The Price of Trust

by Amanda Stephan

  "Todd and Kelly's day?" Joe smiled, visibly relieved. "Todd wanted me to ask you after he asked Kelly, but I needed to show you this place first. I wanted to know if you'd like it."

  "I love it, just like I love you." She smiled. "Truthfully, I'm glad Amy's so stupid, or I wouldn't have had a chance!"

  "I thank God every day for taking her away from me." He gave her an affectionate kiss. "Let's get married tomorrow," he said mischievously, grinning.

  She laughed, delighted. "Tomorrow! You sure don't give a girl much time! Where would we live?"

  "Nuts," he said with a gloomy look. "If I work on this place every day from now until Christmas, will you marry me on New Year's?"

  "I'll marry you when it's time, Joe Baird!" She laughed, kissing him happily.

  "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, following her out of the house. He locked the door behind them and helped her up onto her horse.

  She looked down at him, her eyes twinkling merrily. "That means when the time is ready, we'll get married!"

  "Let's get one thing straight right now, Carly Richards," he took her reins so she couldn't start without him. "I'm not going to wait four or five months to marry you."

  "Really. And what do you think you're going to do to change my mind?"

  He swung up onto his horse easily, still holding her reins. "I'll kidnap you and force you to marry me!" he said triumphantly, relinquishing the reins.

  "What if I refuse to say 'I do'?"

  "You won't," he said confidently, leading the way back to the house.

  They teased and taunted and finally talked about their future together, walking the horses very slowly, not wanting it to end.

  "Thank you, Joe," Carly said as they finally came up onto the porch together.

  "Why are you thanking me?" he asked in surprise.

  "Because you love me."

  "I love you so much it hurts," he said, kissing her earnestly.

  Suddenly, the porch light came on and the door was thrown open wide. Todd, Kelly, Tom, and Penny were all there staring at them knowingly.

  "Uh huh," Todd said, nodding his head. "I told you they were back." He grinned wickedly at them.

  "I tell you, you've got to watch those two," Tom said. "If he isn't putting the moves on her in the kitchen by the counter, he's out here on the porch!"

  "Joe! What are you doing?" Penny asked sharply, pretending to be upset.

  Joe pulled Carly close to him, his arm around her shoulders. "Mom, Dad, I'd like to introduce your future daughter-in-law to you," he said, showing them Carly's ring finger, grinning from ear to ear.

  "Oh my goodness!" Penny said, coming out onto the porch and giving Carly a tremendous hug. "I'm so happy for you both!" She wiped a tear from her eye. "But you know what, I knew the first time I saw you two together that God intended you for each other."

  "Congratulations, son," Tom said, clapping him on the shoulder.

  "I thought you were going to ask her after I asked Kelly," Todd said, tousling his hair. "Chicken!" Joe punched him playfully in the stomach.

  "Carly, this is so wonderful!" Kelly said, giving her a hug.

  "Are you sure?" Carly asked, looking doubtfully at her. "I didn't want you to feel badly because it's really your day."

  "Nonsense! It's our day, and I'm thrilled to share it with you!" She hugged her effusively, rubbing her back. "What could be better than your fiancé's brother asking your best friend to marry him? It's wonderful!" She giggled, taking Todd's hand.

  "Well, Ma," Tom said, his voice booming over the rest of them, "what do you have to celebrate with?"

  "Just the thing. Pumpkin, apple, and lemon meringue!" She laughed merrily.

  "Oh yeah!" Todd said enthusiastically, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starving!"

  "Did Joe show you the house?" Tom asked with a smile, sitting down to the table as Penny served everyone pie.

  Carly beamed, looking adoringly at Joe. "Yes, he did."

  "What do you think of it?"

  "I think it's the most beautiful house I've ever seen."

  "You're just biased," Todd said, helping himself to another piece of pumpkin pie. "She's just saying that to make Joe feel good."

  Carly grinned. "I am biased." Joe looked up, startled. "I'm biased because I think Joe's the greatest, and I think you all have done a wonderful job." Joe squeezed her hand lovingly.

