Free Luke’s Runaway Bride by Kate Bridges

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    “Jenny fell off a horse,” said Adam, jumping on Nathaniel’s chunky boots.
    “A horse—”
    “Are you all right, dear?” asked Daisy, stepping to Jenny’s side and studying the cut with tender concern. Luke was now glad he’d changed his shirt, so they wouldn’t question him.
    Jenny rubbed her forehead. “I’m fine.”
    Nathaniel scratched his gray mustache. “How do you know Daniel?”
    All eyes turned to Jenny. Her mouth opened but she couldn’t seem to get the words out.
    “They’re engaged,” Luke interjected. “She’ll soon be his wife.” Saying the words out loud made his heart kick.
    Jenny slid her flustered gaze to his.
    “I know I told you to expect just Daniel,” Luke continued, “but turns out they’re both coming for a visit. Daniel couldn’t make it right away. He’ll be following tomorrow.” Guilt slithered up his spine at how he’d twisted the truth.
    Would she speak up and tell them? Or were her feelings too jumbled? Was she too embarrassed, too curious about Daniel’s family to speak up?
    The sun seemed suddenly hot. A trickle of sweat ran down his temple.
    Her upper lip beaded with perspiration. She opened her mouth as if to say something, making his heart pound faster, then she abruptly changed her mind.
    He inhaled a big lungful of air.
    “Well, it’s a real pleasure to meet you,” said Nathaniel. “We haven’t seen Daniel in quite a while, but we’re tickled you came to see us. Welcome, welcome, little lady.”
    Jenny scanned the yard again, looking toward the stables, then at the line of laundry drying in the heat, and the swing Luke had tied in the apple tree last week.
    “Well, let’s go inside,” said Nathaniel, “get out of this hot sun and get acquainted in there. Gosh, you’re just in time for lunch.”
    “Come on in, honey,” said Daisy, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’ll be nice to share a conversation with another woman. Nothing but men around here.” She straightened the hairpin in her bun. “Fancy that, Luke comin’ back with you. How was your train ride? A few years back, we used to ride on wooden benches, but now I hear they have padded leather seats. Did you ride on those, Luke, in first class?”
    First class? Leather seats? They’d slept in a boxcar with the animals! Wasn’t that kind of funny? He glanced at Jenny, but she wasn’t smiling. Her stare was downright unfriendly. The little hairs at the base of his neck stood up. “Not exactly.”
    Nathaniel stepped to the horse at the water trough. “I’ll help with the saddlebags.”
    While he did that, Luke, knowing how much Adam liked horses, asked the boy to walk his stallion to the stables. The boy nodded enthusiastically.
    Jenny stepped to Luke’s side. Through gritted teeth, she whispered, “I’d like to talk with you.”
    “Later,” he whispered back, retrieving his hat from Adam’s head. With a skip, Adam led the horse away.
    She could barely bridle the thunder in her voice. “It’s not fair to fool Daniel’s family. I won’t go along with it.”
    “You are going along with it.”
    She pressed her lips together in annoyance, bristled and grabbed her skirts.
    Nathaniel scratched his head. “I’ve got Luke’s saddlebag, but where are your bags, Miss Jenny?”
    Luke sprang forward. “There was a mishap at the rail station,” he blurted, feeling the heat of Jenny’s gaze on his face. “Unfortunately, her bags were left behind.” It was the truth. Her bags had been left behind.
    “Oh, what horrible luck,” said Daisy. “I hope they were labeled with your name.”
    Luke met Jenny’s drilling gaze and he squirmed.
    Daisy must have noticed the pointed looks passing between them. “I guess they weren’t. Well, don’t you fret, my dear, they’re only clothes. Thank goodness you weren’t left behind.”
    Yes, thank goodness, thought Luke, humor causing his lips to twitch. Now that was funny; even Jenny had to admit it. Gazing down at her, expecting to