Kristin was lying on her stomach as Jack slowly moved his hand up and down her naked back. She was drifting in and out of consciousness. The combination of Jack’s strong fingers caressing the small of her back, the warm sunshine streaming through the window and the release of the last few hours caused her eyes to well up and cry. Jack could feel her body shudder as she sobbed into her pillow. He moved his hand up the curve of her back and gently touched her shoulder with just the right amount of pressure to persuade her to roll over and bury her head against his chest as she fell asleep.

  The sun was just disappearing behind the western edge of the valley as Kristin sat up and looked around the bedroom. From the aroma that was emanating from the kitchen she could tell that Jack was downstairs finding another way to spoil her. It was then that she saw the flickering light coming from under the bathroom door and heard the dull hum of a motor. She got out of bed and crossed the room, when she opened the bathroom door the only word that she could utter was, “Jack.” There were a dozen candles burning around the master bath and the Jacuzzi had produced all the bubbles than the tub could hold.

  She went to the sink pulled her hair back and sank neck deep into the tub. There was a note hanging from the faucet that read,

  Dinner will be ready when you are,

  Take all the time you need.

  Jack

  Kristin had stayed in her share of four star motels around the world but nothing had ever compared to the treatment she was receiving at this buffalo ranch in western Montana. When Kristin finished her soaking she climbed out of the tub dried off and threw the plush robe on. She considered for just a split second going downstairs wearing absolutely nothing. The only thing that stopped her was the thought of someone like Ben and Mary stopping by for a friendly country visit.

  As she descended the stairs she could see that the formal dining table was set elegantly for two. There were candles and a fresh cut arrangement of wild flowers and roses from the rose bush on the side of the house. The china and silverware looked very old and very expensive and the wine glasses were the finest cut crystal. She could hear the echo of a twelve string guitar playing on the stereo that sounded a lot like one of the classic composers like Vivaldi or Chopin. There was a wine bucket sitting next to the table with ice and a bottle of wine already wrapped in a towel. Jack came out of the kitchen carrying the cork screw and wearing a half apron over his best Sunday suit.

  As she crossed the floor in her robe and bare feet she thought, damn, does he look great in a suit.

  Kristin giggled and asked, “Should I go back upstairs and get dressed?”

  “Heaven’s no.” Jack replied, as he set the corkscrew down on the table and slid his hands under her robe for a quick squeeze and a soft kiss before he had to rush back into the kitchen to finish with dinner.

  “Have a seat dinner will be ready in a minute, by the way you smell great.” He added as he rushed off toward the kitchen. Kristin grabbed the wine bottle and the corkscrew and popped the cork out of the bottle like an old pro. She was just finishing filling Jack’s glass when he came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming hot deep dish.

  “Smells like lasagna,” she said.

  “Correct, give that girl a cigar.” He laughed.

  Jack set the lasagna down in the silver holding tray in the middle of the table then he lifted his wine glass,

  “Here's to spoiling the right woman."

  He took a long drink out of the glass set it down on the table. Then he held out his hand to Kristin. “By my calculations, we have just enough time for one dance as my culinary masterpiece cools to the perfect temperature.”

  She stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He reached under her robe and around her slender waist as he guided her around the hard wood floor to the music playing in the background. When the song ended they stopped in the middle of the floor and Kristin looked straight up into Jack’s eyes.

  “You have no idea how much I needed this weekend.”

  Jack smiled, he understood. They spent the rest of the night completely engulfed in each other. They danced three more dances, drank a second bottle of wine and laughed until their sides hurt at Jack’s stories. When they finally made it upstairs around midnight they did not waste a moment. They knew that they didn’t have a moment to waste.

  They drifted off to sleep around 2am wrapped up in each others arms. Just before Kristin fell asleep Jack heard her whisper one single word almost as if she was already dreaming, “Jack.”

  She could hear the shower running, this was her chance she thought. She grabbed the bath robe and threw it on as she was flying down the stairs two steps at a time. The only thought that was racing through her mind was,

  “I can have breakfast started before he even knows I’m gone.” She was more than right; Jack was coming down the stairs as she was putting the finishing touches on breakfast. She whirled around holding two plates of food, and very proudly boasted,

  “I will see your world famous pancakes and raise you my internationally known, Lemon French toast with powdered sugar and cinnamon.”

  She had tied a bandana around Sam’s neck and an apron around her back legs so that it looked like Sam had helped with breakfast.

  Jack looked down at Sam and apologized, “I’m sorry Sam you know how silly city folk can be.”

  “Watch it buddy or Sam might end up with your breakfast.” She gave him an elbow to the ribs as she passed by him on the way to the front porch.

  “Grab the coffee would you?” she asked.

  “Sam, I think I have been demoted around here from innkeeper to cooks assistant.”

  Kristin chimed in, “Next stop, stable boy.”

  They ate in almost total silence neither one of them wanted to think about Kristin having to leave. As they walked back into the house after breakfast Kristin offered to do the dishes. Jack said that he would take care of them later. Kristin went upstairs take a shower and pack. She stopped half way up the stairs and yelled back down to Jack, “Hey stable boy, care to join be in the shower?”

