“It amazes me how much I desire you all the time. Wanting you is a constant background melody in my life. It’s like hearing birdsong while I work the mine, or the stream bubbling over the rocks—always there and as pleasing to the soul as it is to the ear.”
“Have you ever considered writing poetry?” she teased as she reached down to wrap her hand around the evidence of all that wanting.
He moaned, and all conversation stopped as they made love in a slow, languorous way. They must both still be reveling in the afterglow of relief. The danger had passed them by, and their lovemaking had a deeper feel, more intimate if such a thing was possible.
Many blissful minutes later, Meredith stretched and rose from bed. “We need to check on Charles and get breakfast going.” She peered out the window as she washed and dressed. The sky was overcast and much darker toward the northwest.
“Aye,” Daniel agreed. “Do you want to walk into town with me? Since Charles is incapacitated, I’ll need to visit the sawmill and the bank.”
“It’s going to rain. Speaking of trips to town, isn’t the wagon still sitting in the ravine where it broke?”
“I hope not. I arranged to have it hauled to the blacksmith’s forge where it will be repaired.” He came to stand beside her and gazed out the window. “Hmm. I guess the trip into town can wait until tomorrow. I’m starving. Let’s make breakfast and see to our patient.”
Meredith headed down the stairs, followed by Daniel. Oliver was always the last to get up in the morning, but his blankets were folded and set against the wall. He wasn’t there and neither was his backpack. She frowned. “Where do you suppose Oliver has gone?”
Daniel added a few more pieces of tinder and lit the cookstove. “Perhaps he decided to get an early start on the laundry to avoid the rain.”
“He’s not exactly what I’d call a morning person.” She supposed it was possible, but why take his backpack to the shed? None of his dime novels were sitting on the table between the two chairs either. Meredith reached into her pocket and pressed the small leather pouch between her fingers. The feel of the remaining diamond reassured her. Oliver couldn’t have gone far, and he wouldn’t be gone for long.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” She left the cabin and took the path to the outhouse, worrying about what the impulsive teen was up to now. A breeze had picked up, and the air held the promise of impending rain. Perhaps Daniel was right, and Oliver was doing laundry early in anticipation of the storm.
On her way back, she went to the shed to see if Oliver might be there. The structure that also served as a stable for the mules had an empty feel to it. No mules, no wagon, and no Oliver.
Meredith stared at the half-barrel with the ringer attached. Then her gaze moved to the tub where they all bathed and the laundry was washed. The sensation that had awakened her … that sense that something had happened came back in a rush, and a niggling worry took hold.
She reached for the leather pouch in her pocket and drew it out. Surely she could look at the diamond without triggering a portal. Traveling through time and space took pointed concentration, not a casual glance. Meredith tugged at the opening and upended the pouch over her palm.
A pebble landed in her hand—not a magically infused uncut diamond, but an ordinary, smooth, black … pebble. All she could do for several seconds was stare in disbelief as a chill spread through her veins. When had the little shit stolen the diamond and replaced it with pebble? Oliver must have made the trade while she slept, because she always kept the pouch in a pocket.
He’d gone home without her, leaving her stranded.
Sinking to the ground, she leaned against the shed wall and drew her knees up to her chest. As she wrapped her arms around them, her surroundings faded in a haze of numb bewilderment. Why? Why would he do such a thing? An odd feeling of disassociation overcame her. Unable to accept the unacceptable she just … checked out. Her hands and feet had gone icy, and her mind went completely blank
She remained like that for what seemed like an eternity. She couldn’t even cry.
“Meredith,” Daniel called. “Where are you, love?”
She dropped her forehead to her knees and said nothing. She needed time alone, time to come to grips with the crime Oliver had committed. Facing Daniel right now was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Meredith!” He crouched down beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“What is it? What has happened?”
Meredith swallowed a few times before lifting her head. She held out the hand that still gripped the pebble and showed it to him. “Don’t you dare say ‘I told you so,’” she croaked.
“I don’t understand.” His expression turned to concern and puzzlement.
“I should’ve taken your advice and placed the remaining diamond in your strongbox. I should’ve taken it more seriously when you said Oliver would steal from me.” She took in a much needed gulp of air. “The little shit stole the remaining diamond and replaced it with this pebble.” She tilted her hand and let the small stone drop to the ground. “He’s gone, and I’m stranded.”
“But … you were going to stay anyway. We’re going marry and—”
“When did I agree to that? I never said I’d stay, just like you never said you’d leave.” Her anger and helplessness boiled over, and Daniel looked as if she’d slapped him. Meredith lowered her forehead to her knees again so she didn’t have to see the hurt in his eyes.
“It has always been ifs between
