Riding with the Baron’s Daughter (Preview)

Prologue

Willow Alston’s life changed with a loud bang. The sound reverberated through the train car like a gunshot. She gasped and clasped her hand over her heart as she turned around, searching for the source of the commotion.

“It’s all right,” Mary, her companion, said consolingly. “The train just went over something on the tracks.”

Willow mustered a smile, but her nerves were shot. Her journey was nearly over, but who knew what awaited her on the other side? Willow had plunged headlong into the unknown, and she was terrified that her gamble wouldn’t pay off.

She chewed on her bottom lip as the train trundled along and she watched the Montana skyline flash by. She shifted her weight, brushing the crumbs off her skirt as she moved. The remains of her sandwich sat next to her, and she was glad for the sustenance. It would be a while before she ate again.

“Heavens, girl, you must have ants in your pants,” Mary said disapprovingly, shaking her gray head. “Can’t you sit still for one minute?”

“Oh, Mary, I can’t hardly stand it.” Willow grabbed hold of Mary’s hands and held them close. “We’re nearly at the station. Do you think he’ll be waiting for me? Do you think he’s handsome? What if he doesn’t like me?”

Mary squeezed Willow’s hands as she pressed her lips into a thin line. “Now, now, there’s no use fretting over something that ain’t happened yet. You need to compose yourself before you meet your fiancé.”

Willow inhaled sharply at the word. She had a fiancé. She was engaged! It was all so surreal. Willow dropped Mary’s hands and leaned back in her seat. Just a few short weeks ago she’d been waiting for her life to begin, and now it was all moving so quickly.

She caught sight of her reflection in the window. Her silky blonde hair was swept back into a bun, while her wide, doe-like eyes stared back at her.

Willow sat a little straighter, examining her appearance with a critical eye. Did she look old enough to be a fiancée? What would her fiancé think when he first met her? Perhaps she’d given the wrong impression in her letters. After all, he was an accomplished businessman. He owned a coal mine! She had to impress him in case he thought she was immature.

“Quit your preening,” Mary said with a chuckle, swatting Willow’s hand. “You’re about to be a wife. You can’t let people catch you doing that, they might think you’re a vain little creature. Remember, first impressions matter!”
Willow stifled the urge to roll her eyes. Her mother had died when she was just 11, but Mary had always been there. It was Mary who taught Willow to dress and how to conduct herself in public. She’d been the family housekeeper, then a surrogate parent.

“That’s why I’m checking my appearance,” Willow pointed out. “I want my fiancé to think that I’m mature.”
“A pretty dress won’t do that for you,” Mary chided.

Willow jutted out her bottom lip. “Come now, Mary, this is serious. I only have one shot to make a good impression on him. What if he sends me back? What if he doesn’t like me?”

Mary shook her head and patted Willow’s knee gently. “Don’t you think like that. You’re a lovely person, Willow. He’s lucky to have you.”

“That’s what you said about Austin and look how that turned out.” Willow’s heart clenched as she turned her gaze to the window.

Mary inhaled sharply.

“Don’t worry,” Willow said glumly. “I’m not planning on mentioning that name again after we arrive in Ridge Canyon.”

Mary gave her a concerned look, but Willow turned away. She didn’t need anyone’s pity; she would be just fine.
“Perhaps I ought to have waited for Max to recover before I came,” Willow murmured, unease slithering down her back. “What will we do if he turns out to be a terrible person?”

“One step at a time, child,” Mary said with a knowing smile.

Her smile lightened Willow’s heart and she smiled in return.

“Besides, if he does anything to upset you, he’ll have me to answer to.” Mary’s eyes flashed, and Willow’s mind went back to all the spankings she’d received as a child whenever she misbehaved.

“Still, I think Max would have liked to be at my wedding. It doesn’t seem right not to have my older brother there,” Willow sighed. “Perhaps we can persuade my fiancé to hold off on the marriage until Max is well enough to travel and see us.”

“Oh, child.” Mary leaned forward and cupped Willow’s cheek. “I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that. Once that man sees this face, he’ll want to marry you as soon as he can.”

Willow glanced back at herself in the window. Her cheeks were rounded, and she had full lips with a little snub nose. She wasn’t the most beautiful girl in the world, but she certainly wasn’t the ugliest. Willow was nestled somewhere in the middle, a homely kind of pretty that she hoped her fiancé would appreciate.

“I should have waited,” Willow murmured.

