LITMIR.BIZ

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a train? Shouldn’t you be wearing wool in the winter—and a dark color? Bright blue in the wintertime—”

      “But this is wool, Papa. It’s a new kind of wool, as warm as the heavy kind. It came in last week. I ordered it last spring, don’t you remember?” Of course he didn’t remember. If she reminded him of the cost, he would no doubt remember that “I couldn’t wait another minute to wear it.”

      “It’ll be covered in soot and cinders five minutes after we get to town. And that ridiculous hat, with feathers and flowers. It looks like you’re wearing a flowerpot”

      “That’s exactly what it’s called, Papa. A flowerpot hat.”

      Amos snorted his opinion. “There’s no time for you to change. I hope you brought something sensible to wear once we get to Silver Falls.”

      “Yes, Papa, I did. Don’t worry.”

      Tom shook his head at her, then cast a look of disgust at Geoffrey. “I’ll send word. Let’s go.” Tom helped Trina into the seat, handed her a lap blanket, then climbed in after her. Before Geoffrey could add anything, Tom slapped the horse’s rump with the reins and the carriage lurched forward with a squeal.

      “I’ll see you when you get back, Katrina!” Geoffrey ran along beside the carriage for a dozen yards or so, puffing great billows of steamy breath, before stopping to wave.

      Trina waved halfheartedly. For a month of Sundays Geoffrey had been talking about buying her an engagement ring, begging her to say she’d accept one. When she’d put him off the fourth time, he’d gone ahead and picked it out. Red and green stones set in gold filigree.

      Mr. Filby at the general store had told everyone in town about it, figuring their engagement was a sure thing. Only two hours after the stage had come through and left the box at Mr. Filby’s store, Trina had heard from Alissa who had heard from Fanny who had heard from Sarah that the ring had arrived. Practically everyone in town had seen the ring since then. Except Trina. She sighed. A ring was exactly what she’d been wanting him to give her, wasn’t it? An expensive, gaudy ring that would catch everyone’s eye? Once she’d accepted it, they’d be officially engaged and a date could be set for the wedding.

      Weddings were so much fun. There would be parties given in her honor and so many gifts they wouldn’t have room for them all. And all three of her brothers would have to be fitted for new suits and she’d get to see them all dressed fit to kill at the same time. So why had she stubbornly refused to give poor, pitiful Geoffrey an answer?

      Trina stuck out her lower lip and pulled the blanket tighter around her neck. She knew now that a ring wasn’t what she wanted at all. The problem was, she didn’t know what she wanted instead. Geoffrey was nice enough, and his father did own a prosperous haberdashery in Denver. If she and Geoffrey were married, she’d have all the beautiful clothes she could wear. But clothes weren’t everything. Just what was everything, she couldn’t say. She just knew Geoffrey wasn’t it She’d never intended to lead Geoffrey on or give him false hopes about their being married someday. How on earth had it come this far?

      Amos nudged his daughter’s elbow. “Trina?”

      “Yes, Papa?”

      “What was Geoffrey all riled up about?”

      “He wants to give me an engagement ring.”

      Amos hesitated. “Are you going to accept it?”

      “I don’t know. Perhaps I’ll know when we get back home.” He had enough on his mind. She could tell him after they got back that she’d thought about it and decided marrying Geoffrey simply would not make her happy.

      Amos patted her arm. “Want to talk about it?”

      “Not really.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Let’s forget all about Geoffrey and the ranch while we’re on this trip, all right? I think we both need a diversion.”

      “Agreed. I only hope you won’t be bored.”

      “Why, Papa, of course I won’t be bored. After all, I’m with my favorite fellow, aren’t I?”

      It was the truth. Trina suspected it would continue to be the truth, whoever she married. She sighed and stared at a piñon pine up ahead. If only the prospect of marriage could be more exciting. It seemed to be the only thing she knew of that could leave her completely bored. She gathered the blanket closer around her chin. The wind was absolutely wicked.

      Amos dug in his pocket, then handed a derringer to Trina.

      “Put this in your pocket. You never know who you might meet on the train or in Silver Falls.”

      “But Papa, I’ve never fired a gun in my life.”

      “It isn’t that hard. You probably won’t need it, but it can’t hurt to have it, just in case.”

      “In case—”

      “Just take it without a big argument, for once in your life.”

      Stung by the reproach, she stared at the derringer for a moment, then pushed it deep into her pocket. A worrisome little thought skittered through her mind. She recalled the day those dirty men had come to the house. They’d left angry. Just afterward, her father had announced the trip to the mining town.

      “Papa, are you sure we ought to go to Silver Falls? Maybe we should—”

      “What? But you said—”

      “I know. I’m not talking about that.”

      “Then what? I don’t—”

      “I’m thinking about those men who came to the house last week. They sounded angry. It worries me.”

      “It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”

      “But what if they—”

      “Enough! This is business and doesn’t concern you. Settle down and enjoy the trip.”

      “But Papa—”

      “Katrina…hush!”

      She hushed. But she didn’t like it one bit.

      

      Gabriel heard the train whistle when it rounded the last bend, just west of the Denver depot, where he’d been waiting for the past hour.

      Through a flurry of feathery snowflakes mixed with cinders, and soot belching from the smokestack, the locomotive chuffed its way into the depot like an iron monster, creaking slowly to a stop. People waiting to board the train stepped back to avoid the expulsion of steam from the engine, then inched forward while arriving passengers poured from the cars.

      Gabriel got up from the hard wooden bench and stretched his back muscles, then rubbed at a spot on his rib cage. Better than fourteen months since he’d been shot and it still ached. He knew it wouldn’t stop completely until he killed Otis Blackburn.

      Passengers gathered their baggage. A line formed, heading out the door. Just ahead, a woman wearing a silly-looking hat with blue feathers and flowers turned her head to allow a young man to kiss her cheek. Gabriel inched past. “Excuse me, ma’am.”

      She nodded and stepped back an inch or two to let him pass. He went outside to the platform.

      Trina watched him go, leaning over a bit to get a better look.

      Tom narrowed his eyes. “Remember Geoffrey?”

      Trina smiled sweetly. “How could I ever forget Geoffrey? Goodbye, Tom. I wish you’d change your mind and come with us.” The last thing she wanted on this trip was a fussy older brother hanging around, but she had to be polite.

      “Can’t. Too much to do at home. I’ll see you when you get back.”

      She leaned toward the door to see if she could spot that man again, but he was already out of sight. So handsome. Could he possibly be going to Silver Falls? On the same

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