Footsteps sounded, and she glanced up. Canteen in hand, Russ made his way down the embankment once more. Her stomach dipped, and she whipped around. Everything had seemed so simple back in Philadelphia. Given the unexpected turn of events, her justifications for taking Susannah’s ticket were rapidly evaporating. She’d painted Russ a villain, but he wasn’t living down to her expectations.
“Here.” Russ extended the canteen. “Water will help.”
Though her life might have turned out drastically different had Russ married her sister, she couldn’t use the past as an excuse to defend her current questionable behavior.
Anna offered a weak smile. “Thank you.”
He dipped his handkerchief in the clear water and knelt beside her. “You’ve got some, um, dirt on your face.”
Her hands trembling, she accepted the cloth and wiped her cheek.
“Your arm.” His eyes widened. “You’ve been cut. You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.”
He took her hand and gently turned her arm until her palm was facing up. The scratch was several inches long, though not deep, and the bleeding had slowed. With everything else happening, the sting barely rose above the rest of her aches and pains.
“We’d best wrap this,” he said.
Confused by his actions, Anna remained passive as he carefully wound the handkerchief around the gash. Why was he being kind?
Her carefully practiced speech hinged on diffusing his anger. First, she’d planned on appealing to their past connection. If that didn’t work, she’d appeal to his conscience and hope the man her sister had initially fallen in love with was still present in the man who’d eventually jilted her.
What Anna hadn’t expected was Russ’s immediate compassion, and she didn’t know what to make of him. Trust did not come effortlessly these days.
She caught his eyes, and her breath hitched. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I insist.” He knotted the length of material and leaned back. “Can you stand?”
Perhaps he was merely acting this way because the mayor was near. Her late husband had been adept at playing different roles based on the company he kept. Only when they were alone did he show his true character.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m fine now.”
She pushed off and stood, then wobbled.
“Let me help you, Anna.”
She instinctively backed away, and he followed.
“I can manage.”
“Please. I can’t have you tumbling into the creek.” He softened his words with an engaging smile. “I’ll ruin my new shoes wading in after you.”
“All right,” she reluctantly conceded.
Let him put on a show for the mayor. She needed his help, and distancing herself served no purpose. She’d made it as far as Kansas alone, but her meager funds were swiftly depleting. Finding work wasn’t easy for a woman, and she desperately needed a job.
She allowed Russ to take her elbow as they ascended the hill but stepped away immediately once they reached the top. A tarp covered a body on the side of the road, and the scene bustled with people and activity. A man wearing a tin star pinned to his barrel chest glanced at her and quickly looked away, a blush staining his ruddy cheeks. Anna frowned and glanced behind her. She wasn’t the sort of person who turned heads. Another man tipped his hat her way.
Russ placed his hand on the small of her back in a proprietary gesture. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to the attention. The arrival of the bride train is always cause for hope.”
“They’re interested in courting me?” She scoffed. Times must be truly desperate in Cowboy Creek if the men were casting glances her way. “How should I correct the assumption?”
Russ frowned. “If you didn’t want to become a bride, why take Susannah’s ticket? Cowboy Creek isn’t the usual place for widows to relocate.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Give it time, then. Will and I will do our best to staunch any speculation.”
His authority and importance were evident in the deference the men paid to him. She’d known Russ held a notable position in Cowboy Creek, but she’d thought Susanna had exaggerated his reputation.
In the center of the street, Mr. Ward’s mule stood placidly, still hitched to the wagon. To Anna’s amazement, the animal was unharmed despite the volley of bullets.
She crossed the distance and shook her head. “Poor Mr. Ward. They’ve broken all his eggs.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Linford,” the mayor said from where he knelt beside the wagon. “I’ll see that he’s reimbursed. If any of your clothing has suffered, the town will reimburse you for the expense, as well. You were traveling under our care, after all.”
“That’s very kind of you,” she said, knowing she’d never take him up on the offer.
She wasn’t traveling under anyone’s care—not really. Though she fully intended to repay Russ for the cost of the ticket, she mustn’t accrue any more debt in the process. Her clothing would survive. She’d sold most of her best dresses anyway. The frills and fripperies required for Philadelphia society weren’t appropriate for her new life.
She bypassed the hastily arranged pile of clothing from her carpetbag in favor of the scattered burlap sacks. The damage was even worse than she recalled, and a wave of exhaustion crashed over her.
Unwanted emotion forced its way past her defenses, and she pressed a fist over her mouth, stifling a sob. Of all the things the outlaws could have vandalized, why had they destroyed her collection?
“What’s all this?” Russ asked.
He and Will exchanged a glance. They must think her odd, crying over a bunch of sacks.
“Seeds,” she said, her voice hoarse with unshed tears. “I know it seems stupid, but I’ve been collecting them for years. Some of these varieties don’t exist anymore except in those bags.”
She’d always enjoyed gardening, and she’d become obsessive with her hobby during the years of her marriage. There was something infinitely satisfying about nurturing a flourishing plant from a tiny seedling. In nature, there was no prevarication. Water and sunlight created a thriving sprout. Neglect led to death.
