Her Unexpected Destiny_Seeing Ranch series

by Florence Linnington

  “Miss!” a voice called behind her.

  Allie gasped out loud but kept walking. She continued at an even pace, pretending she did not hear the call.

  She was on the church’s bottom step. Its top one. She was whisking inside, shutting the door behind her.

  Casting her gaze around the quiet, sunny chapel, Allie realized the place of worship would not provide the refuge she sought. The man must have seen her enter the church. In mere seconds, he would be upon her. And what would she do then?

  Running down the aisle, Allie tossed herself against the back door. Closing it quickly behind her, she ran across the church’s back yard and past the gravestones, dodging behind the house there and continuing her way along the back of the buildings.

  She glanced behind her shoulder, relieved to find the man had not followed. However, Shallow Springs was small. If one person sought another, they would find them sooner rather than later.

  Allie’s mind raced faster than her feet. She had to leave town. There was no other choice. If the man found her, it was all over. She would be carted back to New York, put on trial—if she was lucky. Most likely, she would find herself immediately tossed into jail.

  Allie did a quick survey of the street before darting into the general store. The shelves and stacks of barrels obscured a great deal of the windows, making it hard for anyone to see inside. She would be safe in there for a minute or two.

  Kitty was turning away from the front counter, a can of molasses in her hand. “Thank you,” she told the shopkeeper.

  Her eyes went wide as she caught sight of Allie. “Oh, there you are. What did Doctor Felder—”

  Allie grabbed Kitty’s free hand and pulled her to an alcove between the shelves and sugar bins.

  “Someone is looking for me,” she whispered so that the shopkeeper would not hear.

  Kitty stared at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “A—a man,” she stuttered. “From New York.” Allie’s breathing quickened, and her hands shook.

  “What man?” Kitty asked, eyes wide.

  “I do not know his name.” Allie shook her head, her eyes darting to the windows. A man and a woman walked by, and a muffled shout carried from down the street. Everything looked the same as it always did in Shallow Springs, but the peaceful atmosphere was now merely a facade.

  “Looking for you for what? What did he say to you?” When Allie did not answer right away, Kitty grabbed her shoulder. “Allie, what did he say?”

  Allie shook her head. “Nothing. We saw each other, and I—I ran. I went into the church.”

  “What man is this?”

  “One of the… the factory owner’s associates...” Each word hurt to say. Why did they have to talk about this? There was no time for conversation. She needed to run, to escape.

  Allie fixed her gaze on Kitty. “I have to leave. If he finds me, he will take me away.”

  Kitty’s mouth set into a tight line. “Then we will not let him find you.”

  29

  29. Matt

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  By the time he arrived at Sheriff Ross’s, Matt’s whole body was trembling. Whether it was from fear, excitement, or the blow to his head, he didn’t know—and he didn’t stop to ask questions.

  He needed to get to Allie. Last night’s danger had been a reminder of how fragile everything was. His life had almost been snuffed out—and all before he got the chance to tell Allie the truth.

  He loved her. He forgave her. He’d made a mistake.

  And he never, ever wanted her to leave his side again.

  Putting Trigger in the Rosses’ stable with the other horses, Matt strode for the front porch. His hand shook as he knocked, and he balled his fingers into a fist, hoping that would stop the tremors.

  A long few minutes passed. Matt almost knocked again, but then he remembered Kitty and Helen were likely still sick. Also, he didn’t know how Allie was faring after the fire. It could be all three of them were resting.

  Feeling foolish for disturbing a household of ill women, Matt stepped off the porch. He wanted to go see Doctor Felder and get a report on Allie’s well-being, but he didn’t want to get caught wandering around town when he should have been at home resting.

  Maybe he would go to the hotel and wait there for a spell. Or perhaps just hunker down on the Rosses’ porch or in their stable. Allie would have to rise at some point, and he wanted to make sure he was close when she did.

  He was still standing there, hands on his hips, debating, when the front door opened.

  “Matt?”

  He turned to find Helen standing in the open doorway, a book dangling from one hand.

  Heat flooded his face, and he tipped his hat at the girl. “Sorry to bother you.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  He nodded quickly. “I only wanted to speak with Allie for a moment. I’m sorry if I woke you. I know you’re ill and all.”

  “She and Kitty went to church. They said they wouldn’t be gone long. Would you like to come in and wait?”

  Matt hesitated, still feeling silly. “I’ve disturbed you enough...”

  “No, it’s fine.” She studied him more intently. “I guarantee that after last night, you’re feeling much worse than I am.”

  “Word travels fast.”

  Helen smiled slightly. “I have already received the firsthand account from Allie and the secondhand account from Nat. Please, come in. I’m sure they will be back soon.”

