Free The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) by Kelli Ann Morgan

professor…”
    “You don’t want to risk your father finding out
where you are.”
    Elizabeth nodded slowly.
    Grace’s eyes moved back and forth between Elizabeth’s,
searching, then she nodded her understanding. “I know what it’s like to start
over and how hard it can be. But, I want you to know that there will always be
a place for you here.” She placed a hand over Elizabeth’s. “I feel like I’m
losing the sister I never had.”
    “Me too. Thank you. You and your family have
already been so generous. I’m afraid I don’t know how I’ll ever repay your
kindness.”
    “Be happy,” Grace replied. “That’s all I ask. Be
happy with whatever choices you make in your life.” Her eyes diverted to
something outside the window. “Oooo, look. It’s Opal Gailey,” she said,
pointing at the young woman walking out of the milliner’s shop.
    Elizabeth pushed herself away from the table, but
Grace caught her arm.
    “You’re sure this is what you want?”
    “I’m sure. That stage is leaving tomorrow and I
am going to be on it,” Elizabeth said with more conviction than she felt. She
hoped she was doing the right thing, but there was only one way she was going
to find out.
    Grace nodded with a sad smile and let go of her
arm.
    “You’d better hurry. I’ll take care of this and
then head over to the livery for the carriage. Meet me back here in an hour?”
    “One hour,” Elizabeth confirmed with a bob of her
head, then hurried out the door and across the street. “Opal,” Elizabeth called
out to the young woman from the mercantile.
    She turned around, swinging her head in such a
fashion as if to show off her new purchase. The hat was quite extraordinary and
exquisite—far from the type of hat Elizabeth would have thought to buy for a
long trek west.
    “Hello,” she said, a blank expression crossing
her features. Then, she smiled. “You’re Grace’s friend. Eliza Beth, right?”
    “Right.” It was funny. Elizabeth had been living
at the old Ferguson place for a couple of months now, but a few days of being
friends with a Redbourne made her someone worth knowing.
    “I’m afraid I haven’t taken much time lately to
get to know the new people in town. You see, I’m getting married and I’m
leaving tomorrow.”
    “I had heard that,” Elizabeth said, unsure how to
broach the subject without appearing the nosy neighbor. “Um…Opal…” She cleared
her throat. “I was in the mercantile just a little while ago. I hadn’t meant to
eavesdrop, but I understand that you are taking tomorrow’s stage to Colorado to
be…a mail-order-bride.”
    “That’s right,” Opal squealed. “Can you believe
it? Me. A bride.”
    “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how did you
meet, eh…find your groom-to-be?”
    Opal smiled widely and leaned over as if sharing
a secret.
    “I haven’t actually met him. In person, I mean.
There is a shortage of women farther west, where there are plenty of men
searching for brides. I responded to one of the ads that I saw in the Stone
Creek Chronicle from the Matchmaker Agency in a place called Thistleberry,
Montana. They really are quite reputable and there are simply dozens of men to
choose from in a variety of different locations.” Opal looked as if she might
burst with pride. “My Robert is a young tanner who just opened his first shop
in a small town called Silver Falls in Colorado.”
    “The Matchmaker Agency, you said?”
    “Yes.”
    “And, what about your friend? I heard her say
that she has decided not to go. Is that still the case?”
    Opal eyed her for a few moments before responding,
as if trying to decide if she was shocked or honored that Elizabeth had
‘overheard’ so many details of their conversation. Then, she tsked.
    “Poor thing. The reverend, I mean. He will be
expecting a bride on the stage and all he’ll get is Winnie’s refusal letter.”
    “What if that wasn’t all he would get?” Elizabeth
dipped her head lightly to look Opal