Читать книгу: «The Runaway Bride»

Chapter One

Peppin, Texas

August 1887

“Lorelei Wilkins, will you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health: forsaking all others, keeping only unto him so long as you both shall live?”

Lorelei’s eyes widened as she stared silently at Reverend Sparks. Did he have any idea how formidable those words sounded? If she was making a mistake, it would be irreversible. Yet, he stood there waiting. Waiting—just like the man beside her who’d gone through the trouble of slicking back his hair, shining his boots and donning a fancy shirt. She glanced at her groom. Lawson Williams swallowed nervously.

“I…” Her gaze slipped to Lawson’s best man. Sean O’Brien’s green eyes watched her carefully. He was probably wondering if she was going to prove that his suspicion about her had been right all along. Hadn’t he secretly warned Lawson not to court her? Some secret. She’d heard the words he hadn’t intended for her ears two years ago, and they reverberated in her thoughts even now.

“You’re making a mistake. Lorelei isn’t the kind of girl you can count on. She’s always been flighty and insincere. If you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with a broken heart.”

She turned back to Reverend Sparks. “Will you repeat the second question?”

Nervous laughter spread through the church behind her, but she listened carefully as he repeated. “Will you love—”

He continued, but that one word was all she needed to hear. Would she love Lawson, as a wife should love her husband, for as long as the two of them lived? She couldn’t do this to herself, and she certainly couldn’t do it to Lawson…because the answer was no.

Shaking her head, she took a halting step backward. Gasps tore through the air as she lifted her white skirt and ran down the aisle she’d just marched up. The doors of the church burst open with a bang, and light flooded the sanctuary as she tripped quickly down the stairs onto the lawn. Gasping in quick hard breaths, she only escaped a few feet before she heard footsteps behind her.

“Lorelei!” a strident voice called.

She ignored it. Pressing the back of her hand to her lips, she felt the lump of her engagement ring. A hand caught her arm. “Lorelei?”

She swung around to face her intended. “I can’t. I can’t do this. I’m so sorry, Lawson.”

His handsome face noticeably paled. “What do you mean you can’t do this? We’re getting married today. Right now.”

She swallowed. “It isn’t right.”

“What are you talking about?” Painful silence lingered in the air until he stepped toward her. “I thought you loved me.”

“I do love you, Lawson, but not in the way a woman should love the man she’s going to marry. I wish that I did,” she said sorrowfully, then tilted her head to survey him carefully. “Do you love me like that, Lawson? Can you honestly tell me that you do?”

He turned away from her and dragged his fingers through his hair before he met her gaze again. His answer was halting, almost inaudible. “No.”

She pulled in a deep breath and tugged the ring from her finger. “Then this shouldn’t belong to me.”

His eyes filled with resignation as he took it from her. He allowed her a curt nod before he walked back toward the church where his best man waited on the steps. Her gaze caught only briefly on that figure before she turned away.

She’d barely made it to Main Street when her delicate white boots began to pinch her feet. She allowed herself a grimace as she leaned against the wall of Maddie’s Café and rustled through the satin overlay and layers of tulle to reach her shoes.

“If you wait here, I can get the buggy and drive you home.”

Her heart stilled at the sound of Sean’s voice. She gritted her teeth. “No, thank you. I’ll walk.”

“Now, Lorelei—” His deep voice drawled.

Her blue eyes lifted to meet his suspiciously. “Why are you here?”

“Lawson asked me to see you home.”

Frowning, she rooted around for the other shoe. “I don’t need anyone to see me home.”

He lifted an imperious brow, and she barely kept from rolling her eyes. She knew what that meant. Sean was Lawson’s best friend. If Lawson asked him to see her home, then Sean would see her home out of respect for his friend’s wishes even if he couldn’t stand her. No doubt he saw it as his duty, and if that was the case Sheriff Sean O’Brien would never back down.

“Fine,” she bit out. “We’ll walk.” She handed him her boots a little too forcefully, then lifted her skirts out of the dust as she crossed Main Street. It lacked its usual bustle since most of the town was still at the church waiting for word about her wedding. Still, there were plenty of folks around to gape at her, so she darted into the alleyway behind the post office to hide from their curious eyes. She ignored her companion as she led him through the alleyways to the residential area of town. Finally, Lorelei stopped on the stairs of her family’s porch and faced Sean to murmur, “Thank you for walking me home.”

