Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) (26 page)

“Wait,” said Angel, “I just got here. Don’t you want to here what happened tonight?”

“I think we’ve heard quite enough,” said Agnes. “Tillie, dear, are you coming?”

“No, Aunt Agnes, I’m going to spend the night here with Angel if it’s all right.”

“With a strange man in the house?” Agnes glanced over at Levi.

“I’m not any stranger than my brother,” Levi said, leaning back on two chair legs and placing his boots atop the table. “Although I am better looking.” He smiled at Tillie and winked. Tillie turned and looked at Angel with wide eyes.

“He’s harmless,” Angel tried to convince her.

“Just the same,” answered Tillie. “Maybe I’d better get Stacy and head on back. I know this cabin is pretty crowded already.”

“Need an escort home?” asked Levi, getting to his feet.

“That’s enough, young man,” said Mr. Ainsley, raising up to his full height. “That’s my niece you’re talking to.”

“Mr. Ainsley, Levi is just having fun. Aren’t you Levi?” Angel frowned at him and nodded and he sat back down.

“Of course,” he said. “After all, I just thought this night needed a little lightening up.”

“We’ve had plenty excitement enough for one evening,” stated Clarence, grabbing Tillie by the shoulder as she came out of the bedroom with her sleeping daughter in her arms. “Let’s go, Tillie.”

“Keep me informed?” Tillie asked Angel as she headed out the door.

“You know I will.”

Angel closed the door and turned around to find all the boys staring at her.

“Well, off to bed with you all,” she said. “It’s been a long day.”

“What’s going to happen to Pa and Eli?” asked Dan.

“I’m not sure, but it won’t help matters much if we’re up all night worrying. Now get to bed. All of you.”

“All right,” they grumbled and headed off to their beds.

“And where am I going to sleep?” asked Levi.

“Out in the barn while Thomas is away,” she told him. “Now come on, I’ll escort you.”

She held open the door and motioned him onto the porch. By the look on his face he knew she was going to reprimand him. Once the door was closed, she spoke.

“Levi, you really didn’t need to mention the fact you just got out of prison to the Ainsleys.”

“Well, how was I to know that Tommy kept it a secret from the king and queen of gossip for all these years? Besides, I was afraid they’d be here playing cards all night if I didn’t.”

“Yes. They can tend to go on with that game forever. Still, they’ve just started accepting Thomas, and now they are leery again because of you.”

“Sorry, Angel. I was just having fun.”

Silence.

“So what’s up with my bro? Is he going in the slammer, just when I got out?”

“I don’t know. The way they’re treating him is unreal.” She ran a hand over her face. “The sheriff doesn’t like Thomas and is doing anything he can to make him miserable. If only someone would listen to Thomas, as he’s trying to tell them that the sheriff and Fawn were lovers. No one has a chance to say anything in this town with the way Bert is hushing them up.”

“Well, then maybe someone should do something to make the sheriff miserable.”

“Levi, don’t cause trouble. We need to help Thomas and Eli, not make things worse.”

“That’s exactly what I plan on doing. Angel, can I borrow Tommy’s truck?”

“Why?”

“I need to run a fast errand.”

“The keys are in the ignition,” she told him, too tired to care.

“You’re a doll,” he said, grabbing her shoulders and kissing her atop the head. “Now I know why my brother married you.”

He took off before Angel could react.

“I was the one who married him,” she said to herself. “But he loves me,” she whispered, feeling warm inside from Thomas’s proclamation. Yes, things were going to be all right after all, she decided. If Thomas loved her, then there was still hope even in the darkest of nights. 

Chapter 24

Thomas was awakened the next morning by the sound of the heavy metal door being unlocked from the outside. Eli shifted in his arms, and he protectively drew him closer against his chest. Thank God he’d convinced them to let Eli stay with him through the night. It was one time he was glad that small town sheriffs seemed to do whatever the hell they wanted no matter what the law said.

“It’s going to be all right, son. I’ll protect you. Don’t you worry.”

A female officer with a name badge that said Officer Owens stepped in with the State’s Attorney and Levi right behind her. Thomas had never seen her before. Behind them were Bob and Barb from Child Services.

“Levi!” Thomas jumped up, and latched Eli onto his hip. He wasn’t going to let go of the little boy if he didn’t have to. He needed to compensate for too many years of not loving or hugging a child who needed to know his father loved him as much as his other kids. He had so much to make up to little Eli, and now he wasn’t sure if he’d ever get the chance.

“You’re free to go,” said Officer Owens. “Both of you.”

“What?” Thomas walked over, not able to believe his ears.

The State’s Attorney, Mr. Forrester, an old friend of Thomas’s father spoke up. “Since Eli’s so young, we can’t really put him in a juvenile facility. And since there is no proof it was anything other than an accident, the state is not pressing charges.”

“I don’t understand,” said Thomas. “Isn’t anyone pressing charges?”

