Free Hawk's Way Grooms by Joan Johnston

the wall again. His gaze was concentrated on the sand he began once more sifting through his fingers.
    â€œMac?” she persisted. “Answer me.”
    He looked up at her, his eyes searching her face. “How can you stand it—not being able to run?”
    She shrugged. “I manage.”
    â€œI’d hate it if something like that happened to me.”
    â€œSomething like that has happened to you.”
    He shook his head. “Uh-uh. I’m temporarily out of commission. I’m going to be as good as new.”
    Did he really believe that? Jewel wondered. Yes, he had made astonishing progress in two weeks, but even she could see the effort it had taken. One look at his leg—at the scar tissue on his leg—suggested there was never going to be as much muscle to work with as there had been in the past. “What if you can never run again like you used to, Mac? What if you can’t get back to where you were?”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œWhat if you can’t?”
    â€œI’ll be playing again in the fall. Count on it.”
    â€œYou’re purposely avoiding my question. What if you can’t? ”
    He rose, but it took obvious effort to do so without the cane. She said nothing while he accomplished the feat—a minor miracle considering the condition he’d been in two weeks ago.
    â€œLet’s go,” he said gruffly, reaching down to help her to her feet.
    She shoved his hand out of the way. “I’m not a cripple, either, Mac,” she said. “I can manage on my own.”
    â€œDamn it, Jewel! What do you want from me?”
    â€œHonesty,” she said, rising and standing toe to toe with him, her eyes focused on his. “You never used to lie to me, Mac. Or to yourself.”
    â€œWhat is it you want to hear me say? I won’t quit playing football! It’s all I ever wanted to do.”
    â€œYou wanted to be a paleontologist.”
    â€œThat’s what I said. But inside—” he thumped his bare chest with his fist “—all I ever dreamed about, all I ever wanted to do was run like the wind and catch footballs. It was just so impossible for so long, I never let myself hope for it too much. But I made it happen. And I’m not going to give it up!”
    Jewel felt her heart skip a beat. She hadn’t known. She hadn’t realized. If what Mac said was true, then he was facing a much greater crisis than she had imagined.
    â€œAvoiding reality isn’t going to make it go away, Mac,” she said gently. “You have to face your demons.”
    â€œLike you have?” Mac retorted.
    Jewel’s face blanched. She turned her back on him and headed up the trail toward the mouth of the canyon.
    â€œJewel, wait,” Mac said as he hurried after her. He grabbed her arm to stop her. “If you’re going to insist on honesty from me, how about a little from you?”
    â€œWhat is it you want to know? You know everything,” she said bitterly. “You’re the only one who does!”
    He gave her an incredulous look. “You never told anyone else? What about your fiancé?”
    She shook her head violently.
    â€œWhy the hell not?”
    â€œI couldn’t tell Jerry. I just couldn’t!”
    In days gone by he would have put an arm around her to offer her comfort. But things had changed somehow in the two weeks since they had met again. His eyes offered emotional support, instead. “God, Jewel. That’s a heavy burden to be carrying around all by yourself.”
    â€œI’m managing all right.”
    â€œWhat happened to Jerry What’s-his-name? Why did you call off the wedding?”
    â€œI couldn’t…I wasn’t able…I could never…”
    She saw the dawning comprehension in his eyes. “I don’t want or need your pity!” She tried to run from him in awkward, hobbling strides, but he quickly caught up to her and pulled