The wayward heart escape.., p.1
The Wayward Heart (Escape to the West Book 3), page 1
Escape to the West
Book 3
The Wayward Heart
Nerys Leigh
ESCAPE TO THE WEST BOOK 3: THE WAYWARD HEART
Copyright: Nerys Leigh
Published: 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted, without written permission from the author. You must not circulate this book in any format.
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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
The Escape to the West series
No One’s Bride
A Hope Unseen
The Wayward Heart
Each of the stories in the Escape to the West series takes place at the same time as the others. There may be occasional mentions of the other books in this one, but don’t worry if you don’t remember those or haven’t read them yet. Understanding the references isn’t at all necessary to this story and won’t spoil your enjoyment in any way.
But if you do get them, you might just experience an “Ohhh, so that’s what was happening” moment!
Prologue
May, 1870
Ithaca, New York
“Please don’t cry, Mama.”
Mrs Cotton gave Lizzy a watery smile. “I’m just happy for you, darling. I know how excited you are.”
Lizzy had been excited, up until they reached the station and the reality of leaving her family set in.
She wrapped one arm around her mother’s shoulders and rested their heads together. “I’m sure you’ll barely even notice I’m gone.”
Mrs Cotton sighed. “How do we even know it’s safe?”
“We’ve talked about this, Mama. It’s all arranged by the marriage service, and the pastor there vouched for Richard. And once I get to New York City I’ll be travelling with four other women. I’ll be safe. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’m your mother, of course I have to worry about you.”
“Remember,” Nathaniel said from where he lounged against the wall of the station waiting room, arms folded, “if anyone tries anything, you just kick him right in the...”
“Nathaniel Sebastian Cotton!” Lizzy’s mother exclaimed, rounding on her youngest son. “There will be no mention of where your sister is to kick anyone.”
His gaze flicked to Lizzy as he fought a smile. “Yes, Mama.”
“She knows precisely what to kick without having to use vulgar terms, don’t you, Elizabeth?” She looked back at Lizzy, eyebrows raised.
Lizzy grinned. “Yes, Mama.”
Mrs Cotton nodded. “Good.”
Nathaniel pushed away from the wall and walked over to them, winding his arms around Lizzy and drawing her close. “It’s not too late to change your mind, Liz,” he whispered into her ear. “You don’t have to go.”
A bubble of pain rose in her chest and she had to blink back tears. Being only a year and a half younger than him, of her three brothers she was closest to Nathaniel. But she was determined not to cry until she was safely on the train.
“I know. But this is what I want.”
He sighed, his breath tickling her neck. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Me too.”
Through the haze of unshed tears, she noticed a pretty young woman walk past them. Nathaniel shifted slightly.
“You’re watching that woman, aren’t you?” she said.
“No.”
“Liar.”
His body shook as he chuckled and he drew back to look into her face, gently brushing aside a stray dark curl and kissing her forehead. “You know me far too well.”
“All the luggage is on board.” Jack, Lizzy’s oldest brother, walked up to them. “There shouldn’t be any trouble. Not like they can lose five bright yellow trunks.”
She let go of Nathaniel and Jack held out his arms to her.
“Don’t forget,” he said as he held her, “if you need us for anything, just send a telegraph and we’ll come right away. For anything. And if this Richard fellow doesn’t treat you like the princess you are, you tell us and me, Fred and Nathan will come over and set him straight.”
She snorted a laugh against his jacket. “Princess?”
He drew back to smile at her. “Not to us, of course. To us you’re still our pain of a little sister. But to everyone else you’re a princess.” He kissed her forehead. “And don’t you ever forget it.”
Before she could reply, she was pulled from his embrace, turned round and engulfed in a huge hug.
“My turn,” Freddie said as her middle brother’s massive arms wrapped around her. “Hey, squirt,” he murmured into the top of her head.
“Hey, goliath.”
“If he doesn’t make you happy, you come right on home. Promise?”
She nodded against his chest. “I promise.”
“And if he does even the smallest, tiniest thing to make you unhappy, you tell me and I’ll come over there and pound him into the dirt.”
She giggled at that. Despite his size, she knew Freddie wouldn’t hurt a flea. “No you won’t.”
“For my baby sister, I will.”
“I’ve arranged for them to transfer the luggage at New York,” Lizzy’s father said.
She looked up to see him approach from the direction of the baggage car. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Now, I’ve looked into the marshal at that town you’re going to and he seems like a trustworthy man. Name’s Lee Cade and he fought for the Union in the war. Got several commendations for valour too. So if you need help, you go to him.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“And if you want to come home for any reason at all, you send us a telegraph and we’ll wire you the money right away. For any reason, even if it’s just because you’re homesick.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He huffed out a breath and shook his head. “I don’t know why I ever agreed to let you do this.”
She left Freddie to walk into her father’s embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his chest. “You agreed because you want me to be happy and I want this more than anything.”
