By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition by Jennifer Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

into a red-eyed bull whose gaze targeted on her. Victoria looked down to see what she’d chosen to wear this morning. Noting the crimson color, she wished she’d chosen more calming attire.
    “No, thank you. Just tell me what you have to say.”
    He did add a thank-you to the no, which encouraged her. Maybe he would take her news better than she’d anticipated.
Just spit it out and get it over with
. “It seems I don’t have insurance. My daddy didn’t renew our policy, and I didn’t know it.”
    Chris lowered himself into one of the rocking chairs. He closed his eyes and exhaled. She watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in an effort to control what he must be feeling.
    Okay, so maybe he’s taking it exactly as I expected
. She sat in the chair beside him.
    “All those years. All that saving,” Chris mumbled.
    “I am sorry. I’ll do whatever I can …”
    “Are you?” Chris’s eyes opened and he sat up straight. “Well, that’s wonderful. You come storming into town, smashing my car with no insurance, but you’re nice and sorry.” He stood and stomped off the porch. “I’m
so
glad you’re sorry.”
    Victoria jumped out of the chair and walked to him. She stood to her full height even though he still towered over her. Lifting her chin, she glared at him. “I will still pay for your
precious
Mary Ann.”
    “That’s good. It’s the least you could do. After all, it’s your mess …” He pointed at his chest. “And I’m fixing it.”
    “Go on home, Mr. Ratliff.” Victoria stomped away from him. Reaching the porch, she turned to face him. She touched her finger to her other palm. “The money is as good as in your hand.”
    Chris jumped in his truck, growled with the engine, and drove away.
    She bit the inside of her lip. “Now how am I going to go about doing that?”

five
     
    Victoria looked away from the pawnshop owner and down at the ring one last time. It had been a priceless treasure to her grandmother. Her grandfather died before Victoria had been born, and Grandma had often told her stories of their courtship.
    “My daddy used to chase your grandpa off the porch each time he came around.” Victoria could hear Grandma’s voice and her tongue clicking as if she were in the room with her.
    “But your grandpa would come back the next day anyway.” She had laughed. “Used to drive my daddy crazy.”
    Victoria would nestle into her grandmother’s lap and close her eyes as Grandma combed her fingers through Victoria’s hair. “But your grandpa and I were crazy in love.”
    Victoria touched the small, round diamond resting in a square setting. Smaller diamonds made their home on each side. In truth, the ring wasn’t much to look at, but it had always been precious, first to her grandmother, and since her death, to Victoria.
    “You know I really don’t mind loaning you a little money to help get you started,” Dylan leaned over and whispered in her ear.
    Victoria flashed a smile at the oversized cowboy. He’d really grown on her in the last few days. “I can’t let you do that.”
    “Pride isn’t always a good thing, Vic.”
    Victoria sighed, gazing back at the ring. “It’s really not about pride. I’ve never had to work for anything. Never had to lose anything.” She peered up at Dylan. “I’m spoiled. I always have been. I don’t know if I can fully explain this to you, but I have to do this on my own.”
    Dylan wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze. “You’re all right, Vic. You’re gonna be just fine.”
    With that, Victoria quickly handed the ring to the pawnshop owner and grabbed the offered money off the counter. “You’ll keep my ring for one month, before anyone can buy it?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” The man smiled exposing a missing front tooth. He didn’t appear like someone to be trusted according to every television program Victoria had ever seen, but Dylan had promised that the man ran a legitimate business.
    “Are