Free The Iron Horseman by Kelli Ann Morgan Page B

convinced.”
    “Ha!”
Cole snorted. “One Iron Horseman in the family is plenty.”
    Levi
laughed as he climbed up onto the high buckboard seat.
    “Now,
you’ll come back and see us again, won’t you, dear?” Mrs. Cavanaugh was saying
as he pulled up in front of the door. She squeezed Cadence tight.
    Levi
hadn’t missed the edge that had seemed to accompany Bessie’s questions and
comments all night. He’d been surprised at her unusual bite and hoped the woman
was just being protective and not a busy body. Cadence had seemed to handle her
with poise and grace.
    “It
would be my pleasure,” Cadence said with a polite smile. “And thank you for
showing me your quilts. You are very talented.”
    Levi
couldn’t tell for sure in this light, but he thought Bessie’s cheeks looked
even rosier than before. She was pleased. He jumped down off the wagon seat and
ran around to help Cadence up. After saying his goodbyes to the Cavanaughs, he
joined Cadence in the wagon and they pulled out behind his brothers.
    Only
the sound of crickets’ songs disturbed the otherwise quiet of the ride back
into town. The silence that passed between Cadence and him seemed comfortable
somehow. While the lantern secured between the horses kept the newly worn dirt
path beneath them lit, the waning moon offered enough light for Levi to see
Cadence’s pensive expression.
    “How
long has it been since you’ve seen your father?” Levi asked.
    She
was quiet for some time before responding.
    “My
father has been a Pinkerton for as long as I can remember. He’s been working
with the railroad since I turned fifteen. I guess it’s been a while.” Her voice
was quiet, almost reverent as she spoke. “He’s been asking me to come out here
for ages, but my mother forbade it.”
    “What
changed her mind?”
    “She
died.”
    Silence.
    He
didn’t know what he’d expected her to say, but that wasn’t it.
    Levi
remembered what it had been like around the ranch when Sarah, Raine’s wife,
died. He’d seen what it had done to his oldest brother. What it had done to his
whole family. He’d seen plenty of death and loss during the war. It hadn’t been
pretty, and the memories still surfaced occasionally. It had taken years to
learn to control the terror and sorrow, but Levi had been determined to go
forward and do something positive. By working for the railroad he could help
people make a new start and find hope again.
    “I’m
so sorry to hear that.” Levi said quietly. He wondered if Eamon knew. He
couldn’t imagine what her life had been like—growing up with only one brother,
barely knowing her father, and then losing her mother.
    “Thank
you.”
    Silence.
    “What
is it like having a twin?” Cadence turned to look at him, the moonlight adding
soft blue highlights to her hair.
    He
chuckled, thinking of a thousand different ways he could respond to that
question. He and Tag had been inseparable growing up.
    “Let’s
just say there was never a dull moment around Redbourne Ranch.”
    “Troublemakers,
huh?” she asked, a smile in her voice.
    “Something
like that.”
    When
they reached town, there was only a small glimmer of light coming from the
livery door. Levi climbed down, walked around to the other side, and held up
his hand for Cadence. Her foot caught on the metal step and she toppled awkwardly
into him. His heart beat a little faster, but he wasn’t sure if it was simply
from trying to catch her or if it was from the warm feel of her against him.
    She
looked up.
    “Here
you are.” Levi set her on the ground.
    Cadence’s
fingers lingered on his chest before she pushed herself away from him and over
to where his brothers were tying their horses to a hitching post.
    “It
was very nice to meet you, Mr. Cole Redbourne,” Cadence nodded at his younger
brother, “and Mr. Taggert Redbourne.” She extended her hand to them.
    “The
pleasure was all ours,” Cole said, stepping forward, clasping her hand in his,
and bringing it