by Etta Foster
“I'm certain.”
Chapter 38
The days passed by surprisingly quickly. Gavin wouldn't have thought that the place could get back to normal so soon, but it was barely noticeable that the rustlers had been through. Thanks to some hard work on the ranch hands’ part, they had managed to salvage plenty of meat from the butchered cattle.
It saddened Gavin that they were down by fifty cows, almost a sixth of their total number. After all the work he'd put into the ranch, they would spend at least two seasons trying to get those numbers back up.
Honestly, that's the best we could have hoped for. I hate to think what we might have been forced to do if the damage had been worse. Thank God those rustlers were so stupid. They didn't even try to set anything on fire. That would have been the ultimate way to wreak havoc.
Maybe they knew that if they pulled that crap, the Woodworths would have tracked every last one of them down. Virgil might be an underhanded bastard, but Gavin liked to think that even he knew where to draw the line.
He was in higher spirits now that his father had woken up, seeming no worse for wear. He still talked normal and could move normally. It was like he hadn't fallen at all. Or at least, that was what he was making it seem like. He's probably hiding how much it really hurts so we don't worry about him.
It wouldn't have been the first time his father had done something like that. The Woodworth men seemed to be cursed with overblown bravado, since they were rarely ever willing to admit when they'd been injured. It was the reason why no one had discovered that Gavin had broken his arm when he was twelve until his father had tugged on his arm and he'd screamed.
His father had beaten his backside raw before taking him into the doctor's, stating that hiding his injury risked screwing up his arm for life because it wouldn't heal right. It hadn't been a lesson Gavin was quick to forget.
His mother had finally stopped looking so anxious, which was another thing to help ease his mind. Seeing her in the panicked state she had been in the night his father had been thrown from his horse only reinforced Gavin’s fears. Would she be that inconsolable when his father's time to pass on finally came?
He didn't want to focus on those kinds of thoughts right now. He should just try and count his blessings. Nothing good ever came from focusing on the bad parts of life anyway. Besides, there was another matter that he needed to attend to.
Coralee was still there, and with each passing day he was finding the thought of her leaving got harder and harder. As he had watched her spend the week nursing his father back to health, he couldn't help but feel like a fool. She had proven time and again that she wasn't the kind of person who liked to deceive people.
Maybe I’ve been much too hard on her. He'd been bouncing back and forth in his mind, occasionally relapsing to being angry with her for lying to him, and at other times, he would begin to think that maybe it wasn't as big a deal as he'd initially made it out to be.
Plus, the fact remained that he was indebted to her twice over now. Not only had she nursed him back to health when he'd been injured, she'd done the same for his father. That wasn't the kind of debt you could just give someone money for and expect it to be even.
He was out in the stables when Harland told him that his Pop wanted to talk to him. Gavin had been expecting something like this to happen for a while now. He didn't even try to object. Instead, he silently handed the saddle he'd been cleaning to Harland along with the brush.
He walked into his father's bedroom a few minutes later, finding his father and brother waiting for him. His father was sitting up in bed, looking cheerful as usual. The dark circles that had been under his eyes looked lighter. Probably a side effect of all the extra sleep he had been getting. His cough didn't seem quite as bad anymore either.
That either means he's getting better or he's past the point where it will matter. He hoped it was the former and not the latter. “You wanted to see me, Pop?”
“Harland came to fetch you, I see. Good lad, he always was good to our family. Try to see to it that he’s taken care of once I’m gone,” Isaac said, his tone melancholy.
“Don't talk like that, Pop. You've easily got another ten years in you,” Jude said, doing his best not to sound choked up.
“I'm afraid we have to look at the reality of my situation. I’ve been ill for the last five years, and in that time the disease has ravaged my body. I can say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend time together with you all like I have, but that time is coming to a close,” Isaac replied gently, his mouth moving in a wry smile.
“You can't possibly mean that. This is just another one of your bad jokes, right?” Gavin could feel his lip start to quiver and looked away, taking a deep breath to steel himself.
“Your grandpa used to say it best. Nobody gets to stay in this world forever. Eventually, everyone's time will come,” Isaac said wistfully, looking between his two sons. “We all knew this time would have to come sooner or later.”
“Sure, but we'd always kind of hoped it would be later, not sooner,” Gavin chuckled sadly, his throat suddenly dry.
“We can always hope, Gavin. We just don't always get our way,” Isaac said gently. “I'm at peace with the idea of passing on. Sadly, you'll need to come to peace with it too.”
Gavin and Jude were both crying now. Their tears were streaming silently down their faces, matching the ones that flowed freely from their father's eyes. “I don't know how to tell you boys just how proud I am of you.”
