Free Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 40) by Susan Horsnell

of minutes she had slipped down the stairs and was hurrying outside.
     
    Frowning, the hotel manager watched as she disappeared through the doors. He signaled a porter and sent a message to John.
     
    Cora weaved her way through people as they rushed to get to wherever they were going. She was curious as to why not many women appeared to be out and about. Rough men with guns holstered low on their hips leered at her before stepping out of her way. As she continued along the wooden boardwalk, she could almost feel their eyes boring into her back. Instead of calming her fears, her escapade and these encounters, had made her worse. She had made a huge mistake in sneaking from the safety of the hotel.
     
    Stop being such a baby. She drew back her shoulders and attempted to focus on the variety of goods displayed in the shop windows. But, the hair on the back of her neck persisted in standing on end and, the feeling of doom she’d felt in Sioux City would not leave her.
     
    ***
     
    John set down four beers, pulled out a chair and seated himself.
     
    “So, that’s your gal.” Sam watched as John sipped at his drink. “She’s a beauty, a real head turner. It’s lucky ya gonna marry her tomorrow ’cause I can guarantee ya, if she weren’t spoken for, there’d be a whole passel of men sniffin’ around her before ya can blink.”
     
    John glared at his friend. “If anyone goes near her, I’ll break their damn necks.” His vehemence shocked him. Why so possessive, you’ve only just met?
     
    Sam placed his hands in the air, palms facing out. Henry and Frank followed suit. They were surprised with the anger in John’s voice. Their friend was usually the mild tempered one.
     
    “We ain’t gonna go near her. Jeez, you know us better than that. Why so feisty?” Henry asked.
     
    John sighed. These were his long time best friends. These men would never do anything wrong by him just as he would never wrong them. “Sorry. I guess I’m a bit on edge, nervous about tomorrow. I can’t believe she wants to marry me. Especially now she’s seen my face.”
     
    “Hell, John. When someone cares about you, they look past something like a scar.” Frank admonished.
     
    “But, we’ve only just met. She couldn’t possibly care about me yet.” John was thoughtful. “I can’t understand why she didn’t run in the other direction or catch the next train back to where she came from. A beautiful girl like her should have a handsome man by her side.”
     
    “Why the doubts, John?” Henry asked. “Ask yourself, why hasn’t a beautiful doll like her already been spoken for? Why did she have to come all the way out here to nowhere, South Dakota, to marry a man she didn’t know? What’s she running from? Maybe it’s her you should be questioning, not yourself.”
     
    All questions you have asked yourself since you saw her. But, she told you. She’s running from an arranged marriage. But is that all? Are there any other secrets?
     
    “I asked her a little about it especially after I heard she was travelling under a false name. She explained her father is a brutish man who had arranged her marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather. Apparently, this man is known for his cruelty to women. Her brother helped her to get away which is why she had the money to fund her travel. I believe she has told me the truth. She sounded very sincere.”
     
    The other men finished their beers. “Lot of forced marriages happening out there. Damn shame women can’t say no and be listened to. Makes me feel a whole lot better about things now you’ve explained.” Sam said. “I’ll get us another beer. His chair scraped the floor as he pushed back and stood. Before he had a chance to leave the table, a porter from the hotel where they were staying, rushed up.
     
    “Mr. Franklin. The hotel manager sent me to tell you, the gal you’re marrying tomorrow snuck out of the hotel and into the street. He’s worried ‘bout a