Bid For Freedom

Chapter 26

Dani stepped off the stifling train car into a whoosh of smoke. She ducked her head to avoid the dust the engine had kicked up. She felt Ana at her side and moved with her through the fog.

"Where is that brother of mine? He said he'd be here."

"He probably got delayed. You know how cattle cooperate. Plus all those greenhorns." Stuart shook his head. "I don't envy him this trip."

Ana and Stuart shared a glance over her head.

"Let's go to the hotel and get a bite. Caleb'll find us soon enough."

They paused at the edge of the platform where Stuart gave instructions for their luggage.

Dani scanned the crowd, anxious to catch a glimpse of Caleb, if only because he'd take her back to Sam. She missed Sam terribly.

Stuart led them to a small hotel. Amazing smells assaulted her nostrils as they entered and found a seat. Stuart held the chairs out for Ana and then indicated Dani should sit as well. Dani's eyes widened in shock. She swallowed hard as she sat in the offered chair.

Ana reached over and patted her hand. "Just act like you fit in and you will."

Dani shook her head. "I don't know how."

"It's just like sitting at our dinner table."

A matronly woman stepped up to the table. "What can I get for y'all?"

Stuart glanced at the women, his eyebrows raised.

"I'll take the stew," Ana said.

"Stew for me as well, please," Dani said.

Stuart smiled at the waitress. "Three stews please."

Dani glanced at the windows at everyone that passed.

"Quit fretting. He'll get here," Stuart urged.

Dani half-smiled. "Do you figure he'll bring Sam?"

"I doubt it. He'll leave as many men as possible with the cattle. Too many things can go wrong on a drive." He shook his head. "I fail to see why he's even considering bringing you along. If you were my wife, I'd send you north on a train."

Dani's eyes narrowed. "Wife?"

Ana placed her hand on Dani's. "What he means is some cowboys see it as bad luck to have a woman on a drive. They typically slow things down. They're a distraction to everyone, especially to Caleb." She snorted. "Knowing Derek though, I'd wager he'd be even more distracted with you in Montana. He'd be wondering what outdated and completely wrong information you'd be given without him up there."

"What are you saying?"

Ana sighed. "Derek is rather manipulative."

Stuart snorted. "Manipulative is putting it mildly. I have little doubt that he's behind the terms of the will. He knows there's no way Caleb would get married on his own."

"Married?"

Stuart jumped and scowled as he rubbed his leg under the table.

"That's enough of that talk," Ana scolded as their food arrived.

Dani wanted desperately to figure out what they were talking about. Wife? Marriage? She hadn't consented to anything.

The waitress brought their stew with thick slices of steaming bread. "Fresh from the oven," she said. "Enjoy."

Dani stirred the chunks of meat and vegetables around in the bowl. What's going on? Why won't anyone tell me anything?

She just finished eating as the door opened behind her. "Good. You've eaten. Let's get going," Caleb said, his tone clipped.