Free Mail Order Rose (Mail Order Brides #1) by Cara Cabot Page A

child would not have the shame of being born out of wedlock. She knew she was tearing us apart and she relished it, you know how she was. But then you left and it wasn't fun for her anymore.”
    Rose's eyes were damp with tears as she relived the pain of the betrayal.
    “ But do you know what I think?” Grant asked her.
    “ What?”
    “ I think that she was never pregnant to begin with. I think she lied about it to trap me and split us up. I think her plan was that once we were married she would make it look like she lost the baby but it would be too late because we would have already been married. But after you left, she just lost the baby sooner. I think she faked the fall down the stairs.”
    “ So there was no baby?”
    “ I can't say for sure, but that's what I think. Your family mourned not only losing you, but losing the baby. Everyone was sad except for her. She so cold, she didn't care. Only for show, when she needed to-then she could produce tears. But I saw the real her. She broke off our engagement and has had several suitors since then, most likely the ones who have heard of her, um, reputation.”
    Rose was hurting all over again. She wanted to know the truth and now she had it. But it did not change the choice that she had made.
    “Let's go, I have a buggy waiting on the other side of the bridge, we can catch a train to Omaha and from there, we can go wherever you'd like. I don't care where we are, as long as you're with me.”
    He grabbed her hand to lead her into the bridge but she stayed firmly in her spot.
    “I won't be with you, though,” she told him.
    He spun around, looking confused. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean exactly that. I'm not going anywhere with you, Grant.”
    “ What? But why? Why did you meet me here, if not to leave with me?”
    “ I met you here for two reasons. The first one is that I driving myself crazy not knowing. I wanted to know how it happened. And you've told me what happened. If you think that Isabel is the only one to blame in this you are wrong. You didn't have to dance with her, you didn't have to leave with her, you didn't have to...well, you know. If you truly loved me or respected me, it never would have happened, it doesn't matter how much whiskey you'd had.”
    Grant's mouth was open, as he stared in disbelief. Rose could tell that this was the last thing he'd expected her to say. She wasn't going to let him off the hook, yet, though. “I read the letter that you wrote me over and over. Do you realize that not once, not once Grant , did you say that you were sorry?   And not only did you not once mention that you were sorry, you went on about the torment that you endured, how hard this ordeal has been on you. On you? Do you have any idea of the pain I've been through? My heart was broken, Grant, crushed to pieces. I felt that I had no reason to live. I had lost the thing that I'd loved most in the world: you. Not to mention, the embarrassment and humiliation I had to experience. All of the whispers, the looks of pity...I couldn't even bear to stay in my own town anymore. You are as selfish as Isabel!”
    He was still holding onto her hand. His eyes no longer held a look of confusion, but one of sadness and regret. “Rose, I'm so sorry.” She let his hand drop.
    “You said there were two reasons you came today. What is the other one?” he asked her.
    “ For closure. I want you to know that whatever pain that I've felt, no matter how much I feel that you've wronged me, I have forgiven you for it. There was a time I didn't think I'd ever fall in love again, but by the Grace of God, I have found love again. I have faith in God's plan for me and that plan involves forgiving, not holding on to the pain and anger and moving on.”
    “ You're in love again? No, that can't be, you haven't even been gone that long. You just think you are. You've forgiven me so we can start anew. Please come with me, I'm begging you, and I know you'll learn to love me again,