"There's no need to worry, Nick. Jake is busy. And the others are with him. He'll never know. I'm really good at keeping secrets."
Without warning, her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled him into a kiss. Disgust rose in Nicholas' heart and he quickly placed his hands on her arms, pushing her away. With a shocked expression, she stared at him as he mounted the horse and rode away.
Anger consumed Nicholas. He should tell Jake first thing. The man deserved to know what kind of woman he was married to. But if he did tell him, would Jake believe him? The man was already angry at him for the incident with Ellie. Nicholas wasn't sure Jake would even let him get the words out.
Adrenaline raced through his veins as he pushed the horse into a faster gallop. When he found the workers, they were lifting square bales of hay onto a trailer attached to a tractor. Nicholas could see Ellie's muscles straining against the weight. A sweaty T-shirt clung to her frame, erasing everything from his mind but her.
He rode up to them. "Need more help?"
"Always," answered Jake.
Nicholas dismounted and started working. The entire field was covered in formed bales. Within minutes blisters had formed from the rough work, and pain raced across his shoulders.
"How long have you guys been at this?" he asked, his voice strained.
"Two hours?" asked Shane.
"Yeah, at least two hours," agreed Jake.
"Two hours!" Nicholas was shocked. Had Ellie been doing this work while he collected eggs?
"Where have you been, Nick?" asked Shane.
"Oh, I collected eggs and then I was in the barn."
"What were you doing there?"
"Nothing special. Just saddling my horse." Nicholas felt heat flood his cheeks.
"Oh, okay. I'm glad you could join us."
Bale after bale was loaded onto the trailer. Finally, Nicholas said, "Don't you two think Ellie should rest or something? Isn't this work a little hard for her?"
The sound of Ellie clearing her throat made him wince and he slowly turned around, inwardly groaning. She stood with her legs apart and hands on her hips. Obviously, his goal of winning her affection was failing miserably.
"I think she's fine," said Jake, laughing.
"Yeah, I agree," said his father, betraying him.
"I only meant–"
"Nicholas, I'll let you know when I need to rest." She stalked to the next bale of hay mumbling, "Maybe it's you who needs to rest."
Nicholas sighed and started working again. She obviously thought he was jerk. After last night, he'd thought they were on better footing. That didn't seem to be the case. Since his arrival at the ranch, he hadn't presented himself in the best of light. Fear of loss and fear of the future continued to hold him back from expressing himself in ways he normally would have.
All afternoon they worked carrying the hay to the barn, unloading it, and going back for more. When quitting time came, Nicholas lingered a little longer to settle his thoughts and think about his next course of action with Ellie. Finally, he rode to the corral, dismounted, and walked the horse toward the barn. All he wanted was a hot shower and a good night's sleep.
When he rounded a corner of the barn, he saw red and blue lights flashing rhythmically. Unexpectedly, he was grabbed and his arms pulled behind him and handcuffed. Struggling, he yelled, "What are you doing?"
"I'm arresting you for the assault of Mrs. Pickett."
"What!" He glanced around and saw Carla being hugged to Jake's side, with a large purple bruise surrounding her eye. Tears poured in rivulets down her heavily made-up face, making black streaks stain her cheeks. She pointed an angry finger at him.
"I didn't touch her," Nicholas said, disbelief coloring his tone.
"That's what they all say, boy. I don't know how they do it where you come from, but here, we let the courts decide."
Nicholas' heart thudded. "You've got to be joking."
"This is no joke, sonny. Now get in the car."
Nicholas complied. Searching for his father's face, he yelled, "I didn't do anything!"
His father mouthed, "I know."
Ellie stood beside his father averting her gaze. Her disappointment with him hurt worse than anything else.
Chapter Ten
Carla wailed, "It was horrible. I went to the barn searching for you in between your hay deliveries, and he was all over me. When I told him no, he pushed me and I fell into a post. I'll never be the same!" Ellie's father patted Carla's back as she cried into his shoulder. Shane had followed the Sheriff to the jail.
While Jake comforted Carla, Ellie thought back over the morning's conversations. She did remember Nicholas admitting to being in the barn. Had he forced himself on Carla? The very idea was ludicrous; it just wasn't possible.
