A Runaway Bride for the Widowed Rancher (Preview)

Chapter One

Maggie winced as a twig snapped under her foot. Her pack was light. When she saw the guard had changed, she realized that there was no time to pack properly, it was too risky. 

She’d taken all four of her letters from Luke, a couple changes of clothes, and her last remembrances from her mother. She and Luke hadn’t been exchanging letters for long, only two of the three months the gang she lived with as a prisoner had stayed near Briarville, Texas. 

The metal of the pistol she’d stolen dug into her back, tucked into the waistband of her skirt, and hidden beneath her shawl. She’d been planning her escape for months, going over every detail in her head, thinking about what it would feel like to finally be free.

But despite all her planning, everything hadn’t gone perfectly. The camp’s guard schedule had changed at the last minute, and she’d barely managed to make it out undetected. If someone checked her tent before morning—she shivered at the thought, not wanting to consider what it would mean if they came after her sooner than she anticipated. 

Maggie had been dreaming of the moment she’d walk out of the gang’s camp and never look back. After years of enduring captivity, almost accepting that she’d never have a life of her own, and finally finding her courage, she was finally doing it.

Her heart thundered in her chest, filling her with dread. She had to make it to St. Louis, Texas. Luke Callahan was waiting for her there. It wouldn’t be an easy trip. First, she’d get to Briarville, Texas and get a stagecoach. From there, she’d get to Dallas and get on the train, which would finally take her to St. Louis.

It wasn’t as far as she would have liked to be from the McAllister gang’s camp, but it was better than staying. She didn’t have the money or the time to get further than that. If she kept herself inconspicuous and didn’t draw attention, perhaps she could hide out there long enough for the gang to forget about her. She’d been throwing around some ideas on how to make it harder for them to follow.

Maggie frowned. If only there was someone she could go to for help! She didn’t trust sheriffs from any of the nearby towns. Clyde, the gang’s leader, liked to brag about how many officials he’d managed to pay off to look the other way from their nefarious activities.

If only she could manage to slip under the radar. Clyde liked to make an example of people who defied them and the McAllister gang, and they would come looking for her. Her only chance was to stay hidden and outsmart them, at least for the time being.

She quickened her pace, slipping through the trees. For once, she was grateful for the fact she’d been shown from a young age how to move silently and take advantage of her surroundings. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, making a spooky low sound she did her best to ignore.

It was pitch black, still the middle of the night—something Maggie was counting on. As long as the gang members still slept peacefully, the chances of them searching for her were slim.

She shuddered at the idea of what would happen to her if she were caught. Forgiveness wasn’t exactly what the gang was known for, and they would make her pay for her defiance. But she was tired of putting up with their rules and lack of integrity, day after day.

She knew what they did when they went into the towns nearby, how they stole from people, burned their ranches, and took their savings.

She never liked what they did, even as a child. But the older she got, the more disgusted she became. And when she’d found her faith, she couldn’t take it anymore, even if leaving meant risking her life.

Clyde ruled the gang—and her—with an iron fist, ever since she was a child. While he didn’t usually have her participate directly in hurting others, he still made sure she contributed in other ways, such as cooking for them, gathering supplies, and, on occasion, even helping to deceive others. 

She pushed the thoughts away, unable to allow herself to remember the things she’d done.

The important thing was that she was leaving. She was getting out for good, and she would never go back, no matter the consequences.

As she walked through the woods, her feet began to ache, her shoulders sagged under the weight of her few belongings. She longed for rest, and as the sun began to rise over the horizon, she took it as a good sign. She was getting closer to Dallas, where she could sit and rest her feet while horses carried her far away from Clyde and his men.

By now, they would have realized she was gone. She was the one who got up every morning to prepare the fire and make breakfast. They would wonder if she was sick or had overslept, but when they checked her tent, they would find it empty—with most of her things gone—and the search would begin.

She didn’t know how long they would search. She only hoped it wouldn’t be long enough to find her.

Crossing a path in the woods, Maggie finally reached Briarville, Texas. She was about eight hours by Stagecoach from Dallas, Texas. The buildings of the town were spread far apart, growing closer together as she moved further in, but she had no intention of exploring. 

The gang had been near Briarville for almost three months now. Being in one place for so long had given her the opportunity to do something she never thought possible: fool Clyde and his men by communicating with the outside. Clyde intended to move on soon, heading for another small town to terrorize. ‘Moving to greener pastures’, he called it.

