Chapter 14

Thank you all for your reviews. It sounds like you're enjoying the story, if I may so bold. Is this the plan you were thinking of, lainielou?

As they ate their lunch Adam's mind had been working hard on a plan that Julie would agree with, although he knew whatever he came up with she would disagree with. The air was fresh and it helped him in his thinking. Yes, he thought, I can offer a solution.

A little while later as they were near the end of their lunch, with just a glass of wine in their hands, Adam began to tell Julie of his plan.

"Now before you vehemently object, I want you to hear me out."

"Oh, I don't like the sound of that."

"Are you going to start right now. I did ask that you listen to all I have to say before you object."

"Sorry, but I just know I'm not going to like it."

Adam took a deep breath to stop himself from voicing any anger. Then went on to say, "Well, I have had thoughts about things since you told me your story and I seriously want to help and I feel there is only one way in which to solve the problem of the money."

"Oh, here it comes."

"One more word from you and I'll lose my temper, which won't bode well for you. Now, not one more word 'til I've finished."

Adam could see that Julie was about to argue again, but he held up his index finger in warning and saw that Julie decided to withhold her argument.

"Good. Now I'm thinking there will be a large amount of money that I suspect your father has left to you and that in itself will cause you problems and if this Attwell is assuming that as he left only a monthly allowance for your mother in her lifetime, then whatever money there is will be gifted to you as his only child, hence his insistence of marrying you…."

"And then my own demise as the money will be his on our marriage."

"Correct. And I told you not to interrupt."

"Oh, so sorry, your worship."

Adam gave her a glare that told her to stop with the sarcasm.

"I understand what you are thinking and that is why you believe he has been trying to find you all these years. So there is only one answer and that is for you to marry me."

"What! Are you mad? I won't allow you to make such a sacrifice. You don't even like me and there is no way I would go into a marriage as my father and mother did. Or maybe you're after the money too. Think again brainy." Julie stood up and took her anger with her towards the lake.

Adam got up and followed her. "You didn't let me finish. Always in a rush to condemn. Come back and sit and let me tell you what I was fully thinking."

She didn't budge from her spot, so Adam caught hold of her hand and pulled her back to their picnic sight.

"Now sit and behave. No more outburst 'til I've finished. Sit."

"Orders, always orders, Mr Bossypants."

"If you don't sit and listen to what I have to say, then I will have to use my persuasive charms."

Julie gave him a look, then rolled her eyes, sat and crossed her arms.

'Just like a child in a tizzy-fit', he thought. But of course he understood. Suppose it had been the other way around I probably might have reacted similarly. He sat down beside her and continued with his proposal.

"I realise the thought of marriage to me seems disgusting, but it is way of getting whatever money is in the Will transferred to me as your husband."

Julie looked at Adam with a thunderous look in her eyes and again was about to speak when Adam this time put his hand across her mouth, shaking his head.

"Listen to me now. This marriage would be on paper only so that we or rather you can have access to any monies granted to you." He kept his hand across Julie's mouth, knowing she was impatient to voice her opinion. "We would travel to Denver, get married by a court judge and then go to the bank and hopefully find Manson. Tell him you are a happily married lady now and have come to sort out all the legalities of your father's Will."

He could feel Julie huffing and puffing in his hand, so he lifted his hand off of her mouth waiting for her to speak and speak she did.

"Adam, I'm not as mad as I was, but I can't let you do this. This would bring much danger to you. He could still find me, shoot you and then I'm back to square one."

"No, please listen to me. My proposal, as I say, will be in name only and the money can be transferred to a second account in Virginia City under my name, but with the proviso that both you and I could withdraw from it, but in truth only you would be drawing from it. I do not wish to take any money from you. You can then do whatever you wish with it, spend it, give it away…."

"We don't know how much money there is…"

"I suspect quite a bit," Adam told her, "as why else would your father have been so secretive about it."

"Well, I could give it to you to build your house. That would be a good way to pay you back for everything you have done for me. I can take most of the money with me to travel abroad and live in another country, just like I dreamed of doing." She had unfolded her arms by now and Adam could see she was deep in thought.

"What are you thinking, Julie?"

"I'm thinking about the marriage side of this. What do you plan to do about that. What are you going to tell your family?"

"They have seen us together quite a bit and I don't think would be surprised that we married and honeymooned in Denver."

"Honeymooned?"

"That's what I'll tell them, but in truth, as I've said, it would be a platonic marriage. But we would have to act like we were very much in love though. Could you do that?"

"And how long do we act out a marriage?"

"Until the money is sorted to your satisfaction and then we could annul the marriage. But long before then, I think my family should know exactly what is going on and why."

"Yes, I agree."

"Well, that's a first," Adam said, smiling.

"But, Adam, I would like a couple of days to think all this through. I know you are trying to help me with my future, but I need to consider all that it entails. Are you okay with that?"

"Yes. Just don't say no, but think it through by all means."

"What are you saying. You are going to force me to go through with your plans?"

"No, sweetheart. You must know it is the best plan for you and it should keep you safe from Attwood."

"Yeah, until he finds us and kills you."

"That is not going to happen, sweetheart."

"If he is capable of killing my father then my mother, he won't hesitate to kill someone he doesn't even know, to get to the money," Julie has raised her voice. "And don't call me sweetheart."

"Calm down, Julie. You're going to have to get used to me calling you sweetheart if we are to make people believe we are married and in love."

"Just don't try kissing me, especially in public, just to prove your point."

"I wouldn't dare. You'd probably slap my face. That would look good, wouldn't it. But maybe I would be safe to kiss your hand. What say you?"

"Maybe. We'll see." Julie made a move to stand up saying, "I think we should be getting back home," and started placing the plates and left overs back in the basket.

Adam said no more, there was much to think about for both of them.