Charlotte held her breath as Ezra went before the judge. Cole touched her arm and smiled at her sadly. She was glad he was there to support her. They’d talked extensively and agreed that Ezra deserved a break. He’d been through so much already. But the decision was not up to them, it was up to the judge.
The judge looked through the file on his desk and then up to Ezra. “Looks like you’ve been through a bit, young man.”
Ezra nodded.
“Your lawyer is requesting a continuance on your behalf, and he’s informed me that you wish this to go to trial, is that correct?”
“Yes sir,” Ezra mumbled through the bandages on his face.
He thumbed through the paperwork again. “I’m going to grant that request because it looks to me like you will need some time to establish your case,” he said then looked to the attorneys who stood back, waiting. “Does the state have any argument with releasing him at this time, pending a trial?”
“No, sir. We have found no evidence he is a harm to himself or anyone else.”
“You understand that your release today on your own recognizance does not mean you’re free of charges?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you agree to be here on the date set by the court for trial?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re hereby released. Please see the secretary for your court date.”
Ezra walked to the secretary and a few minutes later, he was escorted out of the back court by an officer.
“Where’s he going?” Charlotte turned to her brother. “I thought they released him.”
“I don’t know,” Cole answered.
“Charlotte Spencer?” a man called, and she stood. It was Ezra’s attorney.
“Let’s go into the hall,” he said.
Once in the corridor, he explained to her that it would take another long while for Ezra to be officially released. “I advise you to go home and get some rest. You look tired. Is his vehicle here?”
“Yes.” She pulled the key from her purse. “But I want to be here when he’s released.”
“It could be awhile. He has to go through processing, and I think he might need some time to work this all through. He’s requested you not stay.”
“What? Why?”
“That’s something I can’t say at this point, but I think maybe you should give him some time and respect his wishes.”
“Okay. I guess.” Her heart dropped. She handed over the keys to Ezra’s car and left.
Cole followed behind her.
“Just give him time. He’s been through a lot. Besides, you need some sleep. We all do.”
She walked down the steps of the courthouse. “Where will he go? He has no money. No phone. What if he needs me?”
Cole placed a hand on her back. “He knows where we live. He’ll come around when he’s ready.”
Chapter 29 - Ezra
Ezra waited around for five more hours before he was released from jail. His attorney had come by and told him the keys to his car were left with his property, and he would be able to get them upon release.
It saddened him to turn Charlotte away, but he had so much more to think about. He needed to clear his head and do what was right for her. He had no idea what that was, but he wouldn’t be able to reason with her there. The attorney had given him many things to think about. Most importantly, he’d been advised to plead not guilty of all charges, and he wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted to do. He was guilty, and he wanted to own up to it yet in the same token, he didn’t want to waste the rest of his life away in a jail cell.
Once released, he grabbed his belongings and got into his car. There was only one person he wanted to speak to, and he knew right where to find him. He headed for the local fast food restaurant and made his way to the bridge where he would surely find Stanley, the vet that had given him so much to think about before.
He was greeted happily by the homeless as he handed out burgers to all.
“What happened to you, man?” Stanley asked. “Looks like you got into a nice brawl.”
Ezra sat down next to him. With his jaw still in pain, he could only take small nibbles of a burger. “It’s been rough.”
“So, I see. You wanna talk about it?”
It was the reason he came there so with another bite of his burger, he laid it all out. He told Stanley what was going on. “I’m struggling, man. I want to do what’s right, but my lawyer is telling me to plead not guilty. I just want to tell the truth.”
“And what is the truth?” Stanley asked. “How you see it?”
“I did a lot of bad things, man. I want to come clean.”
“I get that. It makes sense. Have you come clean before God?”
“I have.”
“And you don’t think God can defend you in a court of law?”
“I’d hire Him, but I think He’s probably busy.”
Stanley chuckled. “He’s got your back, man. Pleading not guilty does not mean you’re saying you are innocent. It means the state has to prove your guilt. Let them do their job, man. And remember when we talked about that PTSD stuff?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know the legal term, but man, you’ve been through some stuff. If you plead guilty, you get no trial. No one hears your story. You just get sentenced. Don’t you want someone to hear what you’ve been through?”
He really didn’t. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, man. I just want―”
“It’s not about feeling sorry. You deserve a fair trial. You may not believe it, but that man influenced you as a child. There’s no reason for some grand decision to commit the rest of your life to jail. What about that girl? You love her right?”
“I do. But I want her to accept me as a whole person. One who is free of his transgressions.”
“You let the law do that. Don’t go setting your own sentence. In the meantime, you go see that girl. Make the best of what time you have. I bet she’s worried sick about you.”
Ezra wanted to see Charlotte more than anything. He had so many things to tell her, but everything was so uncertain. He still didn’t know what would happen to him in the future. “I just don’t want to cause her any more pain. If I go to jail where will she be in all of it?”
“Let me see here.” Stanley put his hand out. “You ever killed anyone?”
“No.”
He put out a finger.
“Injured anyone?”
“No.”
He put out a second finger.
“Rape, kidnapping, extortion?”
“No! Not even an armed robbery. I’ve never even shot a gun.”
“Well, hows I see it, you ain’t looking at much time for some petty theft you done mostly while you were a minor under the influence of an adult who knew better. Don’t count yourself noble. You got just cause, and any judge would be ashamed to not recognize it.”
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he’d allowed Garrett’s constant scare tactics to create fear within him. He could handle whatever the judge set down for him.
“Okay. Yeah.”
“When’s your court date?”
“January.”