Frustrated, she walked to the porch and noticed a bouquet of roses wrapped in newspaper with a scribbled note attached. Lifting the note with trembling fingers, she read:
Ellie, I need to apologize. I've obviously been out of the real world too long. The fact is, I enjoyed our kiss more than you will ever know, but I was afraid of coming on too strong and pushing you away. It seems the things I really want to hold onto in my life tend to slip right through my fingers. I've spent the morning collecting eggs. I would love to say I did it out of the goodness of my heart, but honestly, I'm hoping that if I do some of your chores, you might have time to go out with me. So will you? Nicholas
The note fluttered to the ground and she ran inside to grab her car keys. Tires spun dirt in the air as she sped away. When she reached the jail, sounds of Shane arguing with the Sheriff echoed throughout the room.
"I'm telling you my boy wouldn't assault a woman."
"Sir, I sympathize, I really do. But your boy doesn't look like one who gets turned down much."
"What?"
The sheriff placed fingers under his suspenders, extending his rotund belly. "And sometimes we, I mean us gentlemen, who never hear the 'no' word, well, we don't take too kindly to ladies passing on our charms."
"Listen Sheriff, I don't know what happened, but I swear my boy didn't touch her."
The sheriff continued with his one track thinking. "Now my understanding is Mr. Pickett's been mighty nice to you. And this probably wasn't the best way to repay him."
Shane's hand balled into a fist and Ellie jumped in front of him.
"What are you doing here, Ellie?"
"I came to talk to the Sheriff." Facing the lawman and struggling to keep her voice calm, she said, "Can I speak with you in private, please?"
The sheriff nodded and they walked into his office.
****
Exhausted from the party the night before and the early morning work, not to mention the day of hard physical labor in the hay field, Nicholas stretched out on the thin bunk in the jail cell. His eyelids drifted shut. Immediately, he felt transported to another prison.
After weeks of imprisonment, he rotted in a stone cell with others. His unit had stumbled across an abandoned village, or so they'd thought it was abandoned. The surviving soldiers had been dragged from the town and incarcerated. When the helicopter had touched down days earlier, the prisoners had felt freedom within their grasp. But when it had flown away, they'd been left with despair.
Now Nicholas stood before a panel of men—men who would decide his fate. Many had stood in this same position, never to be seen again. What would his parents do if his status changed from missing-in-action to killed-in-action? Would the news be the finish to his mother's failing health?
Fear coursed through him. Sweat covered his body. Looking around the room he noted the unsmiling faces of his judges. If they found him guilty of murdering innocents, he would be sentenced to death and hanged. Suddenly, he heard the sound of helicopters.
****
Opening and rubbing his eyes, Nicholas saw a fuzzy vision. "Dad?"
"Yeah, I just came to tell you I think you might be getting out of here."
"What? How?"
"Ellie showed up and demanded to speak with the Sheriff. She's in his office now. In fact, she's been in there for quite some time."
Nicholas swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He dropped his head in his hands and then looked up to meet his father's gaze. "Dad, if Jake finds out what kind of woman Carla really is–"
"Nicholas, you can't worry about that. If anything, I would say Jake already has a notion as to her character, but he's an honorable man. He married her and that means something to him. Guess he'll stick by her til he just can't. But it doesn't matter because as soon as you get out of here we're heading back to Louisiana. We'll find jobs there. This place has been too much trouble for us."
Nicholas stood and grasped the bars. "Dad, don't make any rash decisions. I probably deserve this."
"What? You didn't do anything!"
"Well, that's true. I didn't touch Carla. But I can't claim I didn't do anything, I mean, I kissed Ellie and told her it didn't mean anything."
"You what? But, I thought you had feelings for her."
Nicholas grimaced, and said. "I do."
His father paced and every now and again burst out in half sentences. Fortunately, Nicholas was the only inmate and didn't have to share his embarrassment with another prisoner.
While his father continued to rant, Nicholas sat back on the bunk and leaned his head against the hard wall. Before long there was the sound of keys rattling. Looking up, he saw the Sheriff unlocking his cell and waving for him to leave.
"You're free to go, son. Sorry for the confusion."
"But, I don't understand."
"Let's just say, Ellie brought new information to my attention."
His father whispered something in his ear about pressing their own charges against the police department, but Nicholas just wanted to find Ellie. Nothing else mattered.
