A Blessed Song for Their Love by Olivia Haywood
Chapter Twenty-Five
The horse’s hooves kicked up dust as they beat their way through the dark. The sun was barely up, with the nighttime chill still stinging the air. Thomas hadn’t slept a wink all night as he worried about Rosaline. He trusted Ezrah and Buena to look after her, he just needed her home again.
The house had felt empty when they put Robbie to bed after leaving Rosaline at the Gideon’s the evening before. The absence of her sweet voice left a gaping void in his chest that pulled on his soul.
He kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks and spurred the animal on towards the bunkhouse. The farmhands would just be getting up as the sun peaked over the horizon. Ian Summers had been gone a while, but someone had to know something of his whereabouts.
Thomas reined the horse in with a sharp tug as pulled up outside the bunkhouse. Jumping from the horse he burst inside, startling the young men who stared at him in confusion as they looked up from pulling their boots on.
“Have either of you seen Ian Summers?” he barked at them a bit too sharply. “Did he say or do anything to suggest where he was going?”
They looked at each other in confusion before turning back to Thomas.
Thomas saw the startled looks on their faces and took a moment to compose himself. Running his hands over his face and through his already messy hair, he sighed. “I need to know where he went,” he said more gently with a note of pleading in his voice. “Rosaline is in trouble. If he said anything to either of you that may help, please tell me,” he pleaded.
They stood thinking for a moment as neither of them said a word. Thomas was about to turn and leave as he felt the hope sinking in his heart.
“There was something.” One of the hands frowned as he searched for the memory.
Thomas’ head shot up in hope.
“A couple of days before he went missing he was saying something about trying his hand in one of the mines west of here.” He looked at the other hand who continued the story.
“Oh yes, I remember now. We asked him why he would want to go to a mine when he seemed to have such a good job working for Mr. Higgs. He said something about laying low for a while until everything had blown over,”
Thomas took a step forward. “Did he say what he meant by that?”
The young men shrugged. “We did ask, but he wouldn’t elaborate.”
Thomas turned and swung himself back onto the horse with lightning speed. “Thank you lads!” he called over his shoulder and turned the horse, spurring the creature on in the opposite direction.
***
The noonday sun hung high in the sky as it beat down on Thomas’ neck. He’d been riding all morning to try and track down Ian Summers. Several of the miners and ranchers he met along the road had mentioned a young man fitting Ian's description just up ahead.
He quietly climbed out of the saddle and lead his horse to a scant patch of bushes near a campsite under a tree. Crouching behind the bushes he surveyed the area. A single tent was pitched under the tree next to a dead fire, and he recognized Ian’s horse grazing on some shrubbery in the distance.
He fastened his horse’s reins to a bush and quietly crept towards the tent.
He paused as he reached the back of the tent and heard rustling coming from within. His heart was pounding in his ears. There was definitely someone inside.
As he poised to confront anyone who came out, the fabric of the opening shifted. Thomas crouched lower. A wide-brimmed hat poked out. He held his breath as the rest of the hat emerged.
A figure bolted out of the tent, running full speed towards the horse grazing in the distance.
Thomas leapt to his feet and gave chase.
Ian was fast, but not fast enough as Thomas caught up to him and tackled him to the ground, tumbling in the dirt as they scuffled. Thomas managed to gain the upper hand and pinned Ian to the ground.
“Let go of me will you!” Ian struggled.
“Stop! I only want to talk!” Thomas held him in place as the man tried to break free. “They are going to put Rosaline in jail for something she didn’t do!”
Ian stopped struggled and stared up at Thomas in shock. “I thought the plan was to frame you?”
Thomas let go of his hands and fell back onto his knees, letting Ian straighten up.
They looked at each other as they breathed heavily.
Ian squinted as he looked at Thomas then wiped his brow on his shoulder. The sun was beating down hard. “They said if I planted the package in her belongings you would step in and confess, sending you to jail and leaving Rosaline with no other choice but to go back to this Mr. Dingle something.”
Thomas frowned. “Do you mean Diedrick?”
“Yea that’s him. Never met the man myself. I work for Higgs.”