“You don't have to talk like that, Pop. I know I've made plenty of mistakes. You don't have to try and sugarcoat it,” Jude replied sadly, gazing down at the floor.
“We’re all human, Jude. We've all done things in our lifetime that we knew were wrong, or that we later came to regret. Our lives are a constant war of the good and bad sides of ourselves trying to shape our paths,” Isaac said sagely.
“I guess that means I’m on the good path,” Gavin replied cheekily, winking playfully at his brother.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jude muttered, moodily crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“Now, boys. The only thing I've wanted to have happen for the longest time is for our family to come back together. I had hoped that we could bury all the hatchets before it’s too late,” Isaac said, his hand moving up in front of his mouth as he coughed loudly.
Gavin watched silently as Isaac surrendered to his coughing fit. His father leaned over and spat into the waste basket beside the bed, clearing his throat. “I forgive you for what you did, Jude. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and try not to spend too much time beating yourself up about it. Now, let's get into town. We need to have a word with the sheriff.”
***
Gavin and Jude strode directly into the saloon with wide grins on their faces. They were followed by the sheriff, a man often described as a bear in human skin. He tended to tower over other men, and the deep timbre of his voice tended to resonate within one's soul when he spoke to them. Isaac came in shortly afterward, a wide smile on his face.
“Virgil Gleason, I hear you've been getting up to mischief on the Woodworth property. The owners have been quite clear with me that if you make trouble for them again, they will be more than happy to press charges against you. And if you’re going to try and feign innocence, save your breath,” the sheriff added, tossing down the belt buckle that had been left behind by one of the rustlers.
Etched into it clear as day was Virgil's special brand mark, the one he put on all his property. Gavin was grinning like a toad that had just sized up a particularly juicy fly. His father strode up beside him, glaring down at Virgil. “My land isn't for sale to you, Virgil. I intend for it to remain in my family for a very long time.”
“Unless you want to spend the rest of your life behind bars or end it swinging on the end of the hangman's noose, I'd suggest you leave them be,” the sheriff said, his voice rumbling ominously. “Otherwise, that's exactly what you'll get.”
***
>
As they rode back home, Jude leaned over to Gavin. “You need to make up with Coralee.”
“How did you know I was thinking about her?” Gavin asked curiously, glancing at his brother.
“When are you not?,” Jude replied simply, shrugging.
“Why the urgency to make up with her?” Gavin asked, cocking his eyebrow. “What brought this on all of a sudden?”
“She's done so much for the family,” Jude grumbled awkwardly. “It would be a shame for you to let a feisty girl like that slip away.”
Gavin couldn't help but agree.
He found her in the horse stables. She seemed to be in the middle of trying to get a horse saddled, though she was failing miserably. He smiled and cleared his throat gently, watching her jump.
“Still thinking about leaving, huh?” he asked, making his way over to her and gently taking the saddle from her.
She simply nodded, unable to make eye contact with him. He gently set the saddle down and then took her hands in his. “Coralee, I don't want you to leave.”
She gazed up at him in astonishment, biting her bottom lip. “But, what about what you said that day?”
“I spoke out of anger, and you didn't deserve that. I can understand that you must have lived a terrible life. I can even imagine that you would have been desperate enough that you would force yourself to go along with Jessica's plan. I don't want to care about any of that,” he said, his thumb moving to wipe away the single tear that leaked from the corner of Coralee's eye.
“I just wanted to make you happy,” she whispered, leaning into his touch gently.
“I know, and I'm a damn fool for trying to penalize you for that. You were just thinking about me and how to make me happy, and I took that consideration and flung it back in your face. I tried not to fall in love again because I thought it would hurt too much,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“What about now?” Coralee asked softly, her fingers stroking over his shirt gently.
“You've shown me what true love is like, Coralee. I'd be a damned fool if I were to give that up, and I don't really want to try. I love you, Coralee Burket, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives loving one another,” Gavin said, tilting her head up to look at him once more.
He didn't try to stop the tears that fell freely down her face now as she stood on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck. He smiled and wrapped both of his arms around her, holding her tightly to his chest.
“I love you too, Gavin. Please let me stay with you forever,” she whispered.
“You don't have to ask, my sweet. It’s already my plan,” he replied, closing his eyes and standing there with her as she cried happily into his chest.
Things between us are going to be just fine.
Chapter 39
When Gavin had come to make up with her in the stables, Coralee had been unable to contain the relief she'd felt. After their fallout, it had felt nice to hear his confession of love. It felt almost like all her worries over the last few months had just washed away. And yet, she had known that it couldn't be as easy as that.
