“No, thank you. I’ll leave it in lost and found with a note. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kristin rushes away and sighs. A lot of good it does to know her name. Time to get back to work.
Kristin makes sure the carriage is gone before she walks across the street to the saloon. Wiping her tears, she takes a deep breath to calm her heart. Mama used to say that you won’t die from a broken heart, but she isn’t so sure.
Her Father waited until Eli left church that day to tell her about the marriage he’d arranged for her. It was a business deal, to increase his holdings in the local flour mill. He owned a quarter share, and with Kristin’s marriage, he was to be given a second quarter, giving him a majority share. When Kristin tried to fight back, he threatened to give Lily, her twelve-year-old sister to him in marriage. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Your love is deep Lord, I will trust in your plan for my life,” she whispers before hardening her soul. If only Eli would listen! She’s tried multiple times to explain, but his anger and pain are too great to overcome. Every time she sees him her heart trembles. If only she could stop her love for him, the way he has for her. Life would be simpler.
Kristin works in the kitchen at the Saloon. Her husband Emmett was a good man. He was patient and kind. With time she came to love him for his heart for God and gentle nature, but he was a terrible businessman. After his death, she was left broke.
“Ms. Fischer, we have a big crowd coming tonight. I hope you’re prepared to work. I’ll need you out front tonight,” her boss snaps, drawing her back to the present moment.
“Yes, Sir.” Kristin sighs and gets to work.
Fred Anderson steps off the railroad in Iowa and squints against the bright morning sunshine. The advance Senator Buren paid him allowed for a quality trip. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to find this S.E. Ward. He will start by visiting the Irwin family and paying his respects to their dead son, Oliver Ward.
If he floats the idea of Congressional Medal of Honor for their fallen soldier, they will fall over themselves to give him what he needs, starting with all the photographs from the war. A wax-sealed letter from Senator Buren should sweeten the deal.
Fred smooths his mustache and decides to start by checking for arrivals at the main desk.
“Next,” the older woman working the counter calls.
“I need information regarding an arrival. An S. E. Ward in the past few days.”
“Sir, we don’t give out,” she stops speaking when Fred slides some money through. “Yes, sir,” she grins, “Do you know which train this person would be traveling on?
Fred gives the train information and waits.
“Give me a few minutes.” She takes the money and turns away to rifle through some papers before walking back to him. “Okay, the only Ward came in two days ago. Miss Savannah Ward.”
Fred is shocked. “Are you sure that’s the only Ward? I’m looking for S.E. Ward.”
“That’s the only Ward on our passenger list.”
“Any chance you know where she went?” Fred asks.
“No, though, I’d check the nearest hotels. The Becker House is just a block down the road.”
Fred walks away with a list of hotels. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find a female traveling alone.” This will be easier than he thought. A woman! The Senator doesn’t need to know that, he thinks with a laugh. Finding out she’s a woman makes the game even more interesting. “Time for a drink.”
He walks down the street and stops at a saloon. “All work and no play makes Fred cranky. Tomorrow will be soon enough to find, Miss Ward.”
Chapter 14
Eli leaves the next morning at sunup to help with the planting. His days are long, and he’s grateful. It’s hard to be in the house with his mother catering to this Savannah Ward. It isn’t surprising to hear that his mother is lonely, with his father gone. The staff takes care of her, making sure she isn’t working hard, but it’s a large void to fill.
Seeing Kristin yesterday was a harsh blow. Her beauty took his breath away. Long, brown hair, dark chocolate eyes pleading with him to hear her out. Why is she back in town and why is she dressed like a maid and working at the Becker House?
“It’s none of your business, Irwin!” Fury has him working until the sun starts to sink and sweat pours off his body.
“You plan on leaving any work for the rest of us, Son?” Rooster asks as he dismounts.
Eli jerks up and mops the sweat from his face with a handkerchief. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of work left.”
“True, but we hired a crew to do this. You have a guest to see too, from what you’re Mother tells me.” Rooster pushes back his cowboy hat and stares at his best friend son. Pain radiates from him and wonders what it will take to heal the damage to his soul.
“I was thinkin’…” Rooster says, and Eli grins. He always starts his sentences that way.
“Oh, no,” Eli runs a hand through his wet hair and stuffs his hat back on.
“Smart ass,” Rooster snaps. “I was thinkin’ about what it must have taken for a young woman to leave her family to care for those fighting for our country.”
Eli turns away and starts to walk through the field back to his horse. Rooster follows. “Not only that, Eli, but what was the cost to stay, when everyone else ran.”
“What do you mean, stay?” Eli stops and turns
