“You can do better, Tucker,” she quips.
Tucker leans down and turns her dark head to his. He kisses her softly and whispers, “Goodnight Abbilene.”
Her hand reaches up and her fingers thread through his silky strands. She sighs and smiles at him as he walks away.
“Sweet dreams, Tucker,” she whispers.
Abbie sleeps late the next morning. A beam of light shines in her eyes causing her to frown. Mason watches her sleep and smiles, waiting for her to open her eyes.
When Abbie opens one eye to peek at him, he jumps. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” he murmurs.
“The sun woke me, Mason. Who told him he could shine in my eyes?” she grabs a pillow and covers her head, causing him to giggle.
“You think that’s funny?” Abbie says from under the pillow.
“Yes, your funny, Miss Abbie,” he laughs.
Abbie lifts the pillow to look at him, and softly pops him with it. “Pillow fight!” she teases.
Mason stares at her in shock. “You hit me!” he gasps.
“Better get one, Mason. Oh, NO! I can’t control it! The pillow wants to mess up your hair!” she shouts and rubs it all over his head causing his curls to stand up with static.
Abbie giggles at the outrage and shock on his face. Mason grabs a pillow and swings it, popping Abbie on the side of her head, causing her to laugh even harder.
“That’s right, Mason. Gilberts never surrender!” They play for a few minutes before Abbie grabs him and falls back on the bed, with a shout of laughter.
“It’s a tie! I smell bacon, Mason,” she teases.
“That was fun, Miss Abbie,” he says hugging her tight before scrambling from the bed.
“Good. We will have lots of fun together. Now, go check on Coralie and I will meet you in the kitchen. Grandma should be awake.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he runs from the room and she laughs.
When she enters the kitchen a little while later, she finds her Mother showing Mason how to make biscuits and Tucker’s mother, Nora, holding Coralie.
“There’s my girl,” she hurries to her and Coralie reaches for her with a shriek.
The women laugh as Abbie says, “Please tell me she will outgrow that.”
“One day you will miss that,” Nora teases.
Abbie kisses Coralie and watches her mother with Mason. “I’m sure,” she murmurs. “I never dreamed I’d see this day. Standing in the kitchen with my children and my mother. I let those dreams die,” she says softly.
Nora reaches up and takes her hand, “God dreams bigger than we ever could.”
“Where’s Mr. Tucker?” Mason asks glancing around the kitchen with a frown.
“He had to go to town, but he promised to be back soon,” Beth replies. “Mason, you can take this biscuit dough and make any shape you want. It will be your special biscuit.”
Abbie stands Coralie up on her feet and holds her hands tight to help build her strength. “Come on baby girl, you can do it,” she says to her.
Coralie wobbles and Abbie calls to Mason, “I used to make snowmen, in the winter.”
“What will you make?” Beth asks.
“I don’t know,” Mason frowns thinking about his own creation.
“Whatever you choose it will be wonderful. Take your time.”
“We have to start planning Thanksgiving, Beth. It’s coming up fast!” Nora says excitedly.
“Yes, I know, and we have so much to be thankful for this year!”
Abbie watches and her heart swells with joy. Thank you, she whispers to the Lord.
Chapter 55
“Marcus, we’ve got them!” Don says.
“What are you talking about?” he demands.
“The man traveling with Mrs. Gilbert is back! I just saw him go into the general store!”
“What are you doing here?” he shouts.
“I left two men to watch so I could come get you,” Don explains. “We follow him, and we will find her!”
“Of course!” he grabs his coat and pistols and tries to step around Don, but he stops him.
“You need to pay us first,” Don declares.
“Excuse me?” he snarls.
“The men are demanding payment. You haven’t paid any of us in weeks.”
“You’ll get your payment. Now, get out of my way, before I lose them!” he shouts.
“No, Sir,” Don says calmly. “The way I see it you need us…”
Marcus draws his pistol out and shoots Don in the stomach and waits for him to fall. He leans over and grins into his shocked face.
“I don’t need anyone! I was never going to pay you. Let me tell you a secret, there is no money. As soon as I kill this woman and her child, I’m going to take care of the general manager. No one will be left to rebuild this damn mill.” He laughs as he walks to the door. “My business will double, and my financial troubles will be over,” he mumbles to himself.
“Tell me where she is and I’ll make sure your wife gets your payment,” Marcus promises.
Don groans on the ground and tries to get up but blood is pumping out of his wound. “They are waiting for you out front,” Don laughs at the surprised look on Marcus’s face.
“The plan was to lead you to the Sheriff.” Instead he tried to get paid from both parties.
Don’s eyes fill with tears, “Take care of my wife! You’ll find them outside of town at the Sheriffs farm,” he mumbles before the darkness claims him.
Marcus stomps out of the room and takes the back stairs down to the alley. No one will stop him now. He runs down the back street and finds a horse tied up with a wagon.
Grinning he releases the horse and mounts him to wait outside
