“What did you say?” I ask him as the three of us walk down the hill a few moments later, curious to know which hymn he chose.
“That we love you,” Aiden says, matter-of-factly. “That we will keep you safe. Make sure you are happy. Gave him my word.”
“I love you, too,” I say, giving both their hands a squeeze and smiling not only because, of course, that is what Aiden would think to say, but also because it’s what I would say if it were his family I was promising to. If it were Cypress’s. Chances that will never come, but I like to think they still know.
We keep walking, the horses following behind us once we collect them at the bottom of the hill, and I know we’re almost to the house when Tess’s head perks up. Still hoping for hay at the end of the trail even though this isn’t where we’re stopping. Not for long anyway.
We see the house a few moments later, and I’m struck by how much shorter the journey had been from the hill now that I’m no longer walking it alone. How much less afraid I feel to approach the threshold. Even when there is currently a gun being pointed at me from the other side of it.
“Stop right there,” says the woman in the doorway. Her long blonde hair is plaited into a braid and her expression is determined as she stands her ground with her rifle. “Don’t come any closer.”
Cypress, Aiden, and I all stop, and I can sense that Aiden likes this idea even less now than he had before. Still not a fan of walking right up to the front door, and I suppose I can see his point.
“We aren’t here to take anything, I promise,” I tell her. “I know the people who used to live here.”
“Well, we live here now,” she says back. “So I suggest you keep moving before I shoot you and your two fellas there.”
“There’s no need for that,” I try to reassure her, temporarily distracted when I spot three small faces peeking out from behind her skirt.
She sees me see them, and shoots a round in the air in reply. “Last chance.”
“We’re not here to take anything,” I tell her again. “We’re here togiveyou money.”
She doesn’t lower her weapon, but I can see her hesitate, clearly surprised by my reply. “Why would you do something like that?”
“Someone lied to you, right?” Slowly, I reach for the bag at my hip, keeping it clear I’m not going for a weapon. “To get you to buy the land?”
She frowns. “How do you—”
“Happened to the last family, too. But it won’t happen again. We made sure of it.”
She stares at me, then at Aiden and Cypress. They both nod in confirmation, and eventually, she lowers her weapon. “They’re really gone?”
“They’re gone,” I repeat, watching as the three children press forward, crowding around their mama as she hugs each of them in turn. Three girls. The oldest, who couldn’t be more than eleven, remains after the other two run back inside to play. Their interest no longer held now that the danger appears to have passed.
“My husband is out in the fields. He’s not going to believe when I tell him…” the woman says, still wary. “This isn’t a trick?”
“It’s not,” I say, stepping forward and holding out the small leather bag. “This is for you.”
“What is it?” she says automatically. “We don’t need charity.”
I keep my hand out anyway. “I’m not offering you anythingthat isn’t yours. They took your money. We took it back.”
She eyes it. “That looks heavier than what we paid. I’m not trading one loan for another.”
“It’s not a loan. It’s yours. You can choose to do what you like with it. Go home. Find a new place. It’s up to you.”
The woman shakes her head. “Why would you do this?”
“So history doesn’t repeat,” I tell her. “If you don’t take it, we’ll just get rid of it.”
“Get rid of it?”
I jerk my head in Cypress’s direction. “He likes to burn it.”
“Toburnit?” She snaps it from my hand, now giving Cypress a wary look and I don’t have to see Aiden to be able to picture the smile he’s fighting to hide. “Why would you burn it?”
“We have what we need,” I tell her. “Now you will, too.”