Dark thoughts are pushed aside as he whispers a prayer of thanks for placing her in his life. He reaches out and takes her hand, pulling her close to him.
“Better now,” he smiles. “Tasha, I’m not good with flowery words, or sentiments.”
Surprise has her looking up at him. “I don’t need them from you.”
“No, but you deserve them and more,” he cups her face, thrilling her. “Tash, I’ve known you for five years, and I’ve loved you since the very first moment you smiled at me.”
Tears fill her beautiful eyes, and he drops to his knee.
“Marry me?” he asks softly. Tasha can’t speak, she nods, and he shouts, calling her Father from the front only to find her in Jacobs arms.
“That’d better be a yes,” her father laughs.
Chapter 25
The moment the sun starts to rise, Aiylin jumps up and begins packing. For the first time since coming, she’s thankful for the lack of luggage. It takes only a few minutes to get her one bag packed and suitcase.
“I’m sorry, Sebastian,” she murmurs as she sits at the desk and pens a letter, hoping it will be enough. She sneaks quietly downstairs and avoids the kitchen. Slipping from the house, she hurries to the stable and finds a stable hand moving around inside.
“I need a ride to town. I have to give my statement to the Sheriff this morning,” she lies and prays he won’t question her too long.
“Of course, Miss Miller,” the young man says and harnesses up a horse to attach to a carriage.
“Thank you,” she says when he drops her off in town. It’s still early, and the town is starting to come to life. She glances at the Sheriff’s office and notes the light on inside. Giving a quick wave, she grabs her suitcase and bag and waits for him to pull away before heading to the train station.
“One ticket to Lockhaven, please,” she tells the clerk. This time she gives her suitcase and her guitar to the clerk. “Can you hold this for me?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That train will be leaving in thirty minutes, miss.”
“Thank you.” She tucks the ticket in her pocket and walks over to the Sheriff’s office. Aiylin paces, trying to build up enough nerve to step inside. When a deputy comes out, she sighs in relief.
“Good morning, I’m supposed to sign a statement.”
“Yes, Ma’am, come inside,” he offers, but she shakes his head.
“I’d prefer not to be around him,” she murmurs.
“I understand, wait here.” He runs inside, grabs the statement and brings it out to her.
“My train is leaving in twenty minutes, deputy, can we do this quickly?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Let’s go over to the train station. They have an office we can borrow.”
Aiylin smiles in relief. “Thank you.”
Fifteen minutes later, she is boarding the train. As she leaves for home, the shakes start. Everything in her screams at her to stay, but she knows it’s time to go home.
It’s a relatively easy train ride. Two hours to Harrisonburg and two hours home. Five hours later, she is walking into the home she shares with her parents. The moment she sees her mother, she bursts into tears. Sobs rack her body, and her Mother guides her to the living room. “Charles!” she shouts.
He comes out of his office and stares at them in surprise. “What happened? We got a telegram saying you were staying for Christmas.”
“Langdon happened!” she wails, wiping her eyes on a handkerchief her mother offers.
An hour later, she is exhausted from explaining and falls into a dreamless sleep.
Sebastian storms into the Sheriff’s office and stops to glare at the prisoner. Jacob stands quickly and walks over to him.
“Sebastian, are you here to give your statement too?”
“What do you mean too?” he demands.
“Aiylin gave hers this morning to one of my deputies.” Sebastian is stunned.
“Where is she!” Langdon screams and shakes the bars.
“He’s insane?” Sebastian asks glaring at the deranged man.
“He goes from raging about Aiylin to sobbing and begging for his drops.”
“Where is she?” Sebastian asks softly.
“She left on the eight a.m. train,” Jacob explains.
Sebastian stares out the window and jumps when Langdon starts laughing. “She left you too! Now let me go,” he hisses. “I can catch up to her, make her understand that she needs me.”
“I can’t believe she played me for a fool,” Sebastian says and sits heavily in a chair near the cell.
“Exactly!” Langdon crawls over near him and tries to reach his pants leg. “Give me my drops, and maybe we can work together to make her pay.”
Sebastian glances at him, and the Sheriff nods, “I’ll get your papers ready for you to sign, Sebastian.” He steps over to his desk to gather his papers.
“I’m listening, Langdon. She can’t keep teasing men like this!” Sebastian hisses.
“Yes, you do see,” he wipes the perspiration from his brow and runs a hand over his red-streaked eyes. “Aiylin’s family has money,” he spits, and his eyes shift again. “I’ve done it before, it works,” he whispers loudly.
“What works?” Sebastian demands.
“Compromise them, and the family pays, it’s simple really,” he giggles manically before moaning and grabbing his head.
“Not with Aiylin?” Sebastian says.
“Aiylin is too smart. She needs to be taught, shown the way,” he hisses. He grips the bars and shoves his face towards the bar. “Like the girl, in New York,” he reaches out and tries to grab at him. “Help me,” he pleads.
“Jacob! I’d give him his drops,” Sebastian calls out.
Langdon sits up quickly and agrees with him, “Yes!”
“I would gladly give them to him, but the U.S. Marshall prefers his prisoners to be lucid to talk to him.”
“He’s
