The entire room went silent until Clay said, “Wade. He took Grace.”
Elizabeth slowly lowered onto a chair still holding Grace’s perfume and pearls. “I married a criminal. I knew he was a drinker and a womanizer after what happened with Lucinda, but I thought with time and maybe love, he would change. What have I done?”
“Absolutely nothing wrong, my dear,” Grandpa Hutchison insisted. “You arrived here with faith in the man who sent for you. No matter what happens, you are family now, and the Hutchison family takes care of their own.”
Clay spun on his heel and announced, “I’m going to find her” before he stormed out the door.
A short while later, Wade rode into the yard and saw the partially unloaded wagon sitting near the back door. He didn’t see anyone around and assumed they already knew about Grace’s note and were discussing what, if anything, they should do. He chuckled to himself that his plan was working to perfection and Clay would be angry enough to have his marriage to Grace annulled immediately. He won or would shortly.
After unsaddling his horse and brushing it down, Wade strolled toward the house doing his best to keep the smirk from his face. He had to feign ignorance when it came to Grace’s disappearance. Shock might be a better emotion, but he wasn’t sure he could do that. Ignorance and surprise would have to do.
He pulled the back door open, stepped into the kitchen and saw the dour faces of his family. “What’s wrong?” Wade asked hoping he sounded sincere.
Elizabeth looked up with red, puffy eyes and said, “Grace is gone. Clay went to look for her.”
“Gone? Gone where?”
“We don’t know. She left a note, but Clay doesn’t believe she left of her own accord,” Elizabeth explained.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I doubt she was happy here and left. I hear women do that a lot when they come from the city to a small town,” Wade said doing his best not to smile.
Grandpa Hutchison pounded his fist on the table and yelled, “Shut up Wade, and sit down now.”
Wade complied and stared at his grandfather. The old man stared back trying to see if he could tell what was on Wade’s mind. All grandpa could see was a coldness he never noticed before and, in that moment, believed he’d lost his grandson to whatever had changed Wade’s heart.
“I need to tell you something, Wade,” Grandpa started and explained about the will and the lie he told both of his grandsons.
Wade just stared slack-jawed listening to his grandfather. “Are you telling me that we never were in a contest to marry first, Clay didn’t need to marry Grace, and I didn’t need to send for a mail-order bride?”
“That’s what I’m sayin’, but I’m happy you both did. I love Elizabeth and Grace as much as my own blood, and we’re a family now.”
Wade doubled his fists and bit back the anger he felt. “You have ruined everyone’s lives old man,” Wade shouted. “Forcing us to marry was bad enough, but the stipulation that she be a good, respectable woman made it impossible for me to marry Lucinda.”
Elizabeth’s audible gasp made Wade angrier. “Shut up, woman. If I wanted to hear you, I’d give you permission to talk.”
Elizabeth stood and ran from the room. Cora glared at Wade and said before following Elizabeth, “Wade Hutchison, one day you will pay for your cruelty. Mark my words.”
Wade laughed. He pushed back his chair and reached behind him for the coffee pot and a cup. After pouring the coffee, and taking a sip, he frowned and addressed his grandfather, “This is the last time you’ll cause me problems. I’m going into town to ask the lawyer about annulling my marriage to Elizabeth, and you’re not going to threaten me with changing your will. As a matter of fact, you will sign over the ranch to me, and I will settle here with Lucinda. Don’t try and argue. If Clay ever wants to see his precious wife again, you’ll agree.”
Wade’s plans had changed in an instant. He wouldn’t force Grace to leave town, he’d keep her in the shack until his grandfather did precisely as he said.
Grandpa Hutchison’s face paled as he heard Wade’s words. “You know where Grace is?”
“Maybe,” Wade smirked as he slammed his empty coffee cup onto the table. “You’ll never know until you comply with my wishes. It’s getting late, and I have business in town. I’ll even help you by having the lawyer ride out here to write up the papers just as soon as he finishes with my annulment.”
Grandpa nodded his head. “All right, just don’t hurt Grace.”
“I won’t and don’t even think about telling the sheriff. Grace would never survive on her own in the backcountry. Just sign the papers and prepare to move out of here as soon as possible,” Wade instructed just before he strode out the back door toward the barn and his horse.
Chapter Seventeen
Wade had a lot on his mind as he made his way to town. He’d own the ranch and people would finally see him for the man he was not just one of Hutch’s grandsons. He could annul his marriage to Elizabeth. Not that she wasn’t pretty, she was beautiful if a person liked that type of genteel lady. He didn’t, and he’d soon change it.
As he rode, he thought more about his life and how it would change for the better. He needed a woman with a bit more zest for life and one that would make him more substantial meals than