It suddenly occurred to her that her older brother would miss this important phase in her life. He had warned of her such, and she had been aware of the fact. However, in her rush to leave, she hadn’t fully absorbed the implications of her hurried departure. It was sad, but she had to keep moving forward.

“Next stop, Ridge Canyon,” the porter called, walking along the aisle with his whistle in his hand. “Five minutes!”

Willow’s breath caught in her throat, and she folded her hands on her lap. She forced herself to remain seated as everyone else began preparing to disembark.

Once the coach was mostly empty, she got to her feet and placed her hat on her head at an angle. She hoped it would look nonchalant yet elegant, as if she hadn’t practiced wearing it in the mirror the previous evening.

She took a deep, steadying breath before walking down the aisle. When she stepped outside, her eyes swept the station. When they landed on a young man with a white flower in his lapel holding a bunch of wildflowers, her heart fluttered. In their letters, he’d mentioned that he’d be wearing a white flower on his lapel to identify him.

Her fiancé, Adam Brooks, turned to look at her. Willow’s cheeks burned as she gazed at him, taking in every detail of his appearance. Thank the heavens, he’s handsome!

He was tall with a mop of slightly curled brown hair, and a short beard that had been perfectly trimmed. It sharpened his boyish features and made him look distinguished—at least in her opinion.

She walked slowly down the steps as he approached her. They met in the middle staring at each other for a moment.
“Good day,” he said. His voice was gruff, as if he didn’t talk much.

“Hello.” She tilted her head at him. Her skin felt hot and cold all at once. It was exhilarating.

“These are for you.” He extended the wildflowers to her with a glimmer in his eyes.

She took hold of them and sniffed them quickly. A thrill passed through her as she inclined her head toward him with a small, approving smile. “Thank you ever so much. It’s awfully kind of you.”

Footsteps sounded behind Willow and Mary cleared her throat meaningfully. This time she couldn’t repress an eye roll. To her surprise, her fiancé chuckled, and warmth spread through her heart.

“You must be Mary,” Adam said, looking past Willow. “I’m grateful that you could make it. Willow’s told me an awful lot about you.”

Mary beamed at him, and Willow was grateful that he was taking the time to endear himself to Mary. Some men wouldn’t have paid much attention to a servant. She was certainly glad he wasn’t like that! Mary was family now.

The stench of sweat and smoke burned Willow’s nostrils. She inched closer to Adam, who smelled of soap and pepper. It was a pleasant scent. As she moved, she caught sight of a cowboy leaning against a nearby wall. He leered at her as he lifted his hat higher on his head.

She swallowed hard and looked away quickly.

“Now, shall we collect your luggage and be on our way?”

“That would be wonderful,” Willow admitted.
Her head spun as he offered her his arm and led her to the luggage. Before she knew it, they were sitting in his buckboard. He was so close to her that their knees touched occasionally, and her heart raced every time.

“I would so like to make a good impression on your employees and associates,” Willow was saying as they made their way through the woods surrounding the small town. “I shall help you with the business as much as I can. However, once the children come along…”

Willow’s cheeks burned in embarrassment as she realized what she was saying. Mary gave her a disapproving look, but Adam glanced at her, a small smile gracing his lips.

The sun was quickly setting, and the shadows jumped out to grab her, moving rapidly as they grew in size.
Her skin prickled as it seemed like unseen eyes were peering out at her, watching her every move with malicious intent.

“I like hearing you talk,” he said, bringing a smile to her face. “It’s been much too quiet around the house these past few years. Besides,” he said, a soft smile gracing his features. “I can’t wait to have children running around. What a thought!”

Willow shot him a grateful look.

“Look.” He gestured ahead as the trees parted. “That’s our home.”

The last drying rays of sunlight settled on the sprawling wooden house. The windows glinted, reflecting the sunset back at her, and the wraparound porch made it seem like the house was enveloped in a cozy winter coat.

She liked it immediately. When the buckboard lurched to a stop, she scrambled off and hurried toward it, her breath stuck in her chest.

“Willow!” Mary chided. “Come help with these bags!”

“Aww shucks,” Adam chuckled, “let her go. I can handle a few cases. In fact, Mary, why don’t you go with her? I’m sure you’d like to see it yourself.”

Willow didn’t need to hear more. She rushed ahead, pushing the front door open eagerly. It was made from solid oak and had a colored glass windowpane in the middle. Red, blue, and clear diamond shapes winked at her as she opened it.

The house was just as cozy on the inside. Wooden walls and floors met in perfect unity, with plush carpets scattered around the living room and kitchen.

