She gave me something.
Back at the ranch, Gideon unlocked the cedar chest again.
This time he removed a folded envelope.
The paper had yellowed.
Rosalie recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her mother’s.
Her knees weakened.
Gideon placed the envelope in her hands.
Across the front were three words.
For Rosalie someday.
Rosalie sank into the chair.
“Why didn’t you give this to me?”
Gideon read her expression more than her words.
He wrote:
Your mother told me only if you came asking about Bell.
Rosalie looked at him in disbelief.
She knew I would?
She hoped you never would.
Rosalie carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet.
My darling Rosalie,
If Gideon Rook gives you this letter, then something I hoped would remain buried has returned.
