Page 125 of Charlotte's Reckoning
“Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar,” he recited before leaning in and whispering against her lips. “But never doubt that I love you.”
“You can quote Hamlet,” she gasped, awestruck and falling more deeply in love with him. “Now I know this is a dream; you’re too good to be true. But don’t pinch me. I don’t want to wake up.”
“I wouldn’t dare.We are such stuff as dreams,” he also quoted. Then, chuckling, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to bed.
Chapter 31
Overwhelmed by You
The following two weeks were a whirlwind of activity. First, dealing with the bank, including setting up an account in her name only, and transferring the money. Seth insisted. When they left, they had all the documents appropriately signed and witnessed. Next came cleaning the Red Eye and preparing it for sale. A huge chore, thanks to Alvin and his band of slovenly outlaws.
Within hours of putting afor salesign in the window, she received six offers. But she was particular, preferring to burn it to the ground than sell it to another Heloise or Josephine. When several of her ladies stepped forward, having pooled their savings and hocked as many of their possessions as they could, Charlotte accepted their offer. It was the lowest, but she didn’t care, and Seth agreed; controlling their future was payment enough.
Patsy married her farmer in a small ceremony in a field of fragrant wildflowers, with the sun setting over the mountains as the backdrop. The ladies from the Red Eye attended, including Charlotte, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the meadow.
The following day was filled with more tears as she and Patsy saw Violet off on a train west to California, thanks to a generous bonus and back pay from Charlotte.
“There must be five hundred dollars in here,” she exclaimed when she looked in the envelope.
Charlotte clasped her hand and squeezed. “It’s enough for decent lodging in San Francisco for several months until you get settled.”
Violet hugged her close. “I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“You can thank me by staying safe and writing when you can, so I know you’re well.”
“Consider it done,” she agreed, releasing her and wiping the tears from her face. “But where do I send a letter?”
“Virginia, I hope, but that’s not guaranteed. Send it to Janelle Jackson. She’ll forward it to me because she threatened dire consequences if I don’t keep in touch.”
Violet glanced behind her and Patsy at the two men patiently waiting while they said their goodbyes. “I’ll miss you both, but I leave with a happy heart, knowing you found good men and got out. Maybe I can too.”
Wiping more tears away, she turned and climbed aboard the train. Then they waved goodbye until the train disappeared from view.
***
The thought of returning to the blood-soaked cabin filled her with dread, even though Seth insisted his deputies had scrubbed away every trace of the day’s violence. The silence of the place would be deafening. As they drove down the lane, she noticed they had hung a new door, too.
“Stay in the wagon. I’ll pack up,” Seth told her as he set the brake and secured the reins.
“I can do it,” she assured him, determined to prove she wasn’t a fragile, hothouse flower.
He squeezed her hand. “I know you can. But I’m here, so you don’t have to.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Honestly, I’m baffled how another woman didn’t snatch you up before me.”
“I’m not. We were destined for each other. It just took us a while to be in the same place at the same time long enough to realize that we were.”
“See? It’s things like that. Were they blind? They must have been because you’re handsome, romantic, and so incredibly sweet, but also stubborn at the best of times, like not taking no for an answer when I pushed you away. It’s your kisses, and everything else—”
He laid a finger against her lips. “You love me.”
“I do,” she whispered. “More than I ever thought possible.”
He cupped her chin and pressed his lips to hers. “I love you too, darlin’, and I’d show you how much, but not here, and not now. We need to get this done before we lose daylight.”
“Did I mention you’re annoyingly practical, too?”
He chuckled, kissed her again, then shifted on the bench to get down.
