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Wyatt agreed. “Twisty like a Max Fortini novel, but not as scary.”
Burke also enjoyed the author’s thrillers. “The next name I found was Janica.”
That drew gasps from his family and confused looks from everyone else.”
Gray had his arm around Amber and he rubbed her arm in comfort. “Who is Janica?”
Amber answered. “Our grandmother. Fox’s wife. She died before we were born, so we didn’t know her. Fox and our parents told stories about her, so we would always know what a wonderful person she was.”
Burke sighed, wishing the page where he’d found her name told a better story. He picked up the book in front of him. “This book contains stories from Abenaki history. Myths, legends, tall tales, and teaching stories, are all passed down through oral traditions. Some don’t have happy endings.”
Beside him, Rissa rubbed his arm, offering her support. She must have sensed how difficult this part was.
“The story where he wrote Janica’s name is about a love triangle. A man and a woman were betrothed to join the clans and provide more trading opportunities. But the woman fell in love with the man’s brother.”
More gasps this time, and not only from his family members.
Rissa’s soft voice carried. “I’m betting the story didn’t end well.”
He grimaced. “The brothers fought; the ones in love married and returned to her clan. The brothers never spoke again.”
There was a moment of silence while everyone absorbed the implications.
Lawson frowned. “So maybe Jay and Fox were both in love with Janica, and she chose Fox?”
Several nodded, as that seemed the most likely scenario.
Knox nodded. “What else did you find?”
Burke pointed at another book. “That book is a compilation of tales from both indigenous and colonizer perspectives. There are several places where Jay underlined and made notes beside several stories. Comments like so many regrets and heaviness weighed on his soul.”
Amber blinked back tears. “It’s all so sad.”
Burke nodded. “From what I figured out, Jay had a lot of regret about what happened. He wished he could change things.”
Jolie sighed. “I was hoping for happier news, but we knew it wouldn't be happy. Otherwise, we would have always known about Jay.”
Burke nodded. “I’m hoping to find more somewhere in the house or in his bedroom. We know Jay regretted whatever happened, and Lawson found proof that he had wanted to reach out to us earlier but never mustered the nerve. Maybe there’s more to find still.”
Rissa nodded. “If there is, you’ll find it. And if there’s not, you know that despite what happened, Jay loved his brother and all of you. It sounds like he was building up the courage to contact you. Even though it’s not in person, he did just that. He left you his farm as his legacy. As his way of showing he’d forgiven himself and his brother. He was looking to make amends.”
Burke’s heart swelled, and he hugged Rissa. “Thank you. I knew you’d help us puzzle it out.”
Chapter 12
A Question Of Instinct
Rissa wasn’t surprised when the entire group spent the next hour or more studying the books, passing them from person to person and searching for more insights into what had happened between the two men.
Two brothers in love with the same woman. No wonder they hadn’t spoken for years. She couldn’t imagine having to choose between two men who loved her. She’d never had one, never mind two at the same time.
From the other perspective, she couldn’t imagine Burke falling in love with someone else and choosing that woman over her. That would shatter her heart.
Like Jay, she wouldn’t be able to stay and watch them live out their happily-ever-after. That would be too difficult for most people.
But to never speak to his brother again?
Rissa was an only child, but she couldn’t imagine anything tearing the Malssums apart forever. Eventually, they’d get together and work it out. Family was important to them.
