Lessie: Bride of Utah (American Mail-Order Bride 45) Read Online Free PDF Page B

trip, perhaps?
    Maybe the men didn’t actually reside in Ogden City. Known as Junction City, Ogden was home to the largest railway hub in the area. For all she knew this rig was rented and their home was in another county altogether.
    But Mr. Cannon didn’t answer. He released her hand once she found herself safely on the paving stones and steadily met her gaze.
    He might struggle to find the words, but she saw the truth of it in his eyes.
    They all weren’t going anywhere.
    Panic tingled at the periphery, creeping back in. Who would leave? The men? Surely they wouldn’t send her and Josie away, would they?
    Adam assisted Josie from the carriage and rested his hand at her back. “It’s regrettable, dear sister, but my wife and I must depart.”
    Richard had promised things would be all right. But Adam— her sister’s husband— had made no such promises. He might possess charm in spades, but Adam lacked the most basic consideration for Josie’s feelings and comfort. He planned this railroad journey without asking Josie if it pleased her… to begin the same day she finally stepped off the swaying, clattering monstrosity. Had he paused to consider she might not want to leave?
    “Where are you going?” She addressed her brother-in-law.
    Adam’s smile lit his eyes as he focused on Josie. “Mrs. Taylor and I will make a wedding trip to New Mexico Territory.”
    So far away. “Why?”
    “Forgive me if I combine business with the desire to show my wife the uncommon beauty of the desert. I want to spend time alone, just she and I.”
    “Did you know of this, Mr. Cannon?” If he’d had foreknowledge and still promised everything would be all right…
    His expression, together with a look swapped between the men, told the tale. Richard had known. He’d known things would not be all right and yet he’d promised . That either made him a fool or a liar. Perhaps both.
    Or maybe she was the fool and he the liar.
    She distinctly recalled her marriage vows. She’d promised to obey and honor and respect this man. In the moment, to do so seemed impossible.
    Mr. Cannon sighed. As if he were the one inconvenienced. “This opportunity presented itself just yesterday. The Taylors will be away only a short while.”
    A wedding trip through the desert all the way to New Mexico Territory didn’t seem short. But she was most unfamiliar with the West. All she knew was the state and territory boundaries were significantly larger than at home.
    “How short a time?” She pressed Adam Taylor for an answer. “How long will you be away?”
    “A matter of weeks. I hope to have the family together for the holidays.”
    Anguish stole into her heart and chased away every scrap of anger and disappointment.
    Nearly three months . How would she manage without Josie? Worse, how would tender-hearted Josie survive without her?

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     

     
    “I will have your word of honor,” Richard’s new wife demand of Adam, “that you’ll look out for my sister. Josie has never been on her own. You must ensure she is comfortable, safe, protected.”
    Thankfully, Adam had handed off his many trunks to a porter when they’d first arrived at the station before finding the women, and tipped the man generously. His belongings would be aboard the private Pullman. With or without him and his wife.
    Saying goodbye was taking far longer than Richard could have expected. When he dropped Adam off at the station with his bags, they said goodbye and parted. A brief interaction of mere seconds.
    But Adam seemed to understand how important this parting conversation was to Lessie. “I vow I will.”
    Richard knew his cousin well, knew him to be a gentleman through and through.
    Josie would be fine.
    He might have spoken in defense of his cousin’s honor, but he witnessed stark terror in Lessie’s expression. By contrast, Josie’s eyes had filled with tears. Probably just sadness.
    But Lessie…
    The enormity of the pain he’d caused