Her grandfather silently lifted his feet up on the bed and straightened them. Celia walked over, tugging the covers over him and then tucking them into the sides of his bed. She knelt down by his side and her grandfather reached for her face with both his hands.
“Thank you dear, thank you for being here. I know what kind of sacrifice it is for you, leaving your life and your job behind in New York.” He said, his voice breaking as he spoke to her. Celia’s eyes were still watery. She was looking into the face of a very sick man. A man she loved dearly, but whom she had ignored for the past few years.
“I would do it all over again if I had to, grandpa. This is what families do, and you are my family.” She said, touching his hand where it rested on his cheek.
Her grandfather stared into his eyes for a few moments and then spoke again.
“I don’t want to interfere in your life, my child, but the Moore’s…they are different from us. Especially…especially…” He said.
“Conrad?” She asked, and he didn’t reply. But his silence spoke volumes.
“But Conrad says that Wilder is jealous of him, that he wants to take away his inheritance.” Celia said. Her grandfather’s eyebrows crossed.
“What inheritance? Their father left the ranch and all the property to Wilder alone.” He said, flatly, like it was an obvious statement. Celia’s lips had turned dry. She couldn’t understand what her grandfather was saying.
“Why would he do that? Isn’t Conrad his brother? An equal member of the family? I don’t understand.” Celia said.
“Conrad was a rebel, the black sheep of the family. He never wanted any part in the ranch. He ran away from home when he was fifteen and went away to New York. His father disowned him. And then he came back when his father died.” Her grandfather explained. Celia licked her lips in confusion. But Conrad had said that he was an equal share holder in the ranch, in the family’s properties…that Wilder would try and steal his inheritance if he left the ranch.
Her grandfather was studying her closely. They were both silent for a few moments.
“I don’t know what Conrad has been telling you dear. But the truth is that Wilder is supporting Conrad. He feels guilty…” He was saying, but fumbling with his words. Celia had heard the guilt in Wilder’s voice earlier on the porch.
“Wilder feels guilty because his wife slept with Conrad. Because he blames himself for his wife’s seduction of his younger brother?” She suggested. Again, her grandfather said nothing, but that was enough for her to understand. She breathed in deeply. Wilder was looking after his disowned younger brother, after everything Conrad had done to the family, to Wilder.
“Thank you for telling me, grandpa.” She said, patting his hand and straightening back up.
“I told you because I don’t want you to make a mistake. The same mistake that Katherine made. I’ve seen the way Wilder Moore looks at you, the way you look at him. Don’t let Conrad manipulate you into something that you’ll later regret.” He said.
“Did Katherine later regret it?” Celia asked. She had never loved her grandfather more, now she was learning the true worth of family. This was the greatest gift that her grandfather had ever given her. The gift of the truth.
“Of course she did. She was young and foolish and didn’t have the capacity to appreciate Wilder Moore for the man he is. When she regretted it, it was too late. He wouldn’t have his brother’s seconds, even if she was his wife to begin with.” He replied and Celia nodded her head.
“Thank you grandpa. Now have a good night’s sleep and we’ll talk again in the morning.” Celia said before flicking the light bulb off in the room and stepping back out into the quiet house.
Celia went looking for Wilder, she needed to speak to him, to tell him that she knew the truth now. He was looking after Conrad, giving him a share of the property because he believed that his brother deserved it as much as he did. And Conrad had lied, he had manipulated the truth to make her believe that Wilder was a despicable man.
Celia was running down the corridor towards the porch outside in search of Wilder when Conrad’s hands grabbed her waist from behind and she shrieked.
“Stop screaming! I know you want this.” She heard him breathe into her ears. Conrad’s arms were crossed over the front of her own body and he held her like that tightly. She was breathing hard, afraid now of what might happen. What he might make her do that would push Wilder away from her forever.
“You are just a simple girl, Celia. You don’t understand the complications of the world.” She heard him say. The laugh in his voice had returned. He was enjoying Celia struggling against him, trying to get free. He held her tightly, facing forward; his hand slowly creeping up her body.