Free McKenzie by Penny Zeller Page A

the whole idea of traveling west will be new—an experience I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would consider.
    I look forward with anticipation to meeting you, Zach.
    Most sincerely,
    McKenzie
    As McKenzie affixed a stamp to her letter to Zach, she felt somewhat guilty for having expressed excitement to meet him, for she knew that he would take her words differently than she intended him to. Although she did think of this as an adventure and looked forward to meeting him, what she was really awaiting was seeing her sister again after so many years. That, and the thought of bringing Kaydie back to Boston, where she’d be greeted with open arms by her family. No more would she have to be married to Darius and suffer the mistreatment she’d experienced at his hands.
    McKenzie dismissed the tinge in her conscience that she was being devious or misleading—after all, the desperation of the situation demanded she take desperate action. McKenzie knew that if it were she instead of Kaydie in this predicament, she’d want someone to rescue her, and that someone would likely be Kaydie. Besides, if she was on good terms with Zach, then he would be more willing to assist her in finding Kaydie—and, hopefully, less angry with her when she revealed her plan.
    Just then, a disturbing thought entered her mind: How would she tell Zach the truth when it came time to do so? How would she tell him that she could no longer remain married to him and must return with Kaydie to Boston? Not that McKenzie was going to tell him the second she stepped off the stagecoach about why she was really in Pine Haven. No, that would wait until she’d at least had the opportunity to locate her sister. If she was unsuccessful, then and only then would she ask for Zach’s assistance. With any luck, she’d be married for less than a year to the man with whom she enjoyed corresponding clandestinely.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    June 5, 1882
    With the blow of a whistle, the train began to move. Clutching her carpetbag tightly, McKenzie slid down lower in her seat and closed her eyes, as if to hide herself from anyone who might be watching the train from the platform in search of a passenger who was running away to the Montana Territory without her parents’ knowledge or blessing. If I am even half successful with this scheme, it will be a miracle, she thought to herself. All that matters is finding Kaydie and bringing her back to Boston. She felt the thump-thump of her heart and wondered if the rest of the passengers could hear it, as well.
    A few moments later, McKenzie opened her eyes. She scanned the train car, checking every seat for any familiar faces. Seeing no one she knew, she pushed aside the red curtain and stared out the window at the passing scenery, watching as Boston slowly disappeared. She then looked about the train car again, just to be sure of her safety. If her father somehow were to have found out about her plan, McKenzie wouldn’t have put it past him to have hired someone to go after her. He surely had the means and even more likely had the concern and tenacity to do so. Seeing no one suspicious, McKenzie heaved a sigh of relief and settled in for the long ride, knowing it would be at least a week and a half before she reached her destination.
    Several minutes later, McKenzie opened her carpetbag and located a piece of yellowed paper—her most recent letter from Kaydie. Unfolding it, she smoothed the creases and read the letter for what was probably the hundredth time.
    When she had finished, McKenzie refolded the letter and placed it safely back in her purse. “Hold on, my dear sister, I will be there as quickly as I can,” McKenzie whispered. I just hope I’m not too late, she thought to herself. Fears filled her mind. Darius was a dangerous man—one whom McKenzie had never liked, even when he had begun courting Kaydie. Yet, there was something in Darius Kraemer that had drawn Kaydie to him. For the life of her, McKenzie couldn’t