While Marcie was escorted into the sheriff’s interview room, Cole stood leaning against the wall while Red sat at the table. The deputy seated Marcie, who they had found out was Red’s daughter, across from him and handcuffed her hands to a bar in front of her. Then he left them alone.
Marcie had come to the kitchen the day of the fire to return the plate of cookies Helen had baked for her. Alexia’s mom had felt bad that she had been sick most likely because someone was after the family. While Helen went into the pantry, Marcie doctored the coffee with a strong sleeping aid and then acted as if she’d left out the back door. She said good-bye, opened, then closed the back door without going outside. She left the kitchen and hid in the house until the time was right to start the fire.
“Why didn’t you let me know who you were?” Red asked Marcie. “Why did you do all those awful things?”
For a long moment, all she did was drill a glare into Red.
“You discarded my mother. I wasn’t going to let you do the same to me,” she finally answered, her hands balled so tightly Cole could see her white knuckles.
“No, I wouldn’t have. I never knew Marilyn was even pregnant.”
Marcie blinked rapidly and dropped her head. “I don’t believe you.” She raised her chin and narrowed her gaze on Red. “That’s not what she said. She told me you were the reason her life ended up like it did. She never wanted me and neither did you. I saw how you doted on your daughter. When Mom died, I decided to make you pay for our misery.” Marcie jumped to her feet and tried to lunge across the table at Red. “I hate you!”
A pallor to his face, Red shoved his chair back and rose. “I took you under my wing. I taught you trick riding and highlighted your act.”
“You never asked about my past.”
“Would you have told me if I had?”
She smiled, no humor in her expression. “You’ll never know. I don’t want to talk to you ever again.”
“Let me at least pay for a lawyer rather than have a court appointed one.”
Her gaze stabbed through him. “I don’t want your money now. Too late.” She lowered her head and stared at her handcuffed wrists.
Cole approached a stunned Red. “Let’s go. There’s no reason to stay.”
Red let Cole guide him from the interview room. As though on automatic mode, Red thanked Sheriff Anderson and then walked to the front door.
When Cole settled behind the steering wheel, he remained quiet until they left the town. “I’m sorry, Red. From all I learned about her in Blue Sky, she wasn’t a good daughter to Marilyn either.”
“Will I ever be able to move beyond the mistake I made twenty-four years ago?”
“I know that Alexia and Helen have forgiven you. You just have to forgive yourself. Ask yourself what you would have done if you’d known about Marcie from the beginning.”
Silence ruled for the next ten minutes before Red sighed. “Helen knew about my affair with Marilyn. Helen would have accepted Marcie into our lives because she’s the type of woman who doesn’t want to go to bed with anger in her heart. I would have wanted a say in raising Marcie.”
“Then you have your answer. You would have done the right thing by Marcie if you’d been given the chance.”
“Marcie might not want anything from me now, but she’s gonna have my prayers.”
As Cole neared the Flying Red Ranch, he was determined to put his own life back together.
* * *
Staying in the first house built on the ranch by her grandparents, Alexia paced from one end of the living room to the other.
“Honey, you should sit and rest. This past week with the fire and dealing with the aftermath has taken its toll whether you want to admit it or not. Besides, the pacing won’t bring your father and Cole home any sooner.” Mom looked up from her knitting.
“I should have gone rather than Dad.”
“Red needed to deal with this. I’m just glad he let Cole go with him.”
Finally, Alexia took a chair across from her mother on the couch. “After all that’s happened, how can you calmly sit there and knit a scarf?”
Mom raised one of her eyebrows. “You think I’m calm?” She shook her head. “I knit when I’m nervous and need to do something with my hands or to do something mindless so I don’t think about what I really should be thinking of.”
“You’re upset at Dad? I thought you two had worked things out years ago.”
“No, I’m not. Red and I have worked through what happened back then. I forgave him long ago, and his daughter’s attempts to kill us haven’t changed that. But I see how upset he is. He didn’t know he had another child. Marilyn never told him. He regrets all those years he could have been involved in Marcie’s life, maybe prevented her anger. He blames this whole thing on himself.”