In her mind’s eye, Willow saw little feet pitter-pattering on the floors. Her heart clenched as she grinned from ear to ear.

“It’s quite something, ain’t it?” Mary breathed wondrously.

Willow nodded firmly. Only one thing was missing. She wanted Adam to be there as she explored the house. As she went back to the front door, she caught snippets of a conversation.

She frowned as she hesitated at the door. Visitors? Already?

“What are you doing here?” Adam said gruffly.

His tone kept her from revealing herself. Alarm bells went off in her mind. Something wasn’t right.

“I’m done talking about this!” Adam insisted. “There’s nothing you could say to change my mind—”

“I agree.”

The voice that answered Adam was cold, filled with disdain. It sent a shiver down Willow’s back, and she leaned against the wall as her dread increased.

“We’re done talking.”

Before Adam could respond, a loud crack split the air, followed by a heavy thud.

“Willow!” Mary cried in alarm.

She didn’t stop to respond. Willow dashed out of the house, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. When she made it to the porch, she was met by a sight that would haunt for the rest of her days.

Adam lay prostrate on the ground. A sound rang in her ears. It was as if she was moving through a nightmare. Blood. There was so much blood. How could one person have that much blood in them?

Their future shattered before her eyes. The warm, personable man she’d seen herself growing to love lay on his back, staring sightlessly at the sky as his lips turned blue.

Her lips parted. A terrible, keening cry left her mouth. It rose into the sky, expanding across the landscape as it grew louder, turning into a scream. The scream wouldn’t stop, not even when the two men standing over Adam turned to her, their expressions grim.

Her panicked mind grabbed as many details as it could. The taller man, the one with brown hair and piercing blue eyes, seemed to be in charge. He moved first and motioned for the other man, shorter with darker hair and a black beard, to follow him. The sound, her scream, wouldn’t stop, not even when they advanced on her, their intentions unclear.

Chapter 1

A few weeks later

The stagecoach jerked suddenly to one side, throwing Evelyn Grey headfirst into the interior wall of the vehicle. Her head connected painfully with the hard surface, and pain burst behind her closed eyelids in the form of stars. She groaned as she righted herself and rubbed her aching head.

She pressed her other hand against her mouth an attempt to stem her rising nausea. The large carriage swayed constantly as it traversed the rough country back roads that crisscrossed the Montana landscape.

For weeks, she’d been dreading her return to Montana. Besides the fact that she didn’t want to return Caden Ranch, she also dreaded the weeklong stagecoach trip.

“Heavens, Evie, don’t you dare throw up on my dress,” Cassidy, Evelyn’s best friend, and personal maid, warned.
Evelyn groaned as she leaned back in her seat, dropping her head so that her chin touched her chest. “Your dress is the least of my concerns.”

She lowered her chin as she stared down at her dress. Evelyn had picked out her best dress for the day. It was a sky-blue cotton dress that complemented her greyish-blue eyes. The collar was buttoned tightly at the hollow in her throat, and a line of buttons ran down the front of her bodice. The dress featured strategic ruching just below the waist, showing off her slender figure. Her skirts were full, and her corset kept her sitting upright, even when she longed to slouch. A straw hat sat next to her on the plush seat, waiting to be placed atop her head as soon as she left the train.

Her father would expect her to look her best when she arrived, even if she had spent the past few days traveling across the country. If she looked anything less than perfectly presentable, she’d be in for a world of trouble.
Even with all the money in the world, you still aren’t able to look presentable. She could see his sneer in her mind’s eye accompanied by his cold tone. What will it take to get you to understand that you represent this family? Have some sense, girl.

“Give her some room, girl,” Evelyn’s former nurse—now chaperone—Agatha, chided, swatting Cassidy’s arm. Her voice yanked Evelyn out of her father’s imaginary lecture.

“Ouch!” Cassidy complained. “Fine, if you want me to leave her alone, then I say we switch seats.”

“That’s not necessary,” Agatha grumbled. “You chose that seat, so you should take the consequences of whatever happens next. You know how nauseous she gets in a stagecoach.”

“Would you two kindly stop arguing?” Evelyn begged, rubbing her eyes. “I’m not going to throw up on anyone.”

“I don’t know if I believe you,” Cassidy said warily. “I hate to admit it, but Agatha’s right. I should have chosen a different seat.”

Evelyn looked up and narrowed her eyes at her oldest and dearest friend. The two of them couldn’t have looked more different. Cassidy had thick, shiny black hair that was always tied back in a neat braid. Evelyn’s father decreed that all his female staff had to wear tight braids, as he hated it when a woman’s hair was out of place.

