“Please, forgive me,” she apologized, with sinking shoulders. “I just don’t know what else to do.”
“You won’t be doing that!” Luke said just as sternly, challengingly Timothy with an angry glance. Timothy shook his head.
Madelaine wanted to jump up and scream at Luke that she had lost everything in that fire just now, but she realized thatLuke had lost even more, so her anger evaporated as quickly as it had risen.
“It was a very eventful night,” Mary said with a calm voice. “Why don’t we all go get some rest and discuss things in the morning, hmm?”
“Can I share a room with you tonight, Evy?” Madelaine asked, raising her chin stubbornly, as she set down Simon, to grab Belle from her.
“Uh…” Evelyn glanced over to Caleb, whose eyebrows rose all the way into his hairline.
“No need!” Luke scoffed. “I’ll sleep in the barn!” he grunted.
Madelaine caught Timothy rolling his eyes at him. “That is completely unnecessary. We have plenty of room for everybody,” he said to Luke, but his former son-in-law seemingly didn’t want to hear it, as he grabbed a folded woolen blanket from a bench near the window and marched straight toward the door.
Madelaine sighed heavily. Another day, another fight. At this point, she almost wanted to take Belle and Simon and leave this place. She’d been fighting all this time—for what, to lose it all completely?
As the door slammed shut behind her husband, she sank back on her chair, feeling entirely deflated.
“He just needs time to simmer down,” Timothy said gently. “Much like you, he has lost everything in that fire. Twice now,” he added, turning to Madelaine with a solemn face. “We need to give him some time to process. We all need it. And then we’ll figure it all out together. As a family. Can we all do that?”
Everybody nodded in agreement.
As Madelaine listened to Timothy speak so warmly, so sure and understanding of this most difficult situation, a different set of emotions rose in her. He spoke just like her father used to. He provided the same security and wisdom as her parents had, and in that moment, Madelaine missed them very much.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Stevensville Church
Three days before Christmas
It was the day of the second meeting, and Luke was apprehensive about it. Too much had happened during these last two days, and he still hadn’t fully recovered. Losing his ranch a second time had been a tough blow, and although Madelaine, the children, and Caleb and Evelyn hadn’t been hurt, his ranch hand, Alvarez, was still missing.
Thankfully, he now had a new-old ally on his side, and despite their previous differences, Luke knew that he could trust Timothy wholeheartedly. Both men had had a long conversation last night after everybody else had gone to bed, and they’d finally been able to talk it out. Enough time had passed that Luke didn't want to be angry anymore.
So, while Caleb had gone to the fairgrounds to keep an eye on the possible horse thieves, Timothy was the one accompanying Luke to the meeting today.
Walking into the church at noon, Luke once again wasn’t sure what to expect. This second meeting would decide how many men he’d be able to count on for their ambush against the horse thieves, which was planned for tonight.
Once again, he was taken by surprise.
Although this was supposed to be a secret meeting, people had openly gathered here today, which wasn’t unusual in the days leading up to Christmas. The number of people who’d shown up was nearly as many as during the first meeting. It was impressive and very reassuring indeed.
Unfortunately, as it turned out, not everybody had come to support their fight. As soon as he stepped out, the bickering started.
“Heard your house burned down, Cross!” one man somewhere near the back shouted into the room. There were gasps, hushed chatter, and even the odd laughter.
“Twice in a row! What are the odds?” another added, and the background noises got a little louder.
Luke stepped in front of the altar, facing the crowd, raising both hands to calm the folks down.
“It’s true…” he began, swallowing hard, not sure how he should continue. Timothy stepped right next to him, and his silent presence gave him the strength he needed.
“It’s true,” he started again. “My ranch was attacked two nights ago, while me and my wife were at the Christmas Dance.The house burned down to the ground, I was robbed, and I have to assume that they have kidnapped one of my workers, too.”
Again, there were loud gasps; one woman made a wailing sound. Overall, the people seemed shocked and sympathetic to his plight.
“We can only assume that these were the same criminals who have been attacking ranches, stealing horses, and even murdering people for many years now!” he continued. The outrage over it all was palpable all across the room.