“I have a half-sister, and she tried to kill me. All I can say is I’m glad that Sheriff Anderson has her locked up in jail. These past weeks have been awful.”
“But something good came out of all of this. We need to concentrate on that.”
Alexia stared at her mom as though she’d lost it. “What good? You lost your home. People were hurt, almost killed. I worry that Dad will have another heart attack from all the stress.”
“Cole is back in your life. Don’t tell me you don’t love him. I can see it on your face every time he’s in the room. And he feels the same way. You two need to talk. Things should settle down now that Marcie was captured in Billings. There’s no more threat to us. The house will be rebuilt but not by Red and me.”
Alexia sat forward. “Who?”
“You and Cole. This home is perfect for your dad and me.”
“Mom, Cole and I have forgiven each other over what happened three years ago, but we haven’t talked about getting married again.” She hoped they would, but she didn’t know how he felt.
“You will. I know it in here.” Her mother patted her chest over her heart. “I hope you can let go of your anger toward Marcie. It’ll only hurt you in the end.”
Alexia thought about how her mother dealt with being upset at a person. Through the years, she’d worked to put the problem and wrath behind her—as the Lord wanted. Mom was right. Marcie would win if Alexia didn’t. If only Marilyn had let Dad know about Marcie. Then Alexia could have had the sister she’d always wanted. “Mom, I’ll eventually forgive her. Cole and I have each other, and it does feel so much better than being angry all the time.”
Helen smiled. “Why don’t you tell me who called a while back? I gathered it had to do with our company.”
Alexia relaxed back and grinned. “I was confirming the first place we’ll be holding our rodeo camp. Not only do they want us to hold it the day before the rodeo, but they also want the camp participants to be part of the opening ceremony. They loved the idea, and they’re going to start advertising immediately. And although we aren’t doing the Fourth of July celebration in Billings, I proposed doing a camp for a day as part of their big celebration. The manager liked the idea and will get back to me soon about it.”
“The best part is it’s going to be yours to run. I won’t have to brow beat your dad into taking it easy.”
Alexia chuckled. When her dad told her yesterday she would be traveling more, at first, she didn’t realize he’d meant he was putting her totally in charge of the rodeo camp part of the company. When she’d figured it out, she knew their relationship would only be strengthened over time. The past week had been a time to bond as they hadn’t in a very long time.
The crunching sound of the road gravel out front alerted Alexia a vehicle was approaching. She glanced out the picture window.
Cole pulled up in his truck. He’d driven her father into town because Marcie had agreed to see him. Dad had needed that.
“How’s your dad look?” her mother asked from behind Alexia.
“At peace.” She rose and headed for the front door.
* * *
Later that night, Alexia stood outside on the front porch, staring at the sunset, streaks of pink, orange, and yellow painting the sky in brilliance. She loved this time a day as the animals settled down and nature grew quiet.
The sound of the door behind her opening and closing alerted her to Cole’s presence. Her heart rate picked up speed. She gripped the railing, anticipating his touch, and wasn’t disappointed when he clasped her shoulders and drew her back against him.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Your dad just asked me to stay and help you run the company. He wants to slow down and spend more time with Helen.”
Alexia smiled. “And what did you tell him?”
“That the decision was yours to make. The only way I would stay is if you and I remarried.” Cole released his hold on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I love you, and I couldn’t be near you without wanting you every day.”
Tingles raced up and down her body. “I wouldn’t want you to be here unless you’re my husband. I can’t be near you and not want you every day either.” She entwined her fingers together behind his neck and tugged him close until her mouth touched his.
He took over and deepened the kiss as though they hadn’t kissed in years. She pressed herself flat against him. All her love flowed into the physical connection. He nibbled a path to her earlobe and took it gently between his teeth.
“Then I’ll accept the job,” he whispered against her skin, chilling her in a delicious way.
“I love you, and I think we should marry right away. I’ve missed you.”
He lifted her up onto the railing and held her against him. “You won’t get an argument from me. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough.”
Again, he claimed her mouth—and her heart.