Free to Forgive

by Susette Williams

  “We don’t need to get acquainted, we already know each other, and this time if he tries to take off on me, it’ll land him back in jail.” She glared at her future husband.

  Was it a flash of pain that she saw flicker momentarily in his eyes? Surely he didn’t think this would be some wonderful reunion after his betrayal. Aida wasn’t the naïve girl he’d left behind more than a year ago. She was older and wiser.

  “Even if it takes a lifetime to make things up to you,” Trey said, “I’ll never give up trying.” He turned to the pastor. “Can we proceed with our wedding?”

  Pastor Stephenson glanced at Aida then Trey. “If you’re sure this is what you want?”

  Trey nodded.

  The pastor nodded back and asked them to move to the altar before he opened his Bible and began. “God does not take marriage lightly.” Pastor Stephenson looked directly at Aida.

  She refused to flinch beneath his gaze. If there was someone he should be preaching to—it was Trey. He was the one who’d made a promise and hadn’t kept it, or at least honored it without being forced to follow through.

  “Trey, do you take Aida to love, cherish and worship, so long as the two of you shall live?”

  “That can be a very long time to pay for your mistakes,” Sheriff Daniels mumbled under his breath.

  Trey looked at the sheriff, and to Aida’s surprise, he smiled at him before turning his attention back to the pastor. “I do.”

  “Aida, do you promise to love, cherish and obey Trey, so long as the two of you shall live?”

  “Obey?” Aida frowned. In her opinion, obeying required respect, and that’s one thing he would never have from her.

  “Your vows are important in the eyes of God,” Pastor Stephenson said and held out his Bible. “Shall I have you lay your hand on the Bible and swear that you are making a pledge before God that you will keep?”

  Her gaze darted toward Trey. What kind of lies had he been feeding them the whole time he was in jail? She wasn’t a child any more and had no intention of obeying anyone.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “I can’t believe you let me be humiliated like that.” Aida stormed into her room at the inn as Trey followed. “They acted like I’m the one who did something wrong—not you. You’re the one who ran out on me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He was, not that she would believe him. “They were only concerned for the reason we were getting married.”

  “They were concerned about my reason?” She flung around to face him. “The sheriff is marrying helpless women off to prisoners and somehow I am a bad person?” Aida didn’t give him a chance to respond before she turned away and resumed her pacing.

  Odd as it seemed, Aida was cute when she was angry. She’d never been angry with him when they were courting—until he left, but he wasn’t there to witness her outburst. How he wished he could kiss her senseless and make her forget why she was angry. Later they could laugh about their first argument. That was if she ever forgave him. But how could he reach her and undo all the pain he’d already caused? She blamed him for their reaction towards her, she’d undoubtedly blame him for leaving at her father’s request. He couldn’t deny taking the money—which she didn’t know about. Trey was afraid to mention it, but the truth was, he had needed it to make a fresh start.

  This was their chance to start over. They were husband and wife now. Whether or not she liked the situation, she had vowed to obey him. It wasn’t a trump card he would play—unless he needed to. First, he’d try the sweet approach to coax her to move forward with their lives and start over. If it didn’t work, and she tried to send him back to prison, it wouldn’t matter because she’d held his heart captive from the moment he’d first met her and he’d never be free of her, no matter where he went.

  Trey stepped in front of Aida, bringing her to an abrupt halt. “Later, I need to talk to someone Sheriff Daniels told me about concerning a job. In the meantime, we should discuss finding something to eat for supper.”

  The sooner he found work, the sooner he could provide for his new wife—not in the way she was accustomed, but at least they would not be dependent on her father.

  He hadn’t realized he was staring blankly into her vivid green eyes until the sound of her voice penetrated his thoughts.

  “Are you listening to me?” Aida frowned. “I suggested we go to Josie’s place to eat. I ate there yesterday when I arrived in town.”

  “That sounds wonderful.” Being around others should serve to keep her temper in check. He hoped. Fingering the coins in his trouser pockets that the sheriff had given him back to him upon his release served to remind him he didn’t have much money. Depending on what she ordered, if he didn’t have enough money to eat as well, he could feign not being hungry.

  As they walked to Josie’s place, Trey wished he could reach over and hold his wife’s hand. A smile formed at the thought. “Remember the shindig they had after the Reed’s barn raising?”

  “You mean when you first set out to deceive me?” Her tone was curt.

  He knew what she was referencing. She hadn’t forgotten. “That was the first time we held hands, and the first time we kissed.”

  “Yes,” Aida said sweetly. “Behind the barn where no one could see us. I should have figured out then that you didn’t want to be seen with me.” Her words stung like venom.

  “That’s not true and you know it.” Trey willed himself to keep his tone light and soothing. He had to remind her about the past love they shared. “What I felt for you was real, but your pa never thought I was good enough for you. Tell me honestly…” He stopped walking and turned her to face him. “How did your father react when you told him we were getting married?”

  “He was angry.” The glare in her eyes gave him chills. “And he was right. You were nothing more than an opportunist, trying to get to my father’s money through me.”

