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“It might, Dru. The weather…”

“Please, Gavin. I won’t ask for more than a few weeks.” He rose from the chair and strode across the sitting room, stopping within arm’s reach of her. She was a tall woman, but she seemed small and shrunken to him now. I’m scared, Dru, he thought as he looked into her eyes. I don’t know how to be a father to the girls. As if she understood his thoughts, Dru reached up and touched his cheek.

“You’re going to do just fine by them. They’re going to be prettier than I ever was. And they’ll be smarter too. Miss Harris will see to that. I have a lot of faith in that young woman.”

“You just met her. How can you know anything about her?”

“I have a feeling, Gavin. Please give her a chance.”

“All right, Dru. If it’s what you want.” He took her in his arms and pressed her cheek against his chest. They stood that way for a long time.

“You can’t really mean to do this.” Maggie’s voice was incredulous. Rachel turned from her packing. Her sister was standing just inside the bedroom door. Maggie’s gray eyes seemed even wider than usual as they stared at her.

“Yes, I do mean to do it,” she replied.

“But you have no idea what you might be getting into. You don’t know these people. And just where is this ranch? What if you were to get sick? Is there a town? Is there a doctor?”

“Maggie, I’m not six anymore. I don’t need you to mother me.” She sighed, recognizing how harsh her words must have sounded.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be ungrateful. I know you’re only thinking of what’s best for me. But I want to do this. I have to do this. It’s time I was out on my own.”

“That’s fine, but why like this? Why not move into Boise? I’m sure Tucker could help you find something to do. You could help Harry in his law office. You’d be close to Fiona and the baby if you moved to town, and you could come out here whenever you wanted.” That wouldn’t help, she thought as she turned to resume her packing. It’s not here. Whatever I need isn’t here.

“It’s too dangerous,” Maggie insisted, her voice taking on a stern tone.

“I just can’t let you do it.” Rachel dropped the gown she was folding and whirled around.

“You can’t stop me, Maggie. I’m all grown up. I appreciate everything you and Tucker have done for me. I really do. But it’s time for me to do something on my own. You weren’t even eighteen yet when we joined the wagon train to come out west. You didn’t know anyone either. You had to trust Mrs. Foster when she said we could travel with them in their wagon. You didn’t know where we were going. Not really. There wasn’t any doctor when we all got sick with the measles. You almost

died, but it didn’t stop you from doing what you had to do.” Maggie’s beautiful face registered defeat.

“But I don’t want you to go,” she said, her voice filled with sadness. In unison, they moved forward to embrace each other tightly.

“I know,” Rachel agreed in a whisper.

“I’ll miss you too. Honest, I will. And Tucker and the children. I’ll miss them all. But it’s only until spring. That isn’t so very long. And I’ll write. Mrs. Blake told me the post goes up to Challis every week.” Maggie sniffed as she pulled back.

“I just don’t understand why you need to do this. You have so many gentlemen coming to call and…”

“I have to, Maggie. I can’t explain why. It’s just something I have to do.” Her sister studied her for a long time, staring hard into her eyes, searching for answers and understanding. Finally, she leaned forward and kissed Rachel’s forehead.

“Then God go with you, kitten.” Tears sprang to her eyes. It had been a long time since Maggie had called her by her pet name. It brought back a kaleidoscope of memories from her childhood, all of them filled with Maggie’s image.

“We’ll take you into town in the morning.” With that, Maggie turned and tearfully left the room.

Chapter Three

Unshed tears burned the back of Rachel’s throat as she looked at the gathering of family and friends waiting outside the Overland. With such short notice, she hadn’t expected anyone to even know she was leaving, and considering the early hour, she would never have guessed they would all be there, hugging and kissing her. Tucker’s mother, Maureen Foster, and her husband, David, had come in from Green Willows, their ranch west of the city. They were accompanied by Neal Branigan, Maureen’s youngest son, and his new bride, Patricia. Neal was the closest thing to a brother that Rachel had ever known, and she wished she’d had more time to get to know Patricia. She was certain they would have become close friends.

Fiona Whittier, Tucker’s sister and Rachel’s best and dearest friend since childhood, was there with her baby daughter. Fiona’s cheeks had been streaked with tears from the moment she arrived.

“You’ve only been back six months,” she said with a whimper, making it difficult for Rachel to control her own tears. Maggie and Tucker were there, of course, along with all five of their children, from four-year-old Sheridan to fourteen-year-old Kevin. Maggie had resigned herself to Rachel’s leaving and had promised not to cry, but the strain still showed in the paleness of her cheeks and the set of her mouth. Even Tucker had been inordinately silent all morning. She was going to miss her brother-in-law’s sensitive guidance and quiet wisdom. Standing beside Tucker was Harry Jessup, Tucker’s old law partner. The two men had been friends back in Georgia before the war and had started a law practice together in Boise when they first arrived. With Harry were his twin sons, Beau and Boone, thirteen years old and full of mischief and energy. So many of them. All hugging and kissing her and saying how much they would miss her. She’d been through this years before when she and Tucker left Boise for her trip back east to attend finishing school, but somehow this time seemed different, the good-byes harder to say. It was still a few minutes before eight when Gavin Blake pulled his wagon up in front of the hotel. Rachel felt a strange quiver in her stomach as he hopped down from the wagon seat, landing with catlike grace in the dusty road. He turned his head and their eyes collided. His brows drew together in a frown. Then his gaze swept the large gathering of people surrounding her on the sidewalk. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she lifted a hand in an abbreviated wave.

“Good morning, Mr. Blake.” He stepped up onto the sidewalk and touched the brim of his battered hat.

“Morning, Miss Harris.” His eyes flicked once more over the crowd as silence settled over them.

“You got your things together?” Stepping forward, Tucker said, “I’ve got her trunk in my carriage.” He was wearing his most official expression as he held out his hand toward Gavin.

“I’m Judge Branigan, Rachel’s brother-in-law.”

“Gavin Blake.” His hand clasped with Tucker’s. Rachel had the distinct feeling there was some sort of testing going on between the two men as they stared into each other’s eyes. She held her breath until Tucker released Gavin’s hand and his expression relaxed.

“We can’t say we’re glad to have Rachel leaving us this way,” Tucker said.

“She won’t come to any harm while stayin’ with us.”

“We’re counting on that. Kevin…” He turned his head toward his oldest son.

“Get one of the twins to help you bring Rachel’s trunk over here.” Beau and Boone both jumped forward, racing with Kevin across the street, all of them arguing about who was the strongest, each of them bragging that he could carry the trunk without anyone’s help.

“I’ll get my wife.” Gavin spun on his boot heel and disappeared through the hotel doors. Maggie’s fingers touched Rachel’s shoulder.

“You can still change your mind and come home with us.” It was tempting after seeing the look on Gavin’s face, seeing the cold reception in his eyes. lord, it was tempting. Her bedroom back at Maggie’s was familiar and safe. Her friends and family were always close by whenever she needed them.