Page 85 of The Rancher's Wedding

“I’ll be making note of your cooperation, Mr. Fitzgerald,” Sheriff Ron said. “If you help make this easy for us, you’ll get a lighter sentence. We don’t want to have to go chasing after you.”

“I have every intention of making this as easy as possible for you, Sheriff,” Ethan said, “but I must say that these accusations are not true. I’m innocent. This has all been a big misunderstanding.”

“Let’s take a look at that billfold,” the sheriff said. “If it’s genuine currency in there, you’re free to go.”

“Certainly,” Ethan said.

Ethan was too eager. Michael knew something was awry. Either Ethan was confident enough in his work to think the sheriff would fall for his fake bills, or he had a trick up his sleeve.

The sheriff loosened the ropes and the sheriff reached into Ethan’s jacket.

“I’m sorry,” Ethan said. “It’s on my right. Your left.”

“My mistake,” the sheriff said.

The sheriff reached into Ethan’s pocket and pulled out the billfold. He looked through it, carefully analyzing the bills in the sun before showing them to Michael.

“I don’t know,” the sheriff said. “I think he might be telling the truth. These look fake to you?”

Michael took one of the bills and eyed it carefully. If it was fake, the craftsmanship was impressive. It was completely indistinguishable from genuine currency.

“I apologize,” Sheriff Ron said. “It must be—”

“Wait a minute, Sheriff,” Michael said. He reached into the other side of Ethan’s jacket.

“No, that’s—” Ethan began, but Michael pulled a billfold out before he finished his thought.

Michael handed it over to the sheriff, who rifled through it and pulled out a bill.

“How do those look?” Michael asked.

Sheriff Ron shook his head. “They look like the evidence we needed. Mr. Fitzgerald, I’m placing you under arrest. You’re coming back to town with me and Mr. Harrison.”

“I can explain that,” Ethan said. “It’s not how it looks.”

Sheriff Ron removed Ethan’s arm from behind the rope and placed a handcuff over it, attaching the other end to himself.

“I’m going to be honest,” the sheriff said, “it looks mighty bad. I suggest you take Mr. Harrison’s advice and you don’t say another word until we get to the station.”

Michael helped him remove the rope and, as they walked away, felt a sense of relief. This wasn’t somebody who would come between Estelle and him any time soon.

“Come along, Mr. Harrison,” Sheriff Ron said before turning to Michael. “Thank you for your assistance.”

“Any time,” Michael said back.

The lawyer and the criminal went in the stagecoach while the sheriff got on his horse and they rode together back to town as Michael, Estelle, and her father watched with smiles on their faces.

“Mr. Holden,” Richard said, “I can’t apologize enough for the trouble that I’ve brought to you here on your lovely farm.”

“Sir,” Michael said, “to me it looks like you made a mistake a bunch of years ago and today, you took care of it. If you hadn’t arrived, why there’d be a good chance that I’d have fallen for Ethan’s tricks, just as you fell for his father’s.”

“Yes, but I feel horrible,” Richard said. He turned to Estelle. “I was selfish, Estelle, and I wasn’t thinking about you.”

“Of course you were, father,” Estelle said. “You wanted me to have a good life. I see that now. Your only mistake was believing that money would get me there.”

“Mr. Williams,” Michael said, “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you before I married your daughter, but I’d be honored if you’d stay with us for dinner tonight. We don’t have much space, but your daughter’s a spectacular cook.”

“She is?” Richard said.

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