She stepped onto the main road just as the sun made its first appearance in the sky. She’d paid enough attention every time Kevin or Marcus brought her into town to buy supplies. She’d taken advantage of those trips to convince them she could handle the shopping, and that she wouldn’t mention it to Clyde if they stopped at the saloon instead of babysitting. She always made sure that they thought it was their idea, which gave her enough time to get her letters from the post office and send them. 

Stagecoaches left at the break of dawn. Thankfully for her, Clyde and the other men made a habit of going to bed late and getting up late.

Maggie couldn’t help but glance over her shoulders as she hurried straight to the stagecoach station. Leaning against the counter, she tried to hide her nervous, jerky movements while waiting for the man behind the counter to assist her. He was helping a young man, the two of them not sparing her a glance.

The man was Clyde’s age, with graying hair, slumped shoulders, and a round belly that probably shook when he laughed. When he was done serving the young man, he looked her up and down, then glanced behind her, as if expecting Maggie to be accompanied by someone. Young women didn’t usually travel alone.

She swallowed hard, trying to come up with an explanation in case the man asked.

“Howdy, miss,” he said. “How can I help you this morning?”

“I’ll take one ticket to Dallas, Texas,” she said, pleased with how steady her voice sounded. She was slowly gathering confidence. The energy rushing through her body and the tension surrounding every nerve were all reminders of how much was at stake.

“Coming right up.” There were questions in the man’s eyes as he produced a slip of paper and held out his hand for payment.

“That’ll be two dollars and twenty-two cents.”

Maggie dug the coins out of her purse and placed them in his outstretched hand. She gulped at the high price. It had taken years to squirrel away her money. Even so, she had just under thirty dollars. It’s going to go fast. She was prepared for that, but it was still hard to let it go. 

She leaned against the counter, lowering her voice. She was about to do something risky that would either pay off or help get her caught.

“I, um… there are some men after me,” Maggie began, her voice faltering slightly. She’d gone back and forth on whether to ask the man to keep her purchase a secret, but he looked kind enough. Hopefully, he would believe her plight and not tell anyone she’d been there.

“Men?” he asked, leaning forward with a look of concern.

“Yes. I’m traveling by myself…I’m a mail-order bride, and the last stagecoach broke down before it could take me to my destination. I had to walk the last distance, and I noticed some men following me. I’m afraid they saw I was traveling alone. I’ve heard there may be bandits or gangs in this area and I…” her words faltered. “If they ask, could you say I was traveling with someone or didn’t pass through at all? I wouldn’t want them to catch up to me.”

“Don’t you worry, miss,” he said, his tone reassuring. “I won’t say a thing. I’ve got a daughter myself. The idea of her traveling alone…” He shook his head. “Your father really should have sent someone with you.”

“I don’t have a father.” Maggie put on her most devastating face. She hated to lie, but in all sense of the word, she didn’t have a father—at least not one worth mentioning. “It was my uncle who sent me, and he had no way to pay for someone to accompany me.”

“I am terribly sorry to hear that,” the ticket agent said, shaking his head, his concern deepening. “You do be careful, miss, and don’t you worry: nobody will know you passed through here.”

Maggie smiled, her gratefulness genuine. She hoped to have as much luck with the place where she’d buy her train ticket.

She knew that if Clyde was determined enough to track her down, he would, despite her efforts to make it confusing for him. But she couldn’t walk all the way to St. Louis. It would take her weeks, and in that time, it would only give Clyde more of a chance to catch up to her.

“All right, then.” The man cleared his throat. “The stagecoach leaves in less than half an hour, so you’d best hurry up.” He nodded to where the stagecoach was. They were already packing up items, and the driver was ready to go, snapping the reins behind the horses.

“Thank you again.” Maggie left the ticket agent and hurried toward her ride to freedom.

—*—

She jerked awake as the train jolted. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but the exhaustion of staying up all night at the camp had left her with no energy whatsoever, and the movement of the train must have lulled her off.

Maggie looked out the window. She’d made it to Dallas, then purchased a ticket to St. Louis, Texas, which was around a two-day journey by train according to the railway clerk. 

Just as she’d planned,      she used the same story with the woman selling the train tickets. The woman was very understanding and even offered to call the sheriff. Maggie convinced her that simply not telling anyone she’d passed through would be enough. She still had guilty thoughts running through her head about lying.

Ever since she’d found her faith in God, she had tried to turn a new leaf, following her convictions even when it was difficult. Yet she hoped that God would understand her need to protect herself from evil men like Clyde and his gang members. 

She clutched her bag tightly.

