Three Weeks Later
Isabel wiped her hands on her apron, glancing out the window as she finished cleaning the kitchen after breakfast. A sense of peace settled over her, one she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Everything on the ranch seemed to have returned to normal, although Jacob still limited the work that Theodore was allowed to do. Theodore grumbled that morning that the man had henpecked him like an old wife.
Isabel had just laughed at him, telling him Jacob was looking out for him.
“I’m not an invalid,” Theodore complained.
“The doctor said that you still have to take it a little easy. You can do some work, but pitchforking hay off the back of the wagon isn’t one of the jobs you can do yet. At least you can ride Remington around and make your rounds.”
Theodore growled at her, and she laughed. He put on his hat and mumbled something about checking on the calves as he went out the door.
She looked over at Timmy, who was stacking blocks on top of each other, knocking them down, and then laughing. Her heart swelled in her chest with her love for the little boy.
“Your daddy is a stubborn man.”
“Dada born,” Timmy repeated.
With a slight shake of her head, she laughed. “That’s right, baby.”
She was just about to join Timmy on the floor when she heard horses approaching the house. Instinctively, her heart stopped, and her stomach lurched. She knew when the doctor or Mick and Abigail were going to visit. Ever since Ellis had attacked them, unannounced callers made her nervous. She still had bad dreams about that day.
Isabel put her hand on her throat and walked to the window, ready to pick up Timmy and run. Sheriff Norris and Mr. Dawes, the bank manager, were hitching their horses to the corral fence. Her stomach tightened further, and she automatically feared the worst.
With all the trouble they just went through, Isabel couldn’t help but fear the news these two men brought with them. She didn’t trust Dawes at all, and the sheriff’s presence made her even more anxious.
Great. What could possibly be going on now? We aren’t due for another payment for a couple of weeks.
She made her way to the front door and reluctantly opened it for them.
The sheriff took off his hat and nodded at her. “Miss Isabel. I hope you’re doing well.”
“I am. I hope you are,” she said, keeping her voice calm in spite of the way her heart thundered in her chest. “Mr. Dawes.”
“Mrs. Whittaker. We’ve come to speak with Theodore. Is he available?”
“I’m here,” he said, walking up the porch steps behind the men.
“Please, come in,” Isabel said, having to force the words out. “I’ll get you some coffee.”
The three men sat at the table while Isabel poured each of them a cup of coffee and one for herself. She looked nervously at the two men and Theodore, who was frowning.
Both of the visitors wore serious faces, but something about their countenance made Isabel a little less anxious and more curious.
“Gentleman, to what do I owe the honor?” Theodore asked, his fingers clenched tightly around his cup.
“We’ve brought some news,” Sheriff Norris said. “Don’t worry, it’s good news.”
“I’ll believe that when I hear it,” Theodore muttered, skepticism evident.
Isabel blinked, startled. She slid into the chair at the table, her heart beating rapidly.
Good news? It’s been so long since we’ve had any of that. I’m not sure what it would feel like.
Mr. Dawes cleared his throat and smiled. “Theodore, you can rest easy now. The ranch is yours, free and clear.”
Isabel’s breath caught in her throat, and she shook her head, not sure she had heard him correctly.
“What do you mean?” she asked, dumbfounded.
The bank manager chuckled and looked at Theodore. “When Ellis was arrested, we took a deeper look at all of his accounts. We traced a large sum of money in one of his accounts back to your inheritance. For whatever reason, he never spent any of the money, and it grew. The money has been returned to you, and all of your debts have been paid.”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out some papers, sliding them over to Theodore.
Theodore studied them. “This is the deed to the ranch.” Then, after blinking, he added, “You’re saying that I don’t owe the bank anything?” He spoke slowly, as though he was afraid to believe it.
“Yes, it is. And this is the amount sitting in your bank account right now,” Mr. Dawes said, handing him another piece of paper.
Theodore’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Are you serious?” he asked, passing the paper to Isabel.
She stared at the number at the top of the ledger in disbelief. “He has $52,653.26?”
Mr. Dawes grinned and nodded.
Isabel’s head spun around in a circle. Her heart stopped, and she couldn’t breathe. There was no way that this was true. Either Mr. Dawes made a mistake, or it was some kind of sick joke.
She reached out and grabbed Theodore’s arm. For a moment, she thought that she might cry. All the nights that she lay awake, staring at the ceiling, worrying about Theodore and the ranch, trying to figure out how to make their next payment since Theodore had been laid up, terrified they would lose everything, were over.
Isabel sucked in a huge breath and looked at Theodore. He gazed back, put his hand on hers, and smiled.
Sheriff Norris cleared his throat. “I have other news, as well,” he said somberly. “After Ellis was arrested, we looked into his dealings. It turns out that he wasn’t working alone.”
