Free Grace (The Marriage Market Book 2) by Stevie MacFarlane

she murmured.
    "That's much better. Miss Crumb, will you be traveling to Fort Omaha also?"
    Effie narrowed her eyes before forcing herself to relax.
                  "Oh my yes, I wouldn't dream of abandoning my dear friend at this stage of the journey. Now if you'll excuse us, we have some packing to do." Laying down her napkin, Effie rose from her seat.
                  "Certainly," Jonah replied as he stood. "I don't want you two ladies to worry about a thing. I'll arrange for a carriage and meet you inside the station where you can wait out of the hot sun."
    "Thank you."
                  "What are we going to do?" Grace hissed as they made their way back to their compartment. "I think you were right all along, he's a Pinkerton," she continued sadly.
                  "Whether he is or he isn't, he's showing entirely too much interest in our plans for my peace of mind," Effie said as they closed the door behind them. "For all the talking he's done in the last few days, he's told us very little about himself. I don't trust a man who looks as good as he does and is a smooth talker besides. We need to get rid of him."
    "What do you mean 'get rid of him'?" Grace gasped, grabbing Effie's arm.
    "Relax, I'm not going to shoot him, just arrange for a little delay," Effie said with a laugh. "For heaven's sake, Grace. Oh Porter, how far is the fort from the station?" she asked, opening the door and stopping the man who had  taken care of their needs since leaving Chicago.
    "Not far ma'am. I say less than ten miles, probably more like eight."
    "I see, and how long is the wait before this train leaves to continue west?"
    "We are in the station for about ninety minutes. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
                  "No… wait, I believe there is. I want you to make sure our baggage does not leave this train under any circumstances," she continued, turning to reach into her reticule. Pressing money into the man's hand she closed his fist around it. "Do you understand? We will be leaving the train for a short period of time, but we will return in time to board. I would appreciate it very much if you don't mention this conversation to anyone, and if anyone try's to remove our things, tell them someone from the fort will be along to take care of it."
    "I understand, ma'am."
    "Thank you, I'm counting on your discretion."
    Closing the door, Effie sat and tapped her finger against her chin. "Hmm, that doesn't give me much time."
                  "Please don't tell me what you're planning, Effie," Grace said with a shiver. "I have a feeling I won't like it."
                  "You probably won't, but it's the only way we can be sure Jonah Blackthorn is not on this train when it leaves."
    "You're not going to injure him are you?" Grace asked, fearfully.
    "Not unless I have too."
    "Oh dear, I think I may be ill." Fanning her face, Grace fell back against the seat.
    "Oh buck up, Gracie, things are just starting to get interesting," Effie said with a grin.
     
                  Approximately two and a half hours later, Jonah lifted Lacy onto the seat of the only carriage still available for hire when he got to the livery. Miss Crumb happily agreed to sit in back, giving Jonah the pleasure of having Lacy all to himself. If there was a nervous warning traveling down his spine, he chose to ignore it and instead concentrated on enjoying the undivided attention of a young woman he found captivating.
                  It wasn't until they were a few miles out of town, near a stand of cottonwood trees that he realized his mistake. The gun pressed between his shoulder blades made it abundantly clear he'd been hoodwinked.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
                  "Kindly remove your gun belt, Mr. Blackthorn and hand it to me carefully," Miss Crumb instructed.
    "I don't understand," Jonah replied, reaching to unbuckle his