In just another night and day on the train, she’d make it to St. Louis, where she’d marry Luke. Marrying a stranger was terrifying, especially considering what she’d been through her whole life, ever since she’d lost her mother when she was seven. But the alternative was staying with Clyde and his men, and she wasn’t about to accept that fate for another minute.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten a thing since the day before. The first thing she would do when she arrived was find something to eat!

As the train rumbled on, Maggie’s eyes stayed glued to the window, searching for any clouds of dust or signs of riders coming to stop them. So far, there was no sign of anyone following her, and she hoped that would continue all the way to her new home.

She wondered if Luke would’ve still agreed to marry her if she had been honest about her origins, and why she needed to marry so quickly. 

He seemed like a kind man, at least in his letters. He had a daughter, which was why he was getting married—a daughter who needed a mother. He wouldn’t have wanted to put his daughter in danger by helping her if he’d known where she came from.

The idea sobered Maggie. She didn’t want to put anyone in danger, but what else could she do? Perhaps she could find a way to earn some money once she was married to Luke? Then, when she had enough to get herself further away and start in another place, she could ask to end their marriage and be honest with him about why she was fleeing. Once he heard of the violent gang that would be coming after her, he would no doubt want nothing more to do with her.

She leaned back against the seat.

“Are you all right, dear?” the old woman sitting across from her on the train asked, looking a bit perplexed. Maggie had barely noticed her before, but now her gaze fell upon the woman. She was elderly, her gray wispy hair pulled back into a small bun on top of her head.

“I’m fine,” Maggie replied, putting on a smile.

She hadn’t realized that her emotions played so clearly on her face for all to see.

“Have you ever traveled before?” the woman asked. She looked friendly, leaning forward ever so slightly to hear Maggie better over the rumble of the train against the tracks.

“No, I haven’t. This is my first time traveling alone.” Maggie almost winced at the words. At least she hadn’t lied about it being her first time traveling alone.

Clyde always made sure somebody he trusted was with her to make sure she wouldn’t run off or do something he would disapprove of. She hoped the woman saw the fear on her face as just nervousness about her travel arrangements.

“It can be quite scary, but don’t worry, dear. I’ve made this trip many times and never had any trouble. Half of what they publish in the newspaper is about the thieves and the gangs—it doesn’t affect most trains though. Lots of people manage to travel safely through these parts without an issue.”

Maggie nodded, her smile growing tight. If only this woman knew how much danger Maggie had brought to their ride just by being there.

“Besides, the conductor and his men know these parts well. If anybody does intend to hassle us, I’m sure he won’t let it happen.”

She nodded again, not feeling much more secure by the woman’s words. The conductor most likely could handle normal threats, but could he handle Clyde? She pushed away the worries.

She couldn’t live constantly terrified of how close Clyde and his men were. She was going to have to trust that there was time to get away. They probably wouldn’t expect her to have such a well-thought-out plan—or a man to marry.

They would think she had simply run off into the woods, heading for the nearest town. That would delay them for some time. Being able to get married right away would provide the means to save her resources and find the next best place to hide from Clyde and his men.

Maggie smiled at the thought. At least for now she was free, and she intended to do everything possible to stay that way.

Chapter Two

Luke Callahan paced back and forth in the living area of his home. His friend Ben sat in one of the parlor chairs, arms crossed over his chest. He and his wife Clara had come over to visit for a while before he headed to the train station to collect his new bride. 

It was a strange idea, meeting his new bride. It had felt like the event was a long way off, but the last couple of weeks had snuck past him, and he’d barely noticed the time flying.

“You haven’t even told her yet?” Ben asked a bit judgmentally, gazing in Luke’s direction. 

“No, I haven’t told her.” Luke sighed. “You know Emily. She’s a strong-willed child, and she certainly isn’t going to be happy about having a new mother.”

Ben sighed and pointed to the chair in front of him.

“You should have a seat to calm down. You look as if you’re going to pass out from anxiety.”

“Nonsense.” Luke glared. “I don’t have anxiety. I’m just a little worried about how she’s going to take all this, and thinking about whether this whole thing was a huge mistake. I don’t know what I was thinking, Ben.”

“It’s not like this is the first time you’ve had an arranged marriage,” his friend noted.

“I know,” Luke replied, shaking his head. “But it is the first time that I’ve had an arranged marriage when there’s a child involved. I want Emily to be happy, even if she hates the idea at first.”

He’d agreed to this marriage of convenience only for Emily’s sake. But Luke was now realizing that she would not take it well, at least at first, and he’d have to find a way to help everyone work well together.

“I’m really doing this for her, you know. It’s not good for her to grow up without a woman in her life, guiding her and teaching her about who she is in the world. And Lilian was supposed to be here for all of this,” he said with a sigh. He was trying to justify himself to Ben, that much was clear.