When Nicholas and Shane arrived back at the ranch, another police car was parked in the driveway. Carla's head was being pressed down as she was pushed into the back seat of the car. Ellie stood beside Jake with her arm wrapped around his middle.
Nicholas stayed back while Shane approached them. "What happened?"
Jake sighed and shrugged while Ellie explained. "Carla's had some charges levied against her. It seems she's been married a few times before and neglected to get divorced."
Shane's eyes widened, but he kept silent. Ellie shot a glance in Nicholas' direction before leading her father inside.
Shane came up beside Nicholas and grasped his arm. "Let's go home, son."
Nicholas followed his father to their cabin. The next morning, after a restless night, he sought Jake out and found him sitting in the swing staring blankly.
"Jake, I–"
"Sit, Nicholas. Don't talk, just listen."
Nicholas sat on the other end of the swing.
Jake half smiled. "I built this swing for Annie. She was a wonderful woman. Everyone loved her. She wanted a house full of children. And I was more than willing to give them to her. But after she had Ellie and they found out she had cancer, they had to remove everything just to keep her alive. My wife, my wonderful wife, decided right then and there she would help every stray animal and child she found. And believe me, she found a few. A couple of times we came close to adopting, but something would always happen. When Ellie went away to college, Annie was devastated. I mentioned adoption again. Imagine me, almost fifty, becoming a father again. But Annie was ecstatic. She could think of nothing else. Then the accident happened."
Jake's eyes took on a faraway look. He motioned in front of him. "Look around you. Everything you see was for Annie. She was my life. Then she was just gone." Tears filled his eyes and he rung his hands. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Carla was a failed attempt at regaining some of that back. It hurts to admit how stupid I was. I knew all along it wouldn't work. That she wasn't here for me. I just didn't want to believe it. So, I want to tell you that I'm sorry."
"Jake–"
"Let me finish. I know you have feelings for my girl. I see it, so there's no need to hide it. But I want you to make me a promise."
Nicholas nodded.
"Promise me that before it's too late you'll do something about it."
"Yes, sir, I promise." Nicholas jumped up, happy to have received Jake's blessing. But soon his enthusiasm died. He didn't know where to go or what to do next.
"She's in the apple orchard, son."
"Apple orchard? Got it. Could you give me directions, please?"
Jake laughed and told him the shortcut. Nicholas took off running, not stopping until he saw trees filled with large red, juicy apples and a girl walking amongst them. She stopped and turned, watching his approach. He paused a few feet away.
"I got your flowers and note," she said.
"I'm glad," he responded, suddenly feeling shy.
"Thanks." A red hue blossomed across her cheeks.
"I think I should be thanking you."
"For what?"
"For talking to the Sheriff. What did you say to him, anyway?"
"Oh, nothing much. Bits of the truth, mixed with tiny suggestions that he run a background check."
"Did you know–"
"No, I didn't."
"Will your dad be okay?"
"Yeah, he'll be fine. He has the farm."
"Do you think he'll want my dad to leave because, well…"
A warm hand clasped his arm. "I don't think he'll want him to leave. In fact, I think Shane needs to stay so they can share their memories."
Nicholas looked down, shuffling his feet. He looked back up. "We could give them more memories."
"What do mean?"
"I mean, if, well, maybe, in time we can give them grandkids."
"Sure, someday when we both marry."
"No, Ellie, I mean you and I can give them kids to love."
"I know, I just agreed with you."
"No, I meant you and me together."
Ellie's eyes widened when Nicholas dropped to one knee. "Ellie Pickett, will you marry me? Will you be all I ever need? Can I give you all I have?"
Ellie stared at him, unmoving and quiet. Finally, one word echoed throughout the orchard, "Yes!"
Nicholas lifted her into his arms, swinging her in a circle. When their lips met, visions of children and grandpas danced in his head. His future appeared brighter than ever.
Other works by Felicia Rogers
YA Paranormal Suspense
The Key
Mara’s Secret
Historical Series
There Your Heart Will Be Also
By God’s Grace
Chick-Lit
Love Octagon
Contemporary Romance
The Holiday Truce
The Perfect Rose
Contemporary Romance Suspense
The Painted Lady
All I Have Page 6
