Maude's Trials (Widows of Virginia #1)(9)

“I’m so sorry Maude.” Raymond must have thought she was upset due to her silence. “This is not the welcome I wanted for you. If I get my hands on that woman!”

She grabbed his shoulder and looked Raymond straight in the eyes. Maude shook her head slowly.

“I pray that God delivers her soul.” She had more pity than hatred on her. “It’s important that the truth is out now.”

“I doubt she’ll ever change.” Raymond sounded so sure.

The sadness in his voice reminded her why they were in this situation to start with.

“What about your ranch? When she came to see me, she was adamant…” She clenched her fingers on the side of the cart.

“Not much I can do about it.” He tried to shrug it off, and put on a fake smile, but she could read him like an open book. He cared a lot. “A deal is a deal. I’ll have to honor the contract. She can have my home, but she’ll never have my heart.”

He turned to Maude and smiled. She must have looked horrified, as he quickly added.

“Don’t worry, Maude. None of this is your fault. We can start a new home together.”

She nodded, too tired to argue. Especially since she’d have to think really hard to argue against her own wishes.





Chapter 8


“Good mornin’, Mrs. Lafayette!” Sarah, the maid and cook, knocked on the door and peeked inside. “I’ve brought your breakfast.”

“Come in, please.” It felt so strange to be waited on. Maude lifted herself in bed ashamed for sleeping through the morning again. “Thank you, Sarah. I was planning to join Raymond downstairs.”

“No, no, no. Mr. Garrett was adamant that you get plenty o’ rest. One day ain’t enough for a lady to regain her strength.”

Maude laughed. “I’m fine. Really.”

Sarah, gave her a stern look, but it quickly turned into a smile as she placed the tray with the food by the bed. The maid bowed her head and left the room wishing her a good day.

By noon Maude was dressed and eager to join back with the living. She sent word to Raymond that she would join him for lunch eager to know if there had been any progress in fighting against Claire’s claim on the ranch.

What would he do, if he lost his property? Raymond’s impending fate never left her mind.

She said a quick prayer before leaving her room. Maude was anxious; she realized she had not been to the large dining room since her meal with Raymond. She stopped by a large painting in the hallway. Will he have to lose all this too?

“There you are. I was just coming to see you.” Raymond almost ran into her.

“I guess I beat you to it.” They shared a hearty laugh.

“How are you today? I can see you look brighter than you did yesterday.”

“I’m fine. Thank you for rescuing me.” She kept smiling.

“It’s nothing.” He ushered her into the dining room.

“Maude, let me introduce you to my best friend, Mr. Byron Clinton.”

“Hello. It’s an honor to final meet you, Maude Lafayette.” Byron extended his hand towards her.

“It’s my pleasure too. Thank you.”

“Please have a seat.” Raymond pulled up a chair for her.

“Byron has been helping me come up with a solution to our predicament. I thought you might want to know too.”

Maude bowed her head.

“Any good news?”

“Not much, but I do get to stay on the ranch a little longer while we try to come up with a solution.”

Maude held back her questions, unsure it was her place to intervene.

“But there is no cause for alarm.” Byron tried to lessen the tension. “We have established the value of the debt, and with a bit of luck between the two of us, we should be able to come up with the sum.”

“Thank you so much, Byron.” Raymond smiled at both his guests. “I knew I could count on your help.”

So good news after all. She exhaled relieved. If only she could help too. “That’s marvelous.”

“Let’s do away with sad stories for now. Lunch is about to be served.” Raymond motioned to the maid standing in the doorway.

“Is Rachael not joining us?” Maude glanced at the empty seat.

“She sent her apologies. She left early today to visit some relatives.”

His blushed as he made the excuse, Maude did not prod any further, she just nodded and kept quiet.

Fidelis came into the room, just as the meal was being laid to the table. He whispered something to Raymond, and then handed him a letter.

Raymond glanced around with a nervous smile and hastily tore the envelope open.

“This can’t be.” He was furious. He stood up abruptly knocking a plate with his elbow.”

“Calm down, Raymond.” Maude got up too. “Please, what’s wrong?”

Byron wrenched the letter out of Raymond’s clenched fist and ushered his friend back into the seat. Raymond buried his head in his hands.

“It’s an eviction notice.” Byron looked at the letter confused. “It says that the debt cannot be paid off. Raymond will either have to get married or lose everything.”

Blood drained from Maude’s face. “How much time was he given?”