His chest rose and fell in a sigh. “I never could say no to my little girl.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “You’ll always be my little girl.”
Lizzy clamped her eyes shut, but no amount of blinking could stop the tears from coming at that.
The sound of the guard’s whistle squeezed at her heart. As much as she’d been looking forward to this for months, having to leave her family was turning out to be almost more pain than she could bear.
Forcing herself to step away from her father, she looked around at her family, wiping at her tears with her fingers. “I love you all so much.”
Jack solemnly handed over her bag, they followed her to the train, and after one final family hug she climbed on board, finding a seat where she could see them from the window and waving as the train pulled away from the station. Pressing her cheek to the glass, she watched them until the station was lost in the distance.
She stayed like that for a full minute, letting the cool of the glass against her skin sooth her doubts and fears. Then she faced forward and wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
She wasn’t going to be sad, not now her journey had begun. This was her dream, to travel across the country, see new places, have thrilling adventures, and fall madly in love with a handsome cowboy in the wild west.
And it was going to be the most exciting experience she could imagine.
She just knew it.
Chapter 1
“Can you see them?”
Lizzy bounced on her seat, her excitement threatening to get the better of her. After months of correspondence and a week on the train, she felt like if she didn’t get to see Richard soon she’d explode.
In front of her, Jo hooked her elbow over the back of her seat and stared out the window. “There are so many people, how do we know...”
The train slowed as it pulled into Green Hill Creek’s station and up ahead a small cluster of men came into view. Lizzy jumped from her seat. “Over there! That must be them!”
Louisa took her hand and tugged her back down onto the seat beside her, looking embarrassed.
Lizzy spared her a brief smile before returning her attention to the men outside. “Oohhhh, they’re all so handsome. I can’t even decide which I want to be mine.”
Jo twisted round and rested her chin on her hands on the back of her seat. “Calm down, Lizzy. They’re only men.”
“They’re not just men,” she said, “they’re our husbands. Or will be soon. Aren’t you excited to meet Gabriel?”
Jo shrugged and glanced out the window. “I guess.”
She placed a hand on Jo’s arm. “Don’t worry, it’s all ri ght to be nervous. I’m sure he’ll be handsome and wildly romantic and you’ll be madly in love in no time.”
A smile pulled at Jo’s lips. “Don’t ever change, Lizzy.”
She laughed. “I’m not sure if I could, even if I wanted to.” Her mother had tried to encourage her to become a proper, refined lady for as long as she could remember, but even she hadn’t managed to restrain Lizzy’s perpetual enthusiasm for life. There was just too much out there to do and see without having to worry if people thought her behaviour was appropriate.
“I don’t think I can see Jesse,” Louisa said, leaning forward against her to peer through the grime the glass had accumulated during the train’s week long journey from New York.
Lizzy returned her attention to the group of nervous-looking men. “He said he has light brown hair, didn’t you say?”
“That’s right, but I don’t see light brown hair. I see three with dark hair and one blond who must be your Richard. Then there are two older men, but neither of them can be him.”
Lizzy stared at the man with pale blond hair she’d somehow missed before. Louisa was right, it had to be Richard. Her Richard. For a moment she couldn’t do anything but gaze at the man with short, neatly combed hair and a trimmed moustache. “He’s so handsome,” she murmured to herself.
“What if Jesse’s not here?” Louisa said. “What if he’s changed his mind?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Jo muttered.
Lizzy wrenched her gaze from her intended to shoot Jo a reproving look as she wrapped her arm around Louisa’s shoulders. “He absolutely wouldn’t. He must be hidden behind the others or maybe he’s been delayed or something. He’ll be here, I know it. No man in possession of all his faculties would pass up the chance to marry you. You’re one of the nicest people I know, and so pretty. Isn’t that right, Jo?”
Jo sighed. “He’d have to be an idiot all right.” She stood as the train finally drew to a halt. “Might as well get this over with.”
Louisa watched her walk along the aisle, mingling in with the other passengers. “Anyone would think she didn’t want to be here.”
“She’s just nervous. You know Jo, she likes to act tough.” Lizzy picked up her bag and took Louisa’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go and get married.”
Outside, the station was already filling with passengers stretching their legs or boarding/leaving the train. Lizzy and Louisa followed Jo in the direction of the group of men who were standing back a little from the tracks, out of the way of the crowd.
Lizzy glanced back to check on Amy and Sara, the final two members of their group, who were following a little way behind them, before turning forward again to fix her attention on Richard. A couple of months before, he’d sent her a photograph of himself along with his proposal of marriage, but seeing him in the flesh, not to mention in colour, was a whole different experience. Not that he’d been at all unattractive in the photograph. She had to admit, to herself at least, that the image had prodded her answer towards the affirmative. That and the fact that he owned a ranch and was a real life cowboy.
What could be more exciting than living on a ranch in the wild west with a cowboy for a husband? Nothing, as far as Lizzy was concerned.
