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

in the face.
    The young woman placed a hand on Elizabeth’s arm
and smiled knowingly.
    “Are you interested in becoming a
mail-order-bride, Eliza Beth?”
    Truth was, Elizabeth was ready to take on most
any challenge at this point, she just needed to get out of Stone Creek before
her father could find her.
    “I might have some interest. Do you think the
agency would be okay if someone took her place?”
    “That, Eliza Beth, sounds like more than a little
interest,” Opal replied happily. “Winnie has made up her mind. She is
definitely not going to Silver Falls. Oh,” she said, weaving her arm through
Elizabeth’s, “I thought I would have to travel all that way alone with Gertrude.
Thank heavens that will not be the case.”
    Elizabeth had no idea who Gertrude was or what
she might be getting herself into.
    “I’m sure Winnie has not notified the agency yet.
I know she has the stagecoach and train tickets that she was prepared to return
to her unfortunate beau with a letter of apology. So, I don’t see why you
couldn’t take her place on the stage.” She paused. “If you don’t mind marrying
a preacher.”
    “A preacher?” Elizabeth swallowed. She wasn’t
exactly the type to hold bible study classes or host sewing bee’s or afternoon
tea, but she guessed that if it was meant to be, she could be a preacher’s wife.
    “How old is this preacher, exactly?”
    “Winnie would be the best one to talk to about
that. She has exchanged several letters with the man. I was just on my way to meet
her for lunch at Millie’s Café. Would you like to join us?”
    Elizabeth looked down the road to where Grace was
speaking with Mr. Phillips at the livery. She looked at the large clock that
towered over the town. She still had forty-five minutes before she had to meet
Grace at the restaurant.
    “It would be my pleasure,” she said with a dip of
her head.
    Opal linked her arm in Elizabeth’s and guided her
across the street to Millie’s place. It was a quaint little café with flowers
in the windowsills and embroidered cloths on the tables. When the door opened,
Elizabeth closed her eyes to soak in the atmosphere. It smelled like a little
slice of heaven.
    “We’ve got fresh, warm Strawberry Rhubarb pie on
the menu today. Would you ladies like to try a slice?” Millie held a pot of
coffee in one hand and dusted her apron with the other.
    “That sounds divine, Millie,” Opal told the
establishment’s proprietress.
    “May I just have a glass of lemonade?” she asked.
She’d already shared some pie at the restaurant across the way with Grace and
didn’t think her stomach would appreciate two in one day.
    “Of course,” Millie said with a smile.
    Within moments they found the table where Winnie
had been seated. Opal sat down next to her, and motioned for Elizabeth to sit
on the other side of her. Winnie smiled half-heartedly as Elizabeth did as
she’d been told.
    “I am not sure I have had the pleasure,” the
second woman from the mercantile spoke while raising her glass to her small
mouth.
    “Winnie,” Opal began, “Eliza Beth is a friend of
Grace Redbourne. Since you have decided that you will be staying here in Stone
Creek, wouldn’t it be lovely if she went in your place?”
    “Why would you do that?” the woman scrunched her
eyes into slits as she evaluated Elizabeth.
    She hadn’t expected the question and it took her
a moment to collect her thoughts.
    “Well, Miss Winnie, hmhmm…” she cleared her
throat, “I’m afraid there is nothing left for me in Stone Creek. I have no
family to speak of, my home burned to the ground, and I want to start over, but
that is hard to do without means.”
    Winnie leaned back in her chair. “Your house
burned down? That is horrible. I am so sorry to hear of your predicament, but I
am still deciding whether or not I should go.”
    “But, Winnie,” Opal said, in protest, “I thought
you—”
    “Now, Opal, you know that I detest the idea of
causing that