Aunt Ethel and her mother sat down with her shortly after, and Laura could still feel an air of tension in the room. With Jacob still missing, the whole ordeal hardly felt like it was over. Aunt Ethel was the first to break the silence.
“Laura dear, I know you’ve been through quite a lot, but the Jubilee is only a few days away and I still have quite a bit of marmalade to make. I would love some help if you’re able,” she said, with a soft smile.
“Of course, Aunt Ethel. I’ll go mad, if I just sit around here waiting for news,” Laura replied. It was true, she could already feel a knot forming in her stomach.
Aunt Ethel began to arrange the ingredients, as Laura stood next to her. But try as much as she could, Laura couldn’t focus on the task at hand. In every corner of the cabin was a memory of Abe. She, also, kept having flashback’s to the barn; Harry’s stinking breath or the beady-eyed snake that had stared her down. And there was one thing that hung over her more than anything else.
The moment Abe gets back…I tell him.
“Are you alright, dear?” Aunt Ethel asked, dragging her out of her thoughts.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Laura said, shaking her head. She turned back to the marmalade, pushing the thoughts away with measurements of cinnamon.
“Be kind to yourself, Laura. You’ve been through a lot,” Aunt Ethel advised, as she sliced the fruit.
“I just can’t stop thinking about everything that has happened. It’s as if my whole life before this was just a dream,” Laura said.
“But it wasn’t. You’ve done so much in the short time you’ve been here, and you’ve got so much ahead of you,” Aunt Ethel said, as she gave Laura a gentle, reassuring hug.
“It’s hard to know what is ahead of me,” Laura sighed.
Aunt Ethel looked at her with a smile, her eyes sparkling with knowing. “Oh dear…I think you do know.”
Those words hit her with both comfort and fear.
This is what I wanted right? Control over my life? The ability to choose?
What she had craved her whole life was right there, but reaching out for it still scared her. She and Aunt Ethel continued to work away at the marmalade. After a while, it was all cooling in jars, and Laura no longer had anything to distract her from her thoughts.
With that, Laura grabbed her coat and stepped outside. She stood on the porch and stared out at the familiar land. She took a deep breath in, drawing the air into her lungs with gratitude, as she gently rubbed her bandaged wrists, which covered the raw wounds from the tight ropes. She was back. She had made it. Both the kidnapping and Jacob were behind her, and she was back where she started, but standing as a new woman.
A woman who loves Santa Clara. Who loves to ride. And who loves Abe Mavor.
In the distance, she could see Abe riding toward her. The vision was crystal clear. His posture was confident, as he and Bruce locked into their stride. The dust swirled around him. When she pictured him, that image was what she would see every time. He came closer and closer, a stern look on his face. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, as she watched him approach.
As the vision was nearly to the porch, she realized that this was not in her mind. There, riding toward her, was Abe, in the flesh. Her breath caught in her throat, as the hoofbeats grew louder in her ears, and she could see those stormy grey eyes fixed on her. In moments, Abe was at the porch. He hopped off Bruce’s back and walked over to Laura. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
“Did you have any luck?” she asked.
Abe paused for a moment and looked at her, a strange cloud over his face.
“What is it, Abe?” Laura asked.
“Jacob’s dead, Laura,” Abe said quietly.
“Oh…” Laura said, as a wave of emotion washed over her. But the feeling that was strangely absent was that of sadness. She felt relief above all. “What happened?” she asked.
“I found him in the river. It looks like he was thrown from his horse, sometime yesterday, as he was making a run for it,” Abe said solemnly. “Ottie’s sending some men to collect his body for a proper burial and sent a letter off to his father.”
“That’s good of him. I’ll write him, as well, and send my condolences,” Laura said, her voice sounding strangely hollow in her ears.
Not that I have any idea what to say. His debts and unsavory acquaintances nearly shattered my life.
Abe was still standing there, looking at her.
“I suppose, I’m supposed to say I’m sorry for you,” Abe said.
“Are you?” Laura replied.
Abe was locked in on her eyes. The words seemed to pour out of his mouth in slow motion.
“What do you want me to say, Laura?” Abe asked, quietly.
Laura studied his face. The question seemed genuine. Laura took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.
“You know I didn’t love him. No disrespect to the dead, but I didn’t like him much either. So, if it’s just you and I together, we don’t need to make any more of it,” she said.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Abe said, firmly but softly.
“What?” Laura asked.
He took a step toward her and she felt her heart leap into her throat. He was only a half a step away from her now.
“What do you want me to say to you, Laura?” he asked, his voice heavy with intent and meaning.
She paused, trying to find the words.
“I want you to tell me I made a mistake, allowing the engagement to go forward,” she said.
“You did,” Abe said.
