“Thank you, Father,” she said quietly, no longer feeling joy in her newfound victory.
Then she looked over at Nugget. “Remember what I said. We’ll write. And if Joseph is agreeable, then I can visit, or you can visit me. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
But her stomach churned. None of it felt right. Joseph would have what he wanted. His silver, his family, and Nugget. And though Annabelle was also finally getting what she wanted, she didn’t want to leave anymore. But she had no right. Not to Joseph, and not to Nugget, as much as she’d grown to love them both.
It should be enough for her that Joseph finally had the means to provide for his family. Annabelle’s prayers had been answered.
Chapter Twenty-Two
They rode to the Lassiters’ house, where everyone was promptly dispatched to take baths and get into clean clothes.
After Joseph had a bath and his soiled clothing was taken to see if any silver dust could be found in its folds, he wandered to the back porch, where he sat while everyone else made merry in the house, with an emptiness he couldn’t quite describe.
Everything should be perfect. Slade’s men were in jail, and now that Slade had finally come to, he would soon be joining them.
Nugget was safe. Joseph had the silver he needed to provide for his family. In fact, he’d spent a good deal of the time on the ride home talking with Collin MacDonald, who’d given him solid information on the next steps to opening his mine and making it profitable. From what Collin said, if the vein opened by the explosion was as deep as it appeared, they could be looking at one of the largest fortunes to be gained in Leadville history.
They’d been back at the house for less than an hour when all the local mining barons or their representatives began coming to call. Everyone was willing to buy him out at a handsome price. Haunted by Slade’s words about all the people wanting to take advantage of others, and seeing firsthand what greed would do to people, Joseph decided that he couldn’t risk anyone else being taken advantage of. He’d see his father’s mining dream through.
With recommendations from Frank and Collin, Joseph had already begun to put a team in place to open his father’s mines. Collin’s sons had remained behind to guard the newly opened silver vein until he could put together a security team.
In his wildest imaginations, he’d never thought his father’s dream could so richly come true.
Joseph wanted to throw back his head and laugh at the irony of how everything had worked out. His only regret was that his father hadn’t lived long enough to see it. Yes, regret. While he didn’t approve of all his father’s choices, he’d come to realize that his father lived a complicated life. Even his father’s bad choice of taking a mistress had a bright side. Joseph couldn’t imagine life without his precious sister.
It was, as Annabelle said, all for the benefit of saving many lives.
Joseph was going to miss her and their partnership. He knew if he asked, she’d stay.
But even now, with the promise of real wealth in their future, he couldn’t ask her to give up her dreams.
As if to confirm his belief, he heard Maddie in the kitchen. “We’ll have to go shopping to buy you new dresses for the trip. I’m sure Celeste will want to have new ones made when you get there, but we don’t want you going in rags.”
“That sounds lovely.”
Without being able to see Annabelle’s face, he couldn’t read her attitude, but the clatter of something falling to the floor was unmistakable. Annabelle didn’t want to go.
“Oh, you! You go on and sit on the porch or something. You’re too excited to be of any use to me.”
Annabelle murmured a reply, then the door opened and closed behind her as she joined him on the porch.
“Exciting times, eh?” Joseph smiled at her as she sat beside him.
“Your family will be so happy.”
Annabelle gave him the kind of fake smile that made him want to dig deeper. But he’d given up that right. Maybe someday, when she’d had her taste of the world, she’d come back to Leadville, and maybe they’d both be free to pursue the what-if questions they’d been unable to face.
“They will. I’ve already begun the arrangements to bring them here. My sister Mary will be able to take care of Nugget.”
Joseph wasn’t leaving. “You’re staying?”
“I’ve just said that.”
The dark hid whatever expression might have flashed across Annabelle’s face. But he knew it wouldn’t make her happy to be so easily dismissed. What else was he supposed to do? If she thought she was needed, Annabelle would stay.
And he couldn’t have her sacrifice her dreams again.
“What about until then?” Annabelle’s voice drifted to him, almost too soft to hear.
“Collin said Polly was undone at the knowledge of Tom’s involvement in everything. It will do her good to get out of the camp for a while. She’ll be down in the morning to help with Nugget.”
Annabelle tried to push away the pang in her heart at the mention of Polly’s situation. Her friend had been through so much, and then to find out that the man she thought was going to marry her was so... Annabelle sighed. People were never what they seemed.
She stole a glance at Joseph. He’d barely spoken to her since her rescue, and even now, things were so different from how they used to be.
Everything had worked out perfectly. Joseph was staying in Leadville. Annabelle was leaving on her dream trip.
So why did she want to cry?
The stair beside her creaked. “Nugget wanted to say good-night to Annabelle before Frank takes you to the hotel.”
“The hotel?” Annabelle looked up at Maddie and spied a miserable-looking Nugget on her shoulder, then brought her gaze back to Joseph. “Why would you and Nugget
