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Isabella heard the words, but they didn’t really register. Her father had been sickly for some time, but dying? It made no sense. “I don’t ... don’t believe you.”
“Isabella!” Her mother’s raised voice caused Isabella to quiet. Her mother was never one to shout. Even when Isabella had been small, she never spoke in a loud reprimand.
“It is true whether you believe it or not. It was one of the reasons I agreed to sell the estate. Your aunt approached me with the idea after Mr. Morales asked about the possibility of purchasing part of the land. Eventually, we agreed to sellthe entire estate so long as Josephina had a place to live until she chose to move away.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Isabella forced herself to calm down. She folded her hands in her lap. “Why?”
“Because we knew you’d be upset. We hoped you’d remain happy for as long as possible and maybe even return to Silver Veil on your own.”
“But this isn’t my home. I have no desire to be here, but now you have forced me to stay because I have nowhere else to go.” She stared hard at her father. His skin was gray, and his face almost skeletal. Why hadn’t she noticed this before?
Am I truly so selfish that I couldn’t see he was suffering?She bit her lower lip. Aaron Bailey had mentioned her father being ill, but she hadn’t believed him. Was he really dying? Isabella felt awash in shame.
“What has made you ill?” she finally asked.
“We’re uncertain. At first the doctors thought it was tuberculosis. It was the reason they wanted me to move to this very arid region. And it did help. My lungs seemed to dry, my coughing and trouble breathing improved.”
“That’s why we moved to Silver Veil?” She’d never known. To her as a ten-year-old, it just seemed like her father’s whim.
“Yes. We were told these southern territories were perfect for healing lung issues.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She was beginning to feel like all her life she’d been left out of a story that everyone else knew the ending to.
“We were worried about you,” Mama replied. “You were just a little girl. You were so upset about leaving your grandparents and your horse. We didn’t want to further your worry by telling you that Papi was sick.”
“You should have told me. I would have understood whyyou were taking me away from California. I thought you were just being cruel. I thought you didn’t care.”
“Of course we cared. You are our child—our entire world. We didn’t want you to worry, however. The doctors weren’t sure if the move would cure me or even help me,” her father replied. “I didn’t want you to think I might die.”
“But you do now?” She knew it sounded harsh and wished she could have softened her tone.
“There’s no keeping it from you now. I haven’t much time.”
“How do you know?” She shook her head. “Doctors can’t tell those kinds of things. You said only God gives life and takes it.”
“It’s true,” her father said with a sad smile. “However, there are obvious signs that things are not going well. I’m coughing up blood. Quite a bit of it. I’m very weak. My weakness grows day by day.”
“And what did they decide is wrong?”
“They don’t know. One says it must be a cancer, another says it’s a bacteria eating away at my lungs. Others still believe it to be TB. We just don’t know. We know only that my body can’t go on much longer.”
Isabella floundered for other options. “Surely there are better doctors in the big cities. We could go to Philadelphia or Boston. Both are known for having great hospitals. Perhaps they would be able to help you more than the doctors in this tiny town.”
“I have seen the best doctors, my dear. Again, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you. I wanted very much for you to enjoy your life. But now ... well, now I need you to be here for your mother and for Silver Veil.”
“Silver Veil can take care of itself. As for Mama, she could have easily moved to the ranch in California, but you’ve taken that from us. Think of what a comfort it might have been forus to have the ranch and our memories there. Even Mama’s friends are nearby.” Isabella’s throat grew tight as she fought off her emotions.
“This home is my comfort now,” her mother said, casting a glance at her husband.
“And I will be buried here,” Papi added.
Isabella pushed away from the table and stood. “I can’t bear this anymore. I must have time to think.” She hurried from the room, tears blinding her. How could they have kept all of this from her?
Lupe was waiting for her not far from the library.
“Lupe, please bring my cloak. I want to sit in the courtyard.”
“Sí, Miss Isabella.”
