Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Oh, shit. That was her father? Sargent Freeman. Not quite the first impression he wanted to make.
The man never smiled just looked down his nose and ran his gaze dismissively over him before returning it to his daughter. Cy waited for any sort of emotion from him. Beside him, he could feel Rebecca shaking and he grew angry.
“I’ll speak to you at home, Rebecca Ann.” A touch of his heels and the man vanished from sight.
He turned to find her with wide eyes and tears shimmering in them. Cy reached out to her only to pause when she flinched away from him. The shaft of pain was hard to bear.
She crouched and quickly gathered things back into her basket. All the while she mumbled, “I let him down. He’s so disappointed in me.”
Ignoring the throb in his leg, he hauled her up and took the items from her. “Look at me,” he ordered. No response. “Look at me, Rebecca.”
“I…I have to go.”
Never had he seen her this rattled. Not even when he’d discovered she wasn’t who she’d pretended to be. Then she’d been calm and matter-of-fact. Now, she looked ready to fly.
“We haven’t talked yet.”
Her eyes were slightly unfocused. “No…I…home…” She took the basket and bolted. Before he could dwell on that she reappeared, lower lip caught between her teeth.
“Doc Williams may be able to help you with your leg.” A shy grin filled with concern and another emotion he needed to keep focused on. Desire.
She was gone again. Cy swore and smacked his hat against his leg before plunking it on his head once more. He limped from the alley and to his mount. Using his upper body strength and a push off from his good leg, he launched into the saddle, asked a pedestrian for directions to the doc, and rode away.
After a visit to the doctor, he stabled his horse at the livery and went to the general store. He picked up two purchases there and left hoping this would play out for the good. Determined it would.
Chapter 10
Rebecca swallowed hard before she clenched the basket tighter and walked in the house. She had known her mama was in here as well, waiting. She set the items on the counter and began putting things away.
“Hello, Papa.”
This wasn’t the reunion she’d expected, she had pictured hugs. Her father sat in his rocker watching her with an unreadable expression.
“Want to explain to me why I found you in an alley kissing a white man?”
She clenched her fingers. What could she say?
“Rebecca?” Mama this time. “Was this the guy from yesterday?”
Mortification at her actions kept her mute. She nodded and found her mother beside her.
“I come home after a year and that is the first I see of my baby girl. Wrapped around a man like a street whore.”
Immeasurable pain sliced through her. He thought her no better than a whore. “I’m so sorry, Papa.” Her words were barely above a whisper.
“Go easy on her, Joshua.”
“Easy? You didn’t see her, Sally. She should have been at home where she wouldn’t get in trouble.”
“Your daughter is no longer a child. She is a grown woman who took over for her brother when he got injured, so we wouldn’t lose the extra money! So before you come back after no word for over nearly two years, perhaps you should see how she’s doing before passing judgment.”
Rebecca watched in shock. In all her years, she’d never seen Mama argue with Papa like this. Much less, raise her voice. She’d never had to.
“What happened to my boy?”
“He’s fine!” Mama snapped. “It was your daughter who cut off all her hair and rode the Pony Express with all those men around her who could have done…who knows what, had they found out about her. Extra rides, hostile Indians, and more. However, look at her she’s fine. And for you to come home and say that…” she slammed the cupboard door, “…is neither right nor fair.”
Rebecca wanted to hide in her bed and cry. Her mama faced her and touched her chin. “I’m so proud of you, baby.” Whirling around she demanded, “You better figure this out, Joshua, because I will never forgive you if I lose my daughter and my first grandchild!”
It took a moment for the words to register. Then she shook her head in shock. She couldn’t be. Could she?
“What?” her father bellowed.
She had no moisture to formulate a single word and her legs wobbled.
“You may as well come in, I figure you’re a big part of this.”
Her mother waved at someone behind her. Rebecca turned and watched with mixed emotions as Cy stepped through, removing his hat as he did. His dark hazel eyes sought hers and the deep emotion in them astonished her. He moved toward her.
“You didn’t know.” A statement from Cy.