“I...it’s...lies! All of it!” he regained his voice. “I am a very wealthy man your Honor! How dare you believe this riff-raff’s word over mine?”
The gavel banged down hard with finality. “I have heard enough.” He turned towards Rosaline. “Given the new evidence presented by Mr. Summers, I find that there are no reasonable grounds to hold you any longer. The court will release you from custody.”
He turned and nodded at the two deputies standing at the back of the courtroom. “Please take Mr. Voss and Mr. Higgs into custody.” When the two men tried to protest he stared them down until they were silent.
“The two of you have clearly been colluding to defraud and assault innocent families for your own gain. You will both be tried for fraud, kidnapping, and assault.”
The two deputies came forward and dragged the angrily protesting men away, but Thomas was too overcome with joy to revel in their fall, longing to leap to his feet and run to Rosaline.
Finally the judge decreed, “court dismissed.” The gavel banged.
Thomas waited patiently as the court emptied.
Ezrah walked over to Rosaline and winked. “Well done lass, I knew God would see us right in the end. You may go and gather the rest of your things in the holding chamber,” he smiled from ear to ear. “Then you may go home to your family.”
Thomas watched as she opened the door behind her and disappeared. Ezrah smiled at him and nodded in the direction of the door.
Thomas stood and walked to the door, he didn’t need a second invitation. He wasn’t going to waste a single moment without telling Rosaline what he needed to say.
He opened the door and walked into the dimly lit room.
Rosaline was standing with her back to him, gathering her belongings, she turned as he entered the room. “Oh, Thomas isn’t it wonderful...”
Her words were cut off as his lips pressed down on hers and he drew her as close to him as he possibly could, kissing her with all the emotions and frustrations that had been pent up in his heart.
Thomas drew back after a few minutes and watched as Rosaline took a moment to open her eyes. Her beautiful lashes were brushing the tops of cheeks that were flushing the deepest shade of pink. His heart twisted as he realized just how beautiful she was. He had always thought her pretty, but now that he saw her through the eyes of love, he knew that she was as breathtakingly beautiful outside as her gentle heart was on the inside.
He took her face between his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. “Rosaline I love you, I have loved you for a while now. You and everything about you, your kind heart that stitched my family back together. Your unwavering faith that helped show me the way. You, Mrs. Rosaline Stratton, are the answer to the prayers I didn’t have the courage to pray,” he gently brushed her lips with his. “Never doubt any of that for a single moment.”
Tears poured down her cheeks.
“Even if you do not love me yet, Rosaline, I will spend the rest of my life trying to win your love.”
She placed her hand over his and shut her eyes. “I love you, Thomas Stratton, I have loved you for far longer than even I realized.”
“Oh, my darling.” He drew her once more into his embrace.
THE END?