Theodore’s face hardened. His eyes narrowed, and he clenched his jaw. “Jenkins.” He spat out the name like it was poison.
Norris nodded. “Ellis and Jenkins had a deal. Jenkins wanted all the other ranches in the area. Ellis was fixated on yours. The two men agreed to help each other. Ellis rolled over as soon as Judge Parker mentioned the gallows. He told about how they worked to swindle the ranches away from everyone. He’ll be going to prison for life, doing hard labor.”
Fury blasted through Isabel, turning her stomach. She growled in the back of her throat, and her face flushed red.
How can men be so greedy and evil? Ellis was supposed to be Theodore’s best friend, and Theodore never did anything to hurt him.
Isabel shuddered at the thought of how close they had come to losing everything—not just the ranch, but Timmy, too. She had known that Ellis was dangerous, but to discover he had been plotting for so long made her heart stop in her chest and sent an icy chill up her spine.
“We arrested Jenkins’ men, and they immediately confessed. You don’t have to worry about them, as they were sentenced twenty to life doing hard labor,” the sheriff said.
Theodore’s expression remained hard. “What about Jenkins?”
“He confessed as soon as he realized the gig was up. He also got life. In addition, the ranches he stole were returned to the people he took them from. Jenkins’ bank accounts were divided up among them,” the sheriff reported.
Isabel smiled. “I’m so glad,” she said. “I hated it for them. I know what it’s like to lose your home and everything you’ve worked hard for.”
Theodore squeezed her hand, sending a wave of electricity coursing through her.
“You don’t have to worry about that ever again,” he assured her.
Theodore let out a slow, long breath, and Isabel imagined she could see the tension leaving his body. She suddenly felt weak as the stress and anxiety that had plagued her seeped away, leaving her lighter than she’d been in weeks.
The sheriff studied Theodore for a minute. “What’s the deal with Ellis anyway? Why was he so fixated on you?”
Theodore sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “We were best friends when we were growing up. His father owned a large ranch next to ours. When Ellis was around seventeen, his father found God and became fixated on the church. He became sick and willed the ranch and all of his money to the church, leaving Ellis with nothing.”
Isabel almost felt sorry for Ellis, but when she closed her eyes, she didn’t see a scared boy; she only imagined the man standing in her house, holding her baby and threatening to hurt him if Theodore didn’t sign over the dead. Her heart hardened even further when she remembered Theodore falling to the ground, blood exploding out of his chest.
“Ellis convinced me to be partners with him. We planned to grow the ranch, buy other land, and basically create an empire for ourselves. However, he mortgaged the ranch to pay off his gambling debts. He also cleared out my bank account. I figured that was long gone, too,” Theodore said bitterly. “I trusted him, and he betrayed me. Somehow, through all of this, his feelings toward me turned to hate.”
“It would seem so,” Sheriff Norris said.
Another question popped into Isabel’s head, and she asked, “You and the rest of the men showed up in the nick of time. How did you know to come?”
“After Theodore came to see me and told me that he had seen Ellis, I started asking questions,” the sheriff revealed, glancing between Isabel and Theodore. “Mick rushed over to tell me that he had seen the man heading out your way. It didn’t take us long to gather up a group of men. Apparently, there had been whispers that he was back in town and had joined up with Jenkins, and they were angry. You’re also well-liked. We rode hard and got here just in time.”
“Thank God that you did,” Isabel said, looking up at the heavens. “He would have killed all of us.”
The sheriff smiled gently at her. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, I promise.”
The two men stood up to leave.
Mr. Dawes nodded at Theodore. “Congratulations again. Now, you don’t ever have to worry about losing your ranch.”
Theodore nodded. Isabel smiled faintly at him, not forgetting how the bank manager had treated Theodore.
After they left, Theodore glanced down at her. She saw the same disbelief in his eyes that she felt.
“It’s so hard to believe it,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “We’re safe. Your ranch is paid off. You’re free.”
He smiled at her and nodded.
Her heart swelled with love, happiness, and many other emotions she couldn’t identify. For the first time in her life, she allowed herself to believe that maybe they could have a good, peaceful life together. They had their land, their home, and each other.
A Week Later
The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the ranch as Isabel stood on the porch, surveying the yard. A gentle breeze stirred the air, and she inhaled deeply, smiling contentedly. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasting meat wafted around her. Lanterns had been strung up in the yard in preparation for when the sun sank behind the mountains.
Today was more than just a celebration of Timmy’s first birthday. This party was a celebration of their victory over Ellis, Jenkins, and all of the evil the two men did. This festivity signified a new chapter in their lives. The fear and uncertainty that had held Isabel’s heart and soul hostage had finally been lifted.