That was why, when Viola had handed her a letter from Agnes back in Boston, she immediately knew that it meant trouble. As she shakily opened the letter, she felt the familiar crinkle of newspaper beneath her fingers. The letter had come with a newspaper clipping from her hometown.
In it, Lucas had accused her of not only attacking him in the Caldwell manor, but he'd also claimed that she had stolen valuables from the house. She grimaced as she thought about Jessica's clothing and suitcase that she had taken. Lucas didn't know that Jessica had given them to her, but he also probably didn't care.
Why can't he just move on with his life? There are plenty of other women in Boston that he can pursue. Why does he have to keep bothering me?
She continued reading Agnes's letter, her frown deepening with every line. He had even asked for anyone who knew of her whereabouts to get in touch with the authorities as quickly as possible.
So now she was going to be wanted by the law, too? She was almost glad that her mother hadn't lived to see this day.
She just silently stared at the newspaper clipping, reading it over and over. No matter how many times she read the words, she just couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that Lucas was being this desperate to try and find her.
One thing’s for certain. This can't just be left alone. She wasn't going to spend the rest of her life running from false accusations.
“You've been staring at whatever it is you’re reading for a while now,” Gavin said from behind her, spooking Coralee and making her jump with surprise.
“Gavin, you can't just sneak up on me,” Coralee exclaimed. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry about that,” Gavin said, moving to sit behind her on the front step. “But you do look like something is troubling you. Care to fill me in?”
“I don't really want to bother you with my problems,” she said, gasping when she felt his arm suddenly moving to wrap around her.
“Come on, Coralee. I thought those days were over for us. We were going to start being more open with one another, remember?” he asked, prodding her in the side playfully.
“I know, but it isn't the easiest thing to do. We went from me talking about leaving to you telling me you wanted me to stay. We've been awfully wishy-washy about this whole thing,” she replied carefully.
“Yes, and I’m willing to admit that. However, that's why we’re working on it. So, let's work on our communication,” he said, cracking a smile. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”
She huffed softly before wordlessly turning over the letter from Agnes. She looked him right in the eyes as she said, “Don't jump to conclusions until you hear my side, but this will be the quickest way.”
Gavin first read through the letter. Coralee watched as his eyes slowly moved line by line, but his face remained neutral. He didn't even try to hold in his laughter as he read through the news article, glancing sidelong at her. “This is what has you looking so concerned?”
“It's kind of a big deal,” she huffed, pouting slightly. “He's completely dragging my name through the mud and he's one step shy of having me on a wanted poster.”
“There's a frightening image. Do you think your picture will at least look like you?” Gavin joked, grunting when Coralee smacked him in the chest with the back of her hand.
“That's not even funny, Gavin. I don't want the law coming to get me. I never stole anything from that household, but I'll never win if it's just my word against his,” she said unhappily.
“It sounds like you’re going to need some help to clear your name,” Gavin said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. “I guess that means we’re going to need to take a trip to Boston.”
“To Boston? Are you mad? You would have me walk right into the town in which I'm wanted by the law?” She looked at him like he was crazy. When he laughed again, she found herself getting annoyed with him.
“It's not funny!” she insisted, stamping her foot on the step below her.
“Coralee, sweetheart. I'm not asking you to turn yourself in. We’re going to go there and we are going to clear your name. I refuse to allow such an unsavory man to tarnish your reputation and him not have to answer for it,” he replied gently, patting her back.
“He has a bunch of money left over from when his father passed away. What if he bribed the judges against me?” Coralee was beginning to feel more and more anxious the more they talked about it. Part of her wished he would just change the topic of conversation, but she knew she couldn't run away from this.
“If he's turned the law crooked, then we'll just have to straighten them out again. Whatever happens when we get there, I promise you that we will get this taken care of,” Gavin countered, gently squeezing her hand.
“Do you really think that it will turn out okay?” Coralee muttered, glancing up at Gavin and leaning to place a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“I
do,” he replied simply, giving his shoulders a nonchalant shrug. “I have no reason to believe otherwise. I know that once we go in front of the judge and tell your side of things that they'll drop whatever case they have against you immediately.”
“You make it all sound so easy,” Coralee said wistfully, leaning back against his legs gently. “I don't know how you can be so confident.”
“I believe that you are innocent. Why would I not do my best to prove your innocence if I believe you are being accused unjustly? As your husband-to-be, that's part of my job.”
“You’re still going along with that, huh? You haven't gotten cold feet and decided that you want to try again with someone else?” Coralee teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
“Yup, I've decided I want to be stuck with you,” he teased back, giving her sides a playful pinch.
