Page 35 of Bride in Blue
“I’m half of him.”
“Well then, there must be something good there, because you are all goodness and kindness. And I love you too.” Cassie gave him a kiss and then lay back on the sofa. “What about my father? He threatened him.”
“That was only because Charles and I knew what he and some of his managers were up to,” Hal said, entering the room.
“What do you mean? He said you had stolen from the factory.”
“I told you I would never take anything.”
“Then what was it?”
“He needed something to fire me for because I found out that he had children working in the factories. Charles did steal a pair of pants, but that was only to take to the police department.”
“Those were the ones I found in his bag that day.”
“Yes. Weston threatened to dispose of anyone who double-crossed him.”
Cassie looked at her father. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Child labor? It wasn’t unheard of in New York. Despicable yes, but unheard-of no.
After all, Charles started working for the factory when he was only seven. Cassie was five when she picked up her first project; sewing labels into vests.
“When I was looking at some of those children, I thought about my own. How I had you and Charles working for him since you were little. There isn’t any law that says children can’t work outside the factory.” Her father rubbed his eyes. “Weston denied having children working in the factories, but some of the workers he said were fourteen were as young as eleven. All the light was gone from their eyes. Those babies trying to do an adult’s job. And when they failed, he was so abusive to them.” A sob broke out. “I couldn’t do anything. I saw it happen over and over again. I thought what it would be like if that was you or Charles. I had to protect them somehow.”
Cassie let out a sob. “Forgive me, daughter? Please say you forgive me.”
Cassie nodded. “Where is Charles?” she asked. “Is he still in New York?”
Her father shook his head. “He’s disappeared. The last correspondence I had was a week ago. He was trying to gather enough evidence to shut the whole operation down.”
“Where is Weston?”
“I told him to leave and never return. That he had no business here. He had no claim to you or your father.”
“You came to Creede looking for a fresh start. I hope you can find that with me.”
“You don’t think he will try anything again, do you?”
“I don’t think so. Your father told me what happened in New York. I was able to use that as leverage to get him to leave. You are safe, Cassie. I will always keep you safe.”
Cassie wrapped her arms around her husband. She knew where she belonged. Mrs. Pennyworth sent her here to help him, but he ended up helping her. More than he would ever know.
“I love you, so much, Max.”
“I love you, Cassie Blue.”
“Are we about done in here?” Mrs. Brown’s voice called from the hallway. “I just put on a fresh pot of coffee and we have cake to eat.”
Cassie raised her arms to allow Max to help her up from the settee. “What about the mess at the store?”
“It can wait until tomorrow. Nothing is more important than you.”
“I can’t believe Mrs. Brown brought up pastries this late at night.”
“Pastries are right for any occasion, Cassandra Blue.” He swiped her nose with his finger. “I even hear they help with lovesickness.”
Cassie gave a laugh and let her husband lead her to the dining room and her future.
Epilogue
