Free Hearts in Defiance (Romance in the Rockies Book 2) by Heather Blanton

redhead raised her
chin. “And Mollie. They’re all leaving Defiance.” Naomi grasped Mollie’s
shoulder, “Oh, except for Mollie. She works here at the hotel.”
    “Well, ladies, I’m sorry I have missed the chance to pass the
evening with you.”
    “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of dance partners over in Tent Town,”
Iris responded, tagging Matthew in the ribs. “But we’re not on the menu.” The
other girls, all smiles, nodded. They were free and Naomi couldn’t be
happier for them. Wearing not a hint of makeup and new, modest dresses they’d
assisted in making, she believed the outward transition was complete. The rest
was between them and God, but she had hope for them. A lot of it.
    Out of quips, Matthew held the door for them as they slipped into
the hotel. He didn’t, however, close it. He watched the ladies for a second
more, and then turned back to the sisters, pressing his hat to his chest as if
for protection.
    “Maybe it’s better that they left.” He shifted his gaze to Hannah,
an apology in his eyes. “I’ve got someone with me.”
    A sinking feeling hit Naomi. It couldn’t be. Not on the same
night. She moved closer to Hannah and crossed her arms.
    “The train doesn’t come any closer than Pagosa Springs,” Matthew
shifted on his feet and licked his lips. “There was a boy down there trying to
figure out how to get the rest of the way to Defiance. He recognized me right
off. I had a little trouble. He was about eleven the last time I saw
him.”
    Hannah’s expression froze. Naomi thought it a safe bet that she’d
stopped breathing, as well. Matthew stepped away from the door. The floor
inside squeaked and a figure stepped into the lanterns’ light. Naomi’s stomach
dropped. The young, handsome Mr. Billy Page emerged from the dark. He looked at
Naomi and Rebecca in turn without really greeting them, but his eyes quickly
settled on Hannah and stayed there.
    A palpable tension enveloped the group, like the breeze that hints
at an approaching tornado. No one spoke and the stunned silence dragged on till
Matthew couldn’t stand it any longer. “Really, ladies, no one has anything to
say to this boy?”
    Fleetingly, Naomi had the desire to slap her brother-in-law. This
was none of his affair, but she realized he was right—someone had to say
something, otherwise they might stare at each other all night.
    “What are you doing here, Billy?” she asked, failing to mask her
dislike of the boy.
    He studied Hannah a second more, as if hoping he might find
guidance in her expression. Met with only stoic silence, he raised his chin. “I
came for Hannah and my son.”
    The answer did nothing to break the tension. Naomi glanced at
Rebecca over Hannah’s head. They both peered down at their younger sister.
    Wearing an inscrutable expression, she took a small step toward
Billy. “I should let you see him then,” she said, her voice thin and delicate.
    Billy nodded, almost imperceptibly. Hannah drifted past him and
Billy dutifully followed, clutching his bowler to his chest. Naomi, Matthew,
and Rebecca stood in complete silence until their footsteps faded.
    Finally, Matthew let out a long, slow whistle. “If that reception
had been any chillier, I believe I’d have frostbite.”
    Neither Naomi nor Rebecca laughed. Naomi, for her part, was
stunned to see the boy. Certainly, love could have driven him the fifteen
hundred miles to Defiance, but so could the desire to rebel against his father.
And every time Billy had done that, fear had driven him right back to
his domineering daddy.
    ~~~

 
     
    Eight
     
     
    Hannah walked slowly, calmly through the dim hotel lobby, holding
her head high and her shoulders back, but inwardly, she wanted to curl up in a
ball and cry. She wasn’t sure if they
would be tears of joy or misery, though. From behind her, she could hear the
soft rustle of the bowler hat twirling in Billy’s hands. A nervous habit he
hadn’t shed.
    How could he show up