Laura continued, “And I want you to tell me why.”
Abe let out a small laugh. “Well, for starters, it looks like your fiancé was a broke gambler that owed a sizable amount of money to some very unsavory people. Instead of facing those mistakes, while his innocent bride-to-be was in the hands of a scoundrel, he took everything of value he had and made a run for it. Leaving you to be rescued by a two-bit town Sheriff and his inept deputy.”
“And?” Laura asked, pressing.
Abe took a big deep breath and reached out for Laura’s hand.
“And, it would have been a mistake for you to marry someone without knowing…everything.”
Laura didn’t even respond, just waited. Abe cleared his throat.
“I love you, Laura. I’ve thought of nothing but you, since I first saw you. I love everything about you and the thought of you marrying that bastard, just about killed me.”
Laura looked at him, a smile spreading itself across her face. She reached down and grabbed his other hand.
“I love you too, Abe. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to say it. I was scared,” Laura said, a tear coming to her eye.
“You don’t need to be scared Laura. I swear,” Abe said, reaching out and wiping the tear out of the corner of her eye.
The air hung heavy, both of them locked in the moment. Then something broke that tension, as Abe pulled Laura in and kissed her. She felt her legs start to give out but Abe held her in his strong arms. She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore and they poured down her cheeks, as the ecstasy of the moment overcame her.
After a few moments, they separated, faces still hovering close to each other. Abe studied her face.
“You’re crying…” he said.
“It’s nothing,” Laura said, wiping the tears away from her face. “I’ve just been waiting a long time for that.”
He smiled at her and touched his forehead to hers.
“Me too.”
Laura looked at him. “So, what’s next?”
“I…hadn’t really thought about it. But I’ll figure something out, okay?” he said.
“Okay,” she replied, a smile gently parting her lips. Abe immediately leaned in and kissed her.
“I’ll see you at the Jubliee,” Abe said softly, when they separated.
Laura felt like flying, as Abe slowly stepped away. And just like every time before that, he hopped up on Bruce’s back, gave her a sweet tip of
the hat, and was off.
She turned back toward the house, where she saw Aunt Ethel’s face duck out of the window. She felt her face turn redder than ever, as she stormed inside, where Aunt Ethel was pretending to knit in the chair by the window. She looked up at Laura and tried to keep a straight face.
“Who was on the porch dear?” Aunt Ethel asked, casually.
“Oh, just some stranger…” Laura said, knowingly.
“What was that dear?” Laura’s mother called, from the other room.
“Actually, Abe came by with news, and I think you should know mother, if you can join us,” Laura called back.
Her mother emerged and Laura took a deep breath. “Jacob Fisher is dead,” she said flatly.
“Oh my…oh,” her mother said, as she sank into a chair. “How?”
“He fell into the river,” Laura replied.
Her mother seemed to chew on the words for a few minutes.
“Well…I guess we’ll never know the other side of the story then. I…I should write his mother,” Dorothy said weakly. “Your father, is he alright?”
“Abe didn’t say, but I’m sure he’s fine or Abe would have told me,” Laura replied.
“I hope so. Well, then, I guess that is that,” Dorothy said, steeling her voice. “We all must move forward from all of this.”
“Agreed,” said Aunt Ethel. “Did he have anything…else to say dear?” she pressed.
Laura froze.
Do I tell them? I must.
“Yes…Mama, Aunt Ethel…I love Abe Mavor and he loves me back. I would like to talk to Father about considering him as a proper suitor.”
Aunt Ethel’s eyes sparkled, and her mother looked at her with surprise, but then after a moment, her face softened.
“Well…I don’t think that would be such a bad idea,” Dorothy said. “He’s a good man.”
Aunt Ethel practically leapt out of her chair, as deftly as she could with the support of her cane. She gave Laura a big hug.
“I’m thrilled for you, darling,” she said. “You hold onto that one.”
“Thank you, both of you,” Laura said, gratefully.
“Well, that’s more than enough excitement for me for today, I’m going to lie down for a bit. Please wake me if you hear anything about Xavier,” Dorothy said, as she stepped back into the bedroom.
Aunt Ethel sat back down, still smiling. Laura was so flustered and so excited, she couldn’t begin to decide what to do. She headed into her room and took a look at her flushed face in the mirror.
So that’s it. That’s what being in love looks like.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Abe waited in the jailhouse with Ottie for Xavier to return. He tapped his fingers on Ottie’s desk nervously. Harry snored in the jail cell, grating on Abe’s worn patience.
“You alright?” Ottie asked.
“Fine, just thought they’d be back by now,” Abe said.
“There’s no need to be so concerned, he may be a city gent but it’s a straight shot back,” Ottie said.
