Chapter Thirty-five
Daisy-Mae
Aweek after Eddie’sdeath, his body is laid to rest in a small graveside ceremony in Red River Canyon.Or, it was supposed to be small.Eddie had no love for his hometown, but with the whole town turning out, I guess the same wasn’t true for them.Perhaps some people were just here to get the tea like Miss Wilma Withington and Miss Irene Bennett, what else are small-town gossips for?There is sure to be a write up on the Red River Canyon Report Facebook page this evening.It will likely read: Local Widow Shacks up with Cowboy, Fails to Host Dead Husband’s Wake.
Today, I should be sad.Ishouldbe crying my eyes out right now, but as everyone crowds around the gravesite, I’m just going through the motions.
Any love I have for that man died when he endangered our son’s life, but with both of Eddie’s parents gone, there isn’t anyone else who cares enough about him to organize a proper send off.So for one last time, I did my duty as a wife, because I would hope he would’ve done the same for me.
As much as I don’t want to shed a tear, when they lower him to the ground, a startled cry bubbles out of my chest.I don’t know if it was just reflex or all of the old hurt he caused finally leaving me, but I know these are the last tears I’ll shed for him.
Once the service is finished, I stay a little with West and Hadley at my side and thank everyone for coming.I chose not to host a wake, because I wasn’t sure there would be any point.Eddie burned a lot of bridges in this town when he left me for a girl barely out of high school.I can’t help but feel like that was a terrible oversight on my behalf.
Miss Mabel approaches the three of us, and pulls me into a hug.“Darling, girl, how are you doing?”
“I ...er,” the truth is, I didn’t know how to answer that.Between watching a man I once loved lowered into the ground, thinking he left us for dead and fed us to the wolves only to find out he left Waylon and I millions?I had no clue how to feel.
“A silly question, I suppose.”
“Thank you for coming.And I’m sorry there’s no wake.I didn’t really expect many people to show up to send Eddie off.I know he didn’t have a lot of friends here.”
She grins, as if she thinks I’m particularly endearing.“Oh, darling girl.None of these people are here for Eddie.”
I frown.“I don’t understand.”
“The entire town showed up today for you, Daisy-Mae.”
Miss Mabel squeezes my hand and gives me a warm smile.Tears prick my eyes and a lump forms in my throat.West wraps an arm around me, pulling me close and I lean into him.I’d gotten so used to touching him, to him being my rock, that I don’t realize this is the first time most of the town has seen us together, and I can see we’ve already set tongues wagging if the faces of the Red River Canyon Report are anything to go off.Right now, I don’t even care.I lean into him and turn my attention back to Miss Mabel.“That means a lot.Thank you.”
“Well, if there’s anything we can do.”
I nod and sniff back my tears at the love and generosity of these people who aren’t family, but who’ve always treated me like a member of their own.
“And you, Mr.Winchester,” she says to West.“I’m glad you finally came to your senses.”
He smiles.“Me too, ma’am.”
“Meant what I said about our girl here, Winchester.”
“I know it, Miss Mabel.I’m not gonna do anything to mess this up.”
“Glad to hear it.”She smiles and then squeezes Hadley’s hand.“Nice to see you home, Hadley.”
“Good to see you too, Miss Mabel.”
I greet each and every one of the townsfolk in attendance and smile politely as they offer their condolences.Waylon fusses through every stranger in his face and well-meaning tummy tickle, and I’m worn out.
When everyone leaves, I turn and take one last look at the mound of dirt covering my husband’s final resting place.As I walk away, maybe I can finally put all the damage he’s done to me over the years to rest too.
***
After the funeral,and another tearful goodbye with Hadley, I asked West to leave me and Waylon at my house so I could tidy up, and grab a few more of our things.He didn’t like it, but he’d given me that.I would drive my Fiat back to the ranch, and I promised to be back before dark.
