Page 69 of Finding Forgiveness

“Right.” I shake my head and start the engine. Of course, Cass would gravitate towards a nutcase.

We travel in silence as I follow the dirt driveway up a small incline until a white cottage comes into view. I pull up alongside the house and leave the car running as I wait for her to get out. “Are you coming inside?”

“Is Cassandra in there?”

“No. She’s staying in the cabin further down.” She points out the front windscreen as she speaks. “It’s towards the rear of the property.”

“If I follow the driveway, will it lead me there?”

“In the morning yes … she’s asleep right now … she had a big day today and needs her rest.”

“Delivering piglets?”

“She did a mighty fine job too. I’m very proud of her.”

That makes me smile. Cassie needs more supportive people in her life. I understand why she’s hung around now.

“Is it okay if I wait here, or are you going to threaten to blow my head off again?”

“If you don’t come inside, I might just do that.”

“You’d shoot me for not coming inside?”

She taps her forefinger against her temple. “A hunter never reveals their hand.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s a poker player.”

“Hmm, you may be right. The question is, are you willing to take the chance?”

“I’d prefer to stay out here if that’s okay with you.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, not since lunch.”

“That’s what I thought.” She opens her door, groaning as she swings her legs out. “Come, I bought some leftovers home from the dancing goat.”

Food from a goat … that dances no less? This woman is crazier than I thought.

Martha yawns as she rises from her chair and collects my plate. She was right when she said she had leftovers, and they were delicious. I also found out that The Dancing Goat is the name of the café where she works. It’s how she and Cass met.

She happily chatted with me the entire time I ate. About her late husband, her animals, and everything Cassandra has been up to since she arrived.

“How did you know I was parked in the street?” I ask as she rinses the plate I was eating off. The homestead is quite a distance from the road, so I know she wouldn’t have been able to see me from up here. Unless she sits at her window with a pair of binoculars, which doesn’t seem too far-fetched for this woman.

“My husband installed a camera in one of the trees by the front gate. It came in handy when we used to lease out the cabins. It would alert us when our guests arrived.”

“You don’t lease them anymore?”

“That was his domain … the café’s mine. It’s a shame they’re sitting there unused, but I don’t have the time or the energy anymore. I’m busy with work and attending to the animals. That woman of yours has been a godsend, having her here has lightened my load. I’ll miss not having her around.”

“She told you about us?”

“A little. She went on and on about your good looks, but now I can see that girl wasn’t exaggerating. Hot damn.” The wink she gives me has me squirming a little in my seat. I’m not entirely comfortable being objectified. My looks have worked to my advantage over the years, but it gets old fast. “The first thing that stood out to me when we met, was her sad eyes, I get the feeling she’s been through a lot.”

“She has.”So much more than I ever imagined.And as much as my heart breaks for her, I can’t help but admire her strength. The resentment I’ve been carrying around for the past week vanished the moment I read her letter.

Martha wipes her hands on a tea towel, hanging it neatly over one of the cupboard doors before shuffling towards the doorway. “I’m going back to bed. Goodnight.”