  Matt was about to answer, but Helen’s gaze sliding over his shoulder stopped him.

  “Hello,” she said to someone behind him.

  Matt turned to find a man standing on the other side of the picket fence. But didn’t he look… familiar?

  “Good morning.” The man tipped his hat to Helen.

  “Mines, right?” Matt asked.

  “That’s right,” he nodded, reaching across the gate to shake Matt’s hand. “And you’re the young man I met the other day.”

  “Matthew Denton,” Matt clarified. He didn’t want to be rude, but he couldn’t help his burgeoning annoyance. Though Matt himself had shown up unannounced, he didn’t like that a second person was there. A big visit would get in the way of his talking to Allie.

  “Matthew Denton,” Mines repeated coolly. His attention drifted back to Helen. “And you are Mrs. Ross?”

  “Helen Byrum.”

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Mines paused, considering something. “I am looking for the young lady staying with you. Is she about?”

  The hackles on the back of Matt’s neck rose. “What young lady?” he asked, before Helen had a chance to answer.

  This time, Mines voice was snappier. “The one who is caring for the women living here.”

  Matt swallowed against the lump in his throat. “Who is that?” he asked, posing the question as if he were genuinely curious.

  Mines narrowed his eyes, his lips pursing. He was looking at Matt as if he were an indolent child, but Matt firmly gazed back, refusing to step down.

  He wanted Mines to say the name of the woman he sought. Matt didn’t know just how this man knew Allie was here, or what his purpose with her was, but he could take a guess. As wild as it seemed, it looked like Allie’s fears had come true. Her old boss in New York was looking for her.

  Was this him? Matt quickly sized the man up, taking in his stature and any spots he might have weapons on him. He didn’t wear a gun holster, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a knife tucked away in his boot or vest.

  If the man had come to take Allie away, that wasn’t happening without a fight.

  Had Mines already spoken to Deputy Guthrie about the situation? Did he even know for sure that Allie was at the Rosses’? Or was he only going off of information gleaned from neighbors?

  A dozen questions raced through Matt’s mind, but he tried not to give any one too much attention. Only two things could be known for sure: this man was looking for Allie, and Matt w
ouldn’t let him have her.

  “And what is your business her, Mr. Denton?” Mines asked him. “Do you live here as well?”

  Matt crossed his arms over his chest and took a small step toward the other man. He was glad Mines was on the other side of the gate. It represented a divide. Mines wasn’t welcome at the Rosses’, and he needed to know it.

  “I don’t see how that’s any business of yours,” Matt answered. “You’re a stranger in our town, coming in here and asking all these questions, and you still haven’t answered my one. Who exactly are you looking for?”

  Mines’s upper lip began to curl, but then he quickly righted the expression and smiled instead. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. If he honestly thought he was fooling Matt, the man was out of his mind.

  “I apologize, but I do not remember the young lady’s name,” he smoothly answered. “I saw her as I was walking about town and recognized her face. I believe we have a friend in common.”

  “If you didn’t know her name, how did you find her?” Matt barked, his arms so tightly folded they began to ache.

  Mines’s nostrils flared the slightest amount. He was trying to keep his composure, but his irritation showed through the cracks in his facade. “It is a small town. I simply inquired about there being a newcomer here, a young woman. It’s not very hard to find someone in such a minuscule place.”

  Matt glanced behind him. Helen stood on the porch, book still in her hand, face pale. She looked frozen. Matt’s heartbeat overwhelmed his hearing. He needed to get rid of Mines, but how? If he lied too much, Mines might see right through him.

  “Helen,” a female voice called. “Where are you?”

  “Um...” Helen turned away, about to go into the house, but Kitty and Allie both appeared on the porch, having come into the house through the back door.

  The women halted just past the doorway, taking in Matt’s and Mines’s presence.

  “Good morning,” Kitty said, the smallest hint of strain in her voice.

  Matt watched Allie, looking for any signs of recognition there. She licked her lips, chest heaving. Her eyes were not on Mines, though. They were on Matt.

  Matt stared back at her, silently trying to convey that he was on her side. If she read any of that from him, though, she did not show it. Her attention turned to Kitty, and she took a step sideways, edging closer to the other woman.

  “Good day,” Mines said, breaking the lengthy silence that had occurred after Kitty spoke. “How do you do?”

  “Well,” Kitty and Allie both answered.

  Mines’s face scrunched up as he looked at Allie. “Pardon me, but you look very familiar. Are you by chance from New York?”

  Matt held his breath, waiting for Allie to answer. So she did not know Mines? How did he know her?

