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“No, I knew Calvin was my half-brother. When I was nine, our mothers met and talked and we were introduced. But I had no idea Jim White fathered us both. I haven’t seen Calvin since that day.”
“Maybe he’s not? Maybe this is all a big lie. After all, you don’t have his name and neither does Calvin.”
Oh, how she wanted that to be true for Will, but right now, she knew he needed her reassurance, her support.
“That’s because we were both illegitimate. He never married our mothers. Why should he? He didn’t want a family, but rather a woman to satisfy his needs. Before I left home, my mother made me promise I would never do to a woman what he did to her. That’s why I insisted on marrying you before we had sex. No child of mine will ever be illegitimate.”
It all made sense, except for how Calvin found Jim White and was he using the man to get what he wanted? Or was Jim White using him?
“Strange how you became a Texas Ranger and Calvin an outlaw.”
Suddenly Will tensed and began to curse.
“What’s wrong?”
“Seth,” he said. “He didn’t know that Calvin was my half-brother. I never told him because I didn’t want it to ruin our friendship. How could I be so stupid. He deserved to know the truth.”
Lily stared at him in the darkness. “Why will he care?”
With a sigh, Will laid his head on her shoulder and wrapped her in his arms. “Because my brother was in a gang that killed Seth’s family. He’s caught them all but Calvin.”
Fear spiraled through Lily. Why didn’t she know these things? Sure, they had been married for less than a week, but she should have asked about her husbands’ backgrounds. Instead they had focused on each other.
And now to learn that Will’s half-brother had killed Seth’s family, she didn’t know how that would affect their relationship. She loved her men and prayed they could put this behind them.
Just then, the sound of a twig snapping alerted Lily that Seth had followed them.
“You all right, Will?”
“No, I'm not. That son of a bitch is my father. But even worse, my brother was part responsible for murdering your family. My best friend. If I could go back in time, I would give my life to save your family.”
In the darkness, Lily watched as Seth wiped a tear from his eye and she realized the pain he felt.
“Thank you, Will. Promise me you won’t keep any other secrets from us.”
“Seth, I wasn’t even certain it was the same man. But you’re right, I should have told you. But that would mean facing the fact that my half-brother was an evil criminal. Someone who killed my best friend’s family.”
There was silence and Lily reached out in the darkness and drew Seth to her. “You are part of our family. The three of us are family. We’re all each other has.”
It was true. Lily’s family was gone, Seth’s family was gone, and even Will’s mother had died several years ago. They were all they had. And it was enough.
“It’s true. But I’m not going to give your half-brother any special treatment. He will be taken to Waco, just like all the other gang members and there he will stand trial.”
Will reached out and took his friend’s hand. They were standing in a circle, all three of them holding hands. “That’s what I expect. He must pay for what he did. Believe me, there is no love lost between us.”
“What about your father?” Seth asked.
“I don’t have a father and want nothing to do with any man who tries to claim me as their son. He gave me life, but he’s not my father. Both of you promise me that if something ever happens to me, that our children know that I love them and that I am their father. No child should ever suffer because their father doesn’t want them.”
They moved together, giving each other a hug, with Lily between them.
“You have my word,” Seth said.
“Mine too,” Lily answered.
For a moment, they simply stood there and held one another.
“What are we going to do about Jim White?” Seth said. “I can’t go off and leave you, until I know you’re safe.”