“Good Lordy! You got plenty of time. You go and get yourself settled. Get a job and do well for yourself. The judge will see that you ain't getting yourself into any trouble. He might only order a bit of that kooky counseling to get your mind right.”
Ezra chuckled. He was feeling better already. He wasn’t going to let Garrett continue to run his life from behind a jail cell.
“I have some things to do.” Ezra stood.
“You gonna go see your girl?” Stanley asked.
“Yep. But I got a couple of stops before that.”
Ezra shook hands with Stanley, said goodbye to everyone and promised he would be back.
Chapter 30—Charlotte
Charlotte sat by the fire as the sun went down. Cole sat across from her and Samantha next to him. Cole strummed h
is guitar while Samantha sang beautifully. The guests roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, and chatted amongst themselves, but Charlotte felt empty. She needed to get her emotions together. The guests were what kept the money coming in, paid the bills, but she just couldn’t seem to connect with them.
Cole and Samantha had tried to encourage her, but without Ezra, she was vacant. Why hadn’t he wanted to come back? Hadn’t she been clear about her love for him? She felt stupid for even saying it. Obviously, it meant nothing to him.
“I’m going to hit the hay,” she said, standing. “Stay out here as long as you like.” She put on a smile. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Everyone waved and told her goodnight. Cole gave her a worried look, and she smiled back at him sadly. She just couldn’t muster the energy to pretend anymore. Robotically, she performed her nightly duties of checking on the horses and locking the store, then went inside the house.
She made herself a hot cup of tea and sat at the table. Feeling as depressed as she had when she’d lost her father and then her mother, she placed her head in her hands and tried to stave off the tears.
A knock at the door startled her, and she almost called out for Cole to get it. But Cole was still out with the guests. Wanting to crawl into her bed and drown in a sea of tears, she stood. The knock came again, and she sighed. Life had to go on for her. So, she went to the door.
As she opened it, Ezra stood on her porch, holding a huge box wrapped in Christmas paper.
“What in the world?” She stared at the box.
“I, uh―” he looked down. “Oh, that. Well, I got you something. And the ladies at my dad’s nursing home helped me wrap it. All they had was Christmas wrap.”
“Where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you!”
“Can I come in?” he said, barely opening his bruised jaw. “This is getting heavy.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Her heart felt lighter with each look at him. “Come on in. What is this?”
“Open it.” He sat on the couch and set it down in front of him.
Charlotte sat next to him, and he slid the box in front of her.
“I feel so silly. It’s not even my birthday. And certainly not Christmas.”
“But it’s a special day.”
“It is?”
“Open and see.”
Charlotte slowly pulled the wrapping paper from the box. The outside contained a picture of a microwave. She raised her eyebrows.
“Just a box I found. Open it up.”
Charlotte pulled the massive amounts of tape from the seam and opened the flaps. Her mouth opened in surprise. Inside were several bolts of plush material. There were browns and tans and grays. She pulled one up and put it to her face. “What does this mean? Where did you get the money for this?”
“Keep going.” He nodded.
Charlotte set the fabric on the couch beside her and pulled out several packs of buttons and threads in all colors. At the bottom was a small black box. She stared at it unable to move.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Ezra reached down and picked up the box. He opened it, and an engagement ring sat inside, gleaming at her. It wasn’t anything glamourous, but it was beautiful to her.
“Ezra, where did you―”
“I’ll explain in a minute, but first.” Ezra got down on one knee. “Charlotte Renee Spencer, I have loved you from the day I met you. You don’t know this, but I spent a good amount of my childhood sneaking to the back window of your stables just to get a peek at you. I know I have done some bad things in my life, and I am prepared to pay for those things. I can’t promise life will be great for a while. I might have to . . . well, we will see what happens. But today, I am putting all of that aside. I’m making a promise before God, and you, that I will be the best man I can be, I will take care of you, love you, and honor you, if you will be my wife.”
Tears flooded her eyes. Her hand shook as she held it out. “Yes.”
Ezra leaned in and kissed her.
“Now tell me where you got all of this,” she demanded half-heartedly.
“I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was afraid you’d think I was trying to buy your love, and then all that happened and well, my father, he left me a good sum of money when he sold his house. He told me to do something good with it, and I plan to do just that.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s our money, Charlotte. We can make this ranch what you always dreamed of. And if you will let me, I’ll help you get it back to where it’s profitable again. You shouldn’t have to struggle alone. And if I have to go away, I want to know that you’re being taken care of.”
“But that’s your money. You should spend it on a lawyer. The best one money can buy.”
“God will take care of me. Isn’t that what you’ve always told me? For now, let’s focus on us. In six months when I go to court, I want to be sure you have everything you need. We’ll wait to get married until afterward. I don’t want you tied down to me.”
Charlotte wiped her tears away. “Whatever happens, I’ll wait for you.”
Epilogue
“Has a verdict been reached?” the judge asked.
“Yes, your honor.” A man stood.
“Would the defendant stand.”
Ezra stood. His hand still in Charlotte’s.
“Please read the verdict to the court.”
“We the jury, have found the defendant, Ezra McCain not guilty by reason of coercion on all counts.”
“Very well.” The judge nodded, and the juror took his seat. “Ezra McCain, I find this decision very agreeable. The life you have led has been a hard one. I commend you for your honesty and ability to overcome these circumstances. I am however ordering you to a minimum of six months counseling.”
Ezra thanked the judge and was dismissed. Turning to Charlotte, he lifted her off the ground and kissed her.
“Now can we get married?” she asked. “I’ve been waiting for ages.”
Ezra laughed. “Yes, my love. Now we can get married.”
The Cowboy's Forbidden Bride (The Blushing Brides Book 4) Page 15