  “Absolutely.” He shot back and bowed like an obedient servant.

  After their long lingering shower they helped dry each other off and dressed. Kristin packed her bags with a methodical attention to detail, Jack could tell that she was stalling. When she finished he carried the suitcase down the stairs and set it by the front door.

  Jack said, “Let me make you a lunch for the road.” She did not object. Kristin sat at the breakfast bar while Jack made her lunch. She repeated her earlier claim,

  “You are one of a kind Jack Evans,”

  He finished making her lunch and handed it to her they started for the front door. Kristin stopped at the front door and grabbed the Rockies baseball cap Jack had been wearing when she first saw him. She put it on and pulled her pony tail through the gap in the back of the cap. Jack smiled at her,

  “Looks better on you.”

  She winked at him, “It will go great with the towel I stole from the bathroom.”

  “I will be tracking you down to get that back,” he threatened her with his best Clint Eastwood squint.

  “That was my plan, I’ll be waiting.” She said eagerly.

  As they stepped out on the front porch they saw Sam patiently waiting in front of Kristin’s car door. They walked down the front steps and over to where Sam was waiting. Jack reached around Kristin and lifted her off the ground as he kissed her until Sam barked at him in reproach. He set her down as their lips parted neither one of them wanted to be the first to say goodbye. Kristin dropped to the ground and gave Sam a huge hug and an ear scratch for good measure. After the hug Sam walked around behind Jack and sat down, she knew she was not going with Kristin this time. Jack opened the door for Kristin to climb in he leaned in and gave her one last kiss goodbye, neither one of them said a word.

  As she pulled out of the driveway Sam and Jack stood in the same spot and watched the car until all they could see was a cloud of dust. They remained in the same spot until the cloud of dust disappeared. Sam looked up at Jack and made a noise that sounded like a low whine. Jack looked down and patted Sam on her furry head and said, “I know Samantha, I miss her already.”

  Kristin brought the car to a stop where the gravel met the blacktop. It was going to be a beautiful day to be driving. She pushed the button that folded the top down and reached into her purse for her sunglasses it was then that she saw it her wedding ring lying in the bottom of her purse. She pulled the ring out of her handbag and looked at it like for a long minute. It seemed tarnished and cheap like it was an old piece of dime store jewelry that she had forgotten she owned. Then almost as if she was throwing away an old piece of gum that had lost its flavor she flung the ring out the window and across the road into the heavy brush next to the road. She put on her sunglasses and pushed down hard on the accelerator the car threw gravel and the tires spun until they found enough asphalt to send the sports car flying down the two lane road, the ring disappeared in a cloud of dust behind her.

  She had three thoughts running through her mind, it was going to be a great for driving, she could not wait to get back to work, and she had absolutely no idea when she would see Jack Evans again, but she was sure that she would see him again.

  PART II

  Behind the Pain

  Chapter Seventeen

  The old judge slammed his gavel down on the bench repeatedly as the fever pitch of chatter in the courtroom died down to a dull murmur. The silky smooth defense attorney that had caused the uproar with his first question of his cross-examination spread his hands magnanimously and offered to the packed courtroom,

  “I withdraw the question your honor.” The leading question that the defense had asked the young women sitting on the witness stand was,

  “Miss Conley, weren't you stalking the man that you accused of raping you?”

  After the judge regained control of his courtroom the defense attorney continued, “Miss Conley, how well did you know Daniel Gather?”

  The revised question by the defense attorney was a perfect example of one of the tactics that he used to personalize and humanize whatever client he was defending. He never referred to one of his clients as The Defendant or My Client. He always used their name and not just their first name whenever possible, but the friendliest version of their name or a nickname that he would establish early on in the proceedings that his client was just a regular guy. Among his legal peers this type of legal maneuvering had earned him the nickname “Mr. Congeniality.” He did everything within his extraordinary legal skills to make his client friendly to the jury.

  The accused rapist was the son of a prominent and very successful preacher of one of the largest mega-churches in the south.

  Daniel Gaither's father Jacob Gaither presided over a religious empire that included three packed to the rafters worship services each Sunday, all on live television. A small but rapidly growing Christian college, a dozen books on role of a Christian in today's world. And a steady stream of appearance on most of the major television networks when anything religious was in the current news cycle.

  The accused rapist, Daniel Gather, was tall and extremely handsome with coal black hair and deep blue eyes that seemed even a deeper blue against his permanent tan. He was an avid golfer and played tennis three days each week with one of the local tennis professionals. A Houston newscaster had to publicly apologize for referring to him on air as a “Country Club Christian”.

  The young Mr. Gaither was married to a beautiful socialite, Wendy Nelson. Whose father was the CEO of a large investment firm. And who was also one of the founding members of the Gaither's foundation. They also had two perfectly adorable children, Alyssa and Dan Junior.

  The slick defense attorney finished up his cross-examination of the girl sitting in the witness stand by doing what he did best. By portraying his client as a victim of an obsessed young lady fixated on a successful, handsome man with a beautiful family.