The sound of Timmy’s laughter brought a smile to her face as she watched her son toddle around in the yard, chasing Blue in a circle. The dog looked back at the boy, seemingly teasing him as she stayed just out of reach. Seeing him happy filled her heart with such unimaginable warmth and joy. Blue and Timmy had become fast friends.
Theodore came up behind her. “It looks like everything is ready,” he said, his voice warm. She could hear the pride as he looked over everything.
She smiled to herself as she thought about how much Theodore had changed. He had been ready to hide in the barn the first time she had invited Abigail and Mick to the house for lunch. Now, he seemed almost excited to be throwing a party.
Jacob and the other men were dressed in their best clothes as they put the finishing touches on everything. Jeb was happily overseeing the pig that was roasting on the fire pit. He carefully turned the spit every so often to ensure it was evenly cooked.
Isabel grinned at Theodore. “It’s perfect. I’m so excited.”
The guests began arriving. Isabel and Theodore greeted all of them warmly. Abigail and Mick arrived first, followed by Sheriff Norris and his wife, Elizabeth. People from town and neighboring ranches who had almost lost everything arrived in their wagons. Some brought pies or other desserts, while others offered some kind of vegetable dish to add to the dinner.
Isabel briefly closed her eyes and let the happiness wash over her as she listened to her friends’ and neighbors’ laughter and chatter. Her heart was full.
The soft strains of the fiddle soon filled the air, and people began to load their plates with the delicious food everyone had contributed.
Isabel started walking toward the long table when Abigail put her hand on Isabel’s arm. Her face was wreathed in a huge smile, and an air of excitement hovered around her.
“I have something to tell you,” Abigail said, her voice low and trembling with emotion. “I’m going to have a baby.”
All at once, Isabel’s heart swelled with joy—almost at its bursting point—and she threw her arms around her friend, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Oh, Abigail. That’s wonderful!” Isabel exclaimed. “I’m so happy for you!”
Abigail laughed and gently touched her stomach. “I’m still getting used to the idea myself, but I couldn’t wait to tell you. I’ve been bursting with the news all week. I almost came out here early to tell you, but Mick convinced me that I could wait until the party.”
Isabel smiled widely, happiness and excitement bubbling up inside of her. She held Abigail’s hands, practically jumping up and down with elation. “You’ll be the best mother in the world. Have you told anyone else yet?”
“Just my parents and Mick’s parents. We want to wait until I’m a little further along, you know. But I couldn’t wait to tell you.”
“I will sew the sweetest little clothes for the baby. You have to let me help with the nursery.”
Abigail laughed and said, “I think you’re almost as excited as I was.”
They walked arm in arm over to the dinner table, enjoying the delicious food. Afterward, everyone watched in delight as Timmy opened presents for his birthday. Isabel wiped a tear from her eyes as she saw the homemade toys that some people had taken the time to make for him.
The baby was in heaven as the kids gathered around him, and they played together. They sat in the dirt, built block towers, and played with the carved horses and rag dolls people had lovingly given him.
Lively music filled the air, and soon, the yard was filled with laughter and the sounds of boots stomping on the ground as people used it as a makeshift dance floor. Abigail and Mick were moving in time with the music. They couldn’t take their eyes off of each other, and the love they shared was evident to anyone who looked at them.
Isabel never learned how to do some of the dances, but she was content to watch.
She was surprised when Theodore took her hand during one of the slow numbers and led her to the middle of the crowd. He put his hand on her waist and held her hand as they waltzed together.
Their bodies touched, and fire and lightning coursed through her body at his touch. She stared into his eyes, seeing a warmth and tenderness that surprised her. Isabel wanted the moment to last forever. In all of her childhood girlish fantasies, this was the moment she had always dreamed of.
As the night wore on, they continued to dance together. He put his hand on the small of her back, and she laid her head on his chest as their bodies swayed in time with the music.
When the song ended, Theodore took her hand and led her away from the crowd. He turned her toward him and looked down into her eyes. Her heart thundered in her chest, and her breath caught in her throat. She saw the love she felt for him mirrored in his eyes—the love that she had craved for so long.
“I love you, Isabel. When I first put that ad in the paper, I never dreamed that someday, I would feel this way about you. You showed me what real love looks like and what it means to have someone stand beside me no matter what,” he said softly, his voice full of emotion.
He caressed her face and smiled at her.
Tears filled her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice filled with all the emotion that had been locked inside of her heart for so long.
He wrapped his arms around her and smiled. “I will love you until my last breath.”
“And I you,” Isabel said.
Her body shook with the intensity of her love, and she was afraid that her knees wouldn’t hold her up. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was tentative, slow, and gentle at first. Then, as her heart raced and her entire body tingled, the kiss intensified.
The music, laughter, and all the world disappeared, and it was just the two of them, wrapped in each other’s arms.
(turn the page)