Louisa suddenly jerked her hand from Lizzy’s. “Ouch! Not so tight.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I’m just so excited.”
“I guessed that,” she said, smiling. She took Lizzy’s hand again. “Just try not to break any of my fingers.”
Lizzy clasped her friend’s hand with more care. “I’ll do my best.”
Lizzy and Louisa joined Jo where she had stopped, facing the small group of men. Their husbands-to-be were darting glances at them, all except for Richard whose eyes were fixed on the ground. In front of him he clutched a tan coloured cowboy hat so tight that the brim looked to be in danger of being irreparably squashed.
One of the older men stepped forward. He was well-dressed and looked to be in his early fifties. “Ladies, welcome to Green Hill Creek. I’m Pastor Simon Jones and this is my wife, Irene.”
The only woman in the small gathering gave them a broad smile. “We’re so thrilled to welcome you all. I’m sure you will be happy in our little town.”
Lizzy pressed her lips together to stop herself from blurting out that she knew she would. She had a habit of saying things without thinking and she was trying very hard to act like a lady while meeting Richard for the first time. She did what her mama had told her to do when she was feeling overexcited and began a slow count to ten.
One... two... three...
Her attention drifted back to Richard and she lost count, only half listening to the pastor explain how he would be introducing each couple in turn and then they would go to the church for the marriage ceremonies. Goodness, but Richard was handsome. Her future husband wasn’t overly tall, the two dark-haired, clean-shaven men in the group were taller, but he looked strong. She imagined the physical effort of working with the cattle on his ranch kept him healthy and fit. She longed to see his eyes, which he’d said were blue, but he was still staring at the ground.
Then the pastor said something that made the others laugh, what it was Lizzy had no idea, and Richard looked up. His eyes met hers. For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
“First, Elizabeth Cotton.”
Lizzy blinked at the sound of her name and dragged her gaze from Richard to look at Pastor Jones. Was she supposed to be doing something?
Richard stepped forward with a small, uncertain smile.
“Miss Cotton,” the pastor said, waving a hand towards Richard, “may I introduce Richard Shand.”
He held out his hand. “Ma’am.”
With a squeal Lizzy rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck. It was a few seconds before she remembered they were in public. And she’d forgotten to count.
Shrugging off a twinge of embarrassment, she stepped back and smiled up at him. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Richard. You’re very handsome.”
He looked slightly stunned, which she couldn’t really blame him for. “I’m pleased to meet you too, ma’am. And thank you.”
He offered her his arm and they stepped back to join the rest of the men as the pastor called Louisa’s name.
She adored Louisa, but Lizzy couldn’t help feeling a little envious of her as she stepped forward. She always looked so well put together, with her sleek, perfectly styled auburn hair and green travel dress that she somehow kept immaculate even in the dust and dirt that permanently hovered around the train.
Lizzy always seemed to look like she’d been rolling around on the floor, even when she’d only just got dressed. And her thick, dark, wavy hair was the very definition of unruly. Just like her.
She glanced up at Richard and wondered if he would mind unruly. Since he spent most of his day on horseback among the cattle on his ranch, she hoped he’d be happy with a little wildness.
“Louisa, this is Peter Johnson.”
Lizzy stared in awe as the other older man in the group stepped forward and pulled off his hat. Even though he must have been in his late forties, he was huge, his shirt straining across his wide chest and broad shoulders. He was also taller than anyone else in the group. Even her brother, Freddie, would have had to look up at him.
“Miss Wood,” he said to Louisa, “I’m Jesse’s father and I’ll be taking you to meet him, if that’s all right.”
A small frown of confusion marred Louisa’s face for just a moment. “Of course. I do hope he’s not unwell.”
“Oh no, miss. He’ll explain when we get there.”
Next to be called was Sara. Watching her gaze up at the man she’d been talking about practically nonstop since they’d left New York, Lizzy had to swallow a giggle. There was no mistaking that Sara was already in love with Daniel Raine. If anyone was going to be happy in her new life with her husband, it was her. And Lizzy herself, of course.
As Pastor Jones introduced Jo to Gabriel Silversmith, Lizzy stole another look at Richard. He glanced down at her, giving her a nervous smile when he saw her watching him. Her heart did a little skip and she was sure she must have blushed.
It felt so strange to be with him after they’d corresponded for so long. At least, it had felt like a long time to her, but Lizzy had problems being patient once she decided she wanted something. More than once as a child she’d been caught by her parents on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night carefully peeling open the wrapping on her gifts under the tree so she could see what they were before tying them back up again in the hopes that no one would be any the wiser. She wasn’t good at waiting, so five months of writing to her handsome cowboy had driven her to distraction when all she wanted to do was come to California and begin her new life on the ranch. It had taken him so long to propose that by the end she’d begun to wonder why he’d advertised for a wife at all. When the letter came in which he’d asked her to marry him, she’d leapt up from the settee and whooped, startling both her mother and Ellie, the family dog.
