All the Wrong Reasons

Part 48

Chapter 48

“Cassie, love, wake up.”

The voice whispered into the darkness, making her want to smile.  She knew that voice; it was Colin.  The man who loved her, the only man in her life that she was sure had nothing to do with the mess that had disrupted her life.  A warm body lined her side, but she knew the body did not belong to the voice she loved so much.  Opening her eyes, she glanced over.

Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked.  Will was next to her, his eyes closed, cloth wrapped around his chest.  He protected her when she wanted him to protect himself.  How could she doubt him?  He may not have gone about it the right way, but he was just trying to protect her.  His entire life, he had protected her, and now, she doubted him?  Guilt shot through her.  If only she would have listened to him before and left when he told her too, he would not have been lying motionless beside her.  This was her fault, all her fault.

“Cassie,” a voice whispered as a hand trailed the side of her face.  Turning into the hand, she let Colin cup the side of her face.  He looked down on her with sadness.  Wiping her tears away, he sent her a tiny smile.  “What is it, love?”

Her eyes darted towards Will, and understanding dawned on his face.  “It is not your doing.  It was James; James did this to both of you.”

“Is he alive?” she whispered, proud when her voice only cracked once.

He drew his hand back and walked towards the door.  It opened slightly; a hand came into view before disappearing once more.  Colin walked back to her, showing her what the hand had given him.  “Water,” he told her with a smile.  “You need water, and when you have had something to drink, I will explain a few things to you.  Then, your father would like to speak to you.”

Trepidation hit her.  What was it that her father wanted to speak about?  Was it the fact that Colin and her were not married?  If so, she would find a way to rectify that fact.  She shook her head.  “I’m tired.”

“I know, Cassie, but there are some things that you need to know.  We really are not married.”

She froze as he bent down to place the water on the ground.  She had thought that Will was telling the truth, but having it proven made the fact more prominent.  What if Colin did not want to marry her?  Would he change his mind when he realized what a mess her life was?

“Why the worried face?” he asked with a light chuckle.  “We’ll get married as soon as you are well.”  He paused; a thoughtful expression crossed his face.  “Unless you do not wish to marry.”

“We have talked about this,” she reminded him.  “I want to marry you.”

Her throat was scratchy, causing the last words to grumble together, but he understood.  A large smile was on his face as he nodded.  “That is great.  Now, Ramsey said that you should not speak so often.  I am going to explain some things to you before your father talks to you.”

She nodded and waited for him to begin talking.  “James is dead.  He died in the fire," he told her with a slight wince.  "I had the your father's men check the cabin.  They were the ones who found his body.”  Remorse and relief hit her at the same time.  She was relieved that he was gone, but a small part of her regretted the fact that he had to die.  He may have kidnapped her, and hit Colin over the head, but the fact that he had to die was still a little sad.

“Will?”

“He shall live,” Colin mumbled.  Cassandra knew there was something that he was not telling her, but did not push it.  If it had anything to do with Will, she would wait for the man himself to tell her.  “Listen, Cassie.” She glanced up at him, her eyes connecting with his brown ones.  “What your father has to tell you, changes nothing.  You are still the same person, and I will still love you.  Do you understand?”