He frowned and crossed his arms as he surveyed her. “I think you’re making a mistake.”

He always did. A vague cloud of disappointment settled over her at his disapproval, but she’d come to expect it. For so long she’d waited for her feelings for him to change. They had. They’d gone from a desperate unrequited yearning to a hollow ache. She wasn’t sure that counted as progress. She hid her feelings with an impudent tilt of her head. “And I’m supposed to care what you think because…?”

His eyes flashed with annoyance at her decidedly rude tone. She didn’t wait for his response. Instead, she stepped into the house and closed the door firmly behind her. Leaning against it, she lifted her shaking hands to cover her face as the impact of what she’d done finally began to settle in. She didn’t regret her decision to call off the wedding. She just could not believe she’d let it go this far. At least she’d done the right thing in the end.

Of course, the town wouldn’t soon forget the day a bride hauled up her skirts and dashed out of the church rather than finish the ceremony. Facing her parents when they arrived home would be hard. Facing Lawson in town in the days to come would be harder. And facing any more of Sean O’Brien’s disapproval would be hardest of all. She shook her head. Somehow she had to get away from the memories, the murmurs and the men.

“Well, why shouldn’t I?” she whispered to the empty house. She was already packed and ready to leave for the honeymoon to her great-aunt’s house in California. The train ticket was in her reticule. There was no reason not to go. She’d change out of her finery, and if her parents weren’t home by the time she was done, she’d just write them a note. Either way, she was leaving—now.

She could only hope that distance would do what time had failed to accomplish by ridding her of whatever feelings she had left for Sean O’Brien once and for all.

* * *

The late-afternoon sun burst through the nearby window to gleam off the metal star on Sean’s dark green shirt. He heaved a sigh, then tapped his pencil on the paperwork in front of him to expend his frustration and anger. His mind kept replaying the scene that had taken place at the church that morning. How dare Lorelei walk out on his best friend like that? The couple had been together for almost two years, despite his original prediction that the relationship wouldn’t last more than six months. He’d started to think Lorelei might not be as impulsive, unpredictable and flighty as he’d imagined. She’d proven him wrong—again.

He’d spent the past several hours sorting out the mess Lorelei had made of the wedding so Lawson wouldn’t have to. Lawson had been abandoned by his parents as a child and forced to drift from town to town in order to survive. Sean’s family had taken him in when he’d shown up in Peppin at age fourteen. Several months later, Doc and Mrs. Lettie had adopted him, but Lawson had stayed close to Sean and his family. They were practically brothers as far as Sean was concerned. His friend of ten years didn’t deserve the treatment Lorelei had just dealt him.

Lorelei Wilkins had been a thorn in Sean’s side since grade school days when she’d informed the whole school that they would get married one day. He’d been annoyed then, but by the time he’d turned nineteen the idea hadn’t seemed so awful. Lorelei had become the belle of Peppin. She could have had any guy in town, but she’d made him think he was the one she wanted. Nothing had been said between them, but he’d started to plan for her. He’d left his family’s farm and accepted the position of sheriff to save up enough money to provide for her. He’d even carved a pitiful wooden promise ring.

He’d waited for the perfect moment to express his intentions. Then, just when the time seemed right, she suddenly chose his best friend. She’d become Lawson’s girl practically overnight, and Sean had finally gotten a glimpse of her true character—impulsive, unsteady and completely unreliable. He hadn’t said a word to anyone about her betrayal. Instead, he’d pretended she hadn’t just landed a punch to his heart that would leave him reeling for years.

He realized his pencil was tapping in cadence with the ticking of the nearby clock and threw it aside. He’d be better off pacing the streets than sitting at his desk. He was just pushing his chair aside when the door flew open. Richard Wilkins, the president of the town’s only bank and Lorelei Wilkins’s father, stepped inside with Lawson right behind him.

Sean’s eyebrows lifted at the grim looks on the men’s faces. He settled back into his chair, then motioned them to the seats across from him. He gaze bounced between their worried eyes questioningly. “What’s wrong?”

Richard settled into his chair with a dejected slump. “Something has happened to Lorelei.”

Sean frowned. “Is she hurt?”

“No.” Lawson shook his head. “She’s gone.”

Sean’s stomach dropped to his boots with a surprising amount of dread. He stared at the men. “You mean she’s dead?”