As such, Evelyn wore her hair loose as often as she liked, allowing the dark, golden blonde locks to fall around her shoulders.

Cassidy’s skin was darker too, with a light caramel appearance. Her dark brown eyes shone with amusement or glimmered with emotion depending on Cassidy’s mood. Meanwhile, Evelyn had light grey eyes and almost transparent skin. Sometimes when she looked at herself in the mirror, she was reminded of a ghost. She was almost completely transparent, it explained why so many people looked past her, discounted her presence as she stood silently by.

Once again, Cassidy couldn’t have been more different from her friend. She wore her heart on her sleeve and always said what was on her mind.

Evelyn rather admired her friend’s outspokenness, sometimes wishing that Cassidy’s courage would rub off on her. There was so much she wanted to say, and so much that she needed to do. However, she was held in place by forces stronger than her desires.

“Can we please talk about something else?” Evelyn groaned. “Perhaps if I’m distracted then I won’t feel so sick.”
Agatha and Cassidy looked between each other thoughtfully.

“Are you looking forward to sleeping in your own bed again?” Cassidy asked gently.

Agatha scowled and elbowed Cassidy in the ribs. Cassidy winced and glared at the older woman. Evelyn could only hope that they wouldn’t start arguing. The two of them were like chalk and cheese, united only by their loyalty to serve Evelyn.

Evelyn tried not to dwell too deeply on the fact that her closest companions were paid to spend time with her. Sometimes, she was plagued by the thought that they only pretended to like her because they had no other choice.

It wasn’t as if she could go out and make other friends. Her father, Reagan Grey, hardly ever allowed her out of the house. And he never allowed her to associate with anyone who wasn’t directly related to them or employed by him.

“I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again,” Evelyn said carefully. “Aunt Janet’s beds weren’t as comfortable as my own. However, I do wish that my bed was located somewhere else, so I wouldn’t have to return to the ranch.”

Evelyn took a deep breath and pulled the window shade aside. She clasped her hands in her lap as she soaked in the landscape, trying to find comfort in the familiar scenery. Mountains collided into each other, forming a never-ending ocean of hills. Trees rose up from the land, turning everything dark green. Her eyes skipped between the gaps in the trees, searching for a glimpse of something that might interrupt their trip. The scenery passed at a leisurely pace while the bright sunlight burned her eyes. She winced and drew the curtain shut again.

“Careful, miss,” Agatha said, looking around cautiously. “You can’t talk that way the closer we get to the ranch. You wouldn’t want those opinions of yours to slip out accidentally. Your father has ears everywhere. He won’t take kindly to your complaints.”

Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned back in her seat.

“Besides, he did you a great kindness by letting you stay in California for two months,” Agatha pointed out. “You know how he hates parting with you. It must have cost him a great deal to send you away like he did.”

Evelyn fought the urge to roll her eyes. Agatha had been taking care of her ever since she was a baby. Evelyn’s mother had died in childbirth, so Agatha was the only mother Evelyn had ever known. Still, it was a strange relationship as Agatha was obligated to defend Evelyn’s father at every turn. And while Agatha was in charge of raising Evelyn, she still had to defer to Evelyn’s commands and wishes.

It was a delicate power balance that always had Evelyn second-guessing herself. The last thing she wanted was to offend her oldest companion, but sometimes the woman could be a little overbearing. Especially when she spoke about Evelyn’s father, pretending the man had even one nurturing bone in his body. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If her father truly hated parting with her because he cared for her so deeply, he would at the very least have been there to see her off or sent a letter. No such thing happened. Her father’s disinterest no longer hurt her. She had long since accepted that she could never earn his favor. Not when her birth had been his greatest disappointment.

Not only had she been born a female— a capital offense in his eyes. But she had also killed her mother by entering the world, thereby robbing him of a chance to produce an heir. She wasn’t entirely sure why he didn’t just marry someone else. Such knowledge required speaking to one another, and that was a rare occurrence subject to strict rules.

She could only imagine how that conversation would go.

Father, if you wanted a son so badly, why didn’t you remarry?

Mind your business, Evelyn. I don’t understand how you turned out so insolent. I raised you with every advantage. You’re a blight on the family name. Go to your room and don’t you come out until I’m good and ready to see your face again.

Evelyn winced at the thought. The last time she’d been sent to her room, she’d spent a few weeks there before someone finally let her out. While she’d been in California, she’d dreamed of escaping and running away. However, her aunt kept her under strict watch. Her every movement had been reported back to her father. Besides, even if the chance had presented itself, her anxiety had crippled her, rendering her useless.