His late wife was not somebody Luke talked about often. He hadn’t even decided if he wanted children when Lilian had fallen pregnant with Emily. He’d had his doubts about raising a family, especially with a woman whom he was with only for the aspects of the arranged marriage his uncle had set up.

However, once Emily was born, everything changed for him. Luke loved Emily more than he loved himself. He would do anything for her, including marrying again in order for her to have a happy, stable childhood.

Emily would not understand why he was marrying or why she had to listen to a stranger, but he had to believe that he was doing what was best for the greater good, and for their future.

He pulled out his watch and checked it.

“Maggie will be here soon on the train,” he said. “I intend to tell Emily then.”

“Don’t you think it would have been better for Emily to have some time to mentally prepare?” Ben frowned. “You could still tell her now. It’s not too late. Then at least she would have a few hours to mull it over. Clara could help you with that.”

Clara constantly helped with Emily. She and Ben lived only a few minutes away, which made things much better. Clara tried to care for Emily when Luke couldn’t, either watching her at his home or at hers.

Even so, there were days when Clara couldn’t watch Emily, and his friends certainly couldn’t take over raising Emily completely—not that he would want them to. She didn’t have the structure in her day-to-day life that he would have wanted for her.

“I think it’s best if we wait, and she sees that Maggie being here is not a choice, but something that has already happened and she will have to get used to it.”

Ben nodded, but it was clear he did not agree. It had been Ben’s idea to get a mail-order bride in the first place, but his friend clearly expected Luke to share his plans with his seven-year-old daughter before the day of arrival.

Luke had been exchanging letters with Maggie for a couple of months. She seemed kind and responsible, a good Christian woman who was raised in an orphanage.

He couldn’t help but feel like the similarity was a sign that she was the right person to help raise his daughter. She knew what it was like not to have a family and this would no doubt be good for Emily, helping her navigate not having her birth –mother around.

“I should get ready to go, Ben. Will the two of you bring Emily into town in a few hours?”

“Of course,” He nodded, his jaw clenching a bit as if he still wanted to argue about Luke not being straight with Emily. “We’ll be there,” Ben said. “Make sure you get to the train on time, eh?”

“Of course,” Luke replied nervously.

He stood and headed toward the barn to prepare the horses and make his way to pick up his new wife. He felt skeptical at best, considering that his uncle had managed his previous arranged marriage. He’d never had to handle the logistics of finding a wife on his own.

It had been a pleasant process for the most part, and he hoped it would continue to be that way. Luke hadn’t exactly been honest with Ben when he said he wasn’t nervous about the whole endeavor. There was plenty to be nervous about.

He hoped that Maggie was as good with children as she claimed in her letters. She had insisted she had plenty of experience helping to raise other children in the orphanage, and helping out for a couple of years after she’d aged out of the system herself.

The woman needed a place to be, and he had a home to offer her.

That made it easier for Luke not to feel guilty about pulling her into a loveless marriage. He didn’t intend to fall in love with Maggie. 

When he’d entered into his marriage with Lilian, he had set the same expectation. He didn’t want to fall in love with someone his uncle had chosen for him. While he had never felt that earth-shattering love people spoke of when it came to Lilian, he had come to care for her in his own way.

It had hit him hard when he lost her and was left to raise Emily alone. That had been four years ago. At first, he never had any intention of remarrying, but that changed as Emily started growing up, showing just how much she could benefit from a woman in her life.

He pulled on the harness of the horses, making sure it was properly secured, then mounted up and headed with the wagon into town. He was still early enough that he could finish a couple of errands before the train arrived in town.

He parked the wagon near the train station, then walked down the main street past the mercantile and straight to the feed store. He would meet Maggie soon, and everything about his and Emily’s life would change.

Thunder rumbled in the sky. It was gray, heavy with clouds. It seemed there would be a rainstorm to welcome his new wife to St. Louis. The crops he’d planted in the fields could use the rain, not to mention his herds of cattle.

When there was no rain to fill their troughs it took forever to fill them from the well. It was heavy work that needed to be done and took him hours upon hours to complete, so the impending storm brought a smile to his lips.

After he was done at the feed store, he headed to the justice of the peace. He had to make sure that Mr. Hendricks was ready to marry him and Maggie. He didn’t have the space to make things proper-like without marriage. Besides, he’d promised the woman a stable environment, in a marriage. He intended to keep that promise. He surprised himself by feeling just a twinge of excitement at meeting Maggie in person.