He regretted the fact that this decision hurt his mother, but this was his life, and by continuing to fall in line with what she wanted, he was hurting someone even dearer to him—Emma Jane.
“You clearly are not right in the head. I’ll be speaking to your father about this, and when you come home tonight, we’ll discuss matters further.”
“I’m not coming home.” Actually, in his note to his father, he’d said he’d be home, but at his mother’s words, he realized the Jackson mansion was no longer home to him.
Home was where Emma Jane was, and while he’d have to come to terms with her absence once they filed for the annulment, for now, he knew where he belonged.
“I’ll send my apologies to Father. I know he was expecting me.”
“You can’t be serious,” his mother said indignantly, looking from him to Emma Jane.
“I am. I won’t stay anywhere where Emma Jane is not welcomed with open arms.”
“Why have you turned him against me?” Tears filled the older woman’s eyes as she looked at Emma Jane.
Before his wife had a chance to respond, Jasper did it for her. “She did nothing other than try to be agreeable in a place where everyone was unkind to her. I would suggest that you search your heart and find a way to make sure that Emma Jane is offered every kindness among those in your circle. I will not be kind to those who are not kind to her.”
His words shamed him. They should have been uttered so long ago, and he should have done more to stand up for Emma Jane before they were even married.
Once again, he turned to her. “I’m sorry for not taking a stronger stand in your favor sooner.”
“I...” Her lower lip quivered. “You don’t need to do this. I’ve made my share of mistakes, and I can’t bear...”
“We can talk about it later,” he said, squeezing her hand, then releasing it.
Bringing his attention back to his mother, he said coolly, “You should leave now. I need to report in with the sheriff about everything that’s happened, and I won’t have you upsetting Emma Jane while I’m gone. When you feel that you are able to be kind, you may send us an invitation to dinner.”
Her face turned as white as the scenery around them when they’d been lost in the blizzard. The anger replaced with the knowledge that Jasper was serious. She would probably go home and cry, and as much as he’d always hated making her cry, maybe her tears would serve a purpose.
Jasper walked her to the door and closed it gently behind her. His father would be angry, but hopefully once they sat down and talked, he would understand.
When Jasper returned to Emma Jane’s side, she looked as though she was trying to find her way in that same blizzard.
“I don’t understand what just happened.”
“A lot of things you said to me finally sunk in. I’m sorry it took so long to see reason.”
Then he looked around the room. “I hope it’s all right that I stay here. I can sleep on the sofa, and I’ll try not to get in your way. We can settle things more firmly once the bandits are apprehended.”
“Of course.” Emma Jane frowned. She opened her mouth to say something, but then Moses began to fuss. After adjusting his blankets, she looked back at Jasper.
“I’m sorry. He needs to be changed.”
“It’s all right. I need to go talk to the sheriff, anyway.”
Jasper turned toward the door, then paused. “I know it frustrates you that I’ve put you off in favor of pursuing this case. But I hope you understand the urgency of the situation.”
“Yes.” Emma Jane shifted the baby in her arms. “I suppose I owe you some apologies over that, as well. But as you’ve said, we can talk about everything later.”
“Thank you for understanding.” Jasper nodded goodbye, then left, torn between his duty to see the case through and his desire to make things right with Emma Jane.
Did she see enough sincerity in his words to his mother that she’d listen to what he had to say to her? Would she give him time to court her, to show her the true emotions in his heart?
Was there even room in her heart for him?
Chapter Seventeen
Jasper’s absence created a void in the room that Emma Jane hadn’t been prepared for. As much as she’d tried not to get attached to him, already the emptiness seemed as if it would swallow her whole.
What had he meant with all of his apologies and promises of talking later? Didn’t he know it was only going to make their annulment that much harder? Leaving thoughtless Jasper was so much easier than leaving a man who seemed to genuinely care about her.
Moses had fallen asleep, and she’d laid him in his bed. Part of her yearned to pick him up and cuddle him close to have something to do, but Abigail had admonished her that if she held Moses too much, he’d be spoiled, and then when she needed to lay him down, he wouldn’t let her.
At least she had her Bible. Since Moses had come into her life, she hadn’t had as much time to read it as she’d have liked. The silence, with Abigail and Charles gone to bed and Moses asleep, was the perfect time to catch up.
Rummaging through her bag, she realized her Bible was missing. Emma Jane sighed. In her hurry to gather their things for their return to town, she must have left it at the resort.
She walked down to the front desk to see if they had one she could borrow, but as she neared the entrance to the saloon, she heard voices.
“Stupid rich boy. Thought he was so smart, telling them about the hideout. Little does he know the trap we’ve got rigged.”
The man’s cohort chuckled. “Thanks to you letting us know when the posse was leaving.