  "Did he tell you that was the house he was building for Amy?" Todd asked, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it," he apologized quickly, shaking his head. Joe frowned at him.

  "Yes, he did." Carly smiled, understanding that Todd had meant it to be a joke. "And I told him that I was thankful."

  Kelly looked at her, surprised. "Thankful? I don't understand why you would be thankful for that."

  "I'm thankful that Amy was so stupid." She looked steadily at Joe. "Stupid that she rejected that house, and stupid that she threw a man as wonderful as Joe away." He relaxed perceptibly, but still frowned slightly at Todd.

  "To tell you the truth, Carly," Penny began. "I'm quite thankful for those same things! But I'm even more thankful now that he's got a girl like you." She smiled sweetly. "And I'm thankful that Todd has finally asked you to marry him, Kelly. He's made us wait too long!" Kelly nodded her head in agreement.

  Todd tried to look hurt. "Too long? It hasn't been too long! I've intended to marry her for a long time. I was just waiting for Joe to catch up. I didn't want to leave him behind you know. He'd miss me too much!" Joe threw his napkin at Todd, while the others laughed.

  They talked companionably for the rest of the evening, laughing and teasing one another until they were interrupted by an enormous yawn from Kelly.

  "Oh my goodness," she apologized. "I hate to admit it, but I'm really tired!" She rested her head in her arms.

  "Are you ready to go?" Carly asked, trying to hide her yawn.

  "I saw that!" Joe said, teasing.

  She smacked him on the arm playfully. "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "I'm ready to go if you are," Kelly said, dragging herself out of her chair. "I've got to go to work tomorrow. This time of year is one of the busiest for us," she said, yawning again.

  Todd laughed, walking with her to get her coat. "I don't think I should let you drive."

  "I'll drive if she's too tired," Carly said, setting her dirty plate in the sink. "Thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, Penny!" She gave her a huge hug and shook Tom's hand. "Thank you both for everything. I really enjoyed myself."

  "Well, of course you did!" Tom said jovially, winking meaningfully at her and Joe. "We're glad you could come, and we're especially glad that you're going to be part of our family. How long are we going to have to wait for the weddings?"

  "Not long!" both boys answered at the same time, making everyone laugh.

  "What do you think of that, Kelly?" Penny asked merrily, giving her a hug as well.

  "Sounds good to me!" She took Todd's arm.

  "How about you, Carly?" Tom asked, eyes twinkling.

  Carly shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly in an effort to irritate Joe. "Oh, I don't know, I was thinking about a year from now."

  "A year from now?" Joe said hotly, pulling her to him. "I'm not waiting that long! I'll kidnap you and make you elope before a year's through!"

  "I was just joking." Carly laughed, trying to breathe.

  "I'm not waiting longer than three months at the most," he said, looking stubbornly at her.

  "But where will we live?" she asked coyly, batting her eyes at him.

  "She's got a point, Joe," Penny said. "You've got to have somewhere to live when you get married. You can't live with us. Two women in one kitchen never works!" She winked at Carly, making her laugh.

  "I'll start working on the house non-stop after my work here is done, and I'll have it close to being finished when we're married."

  "Non-stop?" Carly said in mock disappointment. "That means I
'll never see you. How will I remember what you look like? What if I marry the wrong guy by mistake?"

  "You better watch out, or we're going to have a Christmas Eve wedding!" he said good-naturedly, giving her a kiss on her cheek.

  "Well, I guess I better hush up! Good-bye!" she said, shrugging on her coat as Joe walked her out the door with Todd and Kelly.

  Penny followed them out onto the porch. "Oh! Carly! If you really want to learn how to make butter and cheese, come by Saturday, and I'll show you."

  "Okay, sounds great! What time do you want me here?" Carly asked, opening the door to the car. Kelly was already in saying a quiet good-bye to Todd.

  "I can come get you before I do my chores!" Joe said hopefully.

  "No way! If I came to help you with chores again, you'll be spoiled and expect me to come help every day." Carly said saucily, giving him a hug.

