Page 83 of Spilling the Tea

Tears Victoria couldn’t hold back flowed down her cheeks. “I love Waylon. I’ve always loved him.”

“I know,” Jantz said softly. “But Penny has evil in her heart. I heard it in her voice. She will harm you if you marry him. Promise me that you won’t.”

“Pa, please don’t ask this of me.”

“Promise me.” He grabbed hold of her hand. Although she felt his weakness, she felt his determination to get that promise from her. Her father had grown up on that Madaris motto—Protect. Provide. Prosper.—and would die trying to protect his family. Victoria recalled the warning Dr. Hargrove had given them. Her father had been under a lot of stress. Stress he hadn’t let go of. Worrying about her was just another layer he didn’t need. Another layer that could cause him to have a relapse. Mainly, another stroke. One that he might not recover from. She met his gaze and said, “If I promise, is there a chance that one day you will change your mind and—”

“No,” he interrupted her words. “After what Penny said, I will never change my mind as long as that evil woman is alive. Promise me.”

With tears streaming down her face, she said, “I promise I won’t marry Waylon, Pa.”

It was only then that her father closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

***

Milton knew something was wrong when he arrived at the hospital entrance and saw Victoria outside on the breezeway. It was obvious she was crying. Rushing over to her, he pulled herto him. “Victoria? What’s wrong? Did Pa’s condition worsen? Is he—”

“Pa is okay, Milton,” she said quickly through broken sobs.

“Then what’s wrong?” he asked, staring at her while handing her a handkerchief.

“My heart is breaking, Milt.”

“Why?”

“Pa made me promise him something.”

“Promise him what?”

“That I won’t marry Waylon.”

He couldn’t hide the shocked look on his face. “And you promised him that?”

“There was no way I could not. He was adamant that I make him that promise, Milt. I didn’t want to do anything to upset him. Ms. Penny threatened me harm if I married Waylon.” She then told Milton what their Pa had told her.

Seeing his lack of surprise, she said, “You already knew, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Ma told me the night we brought Pa here. I didn’t tell you since you were already upset,” he said gently. Soothingly.

She wiped away more tears. “Now I understand why Pa was so upset and he kept saying he had to protect me. I told Pa that regardless of Ms. Penny’s threats, I believed Waylon could protect me, but Pa wasn’t convinced. Oh, Milt, what am I going to do? I love Waylon. How on earth can I tell him I can’t marry him?”

“Is there a chance Dad might change his mind at some point?”

“Not as long as Ms. Penny is alive, and I can see her living to be one hundred years old. How am I supposed to stop loving Waylon when my heart is his? He believes that one day we will marry. I believed that, too.”

Milton drew a deep breath. “You have to tell Waylon about your promise to Pa, Victoria. He needs to know.”

“She doesn’t have to tell me. I heard everything the two of you said,” a deep, husky voice said behind them.

***

Milton and Victoria turned around. Waylon was holding a container of food in his hand. “I knew you hadn’t eaten, Victoria, so I took time away from branding to bring you this. Here you are. I need to get back.”

The look she saw on Waylon’s face nearly broke her heart. “Waylon, I—”

“No, I heard, Victoria. You promised your pa that you won’t be marrying me. Although you might not want to keep that promise, you will. It’s not within you to break it.”

Milton cleared his throat. “I’ll let the two of you talk while I go inside to check on Pa.”

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