Chapter Twenty-Four
Daniel didn’t sleep that night. Every creak of the cabin and gust of wind against the walls felt like a constant reminder of the threat William Carter posed.
He lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, his mind churning with possibilities, none of them good.
He had been so sure that paying William off would keep him away, but deep down, he knew it was only a temporary solution.
William would keep coming back, demanding more, until he had nothing left to give.
He hadn’t slept a wink, his mind circling the same inescapable truth: paying William off was just delaying the inevitable.
As the first light of dawn crept through the small window, Daniel swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, his body stiff from tension.
He wasn’t sure what to do next, but he couldn’t keep going like this.
Not for Edith’s sake and not for his own.
The thought of her father looming over them like a storm cloud, ready to strike at any moment, gnawed at him.
The house was still quiet as he dressed and headed out the door, the morning air crisp and cool against his skin.
Edith was still asleep, worn out from the strain of the day before.
Daniel had told her they would figure something out, but the truth was, he had no idea what that was.
The helplessness sat like a stone in his chest.
By the time he reached Mary and Sam’s place, the sun had risen fully, casting a warm glow over the small town.
Daniel pulled his coat tighter around him as he stepped up to the familiar saloon.
He hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open, the comforting sound of clinking glasses and Sam’s booming voice filling the space.
“Daniel!” Sam called out from behind the bar, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “Didn’t expect to see you so early.” He wiped his hands on a rag and gestured for Daniel to come over.
Mary was seated at one of the tables saloon, sipping her tea, and she looked up as he approached.
“Sit down, Daniel,” she said, her voice gentle. “You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
He sat, leaning forward on the table, his hands clasped together as if he were holding himself in place.
He told Mary about William’s visit and everything that had happened.
“I don’t know what to do, Mary. He’s going to keep coming back, and I can’t keep paying him off.
It’s not just about the money. Edith’s scared. I’m scared for her.”
Mary and Sam exchanged a look before Sam slid into the chair beside them. “We figured as much,” Sam said with a sigh. “That man’s been trouble for as long as I’ve known him.”
“Trouble’s an understatement,” Daniel muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Mary set her cup down, her hand resting gently on Daniel’s arm. “There’s more to it, isn’t there? You care about Edith, anyone can see that. But this situation—it’s tearing you apart, isn’t it?”
Daniel tensed, his jaw clenched as he stared at the floor. He had never been good at saying these things aloud. He had spent years avoiding the weight of responsibility, but now... now, it wasn’t just about him.
“I don’t know if I can keep her safe,” he finally admitted, his voice strained with the effort. “And I don’t know how to deal with William. She’s an unmarried woman; her father still has a right to control her until she marries.”
Mary’s eyes softened even further. “That man doesn’t deserve to have a daughter like Edith. She’s stronger than she knows, Daniel, and so are you. You’re already doing more for her than anyone else ever has.”
Sam leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “You ever think about going to the law? Surely there’s someone in town who’d be willing to step in.”
Daniel shook his head. “The law isn’t going to do anything unless William does something worse. As far as they’re concerned, he’s got every right to be her father, no matter how rotten he is.”
Mary frowned, her brow creasing with worry. “Then what’s the plan? Because if you keep paying him, he’ll bleed you dry.”
“I know,” Daniel said, his voice heavy with frustration. “I’ve been thinking about that all night. I don’t have the kind of money to keep doing this. But Edith—she’s terrified of him. And she’s right. He’s not going to stop.”
Mary was quiet for a long moment, her gaze drifting toward the window. Finally, she spoke, her voice thoughtful. “There’s another way. It’s not a guarantee, but… have you thought about marrying her?”
Daniel’s eyes snapped up to meet hers, shock written across his face. “What?”
Mary didn’t flinch. “I’m serious, Daniel. If you married her, William wouldn’t have any legal claim over her anymore. You could protect her.”