However, she had managed to come up with the beginnings of a plan, now all she had to do was muster the courage to go through with it.

“You had a lovely break,” Cassidy said sympathetically. “Let that be enough to sustain you. Perhaps now that you’re getting older and you proved yourself trustworthy, he might send you away again. You’ve shown him that you can behave— even according to his strict standards— so perhaps he might loosen the reins.”

Evelyn’s heart clenched with painful hope. “Oh, don’t tempt fate. That’s simply too good to be true.”

“Well, if all goes according to plan, you might be leaving sooner than you think,” Cassidy said with a twinkle in her eye.

Agatha pursed her lips as she shook her head slowly. “I still don’t approve of your madcap plan. You have all you could ever want on Caden Ranch. And your father would be so hurt if you followed through with it.”

Evelyn swallowed hard as she glanced down at her hands. While in California, she’d done something she’d been dreaming of ever since she finally realized she would never be happy on Caden Ranch. She’d set the wheels in motion for her own escape. Agatha was right. It was a mad plan. So much could go wrong.

She shuddered to think what would happen if her father discovered what she had done. And if she ever went through with it and he caught her… her nausea returned in full force, slamming into her as it brought a tidal wave of fear.

“She can’t stay,” Cassidy said, her voice low. “Even you know that, Agatha. What if he tries to marry her to Dustin?”

Evelyn sat up straighter and placed her hands in her lap. A choice lay before her, one of the most important she would ever make. If she swallowed her true desires and allowed her father to choose her path, she would never break free from his hold. She would always be the ghost wandering the halls of Caden Ranch.

There wouldn’t be many chances to earn her freedom. If one came up, she had to grab hold of it with both hands. Otherwise, she would regret it for the rest of her days. The combination of regret and oppression would drive her mad, turning her into a shadow of herself.

If rumors were to be believed, she would end up just like her mother— completely disinterested in life. They said that in the end, though the doctor did his best to save her, Evelyn’s mother had simply given up. She had passed by silently into the night while her daughter wailed and squalled.

Evelyn didn’t blame her mother. She wouldn’t have wanted to live with Reagan’s disappointment either.

“He wouldn’t go that far,” Agatha said, glancing down at her hands. “Besides, it’s Dustin who desperately wants to marry her. I’m certain that Mr. Grey has higher hopes for his daughter. He might find someone else to marry her.”

“And what if he does? What if she doesn’t want to marry the man, he chooses for her?” Cassidy asserted, raising her thick eyebrows. “Should she simply roll over and accept it? Do whatever it is that Reagan wants from her? Even at the cost of her own happiness and sanity? What do you think would happen if she married Dustin? It would be like marrying a more unstable version of her father!”

“It’s Mr. Grey to you,” Agatha said sternly. “Don’t you forget that. I won’t be able to save your job if anyone hears you referring to your boss in such a casual tone.”

Evelyn massaged her throbbing temples. It was more than a little ironic that they were discussing her future in front of her without asking for her input while criticizing her father for doing the same. When would people finally realize that she had hopes and dreams of her own?

“There’s no one here but us,” Cassidy pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest. “And don’t hide behind all that loyalty nonsense. One of these days, you’ll have to choose between Reagan and Evelyn. Whose side will you be on when the chips fall?”

Agatha’s lips parted as she stared at Cassidy in shock.

“That’s enough, Cassidy,” Evelyn said quietly, not sure that she wanted Agatha to answer that question at all.

There were some questions that were best left unanswered. Evelyn had learned that the hard way. While she was certain that Agatha would never betray Evelyn’s plan to her father, she wasn’t sure that Agatha would follow Evelyn. To be fair, Evelyn had no means to pay for a maid.

Things would be vastly different when she struck out on her own. There’d be no more servants helping her with her chores. She wouldn’t have full meals laid out for her three times a day, enough to feed a battalion. And she’d have to make do with whatever clothes she could squirrel out of the house.

None of that mattered much though. Material things couldn’t satisfy the ache in her heart or soothe her loneliness. Her father’s riches were no more than golden chains, binding her to him, forcing her to accept his will in every aspect of her life.

Her father made it perfectly clear that since she could never be the heir he so desperately desired, the least she could do was make up for the deficit by being quiet, biddable, and obedient. Anything less resulted in his wrath.

“Don’t you give up,” Cassidy insisted, grabbing hold of Evelyn’s hand. “Don’t let them win. I’ll never forgive you if you marry that empty-headed snake.”

