Free A Man's Heart by Lori Copeland Page B

Adan spent more time with his sister in their younger years, but both men would do anything for her. The past few weeks had made that apparent. Two young children to care for was trying for a saint, and neither Cruz nor Adan had an abundance of patience.
    Livvy tipped her cone and sticky liquid gushed out covering Cruz’s left foot. He sprang to his feet, reaching for a napkin. “Come on, Livvy.” Spectators turned to locate the ruckus.
    â€œSit down,” Jules muttered. “You’re making a scene.”
    â€œI just bought these boots a few months ago.”
    â€œA little snow cone juice isn’t going to hurt them.” Cruz didn’t have the money for expensive boots, nor would he settle for something he didn’t want, so the boots were important to him, but if he was going to have the care of a two-year-old he’d have to make sacrifices. Still … A moment later she weakened. “I’ll go get wet towels and clean them.”
    His eyes fixed on the arena. “I’m perfectly capable of cleaning my boots.”
    â€œFine.”
    He scooted away from her and hugged the bleacher rail.
    â€œFine.” She crossed her arms. She’d scoot away if she could, but she didn’t cherish the thought of tumbling out of the bleachers.
    The remainder of the ride they sat in stony silence.

    Sometime after midnight, Jules pulled the Tracker into the farm lot. After the rodeo she’d hung around with a few old friends and reminisced, turning more than once to share something with Sophie, but she wasn’t there. Instead, she was lying in the hospital, battling surgery complications. Years away from her best friend, Jules had learned, even understood herself better. She always told people the truth, however painful. She had a tenacity to push herself and others beyond their limits to help them grow, see things in black and white, but doubted herself far too often. Sophie was always positive, uplifting, and had an answer for anything. Only now her best friend was starting to question God’s intentions. The bowel obstruction was still there, and the daily treatments were dragging Sophie down. But she was strong and gut-determined to start her chemo and come home before summer’s end.
    Switching off the lights, she climbed out of the truck and hit the lock button, a habit she acquired with all the theft going around. When she walked into the house, she heard the sound of Daffy Duck drifting from the den television. Peeking around the corner, her jaw dropped when she spotted Crystal, Olivia and Ethan cuddled beneath a large throw. Daffy lisped “th-his is a downright diss-grace!”
    â€œCrystal!”
    Crystal started, her hand flying to her throat. “Jules. For goodness’ sake. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
    Jules entered the room like a bull out of the shoot. “What are the children doing up this late? What are they doing here at all? Adan and Cruz had them earlier.”
    â€œI know. I got lonesome, so I called and asked if the kidscould spend the night. Cruz didn’t mind, said he had to clean his boots anyway and he’d prefer to do it in peace.”
    Guilt flooded Jules’s mind. She had thoughtlessly not asked Crystal to the rodeo. She’d spent the whole night alone.
    â€œThose
stinkin
boots.” Jules switched off the lights, kicked a throw pillow aside. The man cared more about his boots than his niece and nephew. She caught her thoughts. That wasn’t true. He adored Livvy and Ethan, but he was fastidious and kids were messy.
    She walked through the house turning off lights. Every bulb in the back part of the house was lit. Crystal had no sense of responsibility or the high cost of utility bills. She stepped into the kitchen and paused. Apparently the gang had popped corn. Oil splattered burners; kernels, popped and raw, littered the floor. Kitchen cabinets stood open. Dishcloths hung out of the