AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brand considered his answer carefully. He had no desire to hang, but neither did he want to spend the rest of his life running from the Duggan name. “I was with the gang when they tried to rob Macpherson’s store, but I did not wish to be.”
The Mountie smiled. “I’ll take that as a plea of innocence.” He closed his notebook and nodded toward Eddie. “He can go free.”
The rancher untied his ropes and clapped Brand on the back. “I have to say, keeping you prisoner went against my judgment. I’m glad to see I was right in my estimation of you. Now come and join us for supper.”
Brand stood, rubbing his wrists and feeling as out of place as Dawg would have. “Might be best if I move on. I’m still a Duggan.”
“Nonsense. If you leave without giving us a chance to prove we believe you’re innocent, you’ll forever wonder whether or not we do. You want to carry that with you down the trail?”
“I guess not.”
“Then come along.” And before Brand could think of a reason to refuse, he found himself drawn into a big kitchen, warm with the feel of family and love, full of the smells of good home-cooked food and the smiling faces of those who lived in the house.
He stared at Sybil. He couldn’t help himself. She’d spoken on his behalf. Overwhelmed by how things had changed for the better, he lowered his gaze to the floor. “I’m grateful for—” He couldn’t even say what it was, so didn’t finish.
Linette sprang forward. “I never did believe you were part of the gang. Now sit here.” She indicated a chair at the table, and he sat.
Everyone suddenly found chairs and settled into them. Constable Allen sat beside him, Grady beyond that. Linette and Eddie at each end of the big wooden table, Mercy and Sybil across from each other. All Brand had to do was lift his eyes and he connected with Sybil’s steady blue ones. He expected his were full of shock, since he hadn’t yet processed the events of the past hour. Hers brimmed with triumph.
If only he could guess what that meant. Was she happy she’d put some of the pieces together even without the Mountie’s help?
Was she happy Brand wasn’t going to hang?
He ducked his head. His heart raced with impossible possibilities.
Chapter Fourteen
Sybil could hardly sit through the meal. It went on and on as Eddie and Linette shared all the details of what the Mountie had discovered.
As for Mercy...well, her friend said over and over, “I can’t believe you have all the adventures, while I can’t find one no matter how hard I look.”
Sybil only wanted the meal to end. As soon as it did she would find an opportunity to speak to Brand alone.
Constable Allen broke into the conversation and asked Brand, “Would you like to see your brother?”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Eddie and Linette shared one of those secret communicative looks, then the rancher spoke. “Do you want to bury him next to your father?”
Brand did his best to hide his emotions, but Sybil felt his surprise and gratitude just as she’d felt it throughout the meal. It would appear that carrying the Duggan name had brought him nothing but regrets. Well, now he could change that.
“He was an outlaw.” Brand’s words were strained. “And as far as I know, he never repented.”
The Mountie cleared his throat. “I don’t think any of us are able to judge that matter. Cyrus did not die right away. I spoke to him once he could no longer talk nonstop. I told him he could make his peace with God.”
Brand clenched his knife and fork so hard they must surely leave permanent impressions in his palm. “I expect he told you he didn’t care anything for God.”
“At first he did, then he asked if God could indeed forgive an outlaw. Much as I wanted to say otherwise, because I sometimes prefer a human form of justice—a man gets what he deserves for the life he’s led—I had to say God accepts everyone who comes to Him in faith, seeking forgiveness.”
Sybil watched Brand. Hope dawned in his eyes.
The Mountie continued. “I can’t be a hundred percent certain, but I believe Cyrus asked for that forgiveness before he drew his last breath.”
