Read Online With Family In Mind (Saddle Falls Book 1) by Sharon de Vita - Free Book Online
Authors: Sharon de Vita
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Family, Reporter, small town, Kidnapping, Childhood, trust, salvation, mysterious past, Screts, Investigate, Sensuality
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was; knew, too, how important the truth was. That’s why she’d grown up so adamant about it, why she was so persistent in her quest for it, going to any lengths to find it.
No matter what the cost.
But she didn’t know if she could ever get Jake to understand that, not without telling him of her own painful past, something she could never do.
“So tell me, Rebecca, how the hell do you reconcile what you do for a living with your supposed ‘respect’ for other people’s privacy?”
“I believe in what I’m doing, Jake, because I firmly believe in the truth.” She hesitated, gathering her thoughts, trying to put some strength into her suddenly shaky voice. Turning to him, she rested her head against the back of the seat, lifting a hand to rub at her suddenly throbbing temple.
“The truth?” He snorted in disgust again. “Please, you’re a reporter. Truth is the furthest thing from your mind.”
“On the contrary, Jake. In spite of what you may think of me, I have never willingly or knowinglyprinted anything untrue, nor have I ever done anything or printed anything that I knew would deliberately hurt someone. Not for a story, not for any reason.” Her chin lifted. “I consider that highly unethical.”
One dark brow rose skeptically. “An ethical reporter?” He laughed, but the sound was bitter. “That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it?”
“I do what I do because I firmly believe in the truth. But sometimes in order to get to the truth, you have to dig for information, information that perhaps some people would rather not have come to light.”
“And you don’t consider that an invasion of privacy?” They’d entered town now, and he maneuvered the car through the afternoon traffic.
Rebecca shook her head, dislodging several more strands of hair, which blew around her face. She scooped them back behind her ear. “No, not really. I use the information I obtain to try to help people.”
“Nice try, Rebecca. But in my experience, someone generally ends up getting hurt in a reporter’s quest to get to the truth—even if it’s intended to ‘help’ someone.”
It was another accusation, she realized, knowing he was thinking of his own situation, while she was thinking of hers. Perhaps they weren’t all that different.
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly. “That’s true, sometimes people do get hurt, but that doesn’t mean we should stop searching for the truth.” Aware that he was listening intently, she shrugged. “I firmly believe that the truth is worth whatever price you have to pay. Sometimes in getting to the truth, someoneunintentionally gets hurt. It’s unfortunate, but there are times it simply can’t be helped. But it’s never deliberate, or done for sensationalism.”
“So you think that makes it acceptable? Regardless of the motive, the end justifies the means?” Disgusted, he shook his head. “Like it or not, Rebecca, people get hurt when you dig into private places you’ve got no business digging in. It’s a fact you can’t escape.”
“Jake, I can’t conceive of a situation when I’d deliberately hurt someone, but I guess that’s what I’m trying to explain. Sometimes the truth is not pretty, and sometimes people get hurt when the reality of a situation comes out. But if you’re asking me if I’ll dig for something or print something just to hurt someone, or to sensationalize a story, then the answer is no. I wouldn’t consider it.”
“And you expect me to believe you always print the truth?” he demanded, causing her to gape at him, genuinely appalled.
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t dream of fabricating facts, or exaggerating them—”
“Or simply make something up to sell newspapers and build a name for yourself?” His tone of voice indicated that he clearly thought she was capable of such a thing. It didn’t anger her, only saddened her.
She shook her head, sorely tempted to tell him that she no longer had to worry about making a name for
No matter what the cost.
But she didn’t know if she could ever get Jake to understand that, not without telling him of her own painful past, something she could never do.
“So tell me, Rebecca, how the hell do you reconcile what you do for a living with your supposed ‘respect’ for other people’s privacy?”
“I believe in what I’m doing, Jake, because I firmly believe in the truth.” She hesitated, gathering her thoughts, trying to put some strength into her suddenly shaky voice. Turning to him, she rested her head against the back of the seat, lifting a hand to rub at her suddenly throbbing temple.
“The truth?” He snorted in disgust again. “Please, you’re a reporter. Truth is the furthest thing from your mind.”
“On the contrary, Jake. In spite of what you may think of me, I have never willingly or knowinglyprinted anything untrue, nor have I ever done anything or printed anything that I knew would deliberately hurt someone. Not for a story, not for any reason.” Her chin lifted. “I consider that highly unethical.”
One dark brow rose skeptically. “An ethical reporter?” He laughed, but the sound was bitter. “That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it?”
“I do what I do because I firmly believe in the truth. But sometimes in order to get to the truth, you have to dig for information, information that perhaps some people would rather not have come to light.”
“And you don’t consider that an invasion of privacy?” They’d entered town now, and he maneuvered the car through the afternoon traffic.
Rebecca shook her head, dislodging several more strands of hair, which blew around her face. She scooped them back behind her ear. “No, not really. I use the information I obtain to try to help people.”
“Nice try, Rebecca. But in my experience, someone generally ends up getting hurt in a reporter’s quest to get to the truth—even if it’s intended to ‘help’ someone.”
It was another accusation, she realized, knowing he was thinking of his own situation, while she was thinking of hers. Perhaps they weren’t all that different.
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly. “That’s true, sometimes people do get hurt, but that doesn’t mean we should stop searching for the truth.” Aware that he was listening intently, she shrugged. “I firmly believe that the truth is worth whatever price you have to pay. Sometimes in getting to the truth, someoneunintentionally gets hurt. It’s unfortunate, but there are times it simply can’t be helped. But it’s never deliberate, or done for sensationalism.”
“So you think that makes it acceptable? Regardless of the motive, the end justifies the means?” Disgusted, he shook his head. “Like it or not, Rebecca, people get hurt when you dig into private places you’ve got no business digging in. It’s a fact you can’t escape.”
“Jake, I can’t conceive of a situation when I’d deliberately hurt someone, but I guess that’s what I’m trying to explain. Sometimes the truth is not pretty, and sometimes people get hurt when the reality of a situation comes out. But if you’re asking me if I’ll dig for something or print something just to hurt someone, or to sensationalize a story, then the answer is no. I wouldn’t consider it.”
“And you expect me to believe you always print the truth?” he demanded, causing her to gape at him, genuinely appalled.
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t dream of fabricating facts, or exaggerating them—”
“Or simply make something up to sell newspapers and build a name for yourself?” His tone of voice indicated that he clearly thought she was capable of such a thing. It didn’t anger her, only saddened her.
She shook her head, sorely tempted to tell him that she no longer had to worry about making a name for
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