Finding His Sun

Chapter Eighteen

My Dearest Erin, 

Sorry to come to such distasteful measures, but it seems this is the only way to have you listen. I never wanted to hurt you, only love you. I’m not sure why that was never enough for you. Once again here I am begging for your forgiveness, begging for your love. 

I know you’ve been tricked into thinking that you’ve found something better, but don’t be so gullible. Remember no one could ever love you like I can. You’re damaged goods. Don’t ever forget that you’re the orphan that no one wanted. 

I gave you everything. I am the reason you’re still standing. You can’t give up on me now. 

I’ll let you think for a while, to make the right decision.

Don’t keep me waiting long, you know how impatient I can be.

With all my love, 

Mason 

The letters on the page lit into Erin’s eyes like gasoline, burning through her skull and down to her heart, taking everything into its hot blazing flames. She felt like she was being burned alive with hatred and rage. Breathe, just breathe. She tried to gasp for air, but even that brought the seething heat down her throat. 

Adam looked at Erin struggling to stay standing and he didn’t know how to help. He grabbed her hard and held her in his arms. He gently rubbed her head, trying to calm the storm he knew was raging inside her. Everyone else in the room just as worried as he was now looking at Erin.  

“Breathe for me, love. Look me in the eyes okay?” Adam pleaded with her. 

Erin looked at him and tried to breathe.

Adam looked at the love of his life, he had never seen her like this. He could see anguish in her eyes, but the rest of her was just a shell of herself. She didn’t move, she didn’t blink. She was looking at him, but it wasn’t her, she was somewhere he couldn’t see. He brought her to the couch and covered her face with his hand. He looked up and saw everyone looking at them worried. James, Lance and Ben were huddled looking at the note and discussing things Adam didn’t want to hear. Jackson was in the corner explaining the situation to Levi, Neal and Callum. Adam’s mother and sister came back into the room with hot tea and coffee. Alaina joined Adam and Erin on the couch and held Erin’s hand, tears slowly escaped his mother's eyes. 

Erin could hear everyone around her, she could see their stares, she knew she needed to speak but her words got caught in her throat. She grabbed Adam’s hand to let him know she was okay. She was okay. Her emotions took hold of her, but she didn’t want to be what Mason made her. Erin didn’t want to be weak or just be a burden for people to carry. She wanted to stand up for herself, for all the times she didn’t in the past. She slowly sat up and met Adam’s worried eyes. 

“I’m okay” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “I- I don’t believe anything he said in that note. I used to, but not now...” her words faded off. 

Alaina gave her a big smile, “you are stronger than you know, my dear”. 

Erin took in a deep breath and looked at James, “he is full of empty threats. He thinks I’m weak enough to cave to go back to him, but I’m not. I don’t think this is a threat against you or your land, it’s just me he wants”. 

James gave her a smile and a nod and looked at Lance. 

“I think you may be right Erin, but we still don’t know what Benjamin wants. He could just be using his son to get closer to you and James, even Adam. He has a lot of power, and he used it today. He sent the ranch papers to take James to court to buy his property for town benefit”. 

“What does that mean?” Neal chimed in worriedly. 

“It means if he gets enough people in the town to back up his proposal the city could terminate some of this land for ranching and use it for whatever they see fit”. 

Everyone in the room started to yell. Some yelled ideas, some just yelled in anger. Adam still had his hand on Erin’s as they sat in silence. 

“Everyone quiet!” James exclaimed and everyone followed. “Benjamin has been after this land for years; this isn’t anything new. Now our priority is to keep Erin safe, but also find out why Benjamin is wanted by federal agents, okay? I haven’t done anything I would regret yet so let’s not let anger get the best of us now” he said clearly eyeing Sarah. He was letting her know he was playing by the rules. 

“You’re right, if we can find what illegal business Benjamin is doing, this problem goes away entirely. No intervention needed” Lance agreed with a sigh of relief. 

“I have some papers in a safety deposit box that my dad left me. They were all about business and transactions… I never thought about them until now” Erin said, and everyone looked at her in surprise. 

“Okay, we will go to the bank in the morning and gather those, they probably have something to help”. 

Everyone dispersed to their rooms for the night, but a weary gloom surrounded the whole ranch. 

Erin laid in bed next to Adam and held her face close to his. They knew the chaos around them, but somehow being in each other's arms calmed the storm.

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen” Adam whispered into her ear. 

“I love you” she said quickly and quietly, but he heard her. 

He pulled her face up to meet his eyes, but all he did was smile that charming smile. Erin immediately shoved him.

“Well do you not love me back?” She said, he could tell she was worried.

But he continued to smile. How could she be worried? How could she for one second think that she hadn’t already captured his heart forever. 

“Darlin’, the one thing I was made to do was... love you. I love you endlessly, with my whole heart for my whole life. For everything that you are, for everything that you do, and everything you will become, my heart beats for you. I look at you and go weak. You speak and I melt. You’re like a never-ending breath of fresh air. I don’t just love you, I can’t live without you”. 

Erin looked at the man she loved, and she felt like her body was bursting at the seams with a feeling of fulfillment. She just held Adam in her arms, not wanting to leave ever again. Adam took her in his arms and held her, hoping his love was enough to make her stay with him forever.