Roy took a quick breath and ran his hand through his hair. He had spent the entire walk over here focusing on being strong for Cora that he didn’t adequately prepare himself for what he was about to walk into, but it was too late now.
“What is he doing here?” Alfred snarled, directing his question at Sheriff Williams but keeping his eyes fixed on Roy as if challenging him. Roy didn’t look away.
Staring into Alfred’s eyes was like looking directly into his soul, and a shiver went up Roy’s spine at the thought of Cora—the compassionate, authentic, and virtuous woman that he had come to love—being trapped for life with this narcissistic man.
In that moment, Roy realized that this wasn’t a fight between two men over one woman, as if she were a prize to be won; rather, this quarrel was about Cora’s honor and keeping her safe from a suitor who valued only her physical beauty. If in the end she didn’t choose him and they went their separate paths, he would at least sleep better knowing that Alfred Mills was staying far away from her.
“Excuse me, but who is…this?” Alfred’s mother—there was now no denying their relationship, as they shared the same pointed chin and turned-up nose—referred to Roy as if he were an insect.
Sheriff Williams maintained a calm and steady voice, as if he had removed himself from the situation entirely and had deemed himself an objective party. “Violet, as your son already knows from their schoolyard days, this is Roy Burns. He’s the son of the late Pastor Burns, and he has recently returned to Lakewood to handle his father’s affairs.”
“Roy Burns, the scoundrel from Wheats Ridge? The one who hurt my Alfred when they were kids? What on earthis he doing here?” Violet persisted, her voice growing shrill. “And where did she run off to tonight? Alfred and I demand answers!”
The sheriff’s chest visibly rose as he inhaled and then let out a long, slow exhale. The other four in the room watched him expectantly, a shared anticipation driven by opposing wishes.
“I’m afraid I made a mistake,” Sheriff Williams started, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, as if he was choosing his words carefully. “I made a mistake agreeing to this engagement.”
Differing expressions of shock and surprise flurried through the room, immediately changing the atmosphere. Cora’s eyes widened, Violet’s hand flew to her chest, and Alfred jerked out of his seat. Roy just sat there, slightly lightheaded with adrenaline.
“Excuse me?” Violet shrieked.
“Now just hold on, let me explain,” Sheriff Williams said, fixing his eyes on Cora as if he is addressing only her. “Cora is a lot like her mother. And… and that’s a good thing. The spirit that God gave her embodies everything that made me fall in love with my late wife.” He swallowed hard, and it was clear he was trying to hold back his emotions as he continued. “She’s a wise and tenacious young woman with a mind of her own. She’s also a living example of godliness.”
“Which is all the more reason why you did the right thing for agreeing to our engagement,” Alfred said through gritted teeth.
Sheriff Williams shook his head. “No, Alfred. It’s all the more reason that I should have taken her thoughts into consideration. I never should have given you her blessing without asking her what she wants.”
“This is absurd!” Violet interjected, and now she was also on her feet, hands on her hips. “So then enlighten us, Sheriff. What is it that Cora wants?”
Roy watched the sheriff’s eyes travel to Cora before landing on him, and Roy began to see the sheriff in a different light. Just like his own father, Thomas Williams was a man who loved his child and had made misguided decisions based on a pure intention—what he believed was in her best interest. Roy was learning that the absence of understanding someone didn’t equate to an absence of love for that person. It just meant that humans were flawed by their very nature.
Sheriff Williams gave Roy the subtlest of nods before answering Violet’s question. “Cora has made it very clear to me that she loves Roy Burns.”
“This is nonsense!” Violet shrieked, sweeping her arms theatrically to the side. “And it is simply too late, everything has been arranged! For Heaven’s sake, we already put an engagement announcement in the paper. Can you imagine the embarrassment?”
Meanwhile, Alfred stepped menacingly toward Roy.
“I knew it,” Alfred growled, and Roy stood up to face him like a man. “You filthy liar. I knew there was something going on between you when I saw you in front of the bank that day.”
“I wasn’t lying,” Roy said calmly. “I told you that Cora and I were just friends. At the time, that was true. Things have since changed. That’s what happens when you fall in love with someone. You can understand that, since you are also in love with Cora, right?”
Roy chose his words deliberately, knowing that Alfred’s true feelings, or lack thereof with regard to Cora, would eventually come out. Although Alfred didn’t respond verbally, a darkness fell over his eyes that spoke louder than a thousand words. His upper lip curled, and Roy wondered if he even realized he was doing it or if it was unconscious, the ugly parts of his soul sneaking their way to the surface. Alfred’s fury seemed to be intensified now, his voice once again betraying his signature lisp that came out when he was mad.
“I told you to stay away from her!” Alfred shouted. Before Roy could back away and react, Alfred was holding Roy by the shirt and had him pinned to the wall. Roy remained calm, not wanting to escalate the situation further. He simply stared down at Alfred, who was gritting his teeth like a ferocious dog.
Sheriff Williams jumped to his feet to intervene, but Cora was closer and quicker. “You let go of him!” she shouted, grabbing Alfred by the arm to pull him off Roy.
“Stay out of this!” Alfred released Roy and spun to face Cora, pushing her with his forearm with such force that she fell backward onto the chair. On the way down, her elbow bumped against the corner of the side table, and she grabbed it, wincing with pained surprise.
Roy didn’t stop to think about what he did next. Whether he was devolving back to that thirteen-year-old kid on the schoolyard or evolving into a man with a primal urge to protect the woman that he loved, he didn’t know. He simply lifted his hand and slugged his fist across the bottom of Alfred’s jaw. Alfred staggered backward and was caught by Violet, whose face contorted in righteous indignation. Roy shook his hand to manage the throbbing pain that likely matched the pain on Alfred’s jaw. They would both be sore the next day.
“This is outrageous!” Violet squawked as Alfred righted himself, rubbing his jaw. “My son and the Mills family name willnotbe made out to be a fool by the daughter of the town sheriff and some lowlife from Wheats Ridge!”
“Mrs. Mills, I think it’s best if both you and Alfred left my property now,” Sheriff Williams said coolly, pushing the door open for them.
“Come, Alfred,” Violet said crisply, as Alfred was still shellshocked, nursing his jaw that was now red where Roy’s fist made contact. Alfred glared menacingly at Roy as he followed his mother out the door but didn’t say anything.
Once they were on the porch, Sheriff Williams started to close the door behind them, but Violet abruptly put her hand out to stop him, speaking once more in a low voice that was so unlike the high-pitched tone she had maintained the rest of the evening, her eyes boring into each of them one at a time
