Instead of watching Tabitha, he kept his eyes on the spinster just in case she tried to grab the woman he loved. Mildredglowered at him. She must have realized he’d do anything to protect Tabitha.
When she reached him, her body fell against him, which knocked him off balance against the stove. At least he was in an upright position. He gathered her in a tight embrace.
“Oh, Nic. I thought I’d never see you again.”
He kissed her forehead, but quickly looked back at Miss Talbot. “Tabitha, my lovely, you should have known I would search everywhere for you until you were found. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to show you my affections.”
“I have been so wrong,” she muttered against his chest. “I should have never told you the things I did. I love you, Nic, and I always will.”
“And I love you more than life itself.” He kissed her forehead again. “Don’t ever leave me. We willmakeit work…our love will prevail.”
“Stop it!” Miss Talbot screamed, holding her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear another word. Do you realize what this is doing to me?” Slowly, she dropped her hands as tears filled her eyes. “All you’re doing is reminding me of a love I will never have. Mr. Woodland will never want me now, and I tried so hard and for so long. I had it all worked out, too.” She wiped at her eyes as she sat up, but still hunched her sore back. “I wanted to show Frederick what a wonderful woman I was. I wanted to do something for him to take notice of me. So one night, I snuck into the church, and I stole one of the statues. When I realized I could get away with this, I decided to steal more. I hired David Griffin to assist me since he was looking to earn money. Of course, I thought it was so that he could purchase Sarah McFadden a wedding ring.” She huffed. “But when we tried to steal more things from the church, we were almost caught, so I decided not to do it again.”
“I don’t understand,” Nic said. “What did you think to gain by doing this?”
“Because I was going to hide them somewhere and then let Frederick know I’d found the missing items. He would think I was trying to help him, and in doing that, he’d see me for the loving and kind woman that I really want to be.” More tears fell. “But now I can’t do that. You will tell him that I’m a killer, and he’ll never love me.”
Tabitha turned her head and looked at Miss Talbot. “I feel sorry for you, Mildred. You are truly one demented woman.”
“Now, now, my lovely.” He squeezed Tabitha’s arm. “We should not judge. That’s the Lord’s job.”
Tilting her head back, she gazed up into his eyes and grinned. “You are turning more and more into a clergyman every day. Imagine that.”
He could see how she struggled with consciousness even now. Mildred must have drugged Tabitha just as the spinster had drugged him.
“Nic, Miss Johnson is in the hidden room as well. We must get her out.”
He threw Mildred a glare before meeting Tabitha’s tender gaze once more. “We will, my lovely. As soon as help arrives.”
“Are others coming?”
He shrugged. “I can only pray they are.”
From his mouth to God’s ears… Outside the house, men’s voices grew louder, and more urgent. Footsteps pounded up the front porch mere seconds before the door flew open and hit the wall.
“Hawthorne? Are you in here?”
Relief washed through Nic. “Trey, I’m in here.”
Trey rushed into the room first, followed by the constable. Behind them were Tristan and Trevor. All the men held pistols.
Another pair of heavy footsteps ran inside the house and into the kitchen. Frederick’s face was pale, his eyes were wide with worry. He glanced from Nic and Tabitha, down to the floor at Mildred.
“What is going on here?” the clergyman snapped.
Nic pointed the knife toward Mildred as he glanced at the constable. “There is David’s murderer.” He switched his focus back to Frederick. “And she is your thief, as well. She confessed everything.”
Frederick scowled. “But you aren’t a clergyman! You cannot listen to confessions.”
Tabitha chuckled very weakly. “No, Mr. Woodland. Miss Talbot admitted her crimes to both of us after Nic told her he wasn’t the clergyman.”
The constable grabbed Miss Talbot’s arm and Frederick helped the wounded woman, taking hold of her other arm. She cried out, but finally stood.
“Frederick, you might want to have the doctor examine her back. She has severe burns,” Nic told him.
Trey and Tristan hurried over to them. Tristan took Tabitha’s hand in his. “Are you all right?”
Sighing heavily, she glanced up at Nic and smiled. “I am now.”