When her world was falling apart around her, there was order in the beauty of her garden. Flowers bloomed, and the plants bore fruit. Even after a harsh winter, delicate hyacinth, beautiful harbingers of spring, pushed through the soil and snow. There was always new life in nature. There was always a fresh start.
Will rubbed his chin. “Can you sift the dirt and sort the seeds?”
“I suppose.” She stifled a sigh. The process would take ages. Time she didn’t have.
In order to survive, she must find work immediately. A tide of despair threatened to overwhelm her, and she wrestled with her emotions. What was wrong with her? She’d always considered herself a sturdy, practical person. Lately, everything seemed overwhelming and impossible. Perhaps if she shook off this lingering illness and managed a little rest, she’d be more resilient.
Russ knelt and grasped her torn carpetbag. “Why don’t we gather everything together, and I’ll help you sort them later? The task won’t seem as daunting when you’re rested.”
“Thank you.” She gazed at him, perplexed by the suggestion. “But why would you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“You must be quite busy.”
“I’m never too busy for an old friend,” he said. “Although Philadelphia must seem a lifetime away.”
They weren’t friends. Not really. He was offering now, but he’d make some excuse later, out of the mayor’s earshot. Especially when he realized that she couldn’t immediately pay him back for the cost of Susannah’s train ticket.
An odd set of circumstances had conspired to throw them together. It was logical that Russ had sent for a bride through people he knew and trusted, but Anna
had been shocked when Susannah had come to call. Their connection was tenuous at best. The social community in Philadelphia had many overlaps, and Susannah’s family had known Anna’s through mutual acquaintances. Not the sort of relationship that inspired confidences.
The prospective bride had initially written to Russ after an argument with her current beau. Moving halfway across the country to escape her woes had seemed the perfect solution. As time passed, Susannah had come to regret her impetuous decision. Cowboy Creek was too isolated, and the conditions too remote from her society friends. Then her beau had come calling with flowers and profuse apologies.
All of Susannah’s reasons for abandoning a move to Cowboy Creek had struck a chord with Anna. The town was halfway across the country from Philadelphia and the incessant gossip thwarting any chance of living a quiet, peaceful life.
She’d known the moment she appeared that Russ would be disappointed at best, angry at worst. Brides were not cogs in a wheel to be interchanged at will, and she had no desire to marry again. But at least she’d be a thousand miles from the scandal.
Desperate times required desperate measures.
The mayor doffed his hat and dusted the brim against his trousers. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Will Canfield, ma’am. I hope you won’t let this experience sour your first impression of Cowboy Creek.” He gave a shallow bow, then he turned to his friend. “You don’t have to stay, Russ. Have the doc take a look at both of you. I’ll make certain every one of those seeds is collected and have them delivered to The Cattleman. Your hotel room has already been arranged. Mrs. Linford.”
“But I can’t—”
Will held up one hand. “I insist.”
The ground rumbled, and Will replaced his hat. “That will be the cavalry, so to speak. You two take the wagon back to town. I’ll see to Mr. Ward. Rest as long as you need, Mrs. Linford. When you’re fully recovered, you and Russ will join my wife and me for dinner.”
As though accustomed to having his orders followed without question, Will didn’t wait for her answer. He strode toward the new arrivals.
Anna shivered despite the warm afternoon. “He’s very sure of himself.”
She wasn’t quite certain if she liked him or not. She’d had her fill of men who insisted on giving orders rather than issuing requests.
“Yes.” Russ appeared resigned to the mayor’s high-handed behavior. “He has to be, given his job.”
“I can’t possibly accept his generosity.”
“You heard the man. He insisted. There’s no harm in accepting.”
“But the room was arranged for Susannah.”
“He knows about Miss Lowe. He’s also aware that you and I knew each other in Philadelphia.”
“Surely our previous relationship is too tenuous for such a generous offer?” Anna lifted her chin. She’d stretched her morality to the breaking point by asking for Russ’s help given their flimsy connection, and she refused to impose on his friends. “I simply cannot accept his hospitality.”
“This solution is best.” Russ motioned toward the wagon. “If you stay at the boardinghouse, people will assume you’re a prospective bride, and you’ll be under even more scrutiny. That’s why we arranged for Susannah to stay at the hotel. Don’t be surprised if you’re still inundated with offers, though.”
“But...but...I’m a widow.” A childless widow.
“Single women are a much-sought-after commodity in Cowboy Creek.”
“I won’t marry again.” Anna set her jaw. She’d been married once, and that experience had been enough. “I’m not ever getting married again. Never.”
Why must everything be so complicated? She didn’t want to be noticed or courted. She wanted to live a quiet life in solitude. She didn’t need much. A patch of land for gardening and enough money to see her through the winter.
She hadn’t considered all the ramifications of a single woman in a town full of unattached men.
“You never know,” Russ said. “You might change your mind.”
