The Rancher’s Dog Laid Flowers in Her Lap… He Said, “I Think God Is Trying to Tell Me Something”
Chapter 14
The trial lasted two days.
Every document was examined.
Every witness questioned.
The registrar confessed.
The farmers testified.
The preacher produced Samuel’s letter.
Margaret presented the original deed.
Thomas recovered enough to stand before the judge.
Silas Mercer was arrested.
So was Margaret’s uncle.
The stolen lands were reviewed.
Some families received their farms back.
Others received compensation.
The Reed property remained with Thomas.
Margaret’s father’s land was returned to her.
She could have sold it.
Instead, she kept it.
Not because she needed it.
Because her father had once told her that land was a promise between generations.
Months passed.
Winter came.
Then spring.
Thomas healed slowly.
The scar remained beneath his ribs.
Margaret stayed.
Not because she had nowhere else to go.
Because she wanted to.
One morning, she found Gideon waiting outside the kitchen.
He carried a flower.
Margaret laughed.
“Again?”
Gideon dropped it in her lap.
Thomas appeared behind him.
“You see?”
Margaret held up the flower.
“He has good taste.”
Thomas leaned against the doorway.
“He learned from me.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You never gave me flowers.”
“I gave you a house.”
“You gave me a room.”
“A very good room.”
She laughed.
Thomas stepped closer.
“I have something else.”
He pulled a small wooden box from his coat.
Inside was his mother’s silver brooch.
Margaret stared.
“I can’t take that.”
“You can.”
“It belonged to Abigail.”
“She would have wanted you to have it.”
Margaret touched the brooch.
Thomas took her hand.
“Will you marry me?”
She looked at him.
“You’re asking now?”
“I’ve been asking for months.”
“You haven’t said anything.”
“I thought you knew.”
Margaret laughed.
“You are terrible at this.”
Thomas smiled.
“Is that a yes?”
She leaned forward.
“Yes.”
Gideon barked.
Thomas looked at the dog.
“Apparently he approves.”
Margaret laughed again.
And the old ranch, which had once been filled with silence, began to feel like a home.
