Cowgirl for Keeps. Louise M. Gouge

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СКАЧАТЬ rebuff a moment ago, we shall marry them before the end of summer.” He cocked one blond eyebrow.

      “Are you mad?” Garrick whispered back. “It’s one thing to admire a pretty girl, another thing entirely to marry her.” As if he could ever afford to marry.

      “Wait and see.” Percy jostled Garrick playfully. “By the end of summer.”

      He shook his head. Arguments could never douse Percy’s optimism. If he did meet the pretty redhead, Garrick must ensure no marriage took place. Such an alliance would never be accepted among their acquaintances in England. Thus, Garrick must forgo meeting the lovely brunette, for no future lay in America for either him or Percy.

      “I’ve a plan.” Percy spoke in a conspiratorial tone. “When we arrive in Esperanza, we’ll arrange our exit in time to hand the ladies down from the train.”

      “But—” Garrick stopped. Although Percy was on holiday, he himself must attend to business. The manner in which he emerged from the train would either impress or disappoint Colonel Northam. He intended to make a good impression. Perhaps Uncle’s business partner would approve of his showing courtesy to the young ladies. “Yes, of course.”

      Percy’s face beamed like a schoolboy’s in the thrall of his first infatuation. Garrick’s stomach churned.

      * * *

      Rosamond hadn’t meant to be rude to the Englishmen, not after they’d shown such courage. She should apologize to them. But Beryl needed help to calm down before they arrived home. This hysteria wouldn’t be accepted by her stoic family, nor did strangers need to get involved.

      “Shh.” She wrapped a traveling blanket around Beryl’s shoulders. “Everything’s all right. The Lord protected us. Did you see how all the passengers made short work of those bumbling outlaws?” She laughed softly.

      In fact the dark-haired Englishman had been particularly brave to entice the outlaws with his exquisite gold watch. He’d obviously planned to subdue them with that fine ebony cane with the hound-shaped gold head. That took courage. The watch, the stylish cane and his finely tailored suit marked him as a man of wealth. Why would such a man travel to Colorado? She’d probably never know.

      “Cheer up.” She hugged Beryl again as the air seeping into the car turned frigid. “Remember to take slow, deep breaths to calm yourself.”

      Inhaling, Beryl nodded. Her eyes lost focus, and she seemed dizzy. “Oh, my.”

      “Lean your head on my shoulder.” Rosamond spoke in a soothing tone. “It’s the altitude. I’m a bit dizzy myself. We’ll get used to it again.” After living at sea level for several years, they faced the same challenge as any newcomer to the 7,600-foot high altitude of the San Luis Valley. In time, they’d become accustomed to the thinner air.

      “Rosamond, how will I keep my family from finding out?” Beryl didn’t need to explain. They’d often discussed this, usually after some loud noise sent her into a fit of trembling. A textbook slamming to the floor. A plate shattered in the dining room. Sometimes even the chime of the academy’s bell-tower clock.

      “You must tell your mother about your fears.” Like her four other daughters, Mabel Eberly was a feisty, resilient woman who’d gained her strength after moving west. Surely she’d know how to help her middle daughter.

      Beryl shook her head. “I can’t. She won’t understand. Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

      With a reluctant nod, Rosamond exhaled crossly. The evil men who’d shot Beryl now languished in the Canon City prison with twenty-five to thirty-year sentences. They should count themselves blessed. If she’d died, they’d have been hanged. Rosamond prayed they’d never be set free. Not after they’d destroyed Beryl’s peace and confidence.

      While they ate their boxed dinners, the train descended into the San Luis Valley. Warmer air now streamed into the car as the engineer made up for lost time. Wind from the south swept across the Valley floor, sending a gauzy black curtain of smoke past the window. After a short stop in Alamosa, where the lawman turned the outlaws over to the local sheriff, the train sped over the tracks toward Esperanza.

      She sometimes heard the Englishmen talking but couldn’t distinguish their words over the rumble of the train. Maybe they’d like to see the sand dunes at the foot of Mount Herard. She doubted such a natural wonder existed in their country. Yet from those first snobbish words she’d heard the dark-haired man say in the Denver station, she assumed he wouldn’t appreciate any of the wonders of America.

      Rosamond’s heart began to beat in time with the clatter of the iron wheels on the track. Her parents would be waiting at the Esperanza station, maybe one or two of her brothers, as well. She couldn’t wait to see everyone, including Rand’s bride of just over a year, her own former roommate.

      When she and her parents had traveled to Boston for Mother’s health and to enroll Rosamond in the academy, they’d become very fond of sweet Marybeth O’Brien. Certain she was the perfect bride for Rosamond’s second brother, her parents had arranged the marriage. Now they had a baby boy, cousin to her oldest brother Nate’s boy and girl, darling children to carry on the Northam legacy.

      Rosamond felt a familiar pang. She’d love to be a mother, but no husband would permit his wife to teach other people’s children and neglect her own. Certain of her calling from the Lord, she must choose to regard her students as her intellectual offspring.

      The train chugged into Esperanza and slowed to a screeching stop, puffing out great blasts of gray-white steam. At the sound, Beryl twitched nervously.

      “Shall we go?” Rosamond stood and gathered her bag and parasol.

      “Can we wait until the crowd disperses?” Beryl gazed up at her, eyes brimming.

      Rosamond sat. “All right.” But not for long. She’d already spied her younger brother, Tolley, standing with two of the Eberly sisters. My, he’d grown tall over the past two and a half years, towering over Laurie and Georgia. She couldn’t wait to get back home with her beloved family and friends.

      “Dear ladies, may we assist you in any way?” The blond man stopped by their seat.

      Rosamond smiled. “Thank you, but we need another moment.”

      “Of course.” The dark-haired gentleman bowed. “We’ll wait outside to help you down.”

      “That would be very kind.” What had changed his attitude?

      “We’ll be waiting just outside,” the blond man repeated. He and his friend walked toward the front of the car.

      “Everyone’s gone.” Rosamond stood and gripped her tapestry bag. “We must go.” She was bursting with excitement even as she ached for Beryl.

      As promised, the two men awaited them. The blond man helped Beryl down, his solicitous smile warming Rosamond’s heart. The dark-haired man offered her no smile, only his gloved hand. When she took it, she felt the strength that went into knocking the outlaw senseless.

      “Thank you,” she managed to say over an odd little lump in her throat.

      “Well, now.” A familiar bass voice sounded across the platform. “I see you young folks have met.”

      “Father!” СКАЧАТЬ