Her stomach twisted. She’d gone from the frying pan straight into the fire. Coming to Cowboy Creek had been an awful mistake, and now she was trapped by her impulsive decision.
“I won’t change my mind.”
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, they were on the road. As Russ carefully formulated his next question, Anna sat stiff and silent beside him. Mindful of her earlier bout of sickness, Russ kept the pace of the wagon unhurried. He sneaked a glance at his taciturn traveling companion. She didn’t appear comfortable being alone with him, and he wasn’t certain how to put her at ease.
He’d never considered himself an excessively curious man. As a lawyer, he dealt in facts. Extraneous details only muddied the waters. Yet even he had to admit that why a person wound up in a particular place was at least as noteworthy as how.
Anna, a recent widow judging by the faint shadow around her ring finger, had boarded the train in Susannah’s place. The facts were simple. The motivation was not.
She’d traveled halfway across the country. Alone. But why? She’d hitched a ride with a poultry farmer rather than stay an extra day and catch the next train. If she was destitute and isolated, why not ask her sister for assistance?
“Are you all right?” he asked. “Do we need to stop?”
“I’m fine.” She flashed a weary smile. “That’s the fourth time you’ve asked me that question in so many minutes. Do I look as bad as all that?”
“You look lovely.”
She snorted softly. “You needn’t charm me. The mayor isn’t here.”
“What does the mayor have to do with anything?”
“Nothing.” She ducked her head. “I’m out of sorts.”
“You have every right, considering what you’ve been through.”
She blinked him at him with eyes that reminded him of a lost foundling, and his heart did an unexpected zigzag in his chest. She was being incredibly brave, but she was nearing the end of her endurance. The sooner they returned to town, the better. He had plenty of questions, but they’d all have to wait.
“There was an influenza epidemic in Philadelphia,” she said softly. “Hundreds of people died. Don’t worry. The doctor assured me that I was no longer contagious.”
“Is that what happened to your husband?”
“No. Um. His death was sudden. Unexpected.”
“I’m sorry. This must be a very difficult time for you.”
She muttered something noncommittal, further stirring his curiosity. She didn’t appear interested in discussing her late husband. He respected her mourning. Her reticence must mean she loved her husband very much. Not that he had personal experience with the sentiment. For Russ, love was an elusive emotion.
Four years before, he’d been engaged to Anna’s older sister, Charlotte. The war between the states had left the country in tatters, and he was finishing up his law degree. The time was ripe to settle down and plan for a future. Charlotte was the daughter of a business associate in Philadelphia, and the match had been celebrated by both families. He’d thought he’d loved her. He’d certainly been infatuated.
His chest constricted. He hadn’t known that his fiancée was in love with another man until she’d broken off the engagement. She’d begged him to accept the blame, and Russ had gone along with the ruse. Her father, Mr. Darby, had a reputation as a harsh man, and Russ had been swayed by Charlotte’s pleading.
He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “How is your sister? Well, I hope.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from her in years. Not since she, um, not since she married.”
Not since she’d thrown him over and eloped. “Surely you write letters.”
“No.”
Russ raised an eyebrow. The clipped answer effectively slammed the door on any further que
stions. He searched his memory but couldn’t recall any animosity between the sisters. Then again, he’d been distracted. Though he’d worked as a lawyer in the army, his title had been more honorary than official. He’d had to apply for his law license upon his discharge. He’d been finishing up the studies he’d abandoned upon his conscription while working long hours as an apprentice at a law firm.
He didn’t remember the Darby family with any warmth. The episode with Charlotte had been publicly humiliating. Her father’s tirade had been blistering. Though Russ had taken the blame for breaking off the engagement, Charlotte’s speedy elopement had spoken volumes. Only the most gullible of the gossips had been fooled. His fiancée had been in love with someone else the whole time he’d been courting her. Russ was only human, after all, and the betrayal had smarted.
Anna had been one of the few pleasant memories he recalled from that time. She’d had a ready smile and a sharp humor, even at her young age. While Charlotte had been demure and shy, Anna was an energetic hoyden with a taste for adventure.
She’d also been given to pranks. “Do you recall the time you climbed the oak tree in the backyard and dropped acorns on us?”
“Yes.” A ghost of a smile danced around the edges of her mouth. “Charlotte was livid. It wasn’t the first time I’d ruined a romantic moment between her and one of her suitors.” Two dots of color appeared on Anna’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s all right.” Russ shrugged. “Everything worked out for the best. Both Charlotte and I arrived where we needed to be. We just took the long way around.”
He hadn’t known Charlotte any more than he’d known Susannah. Given his current circumstances, Charlotte’s elopement had been a blessing in disguise. If he’d stayed in Philadelphia, he’d still be toiling in the basement of a crowded law firm as an underling. Out west, he’d thrived in his practice. As the years passed, he recognized that his pride had pained him more than his heart, but back then, he’d been too young to tell the difference.
Anna met his sidelong gaze. “Then you’re content living in Cowboy Creek?”
“I am.” Russ cleared his throat. “What are your plans? You’ve come all this way, after all.”
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