They’d run her out of town on a rail. Just like those girls who injured her when she got off the train. She pictured the angry man who stood by making sure they got on the train. Only in her imagination, that angry man was Matt.
And the idea of leaving Juniper Junction made her heart hurt. In only a few days’ time, she’d become very fond of the little town in Wyoming Territory.
Not to mention the way she felt about Matt.
Was it love? It sure felt like it. And if it wasn’t yet, it soon would be.
But not if he found out she was nothing but a fake.
What was she going to do?
Nothing.
She took a deep breath, straightened her skirt and gave herself a pep talk. This was the bed she’d made for herself, now she’d lie in it. ‘Lie’ being the operative word.
Maybe in time everyone would forget about her past in St. Louis. Right now she was the new girl in town and everyone was interested, but soon enough there’d be someone else to occupy the town’s curiosity and she’d be just another one of the young brides. All she needed to do was get through a few days, maybe a week or two.
That seemed easy enough.
Going to the bedroom to put away her sewing things she spotted her valise in the corner. Matt had encouraged her to unpack and put the bag away in the attic but she’d told him she’d wait to do it while he was at work at Windy River Ranch. Yes, it was a strange statement and Matt’s eyebrows had gone up, but he’d not objected.
She still had some time before she needed to try to figure out how to make dinner, so she opened the carpetbag and rummaged through the contents. She’d already hung the dresses up, though she felt foolish every time she looked at them, realizing how completely impractical they were for life in Juniper Junction.
The real issue was the wad of currency tucked into a compartment in the very bottom of the bag. Along with the currency, she still had a few items of jewelry too. The ones with the most sentimental value. Maybe one day she’d be able to explain everything to Matt.
Maybe.
She sighed and glanced around the room. Where could she hide the money and jewelry? It seemed that the drawer with her undergarments and stockings would be the one Matt was least likely to open. He’d have no reason to, so she put everything into the toe of a stocking, rolled it up and tucked it beneath everything else.
When she closed the door she said a silent prayer for her own transgressions as well as some miracle to help her with the mess she’d created.
Time. She just needed to get through a few weeks and everything would be fine.
Or so she hoped.
Returning to the kitchen, she glanced at the calendar. A gift from the nice folks at the general store.
Her wedding with Nevie—she shuddered to even think about it—was ten days off. No doubt her father had realized she was no longer in St. Louis.
But he’d never find her. Not all the way out in Wyoming Territory.
Chapter 8
"What do you mean she's not here?"
Minnie had never seen Mr. Pendleton so angry before, and that was saying something since the man had a perpetual scowl on his face and it seemed his eyebrows were always scrunched up like two caterpillars butting heads.
"I have not seen her today," Minnie said, which was true. Of course, she also hadn't seen her mistress since the previous afternoon, either. But, so far, she had not lied.
"Well, where the hell is she?"
"My apologies, sir, but Miss Pendleton is not in the habit of sharing all her plans with me. It wouldn't be proper, me being a maid and all."
Mr. Pendleton gave a decided harumph and turned his back to her, indicating she was dismissed. She stifled her sigh of relief until she was out of the room and well down the hallway, then she ducked into the linen closet and let out her breath and rubbed her pounding temples. It was true that she didn't absolutely one hundred percent know where Miss Elizabeth had gone, but she had a pretty good idea. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine the thrill of getting on a train and heading west, far from the crowded streets of St. Louis and the oppressive presence of Mr. Pendleton. And into the arms of a handsome cowboy.
She sighed again, enjoying the daydream. Maybe she'd take a look at those advertisements too.
But first, she needed to keep her job and do what she could to protect Elizabeth, though how she'd manage that, she had no idea.
Slipping from the linen closet, she snuck down the hall and into Elizabeth's room, closing the door behind her. She took a minute to gaze about the space and she realized that she missed Elizabeth. Though she was a rich girl and had no real idea what life was like for a maid such as Minnie, or for anyone outside her exalted social circle, she was still kind and treated Minnie well. It was often remarked upon in the servants’ quarters, when they were certain no one could hear, that Elizabeth was so different from her father that some wondered if she might have been adopted.
Outside the door she heard more raised voices. Not wanting to be caught, she hurried to hide beneath the bed, grateful for the dust ruffle that reached the floor. Scooting as far into the corner of the bed as she could, she pulled her knees to her chest making herself as small as possible while still peeking out to see what was happening.
The door slammed open and she covered her mouth with her