Richard abruptly straightened in his seat. “Of course not, boy! She just up and disappeared while we were all shutting down the wedding and packing up the reception.”

Sean sighed. That was exactly the kind of stunt Lorelei would pull in a situation like this. Nevertheless, he readied his notebook and grabbed a pencil. “She couldn’t have gone far. How long has she been missing?”

Lawson shot a glance at Richard. “Well, she isn’t missing exactly.”

The pencil hovering over the notebook hesitated as he glanced up at the men across from him in confusion. “Then y’all know where she is?”

“No,” Lawson said just as Richard said, “Yes.”

Sean lowered his pencil in tempered exasperation. “Well, which is it?”

“My daughter has run away.”

“You mean she truly ran away, as in she’s left town?” At Richard’s nod, Sean frowned. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure because she left this.” Her father handed him a folded piece of paper.

He studied the written note carefully. “She says she wants a new life for herself and is going to live with her great-aunt in California.”

“Keep going.”

“She begs you to let her go and—” he glanced up sharply to meet Lawson’s gaze before continuing quietly “—and not to send Lawson.”

Lawson nodded firmly. “That’s why we chose you.”

“You chose me,” he echoed as a sense of foreboding filled his chest. “To do what?”

“To bring her back.” Lawson swallowed. “Not to me, of course, but to her parents.”

Richard cleared his throat. “I’d go myself but my wife says I’d just end up letting Lorelei have her own way like I always do. As much as I hate to admit it, the Lord knows Caroline is probably right. That’s why you’ve got to do it.”

Sean leaned forward to set his arm against the desk. “Listen, I’m sorry, but I am not the man for this job. I’ll tell you what I can do instead. I’ll send my deputy—”

Lawson laughed skeptically. “Jeff Bridger? He’s the only man in town who’s gotten lost walking down Main Street.”

“His sense of direction isn’t that bad anymore,” Sean protested. “I’ve been working with him and he has definitely improved.”

“I’m glad, but do you really think I’m willing to trust that man to find my daughter, let alone bring her back? Besides, I think you’re a little confused here.” Richard’s fierce gaze told Sean he wasn’t to be trifled with. “This isn’t about you, Sheriff. This is about my daughter, who, as a citizen of Peppin, deserves your protection just like everyone else. She has no chaperone. She has no supplies and hardly any money. She’s a target for every charlatan from here to California.”

Sean cleared his throat as he tried to regain control of the conversation. “I understand that, Mr. Wilkins, but I can’t just leave town for several days to run after your daughter. I have a job to do here.”

“Actually, that seems like a good job for Jeff.” Lawson crossed his arms. “After all, the man can’t get lost just sitting in an office, can he?”

“I guess not.” Sean stared at the men before him with a mixture of bemusement and dread.

Lawson shifted forward in his chair. “Sean, I would go myself but you read the note. We both know it isn’t safe for her out there. Why, she’s never even traveled before. She needs protection. I know she and I aren’t going to get married, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. I’m asking you to protect her not only because she’s a citizen of our town but for my sake, because I can’t.”

Sean pulled in a fortifying breath to push aside his misgivings. His voice filled with resolve. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It will take that long for me to pack and coordinate things with Jeff.”

Relief painted Richard’s face with a smile. Lawson reached out to shake his hand. Sean didn’t bother to hide his frown. All he could hope was that he’d be able to head her off before she made it to California. It’d be a dandy of a fight to bring her all the way back to Peppin if she was already settled with her great-aunt. Nevertheless, he’d taken an oath to protect the people of this town, and it would take more than one particularly troublesome female to keep him from fulfilling that promise.

* * *

Lorelei eyed the gingerbread style white-and-green boardinghouse dubiously. She had no idea what she was going to do. She barely had enough money in her pocket to buy herself a meal and certainly not enough for the rest of the trip to California. She wasn’t even close to the Texas state line—any of them. She still seethed when she thought of that horrible man on the train. How dare he take off with her reticule?

She had to own that it was partially her fault for being thoughtless. She should have hidden most of her money in her boot or corset instead of leaving it all in her reticule for some villain to ride off with. It wouldn’t have been such a setback if the train went straight to California from Peppin. Unfortunately, she was supposed to transfer to another line. How could she do that when she didn’t even have money for a ticket?

