Page 63 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“Give me a moment to gather the rest of your final wages, Colby. I’ll make sure you have them before you leave this afternoon. You will need to leave within the next few days, though. They are expecting those wagons back by the end of the month.”
“That’s not an issue; I have nothing holding me here.”
And he looks straight at me.
Deven steps up next. “Mr. Kerns, I have no problem heading back with Colby to return the other wagon, but I would like to return if the position is still open?”
“Absolutely, Deven, and thank you for stepping up. When I get the funds, you will need to travel. I’ll include enough for you to purchase a horse for your return.”
He nods his head, and I watch as they both start walking back to the empty wagons.
“Jess, you may want to take a minute and check to see where all your bags are so that we don’t find your stuff scattered later on.”
Reggie doesn’t ask me what I plan to do. He just assumes I’ll return to the role ofmaidand act as if none of this ever occurred.
“Men, once the wagons are sorted, we will head out, but I’m gonna need one of those cookies, Lauren.”
He walks right past me, completely caught up in what’s going on and the excitement of seeing his new home. A tug on my arm has me looking down at Henry.
“Miss Jess, you alright? You were sick earlier. Do you have a fever?”
“No, honey, just an upset belly, why?”
“Your face is red and blotchy, and that’s what happened when Momma started feeling bad, and then no matter what Dad and I did, the angels came for her. I don’t want them to come for you.”
I bend down, pulling him into my arms, hugging him tightly. “I am fine, sweetie. You go on and get a few cookies, then head out with your dad.”
He looks at me seriously, like he can see something in my face that I am trying to hide from everyone else.
“Why do I feel like you are saying goodbye?”
Thankfully, Marcus yells for him, and he hesitantly walks away, taking the very last piece of my heart I had left with him. I watch them all walking away, everyone’s path leading them in a different direction than my own.
Feeling sorry for myself and slightly abandoned, I walk toward Jacob’s wagon, where I’ve kept all my things this entire trip. Crawling inside, I go through the crates until I find the small carpetbag and gather a couple changes of clothes and a few personal items. My hand hovers over the luggage crate Victoria gave me, which holds my beautiful dresses, but I don’t open it, as I know there is no place for anything like them in the real world. I’m folding up the lace shawl, tucking it into one of the bags, when a sparkle on my hand stops me. I twirl the ring around my finger, a plan forming in my mind.
I didn’t need him to take care of me before, and I will find a way to live without him now.
CHAPTER 25
JESSICA
Jessica
When I hearthe cabin door open, I shove the rest of the stuff I’ll need to take with me into the bag and climb out of the back. Looking around the side, I see they’re all standing together on the porch talking, so I stroll over to the wagon Deven was driving and slip my carpetbag into the back, then hook the flap back in place so that it looks like it’s closed.
Reggie and Grant are talking to Jacob when a few other men ride up on horseback. Apparently, they’re from the mercantile and have come to help. The men are all slapping each other on the back and talking spiritedly amongst themselves, but shortly after I see Jacob and Marcus heading to the remaining wagons. Little Henry waves at me as he climbs onto the seat, then Reggie looks over at me. I can hear him tell the men to excuse him for a minute before he walks my way.
“Jess, do you have your things sorted?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then, well, we are going to head on out. Grant says the place is about three miles away, and since it’s late in the day, we may not make it back. You go ahead and stay here with Lauren and rest. This will give you girls time to get to know each other. Things are hectic right now, but we will talk in the morning.”
I let him kiss me on the forehead one last time before saying, “Goodbye, Reggie.”
He stops, looking at me funny, only for Grant to yell out his name. He forgets me instantly, and all I can do is stand there and watch him ride off on Bells. He has a huge smile on his face as his dreams are all coming true, while mine die slowly in my chest the farther away he gets.
Several of the men stay behind, and I can hear them all talking inside the house as I walk up the steps slowly. Sticking my head inside, I wait a moment to see where everyone is, only to find no one in the main parlor. Not sure exactly which room Reggie stays in, I walk down the hallway, opening each door until I see his bags lying just inside the last room. The shirt he had on earlier is draped over the edge of the bed, and I pick it up, grasping it tightly against my face as I take in his comforting smell one last time. Pulling the lace gloves out of my pocket, I lay them on the chest next to the bed, then slowly pull off the ring he gave me and place it on top of them. He’ll know when he sees it that I am gone. He will probably feel bad for a bit, but in time, I’ll simply be a person he used to know.
