Page 57 of Willing to Wed the Rancher
“You’re married to Franz.” Dieter’s expression was earnest. “That means we need you to stay with him.”
Franz didn’t add anything, but he was watching her with just as much anticipation. Had he purposefully brought up the move around the children so that he’d have their help to convince her?
But how could she make such a life-altering decision so quickly? Surely Franz didn’t expect her to make up her mind now.
“Please, Clarabelle?” Bianca’s sweet voice contained such hope.
Dieter’s and Franz’s eyes were brimming with hope too.
Saying no was nearly impossible for her already, but this was even harder. Yet she couldn’t say yes. She couldn’t walk away from Clementine with the unresolved strife between them. If she did, their situation really would be just like Franz and Eric’s.
Besides, Germany? How could she move so far away? If she did, would she ever see her family again?
Then there was the issue of herself and Franz. She couldn’t deny she cared about him. And everyone in town believed she’d ended up married to him. Even Maverick had finally heard the rumors and had questioned her yesterday when she was at the ranch. Of course, she’d explained the truth to him. But the fact remained that she and Franz didn’t have an official marriage, which meant she couldn’t simply leave with him for Germany.
The scent of burning bacon began to waft in the air. She grabbed the towel and pushed the skillet off the heat and toward the back of the stove where the pan of scrambled eggs was staying warm.
“Please, please, please, Clarabelle?” Bianca’s eyes turned glassy.
Tears began to form in Clarabelle’s eyes.
The three didn’t move or speak as they waited for her answer.
With another swell of pressure rising in her chest, Clarabelle backed away from the stove. She had to get out of the room before she broke down and cried in front of everyone.
Rapidly, she crossed the room, sidled past Franz, and exited the cabin. As soon as she closed the door behind her, the tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks. She started across the yard toward the barn, her chest aching more than she could bear.
She didn’t know what to do or where to go. And somehow she ended up in the stall with her mare. Clarabelle buried her face against the creature’s neck and dug her hands in the mane. The soft hair absorbed her tears, and the warm body bore her weight.
The mare gave a nicker as if to offer her a word of comfort.
She patted the horse, grateful to the simple creature for her unwavering support and strength. She’d loved growing up on a ranch in Colorado. She loved the horses. She loved the wildness of the land. And even now on Eric’s farm, she loved the work, the simplicity, and the beauty. How could she ever trade her life here for any place else?
“Clarabelle?” Franz spoke softly from the stall behind her.
She hadn’t heard him come in, and she swiped her damp cheeks.
“I am sorry.” His voice held contrition.
There was nothing for him to be sorry about. “You didn’t do anything.”
“I used the children to pressure you.”
With her cheek still resting against the horse, she shrugged. “It’s all right.”
“No, it was a cowardly way to go about asking you to come along. I suspected you would not be willing to move to Germany for my sake, but I had hoped you might want to do so to remain with the children.”
He wasn’t entirely right about her willingness to move to Germany for his sake. She couldn’t imagine letting him walk out of her life and never seeing him again. But she couldn’t tell him that. “I do want to be with the children. I’ve grown to love them.”
“And they you.” He paused. “Nevertheless, I should have spoken with you privately first rather than attempting to convince you to go for their sake. It was selfish of me, and I apologize.”
She released her grasp of her mare’s mane and pivoted to face Franz.
Though the barn was mostly shadowed, the morning light streaming in from a high open window illuminated the interior enough that she could see Franz’s face. His forehead was furrowed and his eyes sad with dark circles underneath. He hadn’t shaved, and a layer of stubble had formed, making him more handsome—if that were possible.
“I am taking Mr. Bliss’s suggestion to leave the area this morning.” Franz’s expression held resignation. “Once he makes an arrest—if he is able to do so—I want to keep you and the children from any repercussions.”
“I understand.” She wanted the children to be safe too. “It’s a good idea to take them to Germany, where they can hopefully put the difficult memories of all that has happened behind them.”