  Penny stomped her feet and hugged herself to keep warm in the frigid air. "Why don't you come by around ten? That's usually the time I start."

  "I'll see you Saturday at ten then," Carly said, closing the car door behind her and giving Joe a lingering final kiss good-bye through the open window.

  "We're down to three weeks," he said softly, laughing.

  "I love you, Joe Baird."

  He jogged a little way beside the car as they drove down the drive. "I love you too, Carly Richards! Be careful and call me if you need anything."

  Chapter 18

  Carly woke up early Saturday morning, stretched happily, and admired her ring. She'd slept more peacefully than she had in a long time.

  Carly Baird.

  It just didn't seem possible. She didn't deserve him, but she loved him and he loved her. God had brought them together, and somehow she knew God would keep them together.

  She showered and dressed lazily, having quite a bit of time before she had to leave to go to Joe's house. She ate some of Sue's delicious leftovers that she had sent over for her, reading her Bible as she ate.

  Lord, she prayed silently. I love you and thank you for Joe. He's wonderful. Thank you for bringing me here to meet him. Please keep us safe from Ian, and keep him safe as he does all that he needs to do today.

  She sighed happily, cleaned up after breakfast, and decided to go and check on Sam and Sue's place early. She was just putting on her coat when the phone rang downstairs. She ran to get it.

  "Hello?" she asked breathlessly, leaning on the counter.

  "Happy Thanksgiving, Carly," Ian said, his voice icy.

  "Thanks," she said flatly, disappointed.

  "Not much of a greeting," Ian said, irritated. "I was calling to be nice, and you can't even be polite."

  "Happy Thanksgiving, Ian," Carly said unenthusiastically. "Is there something that you needed? I've got somewhere to go."

  "I need you, of course. Where were you Thursday? I tried to call all day, and no one answered," he said evenly as shivers went down Carly's spine.

  She knew that tone. He always used that tone when he was really angry with her for something. She'd have to be careful.

  "I was with some friends."

  "With that farm boy again, I presume," he said coldly. "I thought I told you to stay away from him."

  Wearily, she sat down on the floor and hugged her knees. "Ian, what will it take for you to realize that we are no longer together, that I don't want to marry you, and that I want you to leave me alone?"

  "What will it take to convince you that I want you to come home?" he asked edgily.

  "I'm not coming back," she said softly. "It's over, Ian. Please. Just let it go."

  "I'm not going to let you go." He was silent for a moment. "Carly," he said gently. "Remember when we were first engaged?"

  Silence.

  "I haven't forgotten our conversation. I remember you telling me that you wanted to go to the Bahamas for our honeymoon. Do you remember?"

  Carly closed her eyes, chilled to the bone.

  "I want to take you there for our honeymoon," he went on gently. "Come home, and we'll leave right away."

  "Are you telling me that you're sorry for all the things you've done to me?" she asked scornfully, knowing that he was just trying to buy her.

  "I haven't done anything to you that you haven't deserved," he said, not quite as calmly as before. "Look at what you're doing to me now. You're costing me a lot of money."

  "I know how to save you some money," she said bitterly. "You can call off all those people you hired to find me and harass me. I'm sure that'll save you a lot."

  "You will be home with me by the New Year, even if I have to come there to get you myself. You will not belong to anyone but me, and you might want to remember that and stay away from your little farm boy before he gets hurt. Do you understand me?" She could imagine the spittle flying from his pursed lips as he shouted into the phone.

  "Don't you even think of bringing him into this mess!" Carly said, her voice rising. "He has nothing to do with this!"

  "Really," he said, dangerously calm. "I think I've just hit a nerve. I'm not the one who brought him into this, remember? You did when you went out with him the first time. How much do you care for him, Carly?"

  Silence.

  "Do you love him, Carly?" he asked, agitated.

  More silence.

  "Answer me!" he said through gritted teeth, making her jump.

  "Please," she begged, dangerously close to tears. Crying was the last thing she wanted him to hear as it would only please him. "Please, Ian. Just leave me alone."