  He left the impression as he excused the young lady that she did just want to seduce Daniel Gather, she wanted to take over his life.

  It didn't hurt his defense that during the trial he had placed the Daniel Gaither's drop dead gorgeous wife in the gallery directly behind the defense table. Before the trial had begun he had instructed Daniel and his wife to show as much love and affection for each other as they could tactfully demonstrate in public, holding hands during breaks in the proceedings, little love notes of support on expensive linen stationary passed back and forth during the trial, smiles and winks when they thought no one was looking. But everyone was looking, by the time the closing statements were delivered the entire courtroom, including the jury was watching Daniel and his wife Wendy like they were an episode of “Dancing with the stars”

  Before the judge sent the jury off to reach their verdict the slick attorney had reiterated those points in his closing statement with all the charm and assurance of a man positive of his client’s innocence.

  After the jury filed back into the courtroom the judge turned toward the jury foreman and asked if they had reached a verdict. The jury foreman said that they had and handed the slip of paper with the verdict on it to the bailiff who in turn handed it ceremoniously to the Judge. The judge slipped on his bifocals and starred at the paper for what seemed like an eternity. As he lifted his gaze from the scrap of paper he addressed the jury, “What say the jury in the people vs. Gathier? The jury foreman who had been waiting patiently drew in a breath and recited their decision tonelessly. “We find the accused, Daniel Gathier, Not Guilty.”

  When those eight infamous words drifted over the courtroom and settled on the crowd that was holding its collective breath, the overflowing courtroom erupted. The deafening cheers and painful moans of the crowd merged into a hysterical screech that sounded like the last gasp of a dying animal.

  Mr. Congeniality remained seated at the defense table despite the hands that tugged at him trying to drag him to his feet to congratulate him. He forced himself to peer through the sea of suits and expensive dresses that had spilled over into the front of the courtroom. He knew before he looked what he would see. Jennifer Louise Conley was the only other person still sitting in the courtroom. There were also hands and arms attempting to pull her to her feet, but for a different reason, to console her.

  What the defense attorney saw next was not what he had envisioned. The girl was not starring down into her lap or crying into her hands hysterically she was looking straight at him. Everything in his mind stopped, he couldn't hear the praise from his client or his family. He couldn't hear the sobbing from the young girl’s mother as she tried to embrace her. The distance between them seemed to contract into a narrow tunnel of light and imagination. A tunnel that excluded everyone and everything else in existence. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. There was moisture in and around her eyes they were as clear and bright as any eyes he had ever seen. Jennifer was looking at him with........sympathy, like he was the one that had just lost. A single tear escaped and trickled down her cheek and a slow painful smile creased the corners of her mouth. He tried to smile back at her, but as hard as he tried he could not force even a hint of a smile. And it hit him, the tear she shed was not for herself, it was for him.

  The moment was broken when a large sweaty hand broke the field of vision between them and he heard a smooth practiced voice say, “God Bless you, Son”. It was none other than Pastor Jacob Gaither himself bestowing praise and God's blessing on him for seeing that justice was done. The attorney looked from the sweaty hand up the fleshy arm and into the face of the distinguished reverend. His first thought as he looked into the flabby face was, “The self-righteous, Bastard really believes that justice was done”.

  His next thought was a question, who was worse, him or the good reverend. He could understand the blind loyalty of a parent to a child, but to consciously choose to defend someone who he suspected, no, knew to be guilty as sin. He realized with unforgiving clarity who was worse, he was.

  He did not shake the sweaty hand extended in his direction. Instead he tried to move around the rather large frame of the reverend blocking his vision and tried to get another glance at the girl that he had just destroyed.

  The truth was that she had not been destroyed. The reality was that from the very beginning of this ordeal Jennifer had stood against everything that she had been told. She stood against her mother's insistence that, “No good could be served by such a public trial”. She had stood against the lawyer that her father had hired when he saw how determined she was. Her lawyer had told her with unwavering certainty that she had almost “No Chance of winning this court battle”. She had stood against the generous out of court settlement that the good reverend had offered to, “Help her secure her future”. She understood instantly that the good reverend was more interested in his son's future than hers.

  When the defense attorney could finally see around the reverend he saw the empty chair where Jennifer had been sitting. In the brief moment that the reverend had captured his attention she had escaped from the courtroom. He stood up and looked over the crowd and thought he could see the back of her head. For just a split second he thought that he saw her blond ponytail bobbing in the crowd. He was sure that it was not her, the blond hair in the crowd did not have the pink ribbon in it that she had had in her hair every day of the trial.

  He made his way over to the prosecution table and the empty chair where Jennifer had been sitting. As he turned to leave his eyes caught a glimpse of something resting on the seat of the old hard wood chair where she had been sitting. He reached down and picked up a pink ribbon.

  Even though she had not wept openly at the verdict he thought that he could feel her tears soaked deep into the ribbon. A smile came across his face when he realized that she had left the ribbon for him. She had forgiven him and as he turned left the courtroom he knew what he was going to do.