“I had apples, bread, and water. Wade also provided me with a few potatoes and green beans. I didn’t get hungry enough to eat the raw onion. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“I don’t think he was. Can you ride more?”
“Yes, especially since we’re headed home,” Grace answered.
They mounted their horses and rode back to the ranch house. Cora, grandpa, and Elizabeth had heard Clay gallop past the house and were waiting on the back porch when Clay and Grace rode up.
“You’re home,” Elizabeth cried tears streaming down her cheek. “I knew you didn’t leave forever.”
Cora and grandpa were asking questions at the same time. “Let’s get Grace inside,” Clay suggested.
When they were settled around the kitchen table, Grace explained what happened to her and how Wade forced her to write the note. She assured everyone especially Clay that she never for a moment meant to leave the ranch or her new life.
Clay took Grace’s hand. “I didn’t believe for a second that you left. Wade was the only answer, and once he threatened grandpa, we knew for sure.”
“What? Wade threatened grandpa?” Grace stammered. “Why?”
Clay explained Wade’s desires to own the ranch and how he convinced grandpa to sign it over, but that the lawyer was out of town.
“But when he comes home he’ll see me,” Grace said standing quickly and clutching her throat. “He’ll kill me. It’s the only way he can guarantee that I’m not a problem.”
Cora spoke quietly, “Calm down, Grace. There’s more to the story. Hutch never changed his will. Both boys would inherit equally. Wade knows that now, but he decided he wanted it all and used your disappearance to force Hutch to sign over the ranch. He moved to town away from us and won’t be back until he returns with that lawyer. You’re safe.”
“Maybe, but I’m afraid. If he does come back and finds me, I’m in danger. I’m the only one who can prove he abducted me,” Grace said clutching her hands together to keep them from trembling.
“He won’t find you,” Cora insisted. “When you disappeared, I spent the night in your bed helping Elizabeth to feel safe. If Wade does come back and looks for you, he’ll find me in your bed. You’ll stay in Clay’s room. He won’t check there afraid to face Clay. If he asks about Willow, we’ll say she wandered back to the ranch sometime today.”
“That’s a good plan. I’ll send one of the hands for the sheriff in the morning. He can arrest Wade wherever he is,” Clay said.
Grandpa’s head dropped, and he shook it back and forth. “I never meant for this to happen,” he mumbled. “Wade will spend years in prison if they don’t hang him.”
“Hang him?” Grace exclaimed. “No, I can’t be a party to anyone hanging. I won’t tell the sheriff anything, and I’ll refuse to testify if they have a trial. You can’t guarantee a judge won’t sentence him to hang even if they say he’ll only go to prison. I have heard terrible stories about justice going wrong. No, I won’t say a word. There must be another way. I prayed hard on my way back here for God to bring me home safely and He did. I forgive Wade for what he did, and I can’t be responsible for his death.”
Grandpa looked up at Grace with tears in his eyes. “Do you forgive me, too, Grace? This is all my fault.”
“Of course, I do,” she answered and rushed around the table to hug the elderly man who was now a part of her family and heart. “We all make mistakes. You didn’t mean any harm.”
Clay nodded his agreement, “All right, but what do we do about Wade? He expects to live here with Lucinda. That puts all of us, but especially Grace and Elizabeth in danger.”
Cora suggested, “We take the sheriff into our confidence and when the lawyer returns he can draw up some papers to keep Wade from harming anyone or he’ll be arrested and charged with Grace’s abduction.”
“I’m not sure if that’ll work, but we can try. Do we allow Wade back home? If so, I’m going to take Grace and move away from here,” Clay decided.
Grandpa shook his head, “No, we can’t allow Wade back here where he can do more harm.”
“He’ll end up drunk all the time in the saloon,” Cora added.
“Wade needs to go somewhere and start over. I’ll tell him to go to your aunt and uncle’s place in Montana until he can change his ways. It’s either that or prison. Your father and his brother were always different. Your father was kind, and yet you boys knew when he was serious. My other son was always strict with his boys, and they grew up tough. It’ll be a good place for Wade. No one will listen to his complaining or put up with his laziness. Your aunt always says in her letters that she wants you boys to visit. This might be a good time to take her up on it. I’ll send a telegram to your uncle in the morning.”
Elizabeth who had been silent listening to all the ideas and plans whispered, “Do I have to go with him?”
“No, I told you before, you are part of the family and staying right here,” Grandpa assured.
Elizabeth nodded and replied with a quiet thank you. She wiped a few tears from her face grateful that if her marriage was over that she still had a family that loved her.
Cora began making biscuits to go along with the stew she started hours earlier and Elizabeth rose to help her. Cora looked over her shoulder at Grace, “You young