“It seems the murdered woman didn’t have any living relatives, so there is no one to protest,” added Officer Owens. “Lucky for both of you, I’d say.”

“But, it’s not over,” Barb spoke up. “CPS will still be making regular checks to your home.”

“Why?” protested Thomas. “I’ve been cleared of any murder charges as well as done everything you’ve asked. There’s no need. I am a fit father.”

“We’ve no doubt about that, Mr. Thomas,” continued Barb. “But Eli will need to be monitored and he’ll have to make appointments with a child psychologist we have at the facility. He’s been through a lot and we need to make sure he isn’t affected.”

“Of course he’s affected,” grumbled Thomas. “Who wouldn’t be, after what Eli’s been through? Don’t you mean to say you’re really going to be watching him because you’re not sure he isn’t going to try to kill someone else?”

Barb and Bob looked at each other, but didn’t answer.

“It’s okay, Pa,” said Eli, his words sounding like angelic music to Thomas’s ears. “I don’t mind. As long as you can stay with me.”

“I’m not leaving your side, son, ever.” Thomas made a promise, and in his heart he meant every word.

“Well, let’s get going,” said Levi. “I’ve got the truck and also your shotgun which has been returned.”

“Really?” Thomas raised an eyebrow. “And what does the sheriff have to say about that?”

“Not too much,” said Levi with a smile. “He’s been taken into custody this morning.”

“You don’t say,” remarked Thomas with a satisfied nod. “For what?”

“Well,” answered Levi, “it seems Detective Bradford listened to your stories about the sheriff and Fawn after all. And when I brought him over to Burley’s in the middle of the night he was able to verify from the patrons as well as Burley himself that the sheriff was threatening them all. They knew about his affair with Fawn and also their love baby that died. It seems that good ol’ Bert had a heavy hand when it came to doing illegal things and shutting up the rest of the town from talking. And he’s going to have a rude awakening behind bars for a while.” Levi’s smile widened.

“Ah,” said Thomas with a nod. “You would know. So who is taking his place?”

“The State will be sending a new sheriff any day now,” said Officer Owens. “I’m here filling in until they decide.”

“Any sheriff will be welcomed with opened arms after what this town’s been through with Bert. Now let’s get the hell out of here,” said Thomas in a low voice.

Once out in the truck, Levi drove and Eli slept on the front seat between them.

“Thanks for the help getting Bert put away,” Thomas told Levi. “If not, I’d most likely be the one behind bars since the man had a personal vendetta against me. This town will be a lot better off without him.”

“Well, someone just had to point out his bad points and then convince half the town that he shouldn’t be getting away with his crap.”

“I appreciate the gesture, but I never expected you to be the one to snarf on anyone. Especially since Judas did the same thing to you.”

“That’s different,” Levi protested. “Judas was my brother.”

“
Is
your brother. Some day you two are going to have to make up.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

They pulled into the yard and Angel came running from the barn with Gabby right behind her. “Boys, they’re home. They’re home,” she called.

Thomas stepped out, and the first thing he saw was the two stray dogs headed right for the kids. He picked up his shotgun out of the back of the truck and raised it, meaning to frighten them off. Then he put it back down, when he saw they were chasing after a ball Zeke had thrown.

“It’s all right,” Angel told him, catching his eye. “Zeke’s found two new pets and is hoping you’ll let him keep them.”

Thomas started calculating in his head the cost of two more mouths to feed.

“They eat dog food now,” called Zeke from across the grass.

“Fine,” he said, collecting up Angel in his arms and giving her a big hug. Two more mouths to feed was the least of his problems.

“Welcome home,” she said, with a kiss to his lips.

“What happened, Pa?” called Dan, riding up on the horse to meet them. Sam was right behind him on the other horse.

“They dropped all charges, and Eli and I have been released.”

“That’s wonderful,” said Angel with a sigh of relief.

Thomas handed the shotgun to his brother and scooped Eli off the seat, and laid the boy’s sleeping form against him.

“As soon as I get Eli to bed, I want to talk to you out in the barn, Angie.”

The surprise on her face showed.

“Of course. Do you want me to take Eli into the house?”

“No,” he said, looking down at his son, cherishing the moment. “I want to do it myself. I’ve missed out on one too many opportunities to spend time with my youngest son.”

Angel waited in the barn for Thomas, wondering what he could possibly want to talk to her about. She sat on a bale of hay and picked at the contents. She looked up into the sun beaming in the door when she heard him enter.

“Angie,” he said, sitting down beside her. “While I was away all night, I had a lot of time to think.”

“So did I,” she answered.

“I got to spend the time with Eli I’d always gypped him out of, because I was not sure he was my son.”

“Are you saying you want to find out for sure?”