  "You belong to me! If you get involved with him anymore than you already are, you will regret it!"

  "Do you know why I left, Ian? I was tired of being bullied and beaten by you. And now that I'm free, I'm not going to let you tell me who I can and cannot be with. You don't own me, you aren't my husband, and I'm not going to listen to you. Do you understand what I'm saying? I'm not going to be your little robot anymore, and I'm not leaving here!"

  He sneered contemptuously. "Can he give you all the things I can give you? Can he afford to take you to the Bahamas or anywhere for that matter? Can he give you the cars, money, clothes, and homes I can?"

  "No, he can't," she said softly. "And I'm happier now than I ever was with you."

  "What can he give you that I can't?" Ian asked coldly.

  "Love," she whispered. "He can give me the one thing you never could. Love."

  "Love?" he asked scornfully. "I loved you and I still do. I'm not going to let you throw yourself away like this, Carly."

  "You don't have to call me anymore, Ian."

  "Wait!" he said quickly before she could hang up. "All right. Maybe there were a few times I was a little too hard on you, and maybe things moved too fast after your dad died, but we can make this work, Carly, I know we can. Give us another try," he said, changing tactics.

  "It's too late. I don't want to give us another try. We're over. Please don't call me again."

  She could just imagine his furious countenance as he bellowed into the phone. "You and I are not over! I will come and get you, and bring you back!"

  She hung up in the middle of his tirade, shaking. She sat on the floor for a little while, calming her nerves. The phone rang. She didn't pick it up, knowing it was Ian. Instead, she got up, buttoned her coat, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door, the phone still ringing insistently behind her.

  She walked to Sam and Sue's house quickly, thinking of her conversation with Ian. Would he hurt Joe? Would he really come up there and force her to go back? She shuddered at the thought. She had been afraid to talk to him so boldly after he'd beaten her when she'd confronted him about the other women. She trembled to think what he might do to them both if he came to get her. He didn't forgive and forget. She knew that she'd hear from him again and was worried that it might be face to face.

  She watered Sue's plants quickly, checked for any messages, and locked the doors behind her, walking tentatively to the garage, unsure if she should drive the truck or not.

>   Sam had insisted and made her promise that she would drive it, but she was still nervous. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if something happened to it while they were gone. She opened the garage door, got inside the cozy truck, and turned the key, wincing.

  The truck roared into life, seemingly anxious to get out onto the road. She eased it out of the garage, closed the door, and carefully headed out toward Joe's. She became more confident as she drove, taking extra precautions not to damage it.

  She drove into their driveway at exactly ten and parked next to Joe's truck, thrilled to see Joe coming out of the barn to meet her.

  "Good morning!" He kissed her. "Sam let you drive his truck? He must really like you." He grinned, checking out the truck admiringly. "That's a nice piece of work there, but I've got to admit, you sure do make it look a lot better!"

  She smiled wanly, taking comfort from his hug. "Good morning. I'm so glad to see you."

  "I missed you," he said softly into her hair.

  "Guess what I got this morning?" she asked, stepping back to look up at him.

  He smiled lazily. "What?"

  "I got a phone call," she said grimly. "From Ian."

  "What did he have to say?" he asked, his face tight with concern.

  "He told me to stay away from you again, and he asked me if I love you."

  "What did you say?"

  "I told him that I wasn't going to be pushed around anymore and that he could stop calling me. But I didn't tell him that we're going to get married," she said awkwardly.

  "Why didn't you tell him? Maybe he would have left you alone," he asked, upset.

  "I didn't tell him because I was afraid that he'd come here and try to hurt you," she said, noticing Joe's hurt expression.

  "Ah." He nodded his head knowingly, refusing to meet her gaze. "I see. Well, Mom's over there in the cheese room as we call it, waiting for you." He cleared his throat. "I've got to finish my work here, so I'll see you later." He walked away quickly.

  She followed after him, catching his arm and turning him around to look at her. "Are you mad?"

  "Why would I be mad?" he said evasively, shrugging off her hand and walking into the barn. She followed him, grabbing his hand tightly.