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“Brett won’t brood for long. He’ll get over it,” Remi said. She was halfway into a gray-and-green baby blanket and didn’t look up from her work.

“I don’t want him to get over it. I want to apologize,” Thea said.

“Did you mean what you said?” Hadley asked.

“Some of it. But not in the way he took it. I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me. And all of you too. I just hate tangling people up in this mess. He’s been living here for five years without a problem. I show up and suddenly he’s in the line of fire again.”

“He said he doesn’t mind it,” Hadley said. “I’m sure he’d do anything for you.”

“I know. That’s what I’m afraid of. Hewoulddo anything, even at great cost to himself.”

“Gotta let him make that decision on his own, babe. Been there, done that, got the ring to prove it,” Remi said.

Thea studied the yarn in her hands. Remi learned her lesson and got a husband and kids to show for it. It was different for Thea. There was a war going on–a civil war. Her heart was torn between love and duty.

A sharp pain pricked her heart. Love. She loved Brett, and it wasn’t a quiet love. It was a fierce, loud love that beat against the walls of her chest, begging to be set free.

Thane whined and scooted his nose a little more into her lap. “I’m okay, buddy,” she whispered.

Vera let the quilt square she was working on fall into her lap and rubbed a hand over Thea’s back. “I know expressing how you feel can be hard sometimes. Give him time, and maybe he’ll calm down enough to talk.”

Thea kept her head down and nodded.

As much as she’d dreaded the Tuesday night ladies gathering, she needed friends beside her. The women of the ranch had welcomed her with open arms, and they hadn’t judged her and looked down their noses when she’d told them about the talk with Brett that had gotten her the silent treatment. Instead, they’d been encouraging and kind.

Thea had friends back in Alabama but not so many as this. The world needed more women like this who were dedicated to building each other up instead of tearing them down.

If the thought of leaving these friends made her want to dig her heels into this dirt and fight to keep it, how much stronger would Brett’s loyalty be? Claiming her love for him would rip this place and these people away from them.

They would have to lose everything to have each other. Was it a price she was willing to pay?

“Brett is too good to me. I don’t deserve his kindness,” Thea said lowly.

“That’s a load of bull hockey,” Stella said. “We all deserve love, honey. Especially you.”

“I want that. I do.”

“You already have it,” Vera said. Her response was temperate compared to her friend’s outburst. “I’m not just talking about Brett. The Lord loves you too. No matter what. And if you lean on Him and trust Him, He’ll lead you where you’re supposed to be.”

“Okay! Here’s your tea, Miss Thea,” Abby said as she slowly walked into the room. She carried a teacup full of juice out in front of her with both hands.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Thea took the cup and sipped it, giving Abby a delighted expression. “It’s delicious.”

Abby bowed. “Anyone else want tea?”

“I think we need to wrap things up,” Remi said.

“Already?” Abby whined.

“It’s almost bedtime.”

“Can’t I stay with Miss Stella and Miss Vera again?”

Remi started tidying up her materials. “Maybe some other time.”

Hadley stood and stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “It’s my bedtime too.”

Thea handed Abby’s crochet work back to her. “Thank you for showing me what you made.”