Page 82 of The Rancher's Wedding

Michael shook his head. “I can’t,” he said.

“I’d go mad,” Estelle said. “I wouldn’t be able to take that. I can’t imagine how anybody could. I’ve never felt so free as I have out here with you. Perhaps you don’t realize it, but you saved me.”

“Estelle,” Michael said, “I’d say the same of you to me.” He stood up. “Let me go check on Ethan and see if he needs any water.”

Michael grabbed a metal cup from the cabinet and walked around the back of the house where he filled it from the well. He then walked over to the tree, where Ethan stood attached to the shady side, with a bit of a smile on his face.

“How are you doing out here?” Michael asked.

“Oh, just dandy,” Ethan said.

“I was wondering if I could interest you in any water. It’s mighty dry out here.”

“And hot, too,” noted Ethan. “I’d happily take you up on your offer.”

Michael brought the cup up to Ethan’s lips and tilted it gently, allowing the water into his enemy’s mouth. From an early age, Michael believed if you couldn’t extend kindness to your enemy, then you weren’t any better than they were.

When Michael removed the cup from Ethan’s lips, Ethan said, “Thank you, sir. I don’t suppose you’d be able to release my arm from the rope so I could drink it myself, could you?”

Michael shook his head. “‘Fraid not. I do apologize for it, though. Mr. Williams should be back shortly with the sheriff. We’ll be able to release you then.”

“I understand,” Ethan said. “A little more water, please?”

Michael rose the cup back up to Ethan, who drank it down until the cup was empty.

“I’m sure you’ve heard this before,” Ethan said, “but the water sure is fresher out here.”

“Everything is,” Michael said.

Ethan took it in. “This ranch. It’s all your work, along with your brother?”

“For the most part,” Michael told him. He was a bit put off by Ethan’s kindness, making casual conversation while tied to a tree as he was. Estelle was right about Ethan: there was something unnerving about him, but Michael couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He almost wished that Ethan would be fighting the rope and swearing at him. It’d feel more honest. The etiquette felt more like a trap than anything else.

“A fine job you’ve both done,” Ethan said. He looked around and back at Michael. “Now that it’s just the two of us, do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.” Michael felt it. Now was when the real Ethan would begin to expose himself.

“I’m a businessman of sorts,” Ethan said. “My job is negotiation. You certainly hold the advantage right now, but that doesn’t mean the discussion’s over.”

Michael looked at him skeptically, his head slightly askew. “What are you getting at?”

“What I’m getting at is I don’t want to be tied here and perhaps there’s something I can offer you to loosen the ropes just a bit,” Ethan said.

“You want me to let you go.” Michael said it matter-of-factly, making it clear he understood what it was Ethan was saying without actually using the words.

“I’m asking you to loosen the ropes enough for me to escape,” Ethan said. “You wouldn’t be letting me go.”

“I believe it’s called aiding and abetting, am I right?”

Ethan smiled. “You can call it whatever you want, but I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“I’m not doing it,” Michael said, standing tall and confident.

“I understand you’re a man of high morals,” Ethan said. “A man of God. I admire that. And, as a follower of the Lord, I do imagine you believe in forgiveness.”

“I don’t recall you asking for forgiveness,” Michael said. “I hear you saying you want me to let you go and it sounds like you’re prepared to offer me a bribe to get me to do so. But there’s something you city folk may not understand about people of the land such as myself.”

Michael waited for Ethan to respond, to ask what it was that he didn’t understand. Ethan didn’t, but Michael answered anyway.

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