Chapter 8 - Seven Acres Between Father and Daughter
Horus had filed the claim years earlier.
Before anyone knew Eleanor's land was intended for Rosalie.
An outdated survey placed seven acres inside Bennett property.
Those seven acres contained a natural spring.
“I'll withdraw the claim,” Horus said.
Rosalie shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone stared.
“If the land belonged to a stranger, what would you do?”
Horus thought.
“Request another survey.”
“Then that's what we'll do.”
Wade smiled.
Horus looked at Rosalie.
“You've changed.”
“No.”
She met his eyes.
“I've started speaking.”
The survey confirmed shared boundaries.
Instead of fighting, Rosalie proposed shared ownership of the spring between the Bennett farm and the school district.
Horus agreed.
It was the first family dispute resolved without Lydia manipulating, Horus commanding, Vivien performing or Rosalie surrendering.
Wedding plans resumed.
Vivien helped sew Rosalie's dress.
Then Dr. Samuel Reed arrived in Willow Creek.
He was thirty-one.
Dark-haired.
Patient.
And apparently immune to Vivien's usual charms.
That fascinated her.
He first met her after she pricked her finger with a needle.
“You summoned the doctor?” Rosalie asked.
“There was blood.”
“One drop.”
“It could become infected.”
Samuel hid a smile.
Vivien noticed.
For the first time Rosalie watched her sister become genuinely nervous around a man.
Samuel asked about her work.
Vivien talked about the school for twenty minutes.
When he left, Rosalie smiled.
“Don't.”
“I said nothing.”
“You're thinking loudly.”
Samuel began calling.
Vivien refused to assume he was courting her.
Irony, Rosalie decided, had excellent timing.
Meanwhile Wade and Rosalie chose May for their wedding.
Three weeks before the ceremony, Rosalie woke to bells.
Fire.
The Hollis barn was burning.
She rode toward the ranch.
Flames illuminated the night.
“Where's Wade?”
No one answered.
Then part of the roof collapsed.
Men shouted.
Two ranch hands emerged carrying someone.
Rosalie recognized Wade's boots.
May you like
And suddenly every argument about weddings, property and brooches became meaningless.
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