Taken Bride (The Secret Bride 3)

“Are we going to tell the authorities the truth about what she did?” I ask, prepared to lie if that is something Christopher wants.

Louisa is his mother, and I completely understand the pull of family and what they can make you do or not do.

“I’ve already told Agent Martinez everything. I’m not going to lie for that woman, and I don’t expect you to either. She’ll have to pay for what she did one way or another. Knowing her, it will just be through her pocketbook. She has a way of getting out of everything bad. But regardless, she lost me in the process. She’s dead to me, just as Richard is to you.”

I reach for the remote and turn off the television. I don’t want to see his face or hear the grating voices of the reporters any longer. “It’s been so nice the last couple of weeks here with you. I just don’t want to see it end.”

Christopher walks around me and sits next to me on the couch. He takes both my hands into his and looks me straight in the eyes. “It won’t end. We may have to take a small detour, but we’ll return to this. I love it just as much as you do.”

“I’m afraid that once we go back to that life, you may realize you miss it all. City life could pull you back.”

Christopher smiles. “I haven’t missed a thing. I’ve been asking myself why I waited so long to do something like this. I’ve always loved the mountains and vacationed near here often. So, to be able to live here every single day… it’s like a permanent vacation.” He leans forward and kisses me. “I’m making this change for me just as much as I’m doing it for you.”

“We need to let Isaac, Holly, and Violet know that the chapel is safe,” I suddenly realize, wondering how long it will be for us to get out to see them all.

“I already made sure that happened,” Christopher says. “The Feds want to keep us happy right now so we cooperate with everything they need from us. I asked them to send one of their men to Isaac’s immediately. Once the dust settles, we’ll head out there and visit. See how they are settled in and if they need anything from us.”

I’ve missed the sisters like crazy and can’t wait to see them again, but I also know it was impossible to go back before they captured Richard and Scarecrow. We had to remain in hiding for our safety as well as theirs. Plus, we didn’t want to give any clues to Richard and Scarecrow that we had already fled the mountain.

“Christopher…” I begin, not sure I want to actually speak my thoughts out loud. “Do you think it’s possible to see Pap— Richard before we are in the courtroom? I don’t want to see him, but there’s a part of me that feels I need the closure. I need to be able to say goodbye to him and that part of my life. I won’t be able to do that if I’m on the stand and he’s staring at me from across the room.”

“I’ll have our lawyer work on it first thing. I’m sure it can be arranged if it’s something you really want.”

“It’s not something I want but something I feel I need to do.”

“I understand,” Christopher says as he stands. “I’ll make the calls now and make sure we have the best lawyer in the country handling us.”

22

Ember

I used to be a scared girl. Actually… I used to be a terrified girl.

Everything made me worry. Every shadow haunted me.

I hid in a schoolhouse, not just because I was forced to, but because I didn’t know how not to hide.

It was safe there, and I craved safe.

I still regret that I was too weak and too cowardly to help Christopher when he first arrived in Hallelujah Junction. I didn’t have the strength it took, and no matter how badly I wanted to step in and do the right thing… I couldn’t.

I will forever be haunted by all the poor souls Richard killed in the acid pits. I wish I could have saved them. I wish I could have prevented their deaths somehow. I wish I could have been a different person.

But somehow, with Christopher by my side, and with time, I’ve become the person I always thought it was impossible to be.

I’m not the scared little girl who was kidnapped at age five.

I’m not the terrified ghost hidden away in a dilapidated building.

I no longer look out from the inside, wishing for a life I’d never have.

I’ve risen from the ashes of the town I helped burn down.

I’m stronger for it. I’m better for it.

I am no longer the Ghost of Hallelujah Junction.