"There's not going to be a girl fight is there?"

Dani tossed Rachel a look that wordlessly conveyed seriously.

"Sorry. Bad joke," Rach said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

Dani kept a straight face. "It would have been funny if I wasn't worried it might happen."

Rach's lips parted. "Really?"

"No," Dani laughed. "Not really. It was another bad joke. Sorry to disappoint but there will be no fighting."

Rach and Annie burst out laughing too.

Annie wiped tears from her eyes. "Anyone else concerned that we're way too entertained with things that shouldn't be that funny?"

Rach shrugged. "Hey, it's good stress relief."

"God would prefer we find the humor rather than the anger." Dani held up a cooking utensil and studied it quizzically. "What is this?"

"Potato masher?" Annie didn't sound too sure.

One of Rachel's dainty brows lifted. "Possibly. Could also be a weapon."

The three of them sat around their tent in chairs organizing their supplies. Lindy and Meredith had taken the boys to the river to fish. It was Dani's idea, but Meredith quickly jumped in and said she'd go and give Dani "a chance to rest".

When Dani said she wasn't tired, things got a bit tense. Short of wrestling the fishing pole out of Meredith's hand, Dani saw no choice but to let her take Jacob fishing. Of course, she could have joined them, but there was no reason to ruin their fishing adventure with a heavy dose of awkwardness.

Lindy had thrown her a help me look, but it was loyalty to Dani that prompted it. Meredith was the kind of person people wanted to be around, someone you could count on and call a true friend. It was good that she and Lindy were getting better acquainted. Lindy needed friends, and it wasn't her fault that Dani and Meredith both loved Josh.

Lord, please soften my heart. I know it's not your will for me to feel this competition with Meredith. I need your help to stop breaking the 10th commandment.

"I know this is hard for you, Dani," Annie's voice was full of compassion. "We're here if you need us."

"Absolutely," Rachel seconded. "Just like old times. The three of us against the world or the bad guys."

"I appreciate it." She played with a string on her chair, her thoughts diving deep. "I'm not sure why it took me so long to come home. This mess is my fault. I never wanted to hurt anyone."

"Of course, you didn't," Annie said quietly. "God's timing is perfect and you're where you belong now."

Dani calmed a little at the certainty in her voice. "Meredith's not the bad guy."

"No," Rach agreed. "Sometimes there aren't any. Just bad circumstances."

Her heart was heavy. Dani wanted to tell them what Josh said about them marrying her, but she didn't want to cause drama and it didn't matter anymore. He'd brought Meredith on the trip. Obviously, he'd changed his mind. She forced the next words. "Josh belongs with her."

"Maybe."

Annie didn't seem too sure, but Dani let the subject drop.  "I'm sorry I missed your wedding."

Standing, Annie twisted her long hair up and fastened it with a clip before turning to her friends. "Detective Reynolds called Ty."

"He did?" Rach looked confused and then upset. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I'm sorry, Rachel, I know how worried you all were. But Detective Reynolds made us promise not to say anything. It was an ongoing investigation."

"But we're your best friends! You saw how upset Josh was! How we all were."

"The guy hadn't been caught yet, and he insisted the more people that knew the more dangerous it would be." Annie's expression was troubled. "We couldn't risk anything happening to Jacob."

She glanced at Annie. "Reynolds didn't tell me he'd spoken to you and Ty."

"He might not have intended to tell us, but Ty called him before the wedding. I really am sorry."

"Don't be," Dani said with a sigh. "You were right to keep it to yourselves. I'd never want anything to happen to Jacob. Or anyone."

"Ty and I have been praying for you." Annie turned to Rachel. "All of you."

Rach forced a smile. "Caleb and I are talking. Working things out. It's not easy, but God is on our side and we won't give up."

"Then you have everything you need to save your marriage." God and grit. Dani wished she'd realized how vital those things were sooner.

"So true," Annie agreed.

Rachel lowered her head with a groan. "I can't believe I tried to make Caleb jealous. I went out with another man."

"You didn't throw away your relationship and your child." The admission was painful, but God already knew, and she was hiding from her sin anymore. "I missed my baby's firsts."

Annie spoke with gentle assurance. "We all go through tough times, but Jesus will be with us."

"Yes." Dani was filled with a rush of warmth, knowing if she lost everything all over again that she'd still be alright. "Whatever happens now, I have Jesus."

***

"I caught the biggest fish!" Jacob announced barely able to hold his trout. "It's the size of Texas!"

