Free Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 by Ramona Flightner

said.
    “I don’t know why she would,” Colin said. “The last few months weren’t pleasant for her. She wasn’t allowed to teach, even though she wasn’t married. She couldn’t visit her friends or participate in her suffragist activities. All that was attractive about Boston was taken away from her.”
    “Would she want that good-for-nothing?” Sebastian asked, as Ronan scoffed at the idea.
    Colin started as though Sebastian had struck him. “I can guarantee, never.”
    “Maybe now that she sees what life is like with Gabe, she realizes she should have opted for the easier life.” Sebastian met Colin’s steely glare.
    “If Cameron were her only option, she would never choose him.” Colin sighed. “She suffered too much at his hands.”
    “And appears to continue to suffer from it. Only now she’s making everyone, especially Gabe, miserable,” Ronan said, as he took a sip of coffee.
    Sebastian squinted at his friend’s words, before letting out a long sigh. “Well, whatever it is, she needs to tell Gabe. There’s nothing worse than not knowing how to make your woman happy and waiting for the day she leaves for good.”
    “Mr. Carlin?” Amelia asked Sebastian, sensing he spoke from experience.
    “I’m afraid I’ve overstayed my welcome, and I need to return the wagon to the mill. I thank you, Mrs. Egan, for a delicious dinner and fine company. Colin.”
    Ronan nodded his thanks, as he must leave now with Sebastian, maneuvering his wheelchair to the kitchen and out the side door. Colin had also risen, and he and Sebastian carried Ronan in the wheelchair down the porch steps. They hoisted Ronan into the front seat of the wagon, where he had a special rope he tied around his waist to prevent sliding out of the seat. Sebastian moved toward the wagon to tie the wheelchair securely, before climbing in beside Ronan.
    Colin reentered Aidan’s house and sat again next to Amelia. He took a small sip of coffee, the quiet of the night descending as they sat in silent contemplation.
    After a few moments, Amelia turned to Colin. “Would you like some cake?”
    “I thought you’d never ask,” Colin said with a broad smile. “Sweets are one of my weaknesses.”
    “They were one of Liam’s too,” she said with a wistful smile.
    “You miss him still.”
    “Of course. I’ll always miss him.” She rose, moving toward the cake to carve two generous portions. “I still turn to speak with him or to meet his amused smile when Nicholas says or does something humorous. And then I remember he’s not here. He’ll never be here again.”
    “I’m sorry, Mrs. Egan. I didn’t mean to …”
    “I’d rather speak of him. It’s as though a code of silence was erected around his name after his death, and everyone is afraid to breach it. I know I helped erect it, but now I need to speak of him again. He’d want his children to hear me talk about him. I want his children to know who he was. A good, kind man who would have loved them. Who did love them.”
    “And their mother,” Colin murmured.
    “Yes. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan.”
    “We’re family, of sorts. You should call me Colin.”
    She smiled and nodded. “And you must call me Amelia.”
    Colin sighed in contentment as he took a bite of her chocolate cake. “I hope Rissa and Gabe have the good sense to eat this.”
    “I’m afraid that’s the one thing they’ve been lacking for a few months, Colin.”
    Colin grunted his agreement as he devoured his cake in earnest.

CHAPTER 8
    HAVING REFUSED COLIN’S OFFER to escort me home, I returned to the workshop and apartment Gabriel and I shared on Main Street in Missoula. I paused to marvel at the sunset. To the west, the mountains shone crimson, while the wisps of clouds in the sky changed from fuchsia to a carnation pink, before night finally descended and the beautiful display ended. I sighed, turning to face the workshop, knowing that I’d see another beautiful sunset again, if not tomorrow,