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Jack stared down into her trusting, loving gaze and felt soin to cru a new start He'd proain Not really There would be no beginning, no new start, until he trusted his wife Trusted her with his heart and his soul and his secret

Jack's heart felt as if it were being twisted out of his chest This was the moment, he knew If he didn't trust her now, didn't hand her his soul on a silver platter, she would never look at hiain

But if he told her, the love in her eyes ly, as it did before

Or it ht not

He looked down at her, raking her face with his eyes,it She was all he'd ever wanted in his life, all he'd ever needed Here on this tired old sheep ranch, with her and the children, he'd finally found the home, the place, he'd searched for all his life

And now, to keep it, to find out if it was real, he had to risk it all

Don't be a coward for once in your life Just open your ht leave?hell, she'll probably leave But she ht take you in her arms and kiss you softly and tell you she loves you anyway

At the thought, he groaned aloud

"Jack?"

"All right" He shoved the words up his throat "We'd better sit down This'll take a while"

A quiet gasp escaped her She stared up at him earnestly "Are you sure?"

Unable to speak, he nodded He took her hand and

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grabbed the laether they sat against the back wall Jack focused for a h his, and prayed that when it was over, she'd still want to touch

him