“Cassidy!” Agatha gasped. “It’s not for you to say who Evelyn will and will not marry. As long as Mr. Grey pays your wages, you do what he says!”

Evelyn ignored Agatha’s words as she watched a flash of emotion cross Cassidy’s face. It was a mixture of anger, desperation and despair. Curiosity seeped through Evelyn’s veins. She was well aware that she didn’t know everything about her best friend. However, it didn’t feel right to pry into Cassidy’s business.

When someone as open and honest as Cassidy chose to keep a secret, there had to be a good reason for it. Besides, Evelyn hardly ever said what was on her mind. How could she judge Cassidy for choosing not to share everything about herself?

There was some dignity in keeping one’s true opinions to themselves. At least, that’s what she told herself when she felt like a coward.

“Don’t you dare,” Cassidy insisted, looking Evelyn right in the eye.

“I don’t have a choice,” Evelyn muttered helplessly.

The carriage swayed dangerously. For a moment, it seemed that they would all topple over. Agatha grabbed hold of the side wall, while Cassidy and Evelyn used each other to catch their balance.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how one looked at it, the carriage righted itself and went right on going, dragging Evelyn back to her prison.

“You do,” Cassidy insisted. “Don’t back out now.”

“I don’t think I’m brave enough,” Evelyn admitted.

“Don’t you give me that nonsense,” Cassidy said fiercely, putting her hands on her hips.

“You’re plenty brave, miss,” Agatha said, patting Evelyn’s hand gently. “Don’t you remember how you tried to liberate the baby rats on the ranch?”

Evelyn’s cheeks burned as she ducked her head.

“Baby rats?” Cassidy asked in horror.

Agatha nodded emphatically as Evelyn looked up. “Evelyn couldn’t have been older than seven. She was playing outside when one of the ranch hands came out carrying a bucket of baby rats he’d found in the barn. See, he was planning on drowning them varmints.”

“As he should.” Cassidy shuddered in disgust. “What a terrible job!”

“Are you planning on letting me finish my story or do you want me to stop so you can talk more?” Agatha asked, raising her eyebrows.

Cassidy shot her an annoyed look and Evelyn stifled a chuckle. Their antics could be exhausting, but they could also be quite entertaining.

“Fine.” Cassidy raised her hands in surrender. “All right, go on with your story then. Tell me what happened to those—” She couldn’t finish her sentence as she grimaced, clearly repulsed.

“Anyhow, little Evelyn peered into the bucket and fell in love with the tiny, squirming creatures.”
Cassidy turned to Evelyn with wide eyes.

“They were just babies,” Evelyn said defensively. “The poor things were so tiny and helpless.”

“Yes, and when the ranch hand informed her that he planned on drowning the creatures, Evelyn decided to do something about it,” Agatha said, the corners of her mouth turning upward.

Cassidy groaned loudly and leaned back in her seat, as if trying to get as far away as possible from Evelyn.
“She grabbed that pail and took off running like the wind,” Agatha said, glancing affectionately at Evelyn. “It took us three hours to find her, and even then, we only caught her because she came strutting out of the barn looking like the cat that got the cream, swinging an empty pail by her side.”

“What did you do with the rats?” Cassidy’s tone was laced with suspicion.

Evelyn shrugged as she sank into her seat, her cheeks burning.

“She set them loose is what she did.” Agatha shot Evelyn a stern look.

“No!” Cassidy covered her mouth with her hand.

Evelyn winced as she looked away.

“We had a serious rat problem for years,” Agatha said, the amusement clear in her tone, “and the ranch hand never drowned rats around Evelyn again. In fact, her father sent her to town anytime they planned on managing the rat infestation.”

Cassidy let out a laugh and slapped her knee. “You little rascal! See, you’ve got plenty of gumption. Where have you been hiding it all this time?”

Agatha pressed her lips into a thin line and narrowed her eyes at Cassidy while Evelyn closed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. Before either of them could respond, the carriage jerked suddenly to the side. Evelyn was unprepared for the movement and struck her head for the second time against the side of the carriage. Once again, stars exploded inside her head as pain radiated through her skull.

Cassidy lurched forward, landing on Evelyn’s lap, while Agatha let out a startled cry. At the same time, a horse whinnied in terror, and a loud snap filled the air as the carriage veered sharply off course.

Evelyn’s heart slammed against her ribcage, and she ripped the curtains open. To her horror, the carriage was leaning dangerously to the side as it rolled straight toward a massive tree.