Jake leaned the Sharps against the door jamb, opened the door, then grabbed the heavy rifle and entered. He kicked the door closed with his right boot heel then froze.
Sara had been standing near the couch, and had expected to leap into his arms, but when he entered, she saw that his hands were already full. So, she just stood quietly until he saw her.
Jake gaped at her for another three seconds before he turned, set both rifles on the closest flat surface and took three long strides across the room.
He didn’t say a word before he scooped her in his arms and pulled her against him, leaving her feet suspended two inches off the floor.
Sara was so overwhelmed that she didn’t speak either, but just rested her head against his shoulder.
They remained in the center of the room, bound tightly to each other for almost a minute before Jake slowly lowered her to the floor.
She smiled and said, “Welcome home, Jake.”
“I couldn’t have hoped for a more wonderful welcoming. Is anyone else in the house?”
“Does it matter?”
Jake smiled as he shook his head then finally kissed her.
Sara’s stored desires and hopes exploded as she kissed him. Nothing else in the world mattered now.
When the kiss ended, Jake asked, “How long will you be staying? I have a lot to tell you.”
“I’ll stay as long as you want me to stay, Jake. I missed you terribly.”
“I missed you just as much, Sara. I just wish I’d found my father. Now I’ll never know why he murdered my mother. I may not figure out why Dave Forrest left, either.”
“There’s an envelope with your name on it sitting on the desk in your office. It’s probably from him.”
Jake released Sara then quickly asked, “Did you read it yet?”
“No. It was addressed to you.”
He took her hand then towed her to the office. After opening the door, he let her hand go and stepped quickly to the desk. He snatched the letter but didn’t sit behind the desk. He walked to one of the straight-backed chairs and pulled it closer to another. He then looked at Sara who understood that one was meant for her. It was Jake’s way of telling her that he already considered her a true partner.
Jake waited for Sara to sit down before he took his seat next to her. He then opened the envelope’s flap and pulled out two folded pages. He had recognized Dave’s handwriting on the envelope, so he knew he’d soon learn why he’d gone. He hoped it wasn’t anything to do with his father. It didn’t, but what he would read was just as stunning.
He held the letter in between him and Sara so she could read at the same time.
They read:
Dear Jake,
This is a hard letter for me to write, but I hope you’ll understand.
The day after you left, I received a letter from my sister-in-law, Violet. I know you didn’t even know I had a sister-in-law or a brother. No one did. I kept it a secret because of my shameful actions before I arrived on the Elk.
My younger brother Abe and I started a small ranch in Meagher County near Judith Creek about twelve years ago. Once it was going well, he married Violet. She was a very pretty young woman and, to be honest, I was jealous. Abe didn’t notice, so it was okay for a while.
But Violet quickly realized that I was attracted to her and we soon began sharing private time together. You can imagine how hard it was to do that on a small ranch. To my eternal shame, I even planned to run away with her. I believe she would have come with me if I’d asked, but she soon discovered that she was pregnant.
Abe was ecstatic, but I was terrified that the baby might look more like me than my brother. I didn’t even tell Violet of my fears, but I think she knew. Like a coward, I just loaded up a packhorse and rode away in the night. I headed north to Fort Benton and was hired by your father.
After I settled in on the Elk, I got a post office box and wrote a letter to Abe and Violet. Violet wrote to me fairly often over the years. Abe never suspected anything. The first baby was a boy they named David. I couldn’t imagine how that made Violet feel. She had two more children. A girl they named Mary and another boy they named Saul. Violet is convinced that David is my son. I can’t imagine any man feeling more like a cur than I did when I read that letter.
I hadn’t received a letter from Violet in six months when I found one in my post office box on Wednesday. Violet wrote that Abe had died when he was gored by a bull. He never even saw a doctor and she had to dig his grave.
She asked if I could return to the ranch because she wasn’t able to keep it going. Abe had taken out a mortgage to buy more cattle, and she was worried about losing the ranch and the home for the children.
I couldn’t tell you because you were already gone, and I was even close to not writing a letter at all because of my shame. But after your father was gone, I couldn’t just disappear without letting you know why.
I apologize for taking the money, but I needed it to help save my ranch and provide for Violet and the children, including my son. I included an IOU for the seven hundred dollars. So, if I can make it profitable, I’ll send you what I can.
I really would appreciate it if you kept this secret between us,
