Noelle Marchand - The Runaway Bride

Lawson nodded firmly. “That’s why we chose you.”

“You chose me,” he echoed as a sense of foreboding filled his chest. “To do what?”

“To bring her back.” Lawson swallowed. “Not to me, of course, but to her parents.”

Richard cleared his throat. “I’d go myself but my wife says I’d just end up letting Lorelei have her own way like I always do. As much as I hate to admit it, the Lord knows Caroline is probably right. That’s why you’ve got to do it.”

Sean leaned forward to set his arm against the desk. “Listen, I’m sorry, but I am not the man for this job. I’ll tell you what I can do instead. I’ll send my deputy—”

Lawson laughed skeptically. “Jeff Bridger? He’s the only man in town who’s gotten lost walking down Main Street.”

“His sense of direction isn’t that bad anymore,” Sean protested. “I’ve been working with him and he has definitely improved.”

“I’m glad, but do you really think I’m willing to trust that man to find my daughter, let alone bring her back? Besides, I think you’re a little confused here.” Richard’s fierce gaze told Sean he wasn’t to be trifled with. “This isn’t about you, Sheriff. This is about my daughter, who, as a citizen of Peppin, deserves your protection just like everyone else. She has no chaperone. She has no supplies and hardly any money. She’s a target for every charlatan from here to California.”

Sean cleared his throat as he tried to regain control of the conversation. “I understand that, Mr. Wilkins, but I can’t just leave town for several days to run after your daughter. I have a job to do here.”

“Actually, that seems like a good job for Jeff.” Lawson crossed his arms. “After all, the man can’t get lost just sitting in an office, can he?”

“I guess not.” Sean stared at the men before him with a mixture of bemusement and dread.

Lawson shifted forward in his chair. “Sean, I would go myself but you read the note. We both know it isn’t safe for her out there. Why, she’s never even traveled before. She needs protection. I know she and I aren’t going to get married, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. I’m asking you to protect her not only because she’s a citizen of our town but for my sake, because I can’t.”

Sean pulled in a fortifying breath to push aside his misgivings. His voice filled with resolve. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It will take that long for me to pack and coordinate things with Jeff.”

Relief painted Richard’s face with a smile. Lawson reached out to shake his hand. Sean didn’t bother to hide his frown. All he could hope was that he’d be able to head her off before she made it to California. It’d be a dandy of a fight to bring her all the way back to Peppin if she was already settled with her great-aunt. Nevertheless, he’d taken an oath to protect the people of this town, and it would take more than one particularly troublesome female to keep him from fulfilling that promise.

* * *

Lorelei eyed the gingerbread style white-and-green boardinghouse dubiously. She had no idea what she was going to do. She barely had enough money in her pocket to buy herself a meal and certainly not enough for the rest of the trip to California. She wasn’t even close to the Texas state line—any of them. She still seethed when she thought of that horrible man on the train. How dare he take off with her reticule?

She had to own that it was partially her fault for being thoughtless. She should have hidden most of her money in her boot or corset instead of leaving it all in her reticule for some villain to ride off with. It wouldn’t have been such a setback if the train went straight to California from Peppin. Unfortunately, she was supposed to transfer to another line. How could she do that when she didn’t even have money for a ticket?

She needed help, and she didn’t want to go to her parents for it. She was a grown woman on a trip of her own undertaking. She’d figure this out somehow, then write her parents from California to tell them exactly how wonderful her new life was. If this didn’t work, then fine, but she at least had to try to do it on her own first. She entered the bustling boardinghouse and went over to the woman who seemed to be checking people in.

“Welcome! I’m Mrs. Drake and I have a room all ready for you. May I have your name please?”

“Lorelei Wilkins, but I’m not here for a room exactly—”

“Wilkins,” the blonde woman repeated then smiled. “You’re from Peppin, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?” she asked with a bit of trepidation. Surely news of her wedding hadn’t spread this far that fast.

The woman tossed a dismissive hand. “Oh, I’ve visited family in Peppin once or twice during the past several years. I heard of your family while I was there. Perhaps you know mine. My aunt and uncle are Joseph and Amelia Greene.”

Lorelei easily placed the family connection. “Yes, I know them. My mother is friends with your aunt.”

The woman’s face lit up. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Yes, it is,” Lorelei said with a smile as she realized it probably wouldn’t be wise to mention that Mrs. Greene also had a reputation of being the town gossip. “As I was saying, I’ve run into a problem and I hope you might be able to help me. I was taking the train to meet my elderly great-aunt in California—”

“California!” Mrs. Drake frowned. “That’s quite a ways to travel alone.”

“Yes, well, I placed my reticule in my lap where I was sure no one would dare take it, but when I awakened it was gone. I’m sure that man sitting across the aisle stole it. To think he got close enough to steal my money and I never even felt it!”

“How unnerving! I’m sorry, dear, but what can I do?”

“I thought perhaps you might let me work for you so I can pay my room and board. It would just be until I’m able to get more money somehow.”

“I wish I could.” Suddenly the woman froze with some sudden thought. “Do you like children?”

“What?”

“I know of a job for you if you like children but— Oh, what time is it?” Mrs. Drake popped open her small pocket watch. “We just might be able to catch them.”

“Catch who?”

“The children.” The woman rounded the desk to survey her carefully. “Yes, I think you’ll do perfectly. Is that your only bag?”

Lorelei glanced down at her traveling bag. “Yes.”

“Good. You won’t take up much room.” Mrs. Drake grabbed her hat from the stand and opened the door. “Come on. We have to run to catch them.”

Lorelei followed her out the door and down the porch steps at a trot to keep up with her rapid pace. “But, Mrs. Drake, I really don’t understand. Where are we going? Who are these children and what sort of job is it?”

“I’m sorry. I get rather scattered when I’m in a rush.” The woman darted across the street with Lorelei at her heels. “The position is with a traveling preacher and his wife. They are very good friends of mine. James takes his family with him on his circuit once every few months or so. They’re going with him this time. Usually the young woman down the street goes with them to help see to the children, but her father is sick so she can’t go. James and his wife, Marissa, couldn’t find anyone else on short notice.”

“So I’m supposed to replace their neighbor?” Lorelei asked breathlessly.

“Yes, if we can catch them. They were supposed to be leaving now,” Mrs. Drake said. “Watch that hole in the road.”

Lorelei veered away from the hole just in time to save herself from a sprained ankle. “You said he’s a traveling preacher. Where are they traveling?”

“That’s the beauty of it, Miss Wilkins. They’re going farther west. Not to California, mind you but— Oh, there’s the wagon. Help me wave it down.”