Chapter 31

31

“Do you see the carriage?” Letty lay sprawled on her belly at the top of the hill, a hand shading her eyes as she studied the shallow valley below. A dilapidated building listed slightly to one side. A weathered corral stretched behind it, composed of lopsided fence posts and fallen rails that made it clear no horses had made their home there for decades.

Philip lay next to her, field glasses held to his eyes. “I think so.” He pulled the binoculars away from his face and handed them to her. “Look at the right edge of the building. I saw something tall and black. Could be the rear of a carriage. Won’t know for sure until we get down there.”

Letty’s heart beat fast and heavy as she adjusted the lenses to focus on the dark spot Philip had pointed out.

They’d made it. Just one short carriage ride and she’d see her mother again. Her stomach churned as the longing she’d carried inside her since childhood swelled and mixed with the questions and doubts Grandmother’s assurances had never quite dispelled.

Would she recognize her mother after all these years? Or would she be a stranger? What would they talk about? Would she view Letty as a child or respect her as a woman? And what of Rusty? Would her mother let her keep him? Proper ladies of wealth and prestige rarely had room in their lives for untamed things. Like wolves ... and the unconventional daughters who befriended them.

Blinking, she straightened her focus from its inward bent to gaze outward through the field glasses. Finding the back of the old stagecoach inn, she shifted her gaze to the right until she spotted the black protrusion. She strained to see the wheel that should be visible, but an overgrown bush of some sort at the side of the building blocked her view. It didn’t matter. Instinct told her it was the carriage her mother had sent.

Memories of the last carriage ride she’d taken surged through her mind in painful waves. The fire. Sitting in Mama’s lap in the dark carriage. Mama telling her she’d have to hide somewhere far away. Without her.

Letty lowered the field glasses and rested her hand on Philip’s arm. She needed connection. Courage. Calm. Philip provided all three. Just by being there.

But how much longer would he be at her side? He said he’d not leave until he was sure her uncle couldn’t hurt her, but everything would change once they reached Houston. Would she even see him? Or would he keep his distance, as was fitting for an employee? But he wasn’t an employee to her. He was the man she loved. The one person besides Grandmother she truly trusted. At this moment, Letty had more faith in Philip than she did in her own mother. After all, how could she trust a woman she no longer knew? A woman she’d had no contact with for fifteen years?

Philip covered her hand with his, and his eyes found hers. “It’s going to be all right.”

He smiled, but a sadness lurked in his gaze, one that matched the pinching of her heart. As if he, too, regretted that their time alone together was coming to an end. Odd that his sadness should bring her hope, but it did. Hope that his feelings for her might be just as strong as hers for him.

“You’re an incredible woman, Letty. I’ve seen you rise to every occasion imaginable these past two weeks, and I have no doubt that you will rise to whatever occasions await you on the other side of that carriage ride.”

His words warmed her heart and ignited a determination within her to live up to his expectations. Yet nowhere in those beautiful, encouraging words was there a picture painted of him being by her side.

She squeezed his forearm. “I need you to promise me something.”

Philip’s expression grew serious, and he shifted slightly to face her more fully. “Name it.”

Her stomach felt like a rock, but she forced the words from her heart onto her tongue. “Promise that you won’t leave Houston before we have that conversation you talked about. I know there’s a lot to figure out, a passel of unknowns regarding my family and my involvement with Radcliffe Shipping. But there’s one aspect of my future of which I am certain, Philip. I want you in it.”

His breath hitched, and his eyes heated in a way that melted her very bones. He released her hand in order to cup her face and stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. Frissons danced lightly over her skin, stirring her heart and whipping her pulse into a frenzied gallop.

“I promise not to leave without talking to you, Letty.”

It was exactly what she’d asked of him, yet when he voiced his vow, she realized that what she’d truly wanted him to promise was that he wouldn’t leave. Period. But it was too early for such a declaration. She knew that. Yet she couldn’t stop an irrational disappointment from infecting her pleasure.

