The rain was over; it was a bright, sunny day. Althea was awake when she heard the wagon pull up outside. She'd just started the coffee and knew she was going to need it; she'd been up all night talking to Simon; discussing what the next step was. Both agreed that nothing could go any further until they spoke to Bret and tried to explain. Not that she expected to get much peace or comfort from it, but she was insistent that they try.
She knew it couldn't be Bret, and if it was a Maverick, they would have ridden a horse. So the odds were it was Lily Mae. Althea steeled herself for a nasty confrontation. She knew how much Lily Mae loved 'her boys,' all three of them, and God forbid you did something destructive to one of them.
She opened the door before Lily could knock. "Morning, Lily Mae. I just made coffee, would you like some?"
"No, thank you, Althea. I've come to collect the rest of Bret's things."
"Certainly. I was going to bring them over later today."
Lily Mae sniffed. "He's leavin' as soon as I get back."
"Leaving? Where's he going?" Althea was startled. Was he running away?
"Not that it's any a yer concern, but he's goin' to meet Mr. B."
"Oh . . . . . I was hoping to talk to him. I have some explaining to do."
"You got more than some explainin' to do, Missy."
Althea looked upset and unhappy. "Please sit down and have a cup of coffee with me, Lily. I want you to know some things."
"Alright. Ya got five minutes."
"Good enough. Sit, please. I'll get the coffee." She went into the kitchen and was back in just moments with two cups. Lily Mae had deigned to sit on the sofa, and Althea sat next to her.
"I loved Bret. I still love Bret. He's wild, and passionate, and funny, and perfect – for someone else, not me. I want to be married, and have children, and that's not for Bret. He needs . . . . . .somebody that's not me. I love Simon, too, and he wants the same things I want. We never even kissed before last night, and what we did was wrong, and we both know it. And we're both sorry. Can you tell Bret that?"
Lily Mae nodded. "I can. If he wants to hear it."
Althea made up her mind, there and then. "I'm going back with you."
"Still up to him if he wants to talk to you."
"I understand that. Just let me saddle my horse. Bret's clothes are all out on the bed in that room." Althea pointed to her bedroom. "I'll be ready when you are."
Just as Lily finished moving Bret's clothes out to the wagon, Althea rode up on her horse. It was a silent procession back to the mansion, and Beauregard was standing at the upstairs window looking out when they arrived at the front porch. He hurried down to Bret's room, where he was just finishing his packing. "Lily Mae's back. Althea's with her. Do you want me to send her away?"
Bret looked up and thought for a minute. "Nope. I better talk to her. Thanks anyway, Pappy." He sighed as he strapped on his gun belt and checked his gun. "I'm comin'."
Pappy led the way down the stairs and Bret followed him. Beauregard went into the front room and took a seat by the window, determined to stand guard over his son just in case. Lily left the wagon out front and went inside to give the two ex-lovers privacy.
"Hello, Althea." Bret was the first to break the silence.
"Bret. I . . . . . I want you to know that I really did love you. I still do."
He nodded his head. "I know. I love you, too. But that's not the problem, is it, Althea?"
"No, it isn't. You need . . . . . . you need somebody, but not me. I need marriage, and children, and a husband that leaves in the morning and comes home at night, not the other way around. Simon and I, we didn't intend . . . . . . it wasn't planned, Bret. We talked last night. We wanted to tell you before it went any further and we . . . . we just got carried away. I'd do anything to take it back, Bret. I never wanted you to be hurt. Simon's asked me to marry him, and I've accepted. We hope . . . . . we hope someday you'll forgive us, and understand. Please know that, wherever you go."
Bret had been sitting in one of the rocking chairs while she talked to him. Now he stood, and offered her his hand. "I do understand, Thea. I understand a lot more than you know. You and Simon will make a good marriage. I hope the two of you can be happy together. As for me – there's only one thing I want you to do. And it's real simple. Forget about me. I've got my own road to follow, and I can't change. Forget about me." He kissed the back of her hand and let go, then turned and walked into the house. Slowly, softly the door closed, and she mounted her horse and rode away.
He watched her go down the road until he couldn't see her anymore, then sighed and turned away from the window. Pappy was right behind him. "Well played, son."
"I meant what I said to her, Pappy."
Beauregard stepped aside and let Bret go back out to the wagon and bring in the things Lily Mae had picked up for him. Everything fit neatly into his suitcase and he closed and locked it, then carried it back downstairs. "Ready to go when you are, Pappy."
They walked out to the barn and Bret hitched the horse up to the buggy, then loaded his suitcases into it. After Pappy had climbed inside, Bret did too and drove out of the barn and down the road towards town. Most of the journey was passed in silence, which Bret was grateful for. As calm and collected as he'd appeared to Althea, inside his stomach was churning. His emotions were all over the place, and he would be glad when he boarded the stage and got started. He was worried about Bart, and he had every right to be.
By the time they reached Little Bend the stage for Fort Worth and Fayetteville was already loading luggage. Bret quickly bought a ticket and handed up his suitcases, then turned back to his father, still sitting in the buggy. "Pappy - "
"I know, son. I love you too. I'm sorry for everything that happened. Go find that wayward brother a yours, would ya? I wanna see both my sons again here in Little Bend. Or wherever else I may decide to go." He winked at Bret. Oh dear, what was Pappy up to now?
"Take care a yourself, Pappy. I'll send ya a wire when I get my hands on him." He boarded the stage; there were two other men and an older woman. He tipped his hat to her "Ma'am."
"Hmmpf," she sniffed. "At least there's one gentleman in the group."
'Oh dear,' he thought, 'this is gonna be a long trip. Hang on Brother Bart. I'm comin'.'
The End