CHAPTER5
Daisy knew she was completely out of her element. For two nights, the women on the stage had slept along the trail with the drivers keeping watch. Each night, the sound of the coyotes had sung them to sleep.
She’d been terrified, certain the creatures were going to snack on them as soon as they closed their eyes.
This was definitely not Charleston. The air was cooler and the mountains in the distance still had snow on their rugged tops. Sometimes fear would overwhelm her from the risk she’d taken and then she would remember the nights sleeping in the park and the man from the bordello searching for her.
Oh no, this life would be different, but she would adjust. She had no choice.
The trip by train had been the best and the boat had not been bad, but the stage was like riding a bucking horse in a box and she had the bruises to prove it. And yet not a one of the women complained.
There were a couple of women she wasn’t certain were going to make it, but when things got rough, everyone seemed to do their best to help each other. She had learned to do laundry whenever she got a chance and a fresh bath was heaven.
One night, Blanche had been ill and Daisy had made her a cup of tea and sat up with her. It must have been a touch of food poisoning because soon she was over it.
They were all in this together, and though she was certain all of them knew her past, she also wondered what secrets they were hiding. What had forced them to leave Charleston?
Daisy couldn’t imagine not being happy in Treasure Falls and making a return trip to Charleston. The three months had been long and oftentimes dangerous. She was not returning unless she learned her husband was a cannibal and even then she’d tell him he didn’t want to eat her tough flesh.
Today was the last day of the journey. At the last stop, the driver told them they would be there within the hour and the women had grown quiet and tense.
It was the beginning of their new lives.
A man. A wedding. A husband. And soon a family. She thought of her sisters and wondered if they and her mother had searched for her in town. Did anyone miss her?
The horses seemed to pick up speed like they knew they were in the home stretch. The tension inside the coach was almost tangible.
Suddenly they were rolling into town and she gasped.
It was small. Smaller than she ever imagined. She’d pictured a city like Charleston, but this town was only a couple of blocks long. There was a bank, a mercantile, a restaurant, and a saloon.
Houses sat back from the main area of town and the largest house had a sign out front—Dr. Owen Sanders.
Daisy glanced at Mary, suddenly fearful they would soon find themselves in a bordello. “No hotel? Where will we stay?”
For the last couple of miles, they had held each other’s hand. Shaking at what they would soon face. Today, they would learn if they had chosen wisely or made a huge mistake coming to Treasure Falls.
“I don’t know. Look, there is a group of people standing in front of a building. Oh, dear, it’s the men.”
Daisy began to shake even harder. The two women turned and grabbed each other, sharing a hug. They had become great friends. In fact, there wasn’t a woman on the two stages that Daisy didn’t like. Sure, they were women, sometimes catty, but they were sharing an experience of a lifetime.
One they would tell their children about someday.
“We’ll always be friends,” Daisy said, tears filling her eyes.
“Yes, always. No matter what happens,” Mary said.
Rose and Blanche, the other two women who shared their stage, were all but hanging out the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of the men. Their future husbands.
The stagecoach driver pulled on the reins, and the horses slowed, bringing the coach to a stop.
“This is it,” Mary said.
Daisy couldn’t speak. There was a loud roar from the men gathered to greet them.
“Oh, look how handsome they all are,” Blanche said. “We’re getting married.”
The door suddenly opened. “Ladies, you have arrived.”
Dear God, this was it. At the last stop, they had thrown dice to see who would alight first and in what order. Mary had won the draw and Daisy was second. Frankly, she wanted to be last, but she knew there was no holding back.
Her heart was jumping inside her chest, pounding with anxiety and fear. What if her husband was just like Thomas?
No, she refused to believe that she could travel all this way and find another scalawag.
Swallowing, she watched as Mary took the driver’s hand and stepped from the stage. Then it was Daisy’s turn.
She glanced at the other women. “Good luck.”
“You too,” they said.
When she stepped from the stage, the sun warmed her cheeks and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. The air smelled so clean and fresh, and suddenly her nerves calmed.
Following Mary, she was greeted by a man named Jesse. Then an older woman grabbed her hand.
“Welcome, I’m Grace Sanders. You’ll be staying in our home until you marry,” she said, smiling. “We’re so excited to have you ladies. Welcome to Treasure Falls.”
Daisy felt a nervous giggle bubbling up from her. People here were just as nice as back home. “Thank you. I am Daisy Miller.”
A dark-haired man stepped in front of her and she glanced up into the most beautiful blue eyes and shadowy lashes. He gripped her hand. “Lee Chapman, welcome to Treasure Falls. We’re so excited that you’re here.”
The man winked at her. For some reason, she felt herself warm. She’d been so afraid that after what happened in Charleston, she’d be afraid of men. But this man seemed to put her at ease.
He had a beautiful smile that warmed her clear to her toes. Funny, but she’d never reacted to a man like this before.
“Thank you. Daisy Miller,” she said almost breathless. A tingle of awareness spiraled through her straight to her center.
“I own and run the mercantile here in town,” he said.
“That’s a very important business in a town like this.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” he said.
Another more somber man stepped up beside Lee. Glancing at him, she couldn’t help but wonder at the size of these men. Was it the mountain air or the water they drank? Big arms with muscular chests and hands that could grip and hold a woman tight.
But not too tight.
“Ellis Sanders,” he said. “Welcome to Treasure Falls. I run the local bank.”
The man did not look like any banker she’d ever met. These men put the society gentlemen in Charleston to shame. They were more like lumberjacks, and she had the strangest urge to reach out and touch their big forearms. Feel all that muscular strength.
She smiled. “Daisy Miller. I must say you look more like a rancher than a banker.”
He grinned. “Thank you. My family owns a ranching business. I take care of all our banking needs here in town.”
Blanche was behind her and gave her a little nudge. But she really didn’t want to leave these two men. If she had her way, she’d tell Blanche to just move around her.
“We’ll see you later this evening,” Lee said. “Don’t sit with anyone but us.”
She grinned. “All right.”
Warmth filled her at the thought that they had already laid claim to her from the other men and she was glad. A banker and a mercantile owner. Not too bad.
She moved on down the line of men, meeting each one. But there was something about Lee and Ellis that drew her. She couldn’t help but think about their big hands skimming down her arm, their full lips kissing her. But she would have to choose which one she wanted. She couldn’t be greedy.
For a moment, she was shocked. After everything that Thomas had done, she had been so afraid that she could not get over his near rape. But these two men were strong and yet gentle. Or so they seemed.
When she reached the end of the line, she stood next to Mary.
When everyone was off the stage, Jesse Sanders whistled loud enough to get everyone’s attention.
“We’re having a supper tonight at Uncle Owen and Aunt Grace’s home at six thirty. For now, we’re going to let the ladies get settled in, clean the dust off, and rest before the evening’s festivities.”
His aunt smiled at everyone. “We have a pig roasting and our cook is making lots of good food for tonight. You are to dress in clean attire to meet these ladies. And, of course, we will expect everyone to be on their very best behavior.”
Aunt Grace walked to the front of the line. “Follow me, ladies.”
Daisy couldn’t help but turn and glance back at Lee and Ellis. Lee grinned at her and winked again. Ellis seemed to be gazing at the back of her dress.
Of all the men she’d met, Lee was the one she felt drawn to the most. But Ellis was a close second. But how would she decide between the two of them? Not one but two handsome men wanting to court her.