Ducking her head to keep him from seeing the truth of her reaction in her eyes, she leaned her head against his shoulder and murmured her thanks. They lay there for a moment, neither in a hurry to rise, but duty eventually won out. Philip’s palm fell away from her face first, then his shoulder slid out from under her cheek as he slithered backward toward the horses a few yards away. Letty followed, mentally lacing up her resolve. She couldn’t move forward with Philip into the future until she dealt with the mess of her present, and putting off the chore would only make it more onerous in the long run.

When they made it back to the horses, Philip stopped her from mounting Shadow.

“I want you to ride with me.”

Her brows knit as she released her grip on the saddle horn. “Why?”

“I scanned the perimeter as well as I could with the field glasses, but I can’t guarantee that no one is out there. Someone could have followed the carriage from town or followed us from the trail.” He cast a backward glance over the trail they’d used. “Approaching from the rear should limit our exposure, but I don’t like the idea of you being an easy target for anyone who might be watching. If you sit in front of me on Steele, my back will guard yours.”

Letty liked the idea of a bullet hitting him even less than the idea of one hitting her, but she knew better than to argue. She’d just pray that no one was out there, lying in wait. Scouring the trees surrounding them for signs of lurking evil, she fought back a shiver. Would she ever feel safe again?

Apparently the answer was yes, for the moment Philip pulled her up in front of him, wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight against his chest, her anxiety faded, leaving a blessed sense of belonging and security in its wake. One that was not misplaced, for they made it around the corral and into the inn yard without incident.

Thank you, Lord.

As they rounded the carriage and team, a man with a short, graying beard stepped out of the dilapidated inn, rifle in hand. “State your business, mister.”

Something about the man’s voice tugged at Letty’s memory. And the way he stood with one foot pointed slightly outward. She’d seen that before.

“Philip Carmichael. I wired Stefan Anderson yesterday to arrange for this carriage.”

The bearded man’s gaze moved to Letty’s face, and his eyes widened slightly. The look softened his face just enough for a memory to snap into place.

Letty’s chest tightened. “Carter?”

“Lord, have mercy.” He leaned the rifle against the wall and took a hesitant step forward. “Miss Scarlett? Is that you under that hat?” A grin split his face. “Even after seein’ your picture, I wasn’t like to recognize you in that getup.”

How many times had she sneaked away to the stables to pet the barn cats and watch Carter tend her father’s horses? The man possessed endless patience. And not just with horses. With little girls, too. He’d always treated her as if she belonged in the stables as much as he did and never grew exasperated having her underfoot.

Moisture filmed her eyes as she pushed Philip’s hat high on her forehead to reveal more of her face. “It’s me.” Although the name Scarlett sat awkwardly upon her, like an old garment that no longer fit.

The grizzled groom took to blinking something fierce. “Well, ain’t you a sight for sore eyes. Your mama’s gonna be beside herself—”

“Carter?” A feminine voice, genteel yet slightly unsteady, called from inside the building. “Is it...?”

Letty’s heart thudded so hard in her chest she began to feel light-headed.

Carter turned toward the doorway, raising a hand to swipe the edge of one eye as he did. “Yes, ma’am. Mr. Carmichael’s here, and he’s got that package you’ve been waiting for.”

The breeze, the snorting of the horses, even the feel of Philip at her back all disappeared from Letty’s awareness as she concentrated every ounce of her attention on the doorway. Shadows obscured the entry, hiding the identity of the building’s occupant. The hem of a dark-green skirt became visible first, then, inch by inch, the remainder of the dress was revealed. It sheathed a slender figure moving on wobbly legs. A hand slid into the sunlight to take hold of the doorjamb as the woman’s face finally emerged from the shadows.

“Mama.” The broken whisper barely carried any volume, but Philip must have heard it for the arm he’d placed around her waist tightened slightly.

She hadn’t expected her mother to be here. She’d thought to be reunited at the end of a carriage ride, where she would’ve had time to plan out what to say and how to behave. But looking into her mother’s face, all plans for impressing Leah Radcliffe with proper decorum dissolved beneath the wave of longing crashing over her.

