“That’s a lie,” Sarah yelled and rose.
“She put holes in the condom that you gave your brother last night. She wanted you to think that you were the one who got her pregnant.”
Sarah’s mouth parted as the blood drained from her face. “She’s lying.”
“Afraid not.” Grace tossed a metal box onto the table with cash, jewels and Sam’s wallet and phone inside. Where the rest of the jewelry and cash had come from she didn’t have a clue, but she knew exactlywho’d stolen it. “She planned to kill you on your one year anniversary, for the money.”
“I would never.” Sarah raised a hand to her chest as if Grace had stabbed her in the heart with a knife. There was still a possibility.
“What did you do?” Richard asked, rising. His voice grew deeper with each syllable.
“It’s worse,” Grace added. “She was with Steve when he shot your brother in the barn. They left him for dead after telling him their plan for Sarah to trick you into marrying her, and how Steve was going to kill you. They didn’t know I was there. I witnessed the entire thing.”
“Oh my God,” Annalise shrieked. “Where’s Sam?”
Grace glanced over her shoulder. “He’s fine. I got us out of the barn and found help. He’s recovering.”
Sarah started inching around the table, as if she was going to run, and the entire wedding party was just watching her make her way to the door when the police stepped into view, stopping her advance.
“Sarah Singletary, you’re under arrest for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. You have the right to remain silent.”
“I’ll kill you,” she shrieked and broke free, making a beeline straight for Grace,but she was stopped short by Annalise, who stepped in front of Sarah and punched her in the nose.
The police grabbed Sarah, and this time, put her in cuffs and led her from the room.
Richard plopped down in his chair and dropped his gaze. His world had crumbled in the blink of an eye. The betrayal wouldn’t be easy to swallow. Seconds ticked by in the silent room. No one spoke; no one dared. Richard raised his gaze to Grace.
“Where’s my brother?”
“Doc Halloway’s house.”
Annalise grabbed Grace’s hand and followed Richard from the room and out of the hotel. The ride back to the doctor’s home was made in silence. Two men stood on the porch wearing cowboy hats and brandishing shotguns, as if on a lookout in the Wild West. Grace would have taken a picture for Aunt Betty if the situation hadn’t been so dire.
Doc Halloway walked out onto the porch along with Rose, each carrying weapons aimed at the car. It wasn’t until Annalise, Richard, and Grace stepped out that everyone let down their guard.
Annalise and Richard hurried inside, following behind Rose. Grace stopped in front of the doc.
“Has he woken yet?”
“Yes, about five minutes after you left. He’s been asking for you, and he wasn’t happy when I told him that you’d gone to stop the wedding, until I told him you’d gone to the police station first.”
“Thank you for helping us and for what you did for him.” Grace kissed the old man’s cheek. “I don’t know how I can repay you.”
“I’ve had this property since his grandparents owned the ranch. They’ve helped me more times than I care to admit. They’re good people.”
“I know.”
“Grace,” Annalise said as she poked her head outside the door. “Sam wants to see you.”
“Thanks again, Doc.” Grace squeezed his arm as she passed and followed Sam’s mom into the house. Richard was sitting next to the bed with his head in his hands as Grace entered the room. There weren’t any words that would ever suffice at making things right again after what had happened.
“I’m so sorry,” Richard repeated over and over again.
“You dodged a bullet,” Sam said, cupping the back of Richard’s neck.
“You didn’t,” Richard said, glancing up at his brother with tears in his eyes.
Annalise cleared her throat, and the guys looked in her direction. There was anawkwardness that hadn’t been there before. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Grace was responsible for breaking the news, maybe not. “Richard, let’s give them a minute.”