Caleb bit back a laugh, and said in a low voice to Josh, "He exaggerates like his daddy."

"We all know tall fish tales are your specialty," Josh returned, with a chuckle.

"Remember the hundred-pound snapper?" Ty reminded Caleb, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Tanner howled a laugh.

Lindy's eyes widened, her expression uncertain. "I didn't know they got that big."

"He caught a shark," Parker said to Lindy and saw her eyes soften when they met his.

"Yeah, yeah, everyone's a comedian," Caleb grumbled.

"My fish is big like Texas too!" Charlie piped up.

"Yep, it is," Jacob agreed, checking out Charlie's catch.

Dani listened to the easy banter and didn't even get upset when Meredith ushered Jacob away to clean up and help with dinner. The message was clear that Dani wasn't needed, but she'd known that without Meredith's proprietary attitude toward Jacob. 

She walked a way out to a bluff overlooking a canyon, sat down, and watched the sun sink into the horizon. It was getting cooler. Dani shivered and rubbed her hands over her folded arms. 

"Here." A blanket of warmth fell around her shoulders.

She didn't have to turn around to know it was Josh. His voice was as familiar as her own, and she could never forget his clean, spicy scent which clung to his sweatshirt.

"Thanks." Dani pulled the sweatshirt around her. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you." He sat down beside her, seemingly unconcerned with her lackluster greeting.

His leg brushed hers, and he moved away but not before shivers danced along her skin. Dani kept her attention focused straight ahead. Breathe in, Breathe out. Repeat.

She focused on the horizon which was now a brilliant combination of red, orange, blue, and purple hues all surrounding the setting sun. It was a beauty only God could paint.

Josh seemed content to enjoy it as well. It was a long time before he finally spoke. "I want to explain about Meredith."

Dani's stomach ached. "I already know you're marrying her."

He reached out and his finger slid along the side of her face, urging her to look at him. When she turned, Dani saw the surprise and hurt in his gaze.

"You didn't hear what I said last time we spoke." His voice was edged with regret. "Or maybe you heard, but you don't want to marry me."

"What?"

"I expected you to call me. The decision is yours." He frowned at her blank look. "The balls in your court."

"Josh, I don't even know where the ball is. Or the court for that matter," she blurted, more confused than ever.

"I told you we should get married. Be a family." A question lingered in his eyes.

Dani stared at him. "You brought Meredith on this trip."

Blinking, his brow furrowed, as if just realizing this might be a problem. "She thought Jacob needed time to adjust to the change of her not being around anymore."

She turned his words over in her head. Then she did it again trying to make sense of what he was saying. "You wanted me to call you?"

"Yeah, now I'm thinking that was pretty stupid of me. It doesn't matter who calls who. I just thought you might need to decide."

"What about Meredith—"

His jaw, dark with a five o'clock shadow, tightened. "What about us, Dani?"

"You love her." Her voice cracked a little.

"I'm sorry." Reaching out, his fingers gently held her chin when she tried to look away. Her skin tingled from his touch. "I love you, Dani."

She saw his gaze darken with emotion. Oh, how she loved him so very much. "It's not that simple."

"Yes. It is." He got to his feet, catching her hand, and facing her.

"If I hadn't come back, you'd be planning your wedding to another woman." Pain seeped into her words. "You're choosing me because I'm Jacob's mother."

He stepped closer, lowering his head, his face inches from hers. "It doesn't matter why."

Dani didn't realize she was touching him until she felt his heartbeat beneath her palm. She jerked her hand back, flustered. "It matters to me."

"This is about your pride?" His words shamed her. "You'd rather Jacob and I be with someone else rather than try to build a future with us."

"No!" Tears stung the backs of her eyes. "I didn't say that. It's just that we could regret this."      '

"A lot of things could happen, Dani." Josh's gaze crashed into hers and held her captive. "You've got to have faith. Trust God."

He was right. She managed a shaky nod. "You're right. I'm just afraid."

Josh's gaze softened. "I shouldn't have agreed to let her come. I never meant to hurt you. If you're worried I'd be unfaithful—"

"No, I'm not."

"Good." His voice was deeper, his eyes darker.

His thumb flicked her bottom lip, and she trembled. "What do we do now, Josh?"

He lowered his forehead against hers. "I need you to tell me what you want. Tell me you want to marry me, and we'll be a family. Say the words, Dani."

She felt the emotion in his voice reach into her soul. "Yes! Yes, I'll marry you, Josh."