“Still…he should have been back by now,” Abe said.
“What is all this about? The job is done, Jacob’s dead, Laura’s back, but you’re all keyed up worse than a few days ago,” Ottie said.
“Just still got some things on my mind is all,” Abe said.
On the desk was the cigar band. The key that helped unlock the entire case. Abe ran it between his fingers, steeling himself for what came next.
“I know it got a little rough there at times between the two of us,” Ottie said, as he sat down across from Abe. “And I’m sorry about that. You were pretty much spot on the entire time. I don’t think I would have found her and caught that bastard if it weren’t for you.”
“Fisher got away though,” Abe said, sullenly.
“Way I see it, he just saved all of us the time running him out of town. Poetic justice,” Ottie mused.
“I guess. Still would have liked to see him look me in the eye and tell me what a worthless excuse for a man he was,” Abe said.
Ottie shook his head. “There just ain’t no making you happy is there?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Abe scoffed.
“Well, in honor of the breakthrough of our case…” Ottie said, as he reached into his pocket. “I got us these.”
He produced two of the exact same cigars whose band they had found at Mr. Leary’s.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Abe said.
“Sent a deputy to that barn Miss Laura was at, our criminal friend here still had half a box stashed away. Which is amazing considering how much he reeks of them,” Ottie said, as he handed Abe one of the cigars and pulled out his matches.
Abe leaned in, as Ottie lit Abe’s cigar, then his own.
“I’ll tell you one thing, all this excitement has certainly made me appreciate the quiet, even more than usual,” Ottie said.
“It definitely has made me rethink a few things,” Abe said.
“Oh?” Ottie asked, as he puffed on his cigar.
“Yeah,” Abe said, as an uncontrollable smile spread across his lips at the thought of Laura’s kiss. It did not go unnoticed by Ottie.
“You sly bastard,” Ottie said. “What did she say?”
“Still got a few steps to take care of before that. Mr. Edmonds is a key part to all this,” Abe replied.
As if on cue, Xavier came through the doors.
“Good evening gentlemen,” Xavier said, solemnly.
“Evening,” Both Abe and Ottie replied.
“Did all go well?” Ottie asked.
“It did, your boys dropped the body off at the undertaker. I’ll write a personal letter to his father and send it off. I guess this is all finally over,” Xavier said. He walked over to Abe and put his hands on his shoulders.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done, Abe. You’re a good man. I’m sorry that I ever doubted you.”
Abe looked him in the eye. “Thank you, sir. Can I speak with you outside for a minute?”
Xavier looked at him, a confused expression on his face. “Yes, of course.”
The two of them stepped out, onto the porch of the jailhouse. The warm glow of the lanterns just barely illuminated their faces. The town was quiet, as if Abe had stepped onto a stage and the audience was Xavier.
“What’s this about Abe?” Xavier asked.
“Mr. Edmonds, I’ll just come right out and say it. I love your daughter. And I know this might not be the best timing, what with her fiancé so recently deceased and all, but I can’t hold back anymore. She’s an incredible woman and I would just like the chance to prove to you that I could provide a good life for her,” Abe said, firmly.
Xavier paused and Abe could feel his words hanging in the air. He just kept looking at Abe.
What’s he thinking? Did I ask too soon? Does he think I’m being disrespectful to the dead? What I wouldn’t give for a drunken brawl to break out down the street and break this silence.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Xavier’s lips parted into a smile. He grabbed Abe around his shoulders and Abe saw he had a contented look on his face.
“I look forward to getting to know you better, Abe,” he said.
Abe felt the tension release. The way was clear now for him and Laura. No more Jacob Fisher. No barricade from her father. It was as if the barricades of his heart were finally down and he could feel his love for her swelling from his heart through his body. Xavier patted him on the shoulder one more time.
“I best be getting back to Ethel’s. I’m sure Dorothy is worried sick,” Xavier said.
“Yes, of course,” Abe replied. “I need to get home as well, big competition in a few days.”
Xavier hopped on his horse and rode back off to Ethel’s. Abe mounted Bruce and rode off toward home. His heart was thudding in his chest like never before.
When he arrived back at the ranch, he put Bruce away in the barn, and went, yet again, to the safe. But this time he didn’t reach in for cash.
Instead, he pulled out a small wooden box, hand carved with a delicate magnolia pattern on it. He rubbed his fingers across the small box. He stood up, still holding it, and looked at a photograph on the wall.
There, looking back at him, was his mother. She was a sweet, lovely woman. Magnolias were her favorite flower. Abe remembered when he was a small boy, and his father had first taught him how to whittle things into wood. He remembered running up to his mother as she was baking one morning. Her hands were covered in flour, her smile was soft and bright.
The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 26