When the second storm of fiery ardor had passed, they held each other and talked; all the obstacles to a future together were gone.
“I missed you, Brooklyn. I missed you so much I thought at times my heart would simply stop beating and I would curl up and die.” They were lying on their sides, facing each other. He reached out and traced the side of her face with his fingertips.
“I felt the same way, Lance. It was so hard! At night especially. The hours would pass and I would lie there in agony; longing for you. If I had given in to the torment of it, I would have been here much sooner.” Her eyes were misty.
“Would that have really been so bad?” he asked her.
“No, not bad at all. But, I had things to take care of,” she replied. “You haven’t even asked me about my marriage.”
“That’s because I might not want to hear what you say. And maybe I don’t even care, just as long as you’re here with me now. You didn’t talk about it on the way here, so I thought maybe you didn’t want to tell me. You know, I’m sorry for your husband, but I love you. I love you with everything that’s in me and I’ll take you no matter what. Married or single. For the night, or for a lifetime. I hope it’s forever, but I won’t turn anything down. Whatever you’re willing to give me, Brooklyn.” His voice moved her as it had from the beginning. She smiled at him.
“I’m free, Lance. We’re free to be together. I’ll tell you all the details later. But not now, I don’t want to spoil this moment. It is enough for now, isn’t it?” She caressed his face, her heart swelling with love and tenderness.
“It’s enough for me.” Their mouths met in a long kiss.
Eventually, they roused and dressed. Brook accompanied him outside where the usual chores awaited.
“Gilbert’s a mama!” Brook exclaimed as they approached the pen. Gilbert’s head shot up at the sound of Brook’s voice and she did a couple of turns near the gate. When Lance freed her from the enclosure, she rushed toward Brook and nuzzled her hands. As she reared up on her hind legs for a hug, Lance stepped in.
“Whoa!” He took the hug instead. “Calm down, gal. We don’t want to knock Brooklyn off her feet!”
“You already did that.” Brook smiled at him and reached over to pat Gilbert’s side. The kid wandered out of the pen and stood near her mother, looking up at Brook with curious eyes.
“Oh, how cute!” Brook leaned down to pet the small goat, but it sidled away from her. “I guess she’ll have to get used to me.”
“Well, Gilbert’s glad you’re back,” Lance announced. “She looked for you, you know. At first.”
“She did?”
“So did I, Brooklyn. Even though I knew it was impossible, that I wouldn’t see you. That you weren’t here.” He ducked his head.
Brook squeezed his hand before turning away. She separated from the group and meandered around the homestead as Lance tended to the chores. The feeling of being home intensified with every step.
“How beautiful it is here,” she said. I never want to leave again.
Later that evening, after darkness had fallen and after their meal was finished, Brook sat in her old chair and Lance sat in his. They caught up on all that had happened during their time apart. The radio cooperated, and soft music played in the background. Night sounds drifted in on a sweet clean breeze through the open windows.
In bed that night they both felt right again, as if they had just returned safely from a long, dark, and dangerous journey.
Chapter 61
Brook returned to Denver twice; once to finalize her divorce and once for Jase’s sentencing. As for the dissolution of her marriage, Clark had agreed to all her requests and the papers were signed, requiring only the judge’s approval. She felt nothing during the divorce proceeding and was merely relieved when it was over.
Jase’s sentencing was another matter entirely. While she dreaded the thought of facing her tormenters again, she was determined to have her voice heard. Lance stood by her side as she read her statement to the court. It was a struggle for both of them. For Brook, it meant reliving the horrors she had endured. For Lance, it meant watching his beloved assaulted by unbearable memories and the painful opening of old wounds. It meant remembering how he found her, nearly naked and battered in the forest. And it meant resisting the urge to pummel to death the defendant, sitting smug and unrepentant next to his attorney. Lance kept a hard eye on Jase, but Jase refused to look at him.
Brook found the ordeal so disturbing that she declined to attend the hearings of the others. Instead, she elected to submit her comments to the court in writing. Although she didn’t attend the proceedings, her parents and siblings did, keeping a strong family presence before the court as a reminder of the victim and her suffering.
Chapter 62
Lance and Brooklyn were married in a small civil ceremony. The wedding took place inside the gazebo of the quaint little park where they said their goodbyes not that long ago. With only their families in attendance, the sad memories were replaced by ones to be cherished forever. Brook’s face was radiant and Lance couldn’t stop grinning. Both sets of parents were pleased to witness the happiness and obvious love shared by the couple.
Epilog
Shortly after the wedding as the couple settled into their new life together, a hiker wandered into the clearing in front of the dwelling. Lance warily opened the door at his knock. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“You wouldn’t by chance be Sullivan Proctor, would you?” the man asked.
“I would not,” Lance stated, firmly.
The man gave Lance a knowing look but didn’t question him further.
“Who would you be?” Lance asked, suspiciously.
“My name is Danny Norton. My dad owned all this land at one time.”
“At one time?” Lance felt a chill run up his back. “Who owns it now?”
“Well, my dad left his estate in trust to his children, but he also left instructions for us to allow one Sullivan Proctor unrestricted use of this cabin and the surrounding twenty acres. He took a liking to the man and he knew none of us wanted the old shack.” He stopped and looked around. “Although, it doesn’t look like much of a shack anymore.”
Lance stood, mouth open in surprise.
“May I ask who you are?”
“My name is Lance Matthew. I’m a close…friend of Sullivan’s. And you’re right; he has made a lot of improvements to the old place.”
The two stood in silence for a few minutes, gazing at the cabin. Finally, Danny turned and hefted a backpack from where he had set it on a stump. “Well, anyway, you might want to let Sullivan know about his legal right to use the land and cabin. Our lawyers are searching for him and hope to see him soon.” The man passed over a business card, tipped his ball cap in Lance’s direction, winked, and wandered on down the trail.
Lance dropped onto an old stump beside the door and laughed, his heart light and free for the first time in years.
Notes of Interest
Cover photo for Betrayed by Alina Baykov
The authors of Betrayed honored each of their children by using their names in the story: Coley, Danny, Denise, Donnie, Emily, Haylie, Matthew, and Randi.
Setting:
The authors took artistic liberty with the locations and geography of the great state of Colorado. Haylieville, Mt.Coley, Mt.Hazel, and the GarrisonRange are fictional. The beautiful WetMountains do exist.