Page 39 of Inventions of the Heart

“That big house is empty, Boss,” Nick said. “I’d think you’d like a little company.”

Then Nick looked closer at the crowd. “Is that your sister Annie?”

Zane gave Caleb and Nick a quick rundown of all that had happened since they’d left. The theft of Annie’s ranch and her husband’s murder. Beth Ellen’s return, the weddings of Caleb’s mission group members, the houses built, the womenfolk springing up at his home like wildflowers.

Nick filled in some details about his trip to protect Margaret and what he’d found. Caleb added in his share of the tale. By the time the women dried their tears and joined the men, everyone was caught up.

Margaret, looking shaky, her eyes still shining with tears, came to Zane with both hands outstretched. Zane caught her hands, and she squeezed them.

“I’m sorry to come in shouting like that.” She sniffled and let go of one of his hands to find a handkerchief and swipe at her eyes. “It’s no reflection on you. Michelle, as well as Jilly and Laura, assure me you’re a fine man. But I had wanted Michelle to know she didn’t have to marry in haste.”

“Yes, she did, ma’am.” Zane didn’t see himself calling her Mama.

“Michelle explained about that awful Horace Benteen’s son finding her. And she said she’s happy to be married to you.”

Michelle, standing just behind her mother, with her handresting on the woman’s shoulder, wrinkled her nose at him and grinned.

He fought to keep his face straight and focus on Margaret. Shoving from his mind just how beautiful and interesting his new wife was. It wasn’t a proper thought to allow to show while facing your new mother-in-law.

“I’m right happy to be married to her, too, ma’am. And I’m glad you’re here. I think you’re safer here with me. We have a trial to attend this afternoon, then we’ll head out to the ranch, and you can stay until Laura and Jilly are ready to go back and wrest control of Stiles Lumber from Beaumont.”

Margaret’s expression darkened. “He’s ruining the company my husband and I built. How could I have been such a fool to marry him?”

“Hush now.” Zane, still holding one of her hands, squeezed it tightly. “He’s a man who cheats and lies for a living. He has a talent for seeing exactly what you want and giving it to you.”

Caleb came up beside Zane. “I’ve told you about my past, Margaret. I know how he thinks. He has a talent for reading people, watching how they respond to him. Teasing out the exact feelings he wants from you. You’re an honest woman, and you trusted the wrong man. It doesn’t make you a fool, only too pure of heart to be suspicious of an apparently kind man. There’s no shame in that, and it’s best you don’t waste time wrapping yourself in those bad feelings. I’ve said you need to forgive Beaumont. Well, you need to forgive yourself, too.”

“I know.” Margaret squared her shoulders and nodded. Her chin lifted just a fraction of an inch. Her eyes flashed with the same bright intelligence Zane saw in the three Stilessisters. They didn’t get all their smarts from their father. Plenty of it came from this woman right here.

“And kicking myself for mistakes that now have to be dealt with is exactly that—a waste of time. So what do we do? How exactly is Horace Benteen involved with this mess?”

“His son, Jarvis, is locked up,” Zane said. “He broke into Michelle’s room last night, and she beat him with a copy ofWar and Peace.”

“That’s a heavy book.” Margaret gave Michelle an approving nod.

Michelle shrugged. “It was just volume one, but it did the trick.”

“Horace Benteen is behind stealing my sister’s ranch and killing three men, including Annie’s husband.”

Margaret gasped and turned to Annie, drawing her into her arms. Zane saw Annie respond. Then Margaret reached out and drew Beth Ellen close. How long since either of them had been hugged by a mother? Their ma had been gone a long time.

“We aren’t sure if Jarvis was looking for Michelle, because of his pa’s thwarted wedding plans, or Annie, to end any witness to their land grab. Either way, he assaulted two women after breaking into my home. And during the trial, it’ll come out that Michelle and Jilly are the Stiles sisters. Once that happens, Horace will know Michelle is hiding at my ranch, if he doesn’t know already.”

Margaret released Annie and Beth Ellen, gave Michelle and Jilly a worried look, then turned back to Zane. “We’ll attend the trial. I can add my own voice to some of Horace’s evils. Though I doubt that will come up in a trial of his son.”

“Let’s go eat a noon meal.” Zane gave a look around theroom to include everyone. “Then it’ll be time for the trial. I hope Jarvis is locked up for good, and we can go home to wait for the next attack.”

Michelle sighed, then came to take his hand. “Lunch sounds good.”

He laced his finger through hers, then turned to offer his arm to his brand-new mama. Maybe, if he worked at it, he could call her that.

They all left the church, and Zane led them to the finest restaurant in town. Also the only restaurant in town: Fatty’s Diner.

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