He smiles and returns to his food. “You can tell me while we eat.” Outside the night sounds intensify and Cassie's teacup trembles as she tries to ignore the noise.
“I paid and settled both our rooms. As far as the hotel is concerned, we checked out and are already are gone. I really think we will be safe for the night.”
“I hope so. I can’t wait to get out of here.” She murmurs glancing at the window.
“You never did tell me why you're here?” Dalton inquires when his curiosity gets the better of him. Cassie laughs at him.
“I didn’t, you are right. I have business at the bank in the morning and a train to catch to get away from here. What about you, Dalton. Why are you here and where are you headed?”
He allows the redirection of the question, for now. “My family owns a cattle ranch in Wyoming. Tomorrow morning, I have a meeting with the bankers. I am hoping to buy into the railroad. I want to bring it to the town closest to our ranch. I am surprised that the Williams brothers knew I was trying to buy into it,” he says leaning back to look at her.
“I see. Well, maybe they overheard something. What do cattle ranching and the railroad have to do with each other?” she asks confused.
“Ranchers make money by selling cattle. The problem is that we are only able to sell or trade to the nearest towns. The railroad changes everything. We would be able to trade here, and it would also help the local economy. I have heard talk that the railroads need investors to bring the rails across the States. Clear across the country, Cassie! Image how that would change things. Already you see evidence of the changes with sleeper cars and cable cars. Imagine what the future holds!”
Her dimple flashes as she catches on to his excitement. “Amazing! My father was a rancher too, and he would’ve agreed with you. We struggled a great deal until… well, never mind.” Tell me, she can hear in his body language, but she isn't ready to share that information. She sips her tea and leans back.
“Who are you meeting in the morning?” She asks thinking quickly.
“Two of the shareholders and one of the bankers. Why?”
“I have some business to tie up from my father's estate. It would be easier if my ‘husband' were with me. Women aren't typically treated equally in business matters. Would you mind if I went with you?”
“Of course not.” They talk for another hour before exhaustion overtakes her again. After arguing over sleeping arrangements, they agree that he will sleep on the floor and she will have the bed. Dalton watches, listening to her even breathing and keeps guard long into the night.
Chapter 6
Cassie rises with the sun, and to her surprise, Dalton is already gone. His bags are still here, so he must be in the showers. She gathers her best dress, one of the three she brought and hurries to the shower. Due to the lack of women in this town, she is alone, thankfully.
Today she must look the part of the new bride. Taking extra time with her hair, she curls it loosely and gathers the sides up, allowing the rest to flow around her shoulders. The dress has a full skirt that is popular today. It is a dark hunter green gown cinched tightly at the waist with a white lace collar that highlights her eyes perfectly. She steps back and looks at her reflection.
“Time to go to work, Cassandra Rivers.” She has a plan to help Dalton and get her business taken care of. When she left her father's ranch, she brought with her roughly twenty pounds of gold flake. Two ten-pound bags. She had some cash that she had saved, and her father left her, and that is sewn into the lining of her three dresses. The remaining gold, too much for her to carry was safely secured until such time as she would have need of it, if ever. It is blood money, and she's not sure she will ever claim it.
Dalton will help her cash her gold in, and she will help him get his railroad shares. Smiling softly, she steps from the ladies room and screams in alarm when a hand snatches her arm. The poor serving girl screams back and throws a stack of towels in the air.
Cassie clutches an arm to her chest in alarm and swiftly apologizes to the young Asian girl. “I am sorry, you startled me. Please accept my apology.” She says, handing the girl back her towels.
“Your husband and his brother, waiting in the lobby for you. He asked me to come get you,” she says staring at Cassandra.
“Oh, Okay then. I just need to grab my bag.” Cassie returns to her room slowly sifting through the girl's thoughts. She sees one of the Williams brothers handing the girl a silver coin and the girl nodding in compliance.
“I just need one moment.” She grabs her bag and finds her change purse. She holds up two, ten-dollar gold coins and stares hard at the young girl. “That man downstairs is not my husband. You get me out of here without those men knowing and these are yours. If you get all my luggage on a cart and buggy and sent to the bank. I will double it.”
The girl’s eyes open wide at the thought of four gold coins. That’s more money than she makes in a year. Immediately she nods. “Yes. You come with me now, though.”
Cassie presses the coins into the girl's hands and says, “One minute. I need my real husband.” She hurries to the men's shower and hesitates.
“I
