What she really meant was: Who is going to give in and make the sacrifice necessary for a future together? Even as she thought it, she realized how such a choice was bound to lead to resentment when they experienced disagreements or disappointments.
Daniel drew in a long, shaky breath. “I’ve no idea. You know what my family went through, and how I left them. I told you about the vow I made to my mother, the vow I couldn’t keep, preventing me from moving on.” He gazed deeply into her eyes.
“What kind of man would I be to break my word when I’m finally on the cusp of making good on my promise?” He grunted. “I wouldn’t be worthy of your trust or your affection if I abandoned my mother and siblings now. Would I?”
Her heart splintered. “And how would I be worthy of your trust and affection if I didn’t honor your need to fulfill that promise? Yet … I have a family too, and they’ll grieve if I remain here with you. How will I bear missing them for the rest of my life? My mom and dad would be devastated. My twin sister’s first child will be born in December. If I stay, I’ll never meet my niece or nephew. I’ll never see my sisters again.” A tear ran down her cheek. “What are we going to do, Daniel?”
He held her tight for several seconds, saying nothing. Meredith closed her eyes and tried to imagine a scenario where time and space weren’t obstacles standing between them.
“I don’t know, my love. We can’t say for certain that our plans to thwart the murderers will succeed. Until that fateful day is behind us, can we not spend this precious time getting to know each other better? If I’m still breathing after the nineteenth of June, then we’ll discuss our options.” He drew back and stared into her eyes. “What do you say?” he asked, his expression intense.
“All right,” she agreed, though she knew the closer they became, the more devastating their mutual decision might be for one or both of them.
When they arrived back at the cabin, Meredith hopped off on her own, and began untying the tarp. She took the pie tin, and Daniel grabbed the sack of Flour. Charles opened the door just as they reached the porch.
“I was about head back to work,” Charles said, eyeing the two of them. “How was your visit into town, Meredith?”
“Garretsville today is a lot different than the ghost town I remember. When I arrived as a volunteer, I counted fourteen buildings in total, and a majority of them were barely standing.” Meredith told him. She lifted the tin. “We brought pie from the diner. Will you have a piece with us before you go back to work?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Charles grinned, opening the door wider to let them enter. “Good news, Oliver. We have pie.”
Oliver glanced over his shoulder from his place at the sink. “Cool. Thanks.”
Daniel crossed the room and pulled a large wooden box from under the counter. He set the flour sack inside and put the lid back on before sliding the box back on the shelf. “Let’s get the wagon unloaded and supplies put away first.”
A flurry of activity began as the men brought in the supplies and put them away. Meredith started a fresh pot of coffee, and the four of them settled around the table. Charles cut and served the buttermilk pie, something Meredith had never had before.
She set the coffee pot on a folded piece of thick wool at the center of the table, along with mugs and sugar. “We stopped by the sheriff’s office,” she said. “He’s going to come by tomorrow afternoon at 4:00. Oliver, you and I need to practice what we’re going to say.”
“We can do that,” he said around a mouthful. “Whatever this is, it’s delicious. Some kind of custard?”
“Buttermilk pie.” Daniel glanced at Charles. “We also stopped by the bank. I wasn’t comfortable with having Meredith’s money here in the cabin. There are too many drifters wandering the mountains who might come in and help themselves to whatever they want should they find no one at home. We put her fortune in our strongbox. I hope that meets with your approval, Charles.”
He nodded as he chewed. “Of course.”
Meredith snuck a peek at Oliver, trying to gauge his reaction. He seemed far more interested in stuffing his