  There was no immediate answer there, but Matt understood one thing—Mines was attempting to trick Allie into admitting her origins.

  “New York?” Allie asked. “I have… spent a small amount of time there.”

  “You worked at the Burke garment factory, did you not?”

  Allie did not answer. Matt kept his focus on Mines, watching the man’s every move.

  Mines unlatched the gate, letting himself right into the yard. Matt resisted the urge to pick the man up by his collar and toss him into the street. Instead, he stepped in front of Mines prevented his further journey toward the porch.

  Mines stopped, his chest puffing up. The two of them stood only a couple feet apart from each other, and though Mines was as tall as Matt, Matt knew he could overpower the man.

  “Excuse me, Matthew,” Mines said condescendingly. “Is there something wrong?”

  Matt glowered at him. “My fiancée has just lived through a fire, and these two other ladies are ill. I’d like to know just what your visit is about before you go any further.”

  Mines’s jaw ticked, and he leaned sideways to look past Matt. “You are Alice Braun?”

  Fury pumped in Matt’s veins. “I thought you said you didn’t know her name.”

  Mines’s cheeks bloomed red. “I only just remembered it. Now, what is the meaning of this?”

  “Her name is Melissa Russell,” Matt answered.

  Mines beady eyes narrowed. “Is that what she told you?”

  “That’s her name,” Helen answered.

  “Yes,” Mines snorted. “Well, perhaps I should get the deputy or sheriff involved.”

  “I am the sheriff’s wife,” Kitty answered. “And I am telling you, you are mistaken. Our friend here is Melissa Russell.”

  “A woman I’ve known for months,” Matt added, finding satisfaction in the truth.

  For the first time, he realized how clever Melissa had been. She knew that giving Allie her identity meant true cover. That way, everyone who Allie came across would play a part in protecting her.

  And now, despite that Matt knew the truth, he would still protect Allie. With his life, if he needed to.

  Mines’s bushy mustache wiggled a bit. “For months?”

  Matt nodded. “We’ve been corresponding for a good while, making plans for her to come out here and become my wife.”

  A long silence followed, broken only by a board on the porch creaking under someone’s weight. Mines looked to Matt, to the women, then back at Matt.

  Suddenly, all the fight went out of him. He dropped his shoulders and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, it appears I was mistaken.”

  Relief flooded Matt, and he tried not to let it show, worried that any sign of emotion might make Mines suspicious once more.

  “It looks that way,” Matt agreed.

  “Melissa has a very familiar face,” Helen piped up. “When Kitty and I first saw her, we said to each other, do we not know that woman?”

  Matt hoped Kitty would stop talking there, and she did.

  Mines nodded, running the tips of his fingers down his mustache. “Some people do. Well, it was a pleasure to make everyone’s acquaintance, and I should be on my way. Good day to you all.”

  Nodding, he backed out of the yard and strode down the street. Matt stayed where he was, watching until Mines turned the corner and headed in the direction of the hotel.

  Slowly, he pivoted on his foot and faced the three women. His stomach was still in knots, and their faces showed the same kind of anxiety. Except for Allie.

  Though she was pale, she stared at him with a look of confusion.

  “Let’s go inside,” Kitty said, turning and pushing Allie and Helen into the house. “Matt,” she called over her shoulder.

  He cast one last glance over his shoulder to make sure Mines hadn’t turned back around. He was fighting competing urges: to follow Mines and make sure the man kept walking, and to go inside and check on Allie.

  The last need won over, and Matt followed the womenfolk into the house.

  Once she closed the door, Kitty leaned her back against it and exhaled long. Helen sat at the kitchen table, fingers twisting together, and Allie paced around the room.

  “Who was he?” Helen asked, voice shaking.

  “An associate of Mr. Burke’s, I believe,” Allie answered. Her pacing became faster. “What if he returns? I need to leave. I must—”

  “No.” Matt swiftly closed the space between them. Within a breath, he had Allie’s face cupped in his hands. She looked up at him, eyes wide.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Matt answered. “Because I’m not letting you, just like I’m not letting anyone take you.”

  She stared up at him with a dazed expression. “But… w—why?”

  “Because I love you.”

  30

  30. Allie

  Chapter Thirty

  Allie felt her jaw drop as Matt’s words rung in her head.

  Because I love you.

  “Matt,” she whispered. “What… but… I thought...” Despite what she wanted, tears filled her eyes.

  “I’ve been foolish, Allie.” Hands still gently holding her face, he brushed his thumb along
the edge of her mouth. A shiver began in her lips and traveled throughout her body.

  She gazed into his blue eyes, so confused that she was flabbergasted. “I thought you hated me.”