Free Salvation's Secrets (The Loflin Legacy Prequel) by Catherine Wolffe Page A

rested
on her pallet before falling asleep at night in their tent.
    Once more, she had to ignore the matrons
standing on the boardwalk openly eyeing her with a healthy dose of
disdain. Yes, she was her father’s daughter. She resembled him in
so many ways. She wasn’t a whore, though. No, her only sin was
being half Comanche.
    Celia closed her eyes for a moment as she
considered The People. They’d taught her to always carry herself
with dignity and pride. As the years passed, she came to understand
just how important those teachings were to her survival. She hoped
her father would be proud.
    Celia glanced back at the stage. Despite the
rude behavior of the man, Celia considered herself lucky. At least
she didn’t have to re-enter god-forsaken contraption meant to test
one’s fortitude. Certainly, a person would repent for whatever sins
he harbored deep in his soul after a trip in that wooden box from
hell. Celia adjusted her jacket while searching further down the
boardwalk for her cousin.
    “Let me help you with those.” The voice was
too close, and too familiar. Celia’s muscles tightened before the
need to escape overwhelmed her. She flicked a hesitant glance over
her shoulder at the tall, broad-shouldered man bending to take her
luggage from her hands. When he rose, she looked into the same
steely-blue eyes she’d known all those years ago. Seth! Her
mind fairly reeled with the devil-may-care look he sent her from
under his dark Stetson. “Where would you like me to put these?”
    Celia’s heart tripped in her chest as she
recalled the taste of his lips. In defense of the traitorous
memory, she lifted her chin a fraction and managed to snatch one of
her bags from his clutches. The wry grin remained undaunted on his
handsome face. She wanted to scream as she wheeled away.
    Nerves ran along her backbone like the tiny
legs of a spider. She could feel his eyes on her even as she
stepped onto the board walkway. “Right here is fine,” she said
curtly, pointing toward a spot on the planks. Doing her level best
to ignore him, Celia once again positioned the black parasol primly
on her shoulder and made a point of smoothing her skirt.
    “I never dreamed I’d see you get off that
stage,” Seth’s tone was cool sarcasm.
    Celia watched his lips form a tense line.
Her own throat was as dry as dust.
    “There you are!” Claudette came rushing up
to Seth who dropped Celia’s bags to catch the vivacious blonde as
she flung her arms about him. “Oh, I’ve missed you so.” She planted
a big, noisy kiss on his mouth.
    The blow, though not physical, hit Celia
directly in the heart.
    “Well now, darlin’, maybe you should go
shopping in Shreveport more often.” With the young blonde wrapping
her arms about him in a very public display of affection, Seth‘s
mouth crooked in a sardonic grin as his eyes met Celia’s.
    Celia could only stare. Her pain grew as
Seth’s attention shifted to Claudette’s account of Shreveport and
shopping. Gripping the parasol until her knuckles grew numb, she
watched the couple. If only she could escape. Unable to stand the
view any longer, she turned to search for her cousin among the
throng of people. With her back to them, she closed her eyes and
tried to ignore the ache settling behind her heart.
    “Celia! Celia, wait. You’ve met my Mr.
Loflin, I assume?” Claudette’s face was aglow with affection and
something akin to possessiveness when Celia turned back to face
them.
    “Yes, Mr. Loflin was kind enough to help me
with my bags. Thank you, sir.” Her pointedly vague reference to her
knowledge of him as well as her cool show of appreciation brought
about only the slightest of tips from his Stetson.
    “My pleasure, Ma’am.”
    Celia’s breath caught, as she understood he
would continue the ruse they’d just met. The ache in her chest
swelled as she glanced into those intense blue eyes.
    “Come in and have a bite to eat with us,
won’t you?” Claudette reached out and