“Mama?” Letty leaned back and lifted her right leg over the saddle horn.

Philip offered a steadying hand and helped her awkward descent not end with her face in the dirt.

“Oh, my sweet girl.” Her mother’s voice cracked as she pushed away from the door and ran forward. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she opened her arms.

Letty didn’t hesitate. She bounded straight into those arms, uncaring that Philip’s hat fell onto the ground behind her.

They cried and clung to each other for a moment, then her mother held her out a few inches. “Let me look at you.”

She smoothed the bits of hair that had escaped Letty’s braid and drank in her face with such intensity, Letty thought she must surely be memorizing every feature. Something Letty did as well. Her mama was still her mama. Age had crept in around the edges, adding a few lines that hadn’t been there before, but the love she remembered so well—and secretly feared would have dulled over time—shone from her eyes with a fierce light that banished every doubt hiding in the recesses of Letty’s heart.

“What a beautiful young woman you’ve become. So strong and brave.” Her mother’s smile beamed straight into Letty’s chest and surrounded her heart in a hug of acceptance and belonging. “Oh, Letty, I’ve prayed for this day for so long. Your uncle Stefan told me not to come. He instructed me to wait for you at home, but I couldn’t stand to be separated from you for even one more hour. I had to see you the moment you arrived.”

Her gaze lifted for just a moment to peer over Letty’s shoulder. “How can I ever thank you, Mr. Carmichael? You brought her home to me, just as you promised.”

“With all due respect, ma’am. We haven’t gotten her home yet. My job’s not finished until the danger has passed, and it won’t pass until the money Drake Radcliffe covets is permanently out of his reach.”

Mama’s smile dimmed, but her shoulders straightened instead of slumping. She stepped away from Letty and addressed Philip with the regal bearing of a queen. “You’re right. Scarlett and I can continue our reunion in the carriage. Your escort will be much appreciated.”

Philip leaned down to fetch his fallen hat and fit it back to his head. As he did so, the would-be suitor vanished behind the professional Pinkerton.

“Radcliffe is bound to have men watching the roads coming into Houston. I assume this carriage is rented and not one that could be recognized as belonging to either you or your brother?”

“That’s correct. Stefan secured it from one of the liveries near the depot.”

“Good. I’ll unload our packhorse and leave him here to graze. I’ll send someone to fetch him later. I’ll follow the carriage with Letty’s horse in tow. I’ll try to keep my distance somewhat discreet so it isn’t immediately evident that I’m traveling with you.” Philip’s gaze flicked to hers. “I won’t let the carriage out of my sight, though.” He turned his attention back to her mother. “I’ll be on hand in a moment’s notice should the need arise.”

Mama dipped her chin. “I bow to your expertise in this matter.”

“There’s just one more traveler we need to hide, then.”

Letty immediately understood his meaning. Her stomach knotted, unsure of how her mother would react. Setting her shoulders in the same manner her mother had just done, Letty patted her thigh and called to Rusty.

Her wolf left off sniffing the carriage wheels and padded over to her side.

“Oh!” Her mother’s widening eyes and backward steps didn’t bode well.

Letty rested her hand on Rusty’s head. “He’s very well-behaved. Just think of him as a big dog. He can lie on the floor of the carriage. He won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Her mother cast a wary glance toward Carter, who was slowly easing his rifle away from the wall.

Her mother lifted her chin and smoothed the skirt of her dress with hands that only trembled a little. “Of course Rusty shall travel with us. He’s been a faithful guardian to you and will be welcome at Radcliffe House.”

Letty reached for her mother’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you.”

Her gaze found Philip, and her heart warmed at his smile. The sweet connection lasted only a moment, though, before his mask of professionalism slid back into place.

She mourned the loss even as she recognized the necessity of the distance. Their time would come. It had to. Living the rest of her life without Philip by her side was too dismal a prospect to contemplate.