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matter. Even if she would, I am not going there.” She attempted to soften her tone. “She means too much to Uncle Jack. I couldn’t do that to him. And I couldn’t do it to her. She would end up hurt. Nothing is worth any of that.”
    “Jess, you’re just afraid. I think you’ve found someone who’s more than a passing fancy and you’re fighting it. You cannot keep blaming yourself for events that were not your fault. You have to let it go. You’re not giving yourself a chance of ever having the joy of sharing your life with someone.”
    Jess’s impatience rose again. “I never said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with the woman. I’m lusting after her, nothing more, nothing less, and I will not be responsible for anyone else’s harm.” Jess wanted an end to this conversation. “Uncle Jack is due his follow-up tests the day after tomorrow. I need to concentrate on him, nothing else is important.”
    Julie sighed, sliding her arm around her friend’s shoulders and drawing her into a hug. “I know and I want to be here for you. That’s what’s important to me, I’m sorry.”

Chapter Nine
     
    After arriving back from taking her Uncle Jack and Marie down to the village, Jess started work on replacing a long section of unstable fencing that bordered the estate. The task was huge, and her mood was lifted when Rachel appeared late in the morning and insisted on helping. Rachel actually slowed her progress, but she didn’t care, the company and the eagerness of her assistant was a pleasant distraction from thinking about her uncle. The tests he’d had were neither encouraging or discouraging. The cancer hadn’t appeared to have spread, yet they’d hoped to have seen a little more progress in his health.
    Rachel looked up as she put her last post in place as instructed. “Jess, this may seem like a stupid question, but where did you learn all these practical skills? Is it just experience?”
    Jess put her mattock down and examined the hole for size. “Yes, mostly from Uncle Jack, he was builder and did a bit of everything. Oh, I did go on a short electrical course.”
    “Electrical?”
    “Yes. Our guests could probably survive most botched jobs, even a few dodgy roof tiles, but electrocution. That wouldn’t be good.”
    Rachel tut-tutted, “I don’t believe you do any of your jobs badly.” She grinned. “Your uncle wouldn’t let you.”
    Jess laughed, picking up a post and placing it in the hole. “You’re right there.”
    “Have you been to college or university at all?”
    Jess smiled. “Could you hold this please? Not university. I did go to college for a business diploma. It was only for a year. I thought it might be helpful. And, all my orienteering I have done through college to gain my certification.”
    “For the walking holidays?”
    “Yes and…Just tilt that a wee bit toward me.” Jess chuckled. “And don’t grip it quite so tightly.”
    Rachel slackened her hold on the post and watched as Jess swung the mallet. Every muscle was emphasized with the motion and the smooth pale area of her belly that peeped out on each swing was mesmerizing.
    “Rachel, you can let go.”
    She blinked. “Sorry. I was miles away. The walking company, what exactly is it you do? Besides walk?” Rachel inwardly rolled her eyes.
    Jess wasn’t entirely sure what Rachel was staring at but she was sure she was admiring something. That wasn’t helping Jess, especially as it was giving her a very pleasant feeling in the area of her body she was desperately trying to ignore. “I go away with groups. Sometimes it’s a long-distance trek, others can be daily walks in one particular area, or I do specialist ones, looking at local flora and fauna. The holidays are mostly in Britain and in some parts of Europe.”
    “So, do you cover Scotland?”
    “Occasionally. I’m a little more flexible than most, so it varies.”
    “Why do you do it?”
    Jess smiled. “I enjoy it. Uncle Jack thought I should