“Will that help my case?” I asked, not ready to hope just yet. “Or am I stuck here for good? Just give it to me straight. I can’t take any more surprises.”
“It’s a difficult situation,” she began and my heart sank. “I’ve been sitting in the judge’s office for three days trying to figure this all out.” She lifted her gaze, looking over the pair of us. “And I fully expect a gift basket or something for Christmas this year for all the work I’ve been doing.”
I furrowed my brow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re free Connor. No parole, no trial, no tricks. Just free.”
My whole world stopped spinning in an instant and my knees went weak. If not for Ryder’s arms around my waist, I might’ve hit the floor.
“What?” I couldn’t process the words. Free? No parole? It didn’t make sense. “How is that possible?”
“Your case has been reviewed, and all charges have been dropped,” Ms. Randall explained, sliding a folder acrossthe table. “Pete McGrath’s credibility has been completely destroyed. We have over fifty witness statements from the church incident, including Pastor John and Evelyn, testifying to his threats against you. Larry’s statement about the assault was particularly damning, especially considering the bruise on his face.”
I stared at her in disbelief, my hands still gripping Ryder like he might disappear if I let go.
“But the gun?—”
“Was obviously planted,” she finished for me. “Once we started looking into it, the evidence fell apart. The sheriff found Pete’s fingerprints all over it, not yours. And the supposed break-in tools? They matched a set in Pete’s personal workshop that nobody had access to, down to the distinctive wear patterns.”
“My father made a critical mistake,” Ryder said, his voice steadier now though he still hadn’t let go of me. “He was so drunk when he set you up that he didn’t cover his tracks properly. And when the sheriff started questioning the ranch hands about the gun, Joey told them you’d never left their sight that morning. You were all together the entire time.”
I felt dizzy with the implications. “So, I’m just... free? Just like that?”
Ms. Randall’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Not ‘just like that.’ It took a lot of work and a lot of people standing up for you. I’ve never seen a small town rally around a parolee before. It was... unexpected.”
“The whole town?” I asked, stunned.
Ryder nodded against my chest. “After what my father did at the church, word spread fast. By morning, everyone knew he’d assaulted Larry and threatened you. Then when you were arrested...” He paused, swallowing hard. “Evelyn organized half the town to call the sheriff’s office. Pastor John wrote a characterwitness statement. Even Mrs. Henderson from the church dinner testified that my father was clearly drunk and making threats.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around it. These people barely knew me, yet they’d fought for me. After seven years of being seen as nothing but a criminal, the idea that an entire town would stand up for me was almost too much to comprehend.
“What about your father?” I asked, suddenly concerned. “What happened to him?”
Ryder’s expression darkened. “He’s facing charges for assault, filing a false police report, and tampering with evidence. They’re also investigating his treatment of parolees. Turns out Larry kept detailed records of everything for years, just in case.”
“Smart man,” I murmured, remembering Larry taking that punch meant for me. I owed him more than I could ever repay.
Ms. Randall stood up, gathering her papers. “The paperwork is processed. You’re officially a free man, Connor.” She walked over to the door and pulled it open. “Would you two like a minute?”
I nodded, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. “Thank you,” I managed to say, my voice thick with emotion. “For everything.”
She smiled, a genuine expression that reached her eyes. “You’re welcome. I’ll be outside when you’re ready.”
The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving Ryder and me alone. For a moment, we just stared at each other, neither of us quite believing what was happening.
“Is this real?” I whispered, bringing my hand up to touch his face, needing to feel the warmth of his skin to convince myself this wasn’t some cruel dream.
“It’s real,” Ryder said, leaning into my touch. “You’re free, Connor. Completely free.”
The enormity of it hit me all at once. No more parole. No more reporting in. No more living under someone else’s rules. And most importantly, no more hiding what I felt for the man standing in front of me.
“I thought I’d lost you,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “When that cop put the cuffs on me, all I could think about was that I’d never get to see you again, never get to tell you?—”
“I know,” Ryder interrupted, his hands coming up to frame my face. “I know, because I felt the same way. These past three days have been hell.”
I pulled him closer, resting my forehead against his. “I love you, Ryder. I should have said it more when I had the chance.”
“You’ll have plenty of chances now,” he whispered, his lips curving into a smile. “Every day, for as long as you want.”
