A New Beginning by Amelia C. Adams

Author:Amelia C. Adams
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Western, Westerns
Published: 2015-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Elizabeth sat on Jeanette’s bed up in the ladies’ dormitory, telling her story to her three enraptured friends.

“You must have been frightened out of your wits,” Harriet said, grabbing Elizabeth’s arm. “I probably would have fainted on the spot.”

Elizabeth smiled. “No, I don’t think so. You would have hopped off the horse, driven the nail back in by the sheer force of your will, and then blasted those men across the fields and into the nearest river.”

“I don’t know about that,” Harriet protested.

“You’ve certainly got Tom White afraid of you,” Abigail inserted, and everyone nodded.

Harriet pressed her lips together, trying to hide a smile, but Elizabeth could see it twitching at the corners of her mouth. “All right, perhaps I am a bit of a handful. But I still don’t know how Elizabeth managed to be so brave.”

Elizabeth shrugged. She didn’t know how to answer that question—it had all happened so fast, and she hadn’t given any thought whatsoever to what she should do. “I’d better go. Tom’s going to give me a ride home, and I’m sure he’s waiting.”

“Just watch yourself with him,” Harriet warned. “He just may be the biggest danger around this place.”

“I’m positive I’ll be just fine,” Elizabeth said, telling everyone good night. She shook her head as she went down the stairs to the second floor. Harriet and Tom would have to make peace eventually or things would never run smoothly at this hotel.

* * *

Elizabeth slid off the back of Tom’s horse, Ginny, and smiled up at Tom. “Thank you for the ride. I’m sorry for taking you away from your tasks.”

Tom grinned. “You gave me the chance to get away from Miss Martin for a few minutes. I tell you, those eyes of hers are like daggers in my back. One little smooch on the cheek and she thinks I’m the devil himself. Anytime you need a ride, day or night, just let me know. And I’ll be here early in the morning to fetch you as well.”

Elizabeth rested her hand on the saddle horn. “I’m very grateful that you’d do this for me, Tom. Have a good evening, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He gave her a friendly nod and remained outside until she had bolted the door. Then he wheeled the horse and rode back the way he’d come. Elizabeth watched him go through the window, a smile on her face. Harriet had been very hard on him—that was to be sure. Maybe with a little more time, the whole incident would blow over. Then she chuckled. With Harriet’s temper, it would take more than time.

“Was that a man I just saw riding away from the house?” Agatha asked.

Elizabeth sighed. She hated to tell her mother what had happened, but she knew that she couldn’t keep it to herself. The safety of her family was her first priority. She turned, took Rose from her mother’s arms, inhaled her baby’s sweet scent, and then said, “Come over to the fire with me, Mother.

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