“The thought crossed my mind to confess in her place, but since the gems were found in her belongings in the presence of a federal marshal, there was no way around it.” He looked directly at Ian. “You are the only hope she has.”
Ian raised his hands. “Just a minute there, friend. I have myself to look after, and if you’re thinking I’m going to confess you better think again. Not only is my employer a very powerful man, I hear this Diederick fellow isn’t to be trifled with.”
Thomas clenched his jaw and balled his fists. “Your confessions will put both of them in jail. I’m sure you will be able to incriminate them in far more than just framing Rosaline.”
“You don’t know how far the influence of men like Higgs and Diederick reaches partner.” He began to stand. “I’m sorry for your plight, truly I am, I can see that you care deeply for Rosaline.”
“I love her,” Thomas said unwaveringly.
Ian hunkered back down. “Wasn’t it just supposed to be a marriage of convenience? That’s what I heard around the ranch and in town anyway.”
Thomas looked past him at the hills in the distance. “It just happened, I never intended to love her, but I do and I can't lose her.” He looked back at Ian as tears glistened in his eyes.
Ian let out a long whistle. “That’s a right pickle then isn’t it.” He pushed himself up from his knees and strode towards his tent. ‘Sorry partner, can’t help you with this,” he called over his shoulder.
Thomas stood and shouted after him. “She was your friend Summers. She cared about you and you are going to walk away and let her go to jail for something she didn’t do!”
Ian paused stopped walking.
“She believed you are a good person,” he lowered his voice. “Are you going to prove her wrong? Did you truly not feel anything for her? I thought you were fond of her.”
Ian placed his hands on the back of his head and let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” He turned back to Thomas. “Let's talk.”
Thomas followed him back to the campsite and watched as Ian lit the fire and placed an old kettle over it.
He sat on a stone facing Thomas and clasped his hands between his knees. “Look, I do care for Rosaline quite a bit, she’s a lovely lady and a good friend. I would even go as far as to say that she’s one of the best women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
Thomas’ nostrils flared in anger as Ian spoke about Rosaline.
“It’s not what you think Thomas. I don’t love her. I see her as a good friend.” He paused and looked Thomas straight in the eyes. “Even if she wasn’t married. She’s madly in love with you. Any fool can see that. She never even glanced in my direction whenever you were around. She only sees you, Thomas Stratton.”
Thomas relaxed and stared at Ian. Rosaline might have been right about him all along. There was something good in Ian Summers, even if he didn’t like the man. His heart began to race. Was it possible that Rosaline really did feel the same way that he did? He shook himself back to reality, this wasn’t the time to wonder about feelings, there would be time enough for that after they set her free.
“Will you help her then?” he asked.
To Ian’s credit, he looked like he was genuinely in anguish as he wrestled with the thought. “Where would I go and what would I do if Higgs goes to jail. I am hired help, I don’t have any other skills than doing Higgs's dirty work. I appear and disappear whenever he needs me to.”
Thomas saw an opening and took it. “From what I heard on the ranch you’re a fair hand with the animals. You could get honest work around here if you wanted to. You could even work for me if you wanted to stay.”
Ian seemed to consider the prospect for a moment or two then shook his head. “That’s only if we succeeded in putting them both behind bars. I’m sorry, it’s just too much of a gamble. I’ll lose everything I have, not to mention I’ll go to jail if I confess.”
“The Sheriff is a very good friend of mine,” Thomas attempted to convince him. “I’m sure we could find some way of getting you off the hook if you help us. The man practically helped raise me. The Gideons love Rosaline. If it’s to help her we have a very good chance of keeping you out of jail.”
Ian stood and lifted the kettle off the fire with a long stick. He walked into the tent and retrieved a satchel with cups, returning to the fire he poured them each a cup of coffee. “I know it’s hot out, but I’m sure we could both use a pick me up. I don’t have anything stronger, unfortunately.”
Thomas accepted the cup offered to him.
Ian took a sip. “There’s also the problem that if I speak out against them and the whole thing falls through, I’ll have to go into hiding for the rest of my life. They would hunt me down like a dog.”
