CHAPTER 29

Bill took advantage of the morning to do his rounds, these last few days were a turmoil. Lucky that everyone in Hope Valle came together and together fought for the couple Jack and Elizabeth. As soon as he got to his office, and he would need to see that all the paperwork regarding that wedding was processed. There could be no mistakes, or Elizabeth would have problems with her father.

She still had to think about what to do when Charles returned to town in a few days. He could get agitated and end up hurting Elizabeth. He didn't seem like a man who would give up easily. And if he moved a strand of her hair out of place, Bill was even afraid of Jack's reaction.

Bill was worried, he didn't receive any communication from Charlotte. He hoped she was okay, because he knew she would need a lot of help. That's when he saw, along the road, a high dust, it was a wagon coming towards him.

Bill put his hand on her waist, and checked her gun.

In a short time the distance between them was covered; Bill was speechless when he realized who was in that wagon. How many years... he hadn't seen her... Her beauty was now more mature, and she was even more incredible, striking, she was still perfect, and she still looked like a girl, even after so many years. Their eyes sparkled, the two remembered their old times.

— Hi Charlotte! Bill spoke in a voice choked with emotion... How long?

"Hello Bill. She smiled beautifully, which made his heart swell with joy.

"Bill, can we sit under that tree?" I need to stretch my legs...

"How long have you been on the road?" He narrowed his eyes, now noticing Charlotte's tired face.

— Yesterday morning, and I came straight, I stopped only to sleep and for the animals to rest a little.

"Why this rush? Charlotte, what's going on? Why so much luggage on this wagon? I know you woman, and I know that look...

"I've missed your frankness so much, Bill. But come on, I'll tell you everything that happened in the last few days.

- What? This William Thatcher, is he crazy? Bill yelled, not pacing back and forth.

—Bill; I don't know what's going on, but this man came out of nowhere and Tomas never spoke about him, and I don't think I would ever do business with him.

— I know Charlotte, I know Tomas and I know what he was like...

—Charlote, I'm not going to let him take the farm from you; I'll check everything out... I just hope I'm wrong about one thing.

"What's up, Bill?"

—Charlote, this man is doing everything to make Elizabeth go with him; she even had a lawsuit in court, where they forced her to leave, her father won the right of father over her, for being single and twenty-three years old.

"So that's why Jack married her?"

"No. He got married because he loves that girl." He just moved things along. They're on their honeymoon and they're coming back tomorrow, and we've put together a fully equipped house for them. Everyone here has a big love for them.

"William sent Charles here to the city. He must marry Elizabeth, he is a millionaire and in scruples. I still haven't been able to prove anything. They've been friends since they were kids, but she's never seen him as more than a friend, and she turned him down when he came here asking to marry her. And Charlotte, that Elizabeth girl is afraid of Charles... you've been there with your brother-in-law; when we have a strange sensation, we must never stop taking it seriously.

"Bill, do you seem to like her a lot?" Tell me... what is she really like? I need to know before I make any decision about her, I don't want my bias for being a Thatcher to play into anything. I need to at least try to get to know her.

- Charlote. I hold you in high regard. I would do for you and the boys, anything in this life. But I will not allow you to hurt or mistreat her. She is my daughter by law, since I became her guardian, and I would do anything for her.

"But Bill; she is that man's daughter.

— Charlotte, my friend. Listen well. She is running away from that man. Since stepping here in the city, she's only done helping people. I think you should stay a few days away and see for yourself who she is and how in love your son is.

— And how can I stay hidden, when there's only one hotel over a bar?

- You can stay at my house. There are three rooms there, not in the city, and besides, I'll cook for you. I know about your fat mania and I can't imagine how those boys survived it. And Bill laughed and made fun of his friend.

So they went to Bill's house. It was a wooden house, with a porch at the front, all in oak, it had been built on the land, over the hill. That's when Jack saw Bill's house, and he decided to buy the land across the creek, very close by. He wanted to make the most beautiful home for his Bella.

Bill knew that his home would have everything Charlotte needed. The animals would have pasture and barn. And he could show her the jewel of a daughter she was earning. After leaving her at home to rest, he returned to the city, he needed to get ahead and work hard on that paperwork, and now this problem of Charlotte to solve.

Willian and Charles were playing to win, but he was going to end it all... Nobody messed with his girls...

Meanwhile, Tom got on the train. In four days he would be in Hope Valley. And getting there, he would talk sense into his older brother's head. When Jack learned that his mother was homeless and that he had lost everything because of his wife and family, that marriage would dissolve instantly. That family, he would have to deal with, would not allow them to use his brother or take away his parents' home.