Sam nodded, though his expression was serious. “It’s not a bad idea. I’ve seen men like William. He won’t stop until there’s nothing left to take. But if Edith’s your wife…”
Daniel looked from Mary to Sam in disbelief. The idea of marrying Edith had crossed his mind, of course, but not like this. Not as a solution to their problem. “I don’t… I don’t know if that’s what she’d want,” he said slowly, the words feeling heavy on his tongue.
Mary gave him a kind smile. “You won’t know until you ask her. But Daniel, you care about her. And I think she cares about you, too. Maybe this is the answer you’ve been looking for.”
Sam’s voice rumbled low in agreement. “Look, man, I’ve seen men like William. They don’t stop. But if you’re her husband, you can keep her away from him.”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, staring down at his hands. Could he really ask Edith to marry him? Could he tie her to his life when he still felt so haunted by his past? And would she even say yes?
But as the thought settled in his mind, a new sense of clarity washed over him. Maybe Mary was right. Maybe this was the only way to truly keep her safe from William’s grasp. The idea of losing Edith—of her being dragged back into that nightmare—made his stomach twist in knots.
“I’ll think about it,” Daniel said finally, his voice steady but uncertain.
Mary leaned forward, her eyes soft and understanding. “Then why don’t you marry her, Daniel? What’s really stopping you?”
Daniel stiffened, his hands clenching on the table.
He glanced at Sam, who gave him a nod of encouragement, but that didn’t ease the tension sitting heavy in his chest. Marrying Edith—he knew it would solve the problem with William, but this wasn’t just about legalities. It was about more than protecting her.
“I… I can’t,” he said, his voice low, almost ashamed.
Mary raised an eyebrow. “Can’t, or won’t?”
Daniel’s gaze dropped to the table, his fingers tracing the grain of the wood. “I do love her,” he admitted, his throat tightening as he said the words aloud for the first time. “But I don’t think I can be the man she deserves.”
Mary frowned, leaning closer. “What do you mean by that?”
Daniel let out a long, shaky breath. “I’ve spent years keeping people out, Mary.
After the fire… after losing my sister, I shut myself off.
I didn’t want to let anyone get close because I was too scared of losing them.
And now…” He shook his head, his voice faltering.
“I’m sure I would fail her. I’m too scared of what happened in the past—too scared that I’ll hurt her, or worse, that I’ll lose her. ”
Mary’s expression softened as she watched him struggle with his words. “Daniel, you’re not the same man you were back then. You’ve grown, you’ve healed, even if you don’t realize it yet.”
He looked up at her, his brow furrowed in doubt. “But I still feel like I’m carrying all that weight. I still feel like I’m stuck in the past, like I’m too damaged to give her what she needs.”
Sam, who had been watching quietly, leaned in. “Listen, we all carry scars. Some are on the outside, some are in here,” he said, tapping his chest. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a chance at something good.”
Mary reached across the table and placed her hand over his, giving him a gentle squeeze. “You’ve been protecting yourself for a long time, Daniel, but maybe it’s time to stop. Maybe it’s time to let someone else in—to let her in.”
Daniel swallowed hard, his chest tightening. “What if I hurt her? What if she ends up like my sister?”
“You won’t,” Mary said firmly, her eyes full of conviction. “You care too much about her to let that happen.”
He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that he could be the man Edith needed, that he could open himself up and let her into the parts of him that he had kept locked away for so long. But the fear still clung to him, wrapping itself around his heart like a vice.
“I’m not sure I know how to let her in,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.
Mary gave him a warm, encouraging smile. “Then take it one step at a time. Love isn’t about being perfect, Daniel. It’s about being there, being present. You don’t have to have all the answers right now, but you do have to be willing to try.”
Daniel sat back in his chair. He had been running from his feelings for so long, hiding behind the walls he had built to protect himself. But maybe Mary was right. Maybe it was time to stop running.
He glanced up at her, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in his chest. “I’ll think about it,” he said quietly, the words more for himself than for anyone else.
