Page 118 of Taming I Do
There was no avoiding the truth anymore, and I was ready to tell it. I sat down across from her and rubbed my hand over my chin. “Colin fell in with the wrong people a while ago. I thought it was gambling until I followed him one night and found out about the dogs. He wasn’t only betting. He helped move them, found places to keep them, made introductions.”
Her mouth tightened.
“I threatened to go to the sheriff if he didn’t stop. He swore he was getting out and needed time. I believed him because I wanted to.”
“Your family thought the two of you had a fight.”
“We did. I told him to leave and not come back until he’d shut the whole thing down. When Mom and Dad asked what happened, I let them blame me.”
Delilah’s forehead creased. “Why?”
“They thought he hung the moon. We all did. Colin was the one everyone counted on, the one who was supposed to take over the orchard. The truth would have destroyed them.”
“So you carried it yourself,” she said, her voice hard.
“I thought I could.”
Her fingers tightened around the glass. “What happened when he came back?”
“He showed up here hurt. I stitched his arm and hid him while I tried to convince him to turn himself in.”
“I’d patched him up before.” Shame burned through me. “Every time, I told myself it was the last. I thought I was protecting my family, but all I did was make it easier for Colin to avoid the consequences.”
“You hid him while the town was investigating the sabotage.”
I nodded.
“While you were telling me I could trust you.”
“Yes.”
She looked away. “Did you know he was behind the crickets?”
“Not until the night he was arrested. I didn’t know about the movie or the butterflies. I suspected Adeline. Even when Buster reacted to Colin, I didn’t put it together.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was back?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of him?”
“Of failing everyone.” I stood, unable to sit still. “I was afraid my parents would blame themselves. Afraid my brothers and Abby wouldn’t be able to handle it. Afraid the town would lose the contest and we’d lose the orchard.”
I moved to the sink, then faced her. “And I was afraid you’d learn I’d helped him and think the worst of me.”
“You thought I’d believe you were involved in dog fighting?”
“No. But I was involved in hiding the truth.”
Delilah pushed back from the table and stood.
“I didn’t keep it from you because I thought you were weak.” I moved toward her, stopping an arm’s length away. “I did it because I’ve spent my whole life fixing things. When Dad makes a bad decision, I find a way to pay for it. When my brothers need help, I show up. When Abby gets scared, I tell her everything will be okay.”
“What happens when you need help?”
“I handle it.”
“That ends now.”