  “So that’s why he paid me to leave and threatened to have me killed if I didn’t?”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Aida had slept terribly the night before. As they rode silently in the wagon toward home, her mind had filled with tumultuous thoughts. She felt a little guilty for making Trey sleep on the floor last night, but until she was certain her husband wasn’t lying to her, she wouldn’t allow their marriage to become real. Her heart still ached at the thought that her father paid the man she loved to leave, and the fact that he did. But threatened with death, she could understand why Trey had chosen to go.

  “I’m sorry about your Aunt Sophia.” Trey glanced at her as he guided their horses and wagon toward home.

  “Thank you.” It was kind of him to consider her feelings.

  She hadn’t thought of the personal side of things when she set out to make sure Trey was held accountable and would have to marry her. But now, if what he said last night was true, their marriage might eventually become a real marriage. The thought of Aunt Sophia’s house being filled with small children running around brightened her spirits. Her aunt had never had any children of her own, so she’d taken Aida under her wing when Aida’s mother passed away. “Aunt Sophia would have been happy to see us married.”

  “Unlike your father.” Trey’s tone had an edge to it. “I know he’d never hurt you, Aida, but he was pretty adamant about us not getting married. He isn’t going to be happy when he finds out.”

  Leaning closer to Trey, Aida laid a hand on his arm. “Leave it to me. I’ll take care of him.”

  Trey nodded and kissed her on her forehead.

  Her heart skipped a beat. It was a good thing that Trey remembered how to get to her aunt’s home. As lightheaded as Aida felt right now, she was likely to send him in the wrong direction. With the fifteen mile radius of the jail stipulation in the program, she didn’t want to take any chances on having him sent back to prison. It was another reason she wanted to handle the situation with her father. There was a good chance his property was close to that boundary. She didn’t want to give her father the chance to send her hu
sband back to prison.

  Shortly after they made it back to her aunt’s two story home, she told Miss Gentry to get Trey settled while she went to see her father.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Miss Gentry showed Trey to his room. “I will have to clean out one of Miss Aida’s drawers for you to put your belongings in, Mr. Lawton.”

  Trey opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut. Did Aida intend for him to share the same bedroom? He didn’t get that impression last night, but with the revelation of her father’s betrayal, she may have changed her mind. He smiled. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome, sir.” Miss Gentry tilted her head in a slight nod. “Will there be anything else?”

  “Would you mind preparing a picnic basket for me and Aida?”

  “As you wish,” Miss Gentry said. “Would you like for me to close the door on my way out?”

  “Yes, please.” A thought occurred to him. He didn’t want to be disturbed later when he and his wife were alone. “And Miss Gentry, when you’re done, why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”

  “As you wish.” She closed the door behind her.

  As soon as the door closed, a wide grin broke out. His decision to recreate the memories they shared before, to make Aida fall in love with him again, made him feel like a giddy youth. The picnic they went on the summer before last stirred plenty of emotions. That was the day he had realized her strong feelings for him, that their attraction was mutual.

  Trey pulled his boots off and flopped face down on the white floral cover. His mouth watered at the thought of her kiss, leaving him with pleasant memories to fall asleep.

  He squeezed her pillow close to him, inhaling the fragrant floral scent. Hopefully, tonight his wife would plead with him to stay by her side.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The home Aida grew up in was much nicer than her aunt’s, and a lot larger. Her father had made his money over the years as a rancher. She knew her father considered it ‘good business’ to have his daughter marry Franklin because his family had a large stake in the railroad. Together, their family would have an edge on the market by being able to transport cattle on the rails cheaper than any other ranchers. She didn’t deny it made sense. In her heart, she didn’t feel marriage should be about business.

  Aida didn’t doubt either that love came in time for some people, but she had already been in love. No one could deny themselves of the very air they breathed, any more than they could turn their back on true love. She loved Trey and always had from the moment they first met.

  It didn’t matter now. She was married and her father would have to accept Trey as her husband.

  As soon as she arrived, her father’s manservant, David, led her into the parlor. Undoubtedly, an unspoken statement by her father to show she was not a part of the family since moving out of his home against his wishes. If his sister, Sophia, had lived alone for all these years, so could Aida.

  Her father made her wait a good ten minutes before he casually strolled into the room. He looked at her over the top of his spectacles. “I hope by your visit, you have finally come to your senses?”

  “I have.” Aida knew it wasn’t the senses her father had hoped.

  He smiled. “Delightful, my dear girl.”

  “You needn’t worry about me living alone any longer.” This time it was her turn to smile. “I thought you should hear it in person from me, though.”

  “Of course.” His grin widened. He gripped both sides of his suit coat and straightened. “I hope this also means you’ve given more consideration to marriage?”

  “Most definitely,” she assured him. “That’s why Trey Lawton and I were married yesterday.”

  His smile quickly faded and he coughed several times. “You what?”

  “You heard me, Father.” Aida’s nose jutted into the air. “I’m a married woman now, so you needn’t worry about me.”