“No. I no longer care about that. You’ve shown me that it doesn’t matter if the kids are mine by blood. You have loved each and every one of my boys as if they were your own, and you showed me what true selflessness is all about.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying, in my mind from now on, Eli
is
my son, just like the rest of the boys. I don’t need to have a DNA test run. It no longer matters. The boy saved my life, Angie. He went up against his own mother because he knew she was about to commit a horrible crime. He loved me for who I was, and only wanted that love in return. I see now what an injustice I did to little Eli, as well as myself. I’m going to make up for all those lost years by spending time with him.”

“That’s wonderful, Thomas.” She pecked him on the cheek. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

“And I’m going to stop being such a slave driver and learn to play more with my kids. I’ve missed out on years of their childhood because I was too damned caught up in my own miserable life. Through you, I’ve seen that life is what you make it. I don’t care if I’m poor forever, Angie. As long as I’ve got you and the kids, I’m very rich indeed.”

“But what about Sam’s operation, Thomas? Are you willing to give up that dream?”

“It was my dream, not his. He’s happy the way he is. But I’m going to continue the fund, and have the money there for him should he ever decide he wants to go through with it.”

“Then let me donate to that fund, Thomas.”

“No. I don’t want your money, but I do want you to be my wife forever.”

He pulled out a velvet box and flipped it open. Angel gasped when she saw the round diamond settled atop the gold band.

“Will you marry me, Angie? Will you be my wife and the mother of my children forever?”

“Thomas,” she said, holding her hand to her mouth so she wouldn’t cry out. “I am already your wife.”

“With an earring for a wedding ring,” he reminded her. “I want to do it right this time. I want to have a real wedding and invite our friends. I want to shout to the whole world I am the luckiest man in the world to have you for a wife.”

“But I thought you didn’t really want another wife. And you know I could never replace Brianne.”

“I didn’t want another wife, until I met you. I’m done comparing you to Brianne. She was wonderful and I’ll always love her for giving me so many glorious children, but I need to let her go now. Her memory will always stay with me, but I need to move forward in life and stop looking back. You are my new life, Angie. If you’ll agree to be a part of it, that is.”

“Oh, Thomas,” she said, hugging him. “This is all so beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” he coaxed her. “Please, say yes.”

“Yes! Of course, Thomas, I will be your wife.”

Applause and cat calls sounded from the door to the barn, and when Angel looked up, all the boys were standing there as well as Gabby. Levi balanced little Eli on one arm and put his fingers in his mouth and whistled with the other.

“How long have you all been standing there?” she asked, embarrassed.

“Long enough to know you’re going to be staying around for a long time,” answered Levi.

“Oh, Mommy,” cried Gabby, rushing forward and pouncing down on her lap. “What a pretty ring.”

Thomas took the ring and replaced the earring on her finger with the diamond.

“I love your mommy,” he told the little girl. “And I love my only daughter, too.”

Gabby held out her arms and went to Thomas.

“And what about the rest of us?” came Jake’s voice from behind him.

“I love every one of you,” said Thomas with a smile. He picked up Gabby and headed to the door, taking Eli from his brother in his other arm.

“Aw, how nice of you to love me too,” Levi said in a joking manner.

Thomas turned to the children. “Why don’t you boys show your Uncle Levi just how much you love him too?”

“Really Pa, can we?” asked Jake eagerly.

“Go for it.”

“Wait a second,” said Levi backing away and raising his hands in the air. “I don’t think I like the sound of this.”

He bolted out the door but it was too late. The boys pig piled atop their uncle, causing him to fall to the ground.

“Well, I can see we’re going to be one big happy family,” said Angel.

“Yes, we are,” Thomas replied.

“Thomas, how did you afford to buy me this ring? I know you don’t have any money.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Angie. I never had time to tell you about the will.”

He put Gabby and Eli down and told them to go jump atop the pile too, which they did eagerly.

“My parents managed to save most their lake property from being taken when my Ma went into the nursing home. They’ve left it in trust. Each of my brothers gets a plot of land at Thunder Lake with a cabin on it which they can choose as soon as they’re married. But if they don’t marry in a year, they don’t get the land. The church does instead. They had more money than I thought, Angie, but it has all been locked up in holding the land in trust, and going to pay the taxes on it until it’s taken piece by piece by my brothers.”

“So are you saying they left you more land, Thomas?”

“No. I already had my plot of land, but since I’ve been already paying my taxes all these years, the money in reserve is now mine. I had money to buy this ring, and have enough leftover to put a down-payment on the Ainsley’s mansion, if you still want us to buy it.”

“Oh, Thomas,” she said giddily. “Is it true?”

“Yes, Angie, it’s true. We’ll have to wait on the honeymoon, but we’re going to have plenty of room to raise the boys, and Gabby. And if we decide to have any more kids, we’ll have room for them too.”

“More kids?” She laughed and fell into his arms. “Aren’t seven enough?”

“Not by my father’s standards they aren’t. I don’t want to let him down, or he’ll be turning in his grave. After all, we’ve got five more to go to catch up with him. And I can’t wait to get started.”

She kissed him deeply and lay her head against his chest, looking at her ring.