Free Tangled Betrayals by Lynn Wolfe Page A

father had been angry for him leaving England, but could he really do such a horrific deed to Mary? Thomas forced himself to take a close look at her. He saw the pain etched on her face, her trembling body, and her defeated spirit. She was barely holding herself together. He had never seen her distraught like this.
    He now knew what Mary had told him was true. My God, what had he and James done?
    “Mary, I’m not sure what to say. I beg you to forgive us. I see the truth now for what it is. You have to understand, we never thought to doubt father’s letter. I knew he could be cantankerous, but to lie about such a thing, even for him, is hard to believe.” Thomas said as he started to reach out to Mary but her glare told him to stand back.
    After a minute or two had passed Mary knew she had to end this conversation. She was too exhausted both physically and mentally to go on. “Well, you’re going to have to accept it for what it is, Thomas. But let me tell you something. I’ve thought about James for the last year and few days. I cannot fathom how you or James could have been so ready to believe I could have loved another! You both doubted me when I have never given either of you a reason to.
    “ You’ve known me far better than anyone, Thomas. You’ve hurt me deeply! Not to mention the hurt James has done! Knowing he replaced me, without giving me a chance to explain, and that he could stop loving me so quickly hurts the worst. I can’t accept the fact he ever loved me as I loved him. I had foolishly believed his every word. And the emerald rings he promised me are probably on the hand of his new wife, are they not?”
    Thomas looked down at the floor. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Mary’s face. “Aye, Mary. But he’d loved you deeply, Mary, at one time. I need to tell you how he’d gotten very drunk the day he received the letter from father and stayed that way until I came upon him several days later. The letter nearly destroyed him, Mary.
    “ We both believed what father wrote, for which I’m so sorry. We’ve wronged you in the worst possible way. Please forgive me. I beg you. When James finds out what’s taken place, he’ll be livid with father and himself. He’ll feel terrible, Mary. You know he will.”
    Mary shook her head in anger. “Do you think for one minute I care what that bastard thinks or feels? Well, I don’t, Thomas! But you must promise me James will not find out the truth. I never want him to know I came to the ship this day. What good could come of him knowing the truth now? He would only pity me for the remainder of his life, Thomas, and I couldn’t bear it! Not from James------nor from you.
    “ There’s nothing more that can be done other than me dealing with father when he eventually returns home. I’ll learn to live with this pain in my heart. I can’t believe our own father could hurt me so badly. He’s betrayed me, you’ve betrayed me and most of all James has betrayed me. What have I left, Thomas? Only Minnie has stood by my side and has total trust and faith in me.
    “ Please leave, I’m very angry and hurt. There’s nothing you can say or do to change my feelings toward all three of you stupid, stupid, men. I don’t know how to answer you about forgiveness. I don’t have it in me right now to do so. Maybe in time I’ll feel differently.
    “ I’m angry, bitter, and ashamed of myself for ever being so naïve as to believe I could have found such happiness only to have my dream stolen by those who had no faith in my promises. No faith in me. When I give my word, Thomas, I don’t break it, unlike you or James. Go now. Get Out!”
    “Mary, I want to make things right.”
    “Make things right? Thomas, go! Haven’t you already done enough? If you truly wanted to have made things right, you should have written to me and asked if there was any truth to the letter written to James! You and James could have waited till the year was up to find the truth for