Chapter 19
Butte Meadows, Nebraska - May 1874
As the McCloud family gathered around their expansive dining table for their usual Sunday dinner, a familiar pang of longing tugged at Gabrielle's heart. Never having experienced the warmth of a large extended family, or much of a family at all except for Violette, she was beginning to realize the extent of their isolation. The lively chatter and easy laughter filling the room sparked a yearning for a connection she'd never truly known.
Just as Gabrielle was about to take a seat, the front door swung open with a bang. Teresa barreled into the house. In her haste, she collided with Gabrielle's satchel, sending it tumbling off the bench and scattering its contents across the floor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Teresa exclaimed, bending down to gather the spilled papers.
"No worries at all," Gabrielle assured her, kneeling to help. But as she reached for a document, Violette, who had followed Teresa in, gasped.
"Train tickets?" Violette's voice rose, the question laced with a tremor of alarm. "Three days?" She demanded, her eyes darting between the tickets and Gabrielle's face. "When were you going to tell me?"
Frustration flickered across Gabrielle's features. "Vee, you knew this was just a short visit," she reminded her sister in a hushed tone. "Don't make a scene."
Violette's jaw clenched. "I don't want to leave yet."
"I understand," Gabrielle said placatingly, ushering Violette towards the porch for some privacy. "But we can't stay any longer. Remember, I told you before we left that we had to be back within the month." She lowered her voice further. "The stockholder's meeting is coming up, and the mess your father left behind at the factories... I just haven't been able to sort it all out yet. I can't keep relying on the attorney to handle the finances in my absence."
"That's your business, not mine," Violette retorted, her voice laced with defiance.
Gabrielle's patience snapped. The stress of the past few weeks, the weight of responsibility, and the simmering resentment towards Violette's carefree attitude all boiled over. "You reap the benefits of my family's money just as much as I do," she lashed out, her voice sharp. "Yet you want no responsibility in anything!"
Violette's eyes widened in shock. "I don't want your money!" She cried, her voice choked with anger. "And I don't need you telling me what to do! You aren't my mother!"
"Fine," Gabrielle choked out, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I hope you're happy here with your new family, Violette. It's obvious you'd rather be here with him!"
The anger drained out of Violette as quickly as it had flared up. Her harsh words hung heavy in the air, a bitter taste on her tongue. Regret twisted in her gut, sharp and cold. She lunged after Gabrielle, her voice choked with apology.
"Brie, wait!" She cried, but her sister's retreating figure was already disappearing into the distance.
Taking a shaky breath, Violette wiped her tears and squared her shoulders. She may not have wanted Gabrielle's money, but she did care about her sister. The joy of the McCloud family dinner, the warmth of their camaraderie, all felt distant now, overshadowed by the deepening rift between her and Gabrielle. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. All she'd wanted was a little more time, a chance to explore this new connection with Buck before being yanked back to their isolated life.