was nursing. “So, what do you think of our little Shufly?” she asked, shifting mental gears.
    â€œNealy, he is so gorgeous, he takes my breath away. He’s just what Metaxas needs. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for him. And for allowing me to be a part of all this. In my life, I’ve never been happier. I’m sorry about the kids. Things will get better.”
    Nealy waved her hand in dismissal. “Look, it’s your turn to hit the shower. Take all the time you need. If you can, try to get a couple of hours’ sleep. Be sure you take your medicine while you’re up at the house.” Nealy tried for a light tone, but she could hardly bear to think about Ruby’s cancer. “I’m okay, Ruby,” she went on. “Over the years, I’ve learned how to sleep with one eye open. I mean it, I’m okay. I have to see about getting this gate fixed before Himself decides to pitch another fit.”
    â€œOkay, Nealy. Things will work out. I want to say just one thing before I go up to the house. I want you to listen to me, Nealy, and we will never talk about this again. It isn’t all that hard to say those two little words, I’m sorry. But, only if you are sorry in your heart. If you don’t mean the words, don’t say them. You are a mother. A mother is supposed to love and love and love. A mother will stand by her child even if he or she is an ax murderer. Never having been a mother, I can’t know what you are feeling. To have a child must be the most wonderful thing in the world. I don’t want to see you throw away the relationship you have with Nick and Emmie.”
    â€œI didn’t throw it away, Ruby. They did. Maud and Jess used to say, for every action there is a reaction and you go on from there. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
    â€œYou got it. See you later.”
    â€œYes, later,” Nealy said, leaning over the door of Misty Blue’s stall to watch the colt suckle from its mother.
    She wished she could cry. When had she become so hard, and yes, bitter? Hunt always said she had a black heart, and it always bothered her. She didn’t have a black heart. Maybe it was hard and cold, but it