She needed help, and she didn’t want to go to her parents for it. She was a grown woman on a trip of her own undertaking. She’d figure this out somehow, then write her parents from California to tell them exactly how wonderful her new life was. If this didn’t work, then fine, but she at least had to try to do it on her own first. She entered the bustling boardinghouse and went over to the woman who seemed to be checking people in.

“Welcome! I’m Mrs. Drake and I have a room all ready for you. May I have your name please?”

“Lorelei Wilkins, but I’m not here for a room exactly—”

“Wilkins,” the blonde woman repeated then smiled. “You’re from Peppin, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?” she asked with a bit of trepidation. Surely news of her wedding hadn’t spread this far that fast.

The woman tossed a dismissive hand. “Oh, I’ve visited family in Peppin once or twice during the past several years. I heard of your family while I was there. Perhaps you know mine. My aunt and uncle are Joseph and Amelia Greene.”

Lorelei easily placed the family connection. “Yes, I know them. My mother is friends with your aunt.”

The woman’s face lit up. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Yes, it is,” Lorelei said with a smile as she realized it probably wouldn’t be wise to mention that Mrs. Greene also had a reputation of being the town gossip. “As I was saying, I’ve run into a problem and I hope you might be able to help me. I was taking the train to meet my elderly great-aunt in California—”

“California!” Mrs. Drake frowned. “That’s quite a ways to travel alone.”

“Yes, well, I placed my reticule in my lap where I was sure no one would dare take it, but when I awakened it was gone. I’m sure that man sitting across the aisle stole it. To think he got close enough to steal my money and I never even felt it!”

“How unnerving! I’m sorry, dear, but what can I do?”

“I thought perhaps you might let me work for you so I can pay my room and board. It would just be until I’m able to get more money somehow.”

“I wish I could.” Suddenly the woman froze with some sudden thought. “Do you like children?”

“What?”

“I know of a job for you if you like children but— Oh, what time is it?” Mrs. Drake popped open her small pocket watch. “We just might be able to catch them.”

“Catch who?”

“The children.” The woman rounded the desk to survey her carefully. “Yes, I think you’ll do perfectly. Is that your only bag?”

Lorelei glanced down at her traveling bag. “Yes.”

“Good. You won’t take up much room.” Mrs. Drake grabbed her hat from the stand and opened the door. “Come on. We have to run to catch them.”

Lorelei followed her out the door and down the porch steps at a trot to keep up with her rapid pace. “But, Mrs. Drake, I really don’t understand. Where are we going? Who are these children and what sort of job is it?”

“I’m sorry. I get rather scattered when I’m in a rush.” The woman darted across the street with Lorelei at her heels. “The position is with a traveling preacher and his wife. They are very good friends of mine. James takes his family with him on his circuit once every few months or so. They’re going with him this time. Usually the young woman down the street goes with them to help see to the children, but her father is sick so she can’t go. James and his wife, Marissa, couldn’t find anyone else on short notice.”

“So I’m supposed to replace their neighbor?” Lorelei asked breathlessly.

“Yes, if we can catch them. They were supposed to be leaving now,” Mrs. Drake said. “Watch that hole in the road.”

Lorelei veered away from the hole just in time to save herself from a sprained ankle. “You said he’s a traveling preacher. Where are they traveling?”

“That’s the beauty of it, Miss Wilkins. They’re going farther west. Not to California, mind you but— Oh, there’s the wagon. Help me wave it down.”

Lorelei lifted her free hand to wave at the retreating covered wagon. The little boy who was practically hanging out the back of the wagon waved back with a grin, then turned around. He must have yelled something to his parents because the wagon pulled off the road and stopped. Mrs. Drake caught Lorelei’s arm and led her around the wagon to meet an attractive young couple. They listened patiently to Mrs. Drake’s breathlessly halting explanation and introduction.

Marissa Brightly smiled down at Lorelei, though her brown eyes showed compassion. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Miss Wilkins, but I can’t help feeling this is all part of God’s plan.”

“It certainly is. We’d be delighted to have you join us,” James said. “I know that you want to get to California as soon as possible, but we are heading farther west and would be glad to pay you a small salary. Once you have the financial ability to continue your journey, we would send you on with our blessing.”

Marissa leaned forward. “Please, say you’ll come.”