  “This can’t be.” Her father began pacing and shaking his head back and forth. He paused in his track. “We’ll have the marriage annulled. That’s what we’ll do. I’m sure we can still smooth things over with Franklin, but his family must never know of this incident.”

  “It’s too late,” Aida said. “We’re officially husband and wife, in the Biblical sense. So, unless you wish to disgrace me, and our family, you’ll leave us be. I can also assure you that if anything happens to my husband, you will never see me or your grandchildren.”

  “You’re with child?” His eyes widened.

  Aida shrugged. “One can only tell with time.”

  Her father’s shoulders sank as sadness washed over his face. He should have been happy for her, but he wasn’t.

  “Just tell me one thing,” Aida said. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “If you hated the thought of me marrying him enough to pay him to leave, why did you threaten to kill Trey as well?”

  His eyes widened. He looked confused, almost stunned. “I didn’t pay him—or threaten him.”

  “He said you did.” She didn’t get the impression that Trey was lying, but he could have been. Aida’s head started to spin. She was so confused.

  “Either he’s mistaken or he’s lying,” her father said. “Either way, I think we need to talk to the sheriff.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sheriff Daniels scratched his head, redepositing his hat back on it when he was done. “Let me get this straight.” He looked from Aida to her father. “You admit that you didn’t want your daughter to marry Trey?”

  Her father nodded.

  “But you didn’t offer him money or threaten to kill him if he went through with his plans to marry her?” The sheriff looked her father sternly in the eyes.

  It didn’t make sense to Aida either. Her father appeared to be as perplexed as both she and the sheriff.

  “Was there anyone else who thought they may have been doing you a favor by getting rid of Trey?” Sheriff Daniels asked.

  Aida felt the blood drain from her face. Her breath caught in her chest. She could barely utter his name. “Franklin.”

  “No.” Her father’s gaze darted to her. “He wouldn’t.” He shook his head. “There’s no way. It just can’t be.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he continued to shake his head.

  “Are you sure it’s not possible?” Sheriff Daniels asked.

  His head stopped shaking and he looked at the sheriff. “Mr. Macallister intended to marry Aida so that we could expand both of our businesses.” He shrugged. “Franklin would not have been very happy if she married someone else. He’s actually quite fond of her.”

  “So he would have felt threatened by Trey, which gives him a good motive for wanting to get him out of the picture.” Sheriff Daniels stood. “I’d like to take a ride out to your place, Mrs. Lawton and speak with your husband. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” He walked to the door. “Either your husband is lying, or if what he says is true, he may still be in danger.”

  Aida gasped.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Trey smiled and turned over. He felt another nudge. Had Aida come back? She didn’t need to catch him lazing about. His eyes widened and he rolled back over in bed, only to stare at the barrel of a gun pointed at him.

  “Apparently you have a problem with hearing,” Franklin said, “or you have a death wish.” Franklin’s left eye squinted, almost with a wink. “I tend to think it’s the latter, because here you are.”

  “And I’m married.” Trey slowly sat up. “To Aida.”

  Franklin cocked his head to the side. “For now, but I have a feeling that’s about to change.” He motioned with the gun for Trey to get out of bed. “Why don’t we take a little trip?”

  “And if I don’t?” Trey’s fists balled at his sides.

  “Well…” Franklin’s laugh was sinister. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to that pretty little wife of yours now, would we?”

  Trey gritted his teeth. “You won’t get away with this.”

  “I’m pretty sure I will.�
� Franklin smiled, apparently feeling quite amused with himself. “Everyone will just think you got out of jail and took off again.” He shrugged. “Of course, I’ll be there to console your missus and she’ll realize what a stable and reliable man I am.”

  “That’s a joke.” Trey thought it might be best to let Franklin think he succeeded. He needed to stall him long enough to get away from the house. He didn’t want Aida to come home to this, or Franklin might kill them both. When they were far enough away, Trey could try overpowering Franklin. His wife’s safety was more important.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aida frantically ran all through her house and back to the sitting room where her father and the sheriff waited. She gasped, trying to catch her breath. “The only thing I found was a picnic basket on the table. Other than that, there’s no one here.”

  Alarm registered on both of their faces. Her father was the first to respond. “What about Miss Gentry?”

  She shook her head.

  “We need to find them.” Sheriff Daniels turned to her father. “If Franklin is behind this, where would he go?”

  “He’s got an office on the far side of the train station,” her father said. “But I don’t know if he would go there.”

  “It’s a start.” Sheriff Daniels headed to the door and Aida followed. He stopped once he realized she was behind him. His hand paused on the door handle. “You’re best to stay here in case he’s just gone out and he comes back.”

  “No.” Aida straightened her stance. She glanced at the table in the entryway. “I’ll leave him a note.”

  She quickly jotted a note on a piece of parchment paper and trailed after her father and the sheriff. Neither of them looked happy that she’d chosen to do what she wanted, but she had no intention of staying behind to fret.

  Her father helped her into the wagon and climbed up next to her in the seat. “You are in no shape to handle the horses on your own.”