Thomas searched for the words to try and convince this man. Rosaline’s worried face loomed in front of his mind as he slowly sipped his coffee to buy himself some time. Everything he loved and wanted depended on this one man helping him. He was asking someone else to risk their entire life to try to secure his own happiness.
In that moment something occurred to Thomas that hadn’t in a very long time. He couldn’t convince Ian on his own, he needed help.
For the first time since his wife had passed. Thomas prayed earnestly with all his heart and soul. Help me Lord, I can’t do this on my own. Give me the words to make this man understand. Show me the way to save Rosaline.
Thomas looked at Ian Summers over the rim of his metal coffee mug, lowering the cup he addressed Ian in an honest tone. “Have you ever been in love Ian?”
Ian shrugged.
“Then you haven't. When you love another person more than you love yourself, you know it. There is no doubt in your mind that that person means the world to you. So I won’t try and convince you by explaining how much Rosaline means to me. I will tell you that she means so much to me that I’m willing to do everything in my power to ensure that you come out the other side of this as a free man.”
Ian listened intently without saying a word.
“I won’t lie to you and promise things that I have no right to promise, there’s a chance that you may go to jail, but there’s also a chance that you can do the right thing and secure yourself an honest life. You can work on my ranch, earn decent pay for hard work, and came out the other side with a new life and a new respect for yourself. I won’t force you, Ian.” He put his cup down and stood. “But I will ask you, man to man, for your help. Rosaline saw something good within you.” He turned to leave before looking back and saying, “it would be a shame if the faith she had in you was misguided.”
Thomas walked towards his horse.
“Wait,” Ian called after him.
Thomas stopped but didn’t turn around. Please, Lord. He prayed.
“I’ll help you.”
Thomas felt like dropping to his knees from relief. Instead, he turned and walked over to Ian, taking his hand and shaking it firmly in his. “Thank you.”
Ian stood and went to gather a few things from inside the tent. He emerged a few minutes later with his satchel flung over his shoulder.
“Should I help you pack up the tent?” Thomas asked.
“What for?” Ian shrugged. “I’m either going to be in jail, dead or living it up on your ranch if all goes as planned. May as well leave it for somebody else.” He passed Thomas on his way to his horse. “Heaven knows why I’m trusting you though. I must be a fool.”
Thomas walked over to his horse and pulled himself up into the saddle, trotting over to Ian as he waited for the other man to saddle his horse.
“You want to ride on ahead?”
Thomas shook his head. “You know these parts better than I do I think,” he lied, not wanting to let the hope he was clinging to slip out of his fingers now that it was so close. “You take the lead and I will follow. We had better move fast. I’ll see you to the ranch and then I’ll ride into town and see what I can do about securing your situation.”
“No time to waste then,” Ian nodded and dug his heels into his horse's flank.
Thomas galloped along behind him, letting Ian take the lead while still being close enough to take action should the cowboy change his mind and try to run.
As he rode towards Rosaline he pictured her face in his mind. “Hold on, my love, I’m coming,” he whispered.
***
Thomas and Ian pulled into the yard a few hours later. The ride had been long and hard, and the horses were tired and needed a good rest. He would need to change horses before riding into town. One day away from Rosaline had been more than enough. He needed to see her again, even if it was just for an hour or so before he came back home.
Arthur was waiting for them by the back door with Robbie in his arms, a mixture of relief and concern was etched into his face.
Thomas dismounted and approached first as Ian hung back, unsure of the reception he would receive.
“Ian’s going to help us,” Thomas said as he reached his father and leant down to kiss his son on the head. “If you could take him inside and offer him something to eat,” he said and raised a brow.
Arthur looked relieved and nodded in understanding.
“I’m going to ride back into town. I want to discuss things with Ezrah as soon as possible,” he leant in closer and whispered. “I don’t think he’s going to run at this point, but I’ll ask the boys to keep an eye on him when I go to the stables. I need to change horses.”
Ian came up behind them and nodded a greeting to Arthur.
“Good to see you, Ian,” Arthur said honestly.
Ian let out a noticeable breath of relief.
Thomas placed a hand on his shoulder before passing him on his way to the stables. “You’re doing the right thing.”