Lorelei bit her lip for a moment, then smiled. “I suppose I will. I have nothing to lose and I think I’ll enjoy traveling with you very much.”

“Good,” James said with a satisfied nod. “Let me help you into the wagon.”

Lorelei thanked Mrs. Drake for her help, then followed James to the back of the wagon where the little boy she’d seen earlier peeked out from the large hole in the canvas. “Pa, is she coming with us?”

“She sure is,” James answered as her traveling bag disappeared inside. “Move out the entrance so she can get in, Hosea.”

Once inside, Lorelei glanced around to take stock of her surroundings and froze. “Are all of these children yours?”

“Yes. Starting with the oldest, there is Henry, Julia, William, Hosea and Lacy. Children, Miss Lorelei will be traveling with us. Mind her as you would your Ma and I. I’ll leave y’all to get acquainted.”

Each child lifted a hand when their name was called as though their father was taking attendance. They stared at her as she found a seat near the rear of the wagon on a cushioned wooden chest. She stared right back at them. Five children. She was going to be taking care of five children. She hadn’t even had any siblings growing up. What was she going to do?

The wagon started abruptly, and she fell off her seat onto the wagon floor. A few stifled gasps echoed under the canvas roof as the children waited for her reaction. They looked so shocked that she burst out laughing. That somehow gave them permission to, as well. As they laughed, relief settled into her bones just as tentatively as she settled back on her seat.

She was on her way again after only a momentary delay. Although her trip had been a disaster in some ways, it had been successful in its main goal. She’d barely thought about Sean since she’d left Peppin and certainly wouldn’t have a chance anytime soon, now that she was surrounded by five children. She tried not to wonder if he even cared that she’d left or what he thought about possibly never seeing her again. He’d probably been indifferent, or worse: relieved.

No, though the decision had been made on the spur of the moment, she knew she’d made the right choice in leaving. She only wished she’d made that decision sooner. If she hadn’t wanted so badly to prove she wasn’t a flighty, insincere heartbreaker, she might have done the right thing with Lawson a long time ago. She should have trusted her instincts from the beginning instead of spending so much time overthinking things. Usually her first thoughts on a subject were clearest anyway. She shook her head. That was in the past. She could finally look forward to a future without Sean’s distracting presence. In the meantime, it seemed she had a job to do.

The chortles finally died down enough for her to ask, “Who wants to play a game?”

All five hands eagerly went up. She grinned. Her new life without Sean O’Brien was going to be a cinch.

* * *

There she was—Lorelei Wilkins. Sean slid from his mount, then put a calming hand on Jericho’s nose to keep him quiet as they crept through the woods toward the banks of the river. He ought to walk right out into the open and give her a piece of his mind. That’s what he’d been planning to do for the two days it had taken to find her. Now that he’d found her, he decided to take a moment to gather himself.

Through the green veil of leaves, he could see her peaceful expression as she sat innocently reading under a nearby weeping willow. He noticed the soft smile at her lips and the dark curve of her downcast lashes. For some reason only one thought came to mind—she hadn’t married Lawson. Relief lowered his tense shoulders for an instant before he frowned. It shouldn’t matter to him that she was no longer engaged. It didn’t matter to him. The relief he felt at seeing her came only because it meant his task was nearly complete, and he’d soon be able to return home. Nothing more.

He gave a dutiful nod and began moving toward her. Suddenly she tossed her book aside. The soft hum of a melody drifted through the air as she practically danced into the river. He froze, befuddled yet transfixed by the sight. Her well-trained soprano arched over the quiet woods into the first lilting verse of “Beautiful Dreamer.” He was barely aware of leaving Jericho to walk quietly toward the woman wading in the thick expanse of river until he stood at its banks.

She hadn’t noticed his approach since her eyes were closed, so he tipped back his hat and crossed his arms to stare at her. Now, this was a side of Lorelei he’d never seen. Oh, sure, she sang at church occasionally but never with such passion. He’d seen her smile a hundred times but never with such freedom. Apparently, a weight of some kind had been lifted from her shoulders…and placed squarely onto his. His jaw tightened in aggravation.

His horse neighed. Lorelei froze. Her lashes flew open. Their eyes met. He heard her breath escape her lungs in a startled gasp as she instinctively backed away from him. Her blue eyes changed from alarm to dismay, then she stepped back one too many times and disappeared into the clutches of the racing river.