Page 118 of High Water

“All right then. I’ll take us up there tomorrow. You want to come too?” Grant looks at me.

“Of course. If we can be back before Fallon gets home from school.” Aspen’s made it clear that she wants one of us home at all times for the short term, and Fallon’s not been arguing with her. Going along with whatever Aspen asks of her. I think she’s finally recognizing, after everything that’s happened, that her mom and I will do literally anything for her. It won’t last forever. She’s a teenager after all, but I’m grateful for the reprieve while Aspen’s heart recovers from the physical and emotional toll the incident’s taken on her.

“We can do that. No problem,” Grant agrees.

“I’m coming too,” Levi volunteers.

“You’ll have to fill us all in when you get back.” Zephyrine looks at him. “I have several meetings tomorrow I can’t miss, but I’m dying to know where those lead.”

“You’ll be the first to know, sweetheart.” Levi kisses her temple and wraps his arm around her shoulders.

“Have you set a wedding date yet?” Aspen pipes up as she smiles at both of them. “As your sister, I demand a wedding sooner rather than later. All of them, if it can be arranged. Life is way too short to waste time on perfect venues and flowers when you can just be with that person.” She gives Grant a pointed look.

“We were actually thinking the same thing,” Hazel agrees with her. “We were wondering if maybe you all wanted to just have a big old family wedding. All of us this summer on the ranch. We could shut everything down for a few days, just invite close friends and family, and have a big party.”

“I’d love that.” Zephyrine nods, smiling at Levi.

“Whatever you want.” Levi grins back.

“You know that I’m happy with anything and everything.” Dakota eyes Grant.

“She’s convinced me it’s what she wants.” Grant takes her hand in his and threads their fingers together.

“So it’s a done deal then? All of you getting married this summer?” Aspen looks at them like it’s too good to be true, but they all nod along.

“Oh my god. I can’t wait!” Aspen clasps her hands together and then leans into me, kicking her feet as she lets out a squeal of excitement.

“Assuming those keys don’t lead us down another rabbit hole.” Grant gives them another once-over.

“If they do, we’re just signing papers at the courthouse.” Dakota gives him a pointed look, and his concern morphs into another amused lopsided grin.

This family is the happiest they’ve been in my memory, and I’m hoping it lasts for another century at least.

Levi lingers behind after everyone else has dispersed and returns to his seat across from us in the living room.

“Jay’s daughter has invited us all to the memorial celebration next month. I can send you all the details if you’d like to attend,” Levi informs us.

“Absolutely. I want the chance to tell her in person again what he did in the end. The way he helped my daughter and tried to save my life. I know Grant isn’t completely settled on that, but I know Jay meant well. He was trying to make up for the harm he caused before, however flawed he might have been.” Aspen’s mood shifts from the happiness she had before to something more reflective.

“I’m still trying to forgive him myself, but I appreciate your feelings on the matter.” Levi solemnly nods along with Aspen’s take on the situation.

“Does she want his death investigated?” I ask the question we desperately need answered.

“No. Jay’s daughter and Zephyrine both expressed their desire as the surviving family that if the state doesn’t find reason to continue digging, they’re more than content with the initial findings. They told them they don’t want to see additional lives put at risk to validate a truth that they already know,” Levi explains.

“The initial findings being that the mine collapsed in on the governor and his sons during a kidnapping and murder attempt, and Jay arrived on the scene to try to rescue his niece and succumbed to his injuries in the accident?” I reiterate the information I’ve been given so far.

“Yes. The deputy sheriff seems keen to let sleeping dogs lie on this, and I’m hoping that with all the circumstantial evidence and the family’s sentiments, we’ll be able to move on from all of this soon. I know rehashing it over and over isn’t helping you or Fallon.” Levi looks at his sister.

“I’m fine. I can talk to them as many times as they need.” Aspen’s eyes meet mine, and then they’re back on her brother. “But I do worry about Fallon and Bishop. They’ve been through enough; they don’t need more at their door.”

“I’m fine, honey.” I reach over and sweep my thumb over the back of her hand, squeezing it in reassurance. “I can take a few interrogations.” She’s been worried since the first day that the investigation would somehow frame me as a vigilante. “I imagine the deputy sheriff wants to put this one behind him without expending additional resources. And given how many people the governor and his sons hurt, no one seems particularly interested in trying to prove them innocent against all evidence to the contrary.”

“Exactly,” Levi agrees with my sentiments.

“What about the abbey and curators? They’re not punishing Zephyrine for not being able to retrieve the sword?”

“No. A representative came out this week so Zephyrine could show them the mine and explain the situation in person. They agreed that the mine collapse was well beyond her control, and they’re not expecting to have her pursue it further. ‘An act of God’ was noted a few times in the conversation. And the nuns are more than happy with the donations we’ve made to repair the damage her father and his men caused, and we put an additional research stipend forward in her maternal grandfather’s name for any art history students who want to conduct additional research on the collection.”