Sometimes Love Means Letting Go – Ending
[Previous] My legs hurt, was Sandy’s first coherent thought. That was actually a good sign as he’d not been able to feel them at all right before he blacked out. His second thought was mumbled aloud: “Guess that means I’m not dead after all.” “Nope,” his brother in law’s voice said cheerfully. “And hopefully you won’t be for a good long time. You are a pain in the backside sometimes, but we do like having you around.” Sandy opened eyelids that felt like lead. It was light in his room, the morning sun streaming in through the curtains. Jon was sitting in a chair nearby, his long legs...
Read MoreSometimes Love Means Letting Go – Part 12
[Previous] Sandy was still on the floor, propped up against a wall, when the kids returned. He held up a hand to fend off any questions. “I was feeling dizzy again,” was all he said. Rose gave him a too-sharp look as though she could see he wasn’t telling the whole truth, but then she glanced at Davy and Robin and thankfully held her tongue. “How are you guys? Everybody okay?” Sandy demanded of them, looking them over as carefully as he could from his sitting position. They seemed to be fine, no obvious injuries. Rose had a long scratch down one pale cheek, but other than that they...
Read MoreSometimes Love Means Letting Go – Part 11
[Previous] The man Uncle Sandy had called Miller was still talking when Jackson had beckoned everyone to the back of the house. “I’ve got a real bad feeling about this,” he whispered. “Those guys aren’t going to leave without causing a lot of trouble.” The two oldest grandchildren had been there for the family conference; the younger kids had not. Rose understood immediately what Jack was referring to. “The barns?” she asked quietly. “Probably.” Fire? she mouthed at him. Her brother’s expression was bleak. “But what can we do?” Jordana whined. “We’re just kids.” Jack looked at her...
Read MoreSometimes Love Means Letting Go – Part 10
[Previous] Early May 1902 It was the first day of spring round-up, and instead of being out with the rest of the hands—and the majority of the family—Sandy was stuck at home, sick. Rachel Marshall had done what she could with her herbs and limited Healing ability, so while he was no longer puking his guts out, he was still feverish and weak as newborn, and dizzy as heck to boot. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Sandy was supposed to be leading the branding crew this year, and Jack and Rose were supposed to go along to help for the first time. However, after three weeks of...
Read MoreSometimes Love Means Letting Go – Part 9
[Previous] Rose closed the door to her parents’ room behind her and leaned against it, arms folded defensively across her chest. She settled her face into one of her mama’s quiet expressions, but she doubted she could hold it long, her mind was so a-spin. Daddy—But he’s not my dad. What do I call him? Do I have to call him Jon now? Oh mercy, I can’t do that!—spoke first. “Sweetheart, what’s eating you? You know you can talk to your mama and me about anything, right?” Rose cringed as he said that, her face twisting in pain. Stop it, Rose. If you want answers, you’re going to have to...
Read MoreSometimes Love Means Letting Go – Part 8
[Previous] “Where’s Rose?” Sandy asked at lunch the next day. “Haven’t seen her all morning.” Kat frowned thoughtfully as she finished cutting Robin’s sandwich and placed it in front of her. “I haven’t seen her either, but then again, I’ve been working on our financial records most of the morning.” There was whispering from the other end of the table. “Um, Mama?” Jackson spoke up, “Me and Robin—” “Robin and I,” Kat corrected automatically. “Robin and I haven’t seen Rose since before breakfast.” From down the hall came the unmistakable sound of Jon walking, that odd, hesitant...
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