She could tell by the sound of his voice that he was still upset. “But they’re just kids. I need to call Uncle Kenneth.”
“Why? As far as I’m concerned this is all his fault for spouting off at the mouth around them about you.”
A part of Bella knew what Jason said was true and could even accept he had a right to be angry, but still, the thought that she was responsible for the disruption of so many lives was getting to her. Had she made a mistake in moving to Denver after all?
“Don’t even think it, Bella.”
She glanced across the table at Jason. “What?”
“I know what’s going through your mind, sweetheart. I can see it all over your face and you want to blame yourself for what happened but it’s not your fault.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No. You can’t hold yourself responsible for the actions of others. What if you had been standing near the window the day that rock came flying through, or worse yet, what if you’d been home the day they set fire to the house? If I sound mad it’s because I still am. And I’m going to stay mad until justice is served.”
He paused a moment and then said, “I don’t want to talk about Kenneth or his grandsons any longer. Come on, let’s get dressed and go riding.”
WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM riding and Bella checked her cell phone, she had received a call from her parents saying that they had changed their minds and would not be coming to Denver after all. She couldn’t help wondering why, but she figured the best thing to do was count her blessings and be happy about their change in plans.
Jason was outside putting the horses away and she decided to take a shower and change into something relaxing. So far, other than the sheriff, no one else had called. She figured Jason’s family was treating them as honeymooners and giving them their privacy.
When her cell phone rang, she didn’t recognize the caller but figured it might be one of her parents calling from another number. “Yes?”
“This is all your fault, Bella.”
She froze upon hearing her uncle’s voice. He was angry. “My grandsons might be going to some youth detention center for a couple of years because of you.”
Bella drew in a deep breath and remembered the conversation she and Jason had had earlier that day. “You should not have talked badly about me in front of them.”
“Are you saying it’s my fault?”
“Yes, Uncle Kenneth, that’s exactly what I’m saying. You have no one else to blame but yourself.”
“Why you… How dare you speak to me that way. You think you’re something now that you’re married to a Westmoreland. Well, you’ll see what a mistake you made. All Jason Westmoreland wanted was your land and that horse. He doesn’t care anything about you. I told you I knew someone who wanted to buy your land.”
“And I’ve always told you my land isn’t for sale.”
“If you don’t think Westmoreland plans to weasel it from you then you’re crazy. Just mark my word. You mean nothing to him. All he wants is that land. He is nothing but a controller and a manipulator.”
Her uncle then hung up the phone on her.
Bella tried not to let her uncle’s words get to her. No one knew the details of their marriage so her uncle had no idea that she was well aware that Jason wanted her land and horse. For what other reason would he have presented her with that proposal? She wasn’t the crazy person her uncle evidently assumed she was. She was operating with more than a full deck and was also well aware Jason didn’t love her.
She glanced up when Jason walked through the back door. He smiled when he saw her. “I thought you were going to take a shower.”
“I was, but I got a phone call.”
“Oh, from who?”
She knew now was not the time to tell him about her uncle’s call—especially after all he’d said earlier. So she decided to take that time to tell him about her parents’ decision.
“Dad and Mom called. They aren’t coming after all.”
“What changed their minds?” he asked, taking a seat on the sofa.