“It’s lovely,” she said, turning it in her hands. “Was it something Solomon bought for himself or a family heirloom?”

“Family heirloom.” He choked on the words as he allowed himself a peek at the watch as it rested in her delicate hands. “My great-grandfather purchased it near the end of his life. It was some kind of statement, I suppose, to wear one then, versus the kind on chains that were looped around the neck.” He shook his head. “My father treasured it and my brother used to crow to me about receiving it as part of his legacy. I’m shocked he didn’t gamble it away during one of his low points.”

She drew a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wrapped the golden watch in it. “It seems he still saw the value in it, beyond what he could get for it.”

“What are you doing?” he asked, feeling every muscle in his body tighten.

She glanced up at him. “It is a family heirloom, Jasper. If you do not wish to carry it, that’s your choice and I respect it, but I think it deserves more protection than to be kept in a hot, dusty attic. I will put it in my jewelry box. Perhaps one day we will pass it to a son or grandson.”

He caught his breath at that idea. Of course he would have children with this woman. The expectation that he carry on his father’s line was very great. But he hadn’t pictured those children until now. With her smile. With his hair. With her eyes.

He could imagine handing over the watch to one of them, and to his surprise, there was no pain in that idea. His son or grandson would have none of the bad memories of Solomon or Jasper’s father to go with the piece. The demons that went along with the watch would be gone by then.

And that was comforting.

She took the next item from the trunk with a gasp. A thick book. “Your family Bible,” she breathed.

“Neither my father nor my brother followed it, it was all for show,” he said. “And I fear my faith has been shaken too much to not be a hypocrite by placing it in a spot of honor.”

She nodded slowly. “Well, perhaps there will be a time for faith again, in the future. If not in the church’s doors, then in your own.”

He took those softly spoken words in. And realized they were already true. He had found faith. In her. And that was more powerful than any sermon he’d ever heard in a chapel.

“Take it down with us,” he suggested. “We’ll place it in the library. For those same children you believe will want that old watch.”

She smiled slightly at his tone and placed the Bible on the floor and the wrapped watch on top of it. She moved into the trunk again. She pulled a heavy fabric from the trunk. It was thick and black, and he stared.