Mary smiled, patting his hand one last time. “That’s all I ask. And remember Daniel—God’s got a plan for all of us, even when we don’t see it. You just have to trust in that.”
Mary’s expression remained warm, her voice steady as she spoke again. “You should pray on it, Daniel. God will give you the strength you need. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.”
Daniel’s shoulders tensed, his gaze dropping to the floor.
The idea of praying for strength seemed almost foreign to him now.
After everything that had happened, the distance he had put between himself and his faith was hard to bridge.
Still, there was a part of him that longed to believe her, to believe that there was a plan greater than his pain.
“I don’t know if I can,” he admitted quietly, his voice rough with doubt. “I haven’t prayed for myself in years, Mary. Not since the fire.”
Mary’s eyes filled with understanding. “That’s all right,” she said gently. “You don’t have to know what to say. God knows your heart. Sometimes, all it takes is starting the conversation.”
Sam nodded, giving Daniel a reassuring look. “She’s right. Pray on it. You’ll find your way.”
Daniel let out a long breath, his chest tight with the weight of everything he had been carrying.
It felt impossible to put into words—the fear of failing Edith, the guilt that still gnawed at him over his sister, and the gnawing feeling that he didn’t deserve happiness, especially not with someone like Edith.
“I’m not sure what I’d even ask for,” he said, his voice low. “I’m too… broken, Mary. Too scarred, inside and out.”
Mary gave him a soft smile. “God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He just wants us to trust Him, to lean on Him when we can’t find our own way. And right now, you’re carrying a burden you don’t have to bear alone.”
Daniel’s jaw clenched as he considered her words. He wasn’t used to sharing the load, not even with God. But something in Mary’s calm, steady presence made him wonder if maybe he didn’t have to face this alone.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” he admitted, his voice strained. “I’ve been on my own for so long…”
Mary reached across the table and placed a comforting hand on his arm. “You’re not alone, Daniel. Not anymore. And neither is Edith. But you have to take that first step. Pray, and trust that God will guide you. You might be surprised by the strength He gives you.”
Daniel stared at the floor for a long moment. He wasn’t sure if he could do what she asked, but for the first time in a long while, he felt the faintest flicker of hope. Maybe it was time to stop pushing everyone away, to stop holding himself back from the life he wanted.
“I’ll try,” he said finally, his voice barely more than a whisper.
As he left the saloon and made his way back to the cabin, Daniel felt a strange sense of peace settle over him. He still wasn’t sure what the future held, but maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t as lost as he thought.
As Daniel neared the cabin, something felt off. The usual warmth and comfort of seeing the smoke curling from the chimney and hearing the gentle sounds of Edith bustling inside were absent. His heart immediately tightened, his steps quickening as he approached the front door.
“Edith?” he called out, his voice echoing in the still air. No answer.
His pulse quickened, a cold knot forming in his stomach. The cabin was eerily silent as he stepped inside. The fire in the hearth had died down, barely glowing embers remained, and the room felt cold. He scanned the small space quickly, but there was no sign of her.
“Edith?” Daniel called again, his voice louder this time, but still, nothing. His heart began to race. She wasn’t here.
Panic surged through him like ice water. He threw open the door, rushing around the side of the cabin, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods for any sign of her. His breath came quicker now, his mind racing. Where could she have gone?
He searched the clearing, his voice rising with each call of her name. Nothing. No answer. His breath came quicker, panic seizing him as he darted between the trees. She was gone.
No response. No trace of her.
Daniel’s chest tightened painfully, his thoughts spiraling. Had something happened to her? Had she wandered off into the woods? Had her father returned and—
No. He couldn’t think that way. But with every passing second, his panic grew, threatening to overwhelm him.
Where was she?
The final rays of sunlight were fading, casting long shadows across the clearing, and Daniel’s heart thudded loudly in his ears. He had no idea where Edith was, and the thought of her out there—alone or worse—made his blood run cold.
He had to find her.