Cinnamon and Roses Read Free Page A

parents could still be living together as one big, happy family.
    Megan looked out the stagecoach window at the flat, never-ending horizon. But now Mother lived the life she adored in New York City—and she could do that without Megan—while Papa was happy in Leavenworth, running his stagecoach company. His life seemed infinitely more appealing.
    The coach came to a rough halt, and Megan heard the driver jump to the ground. She took a deep breath, hoping she could at least get a little acquainted with the
Kansas
town before Caleb tied her to the back of the next outgoing stage and sent her home.

Chapter Two

     
    The minute she stepped down from the stage, Megan saw her father and Caleb waiting on the sidewalk. Her father's face seemed calm, but Caleb's was set in a deep scowl, his arms folded across his chest, legs apart in a firm stance. She smiled and tried to pretend he wasn't about to skin her alive.
    "Papa!” Megan said, dropping her valise to the ground and running into Holbrook's arms. “Oh, Papa, I missed you so much."
    "I missed you, too, Pumpkin. But if you ever scare us like that again—"
    "I think this is where I come in,” Caleb interrupted. He hugged Megan tightly, then drew back to look at her intently. “You had Mother in near hysterics, young lady. What do you have to say for yourself?"
    "Did I have you in near hysterics, too?” she asked cheekily. Caleb took a deep breath, and Megan saw his nostrils flare. She slanted her eyes away from him, wondering if she had pushed too far.
    "I am not amused by your antics or your attitude, young lady. You took off without leaving a note or telling anybody where you were going. For someone who wants to be treated like an adult, that was very irresponsible of you, Megan."
    She knew she was in trouble any time her brother called her “young lady.” Megan stared down at the ground, knowing Caleb was right. “Oh, I just couldn't stand it anymore. When you left, there was no one for me to talk to."
    Any passerby who happened to hear their discussion might wonder why Caleb was chastising Megan while Holbrook stood by and watched, saying nothing. But it was Caleb who felt responsible for Megan's upbringing. Their mother did her best but was usually more concerned with social functions. And Holbrook could hardly raise his children from six states away. So Caleb had taken it upon himself to make sure Megan turned out properly.
    "What about your schooling?"
    "I'm off for the summer. You know that,” Megan answered.
    "What about next year?” Caleb asked through tightly clenched teeth.
    Megan shuffled her feet, her head down. “I thought maybe I could go to school out here next year."
    "You want to walk three miles into town every morning for school, then turn around and walk back every afternoon?” Caleb asked in a dissuading tone.
    "Of course not,” she answered. “I'll just come into town with you and Papa each morning."
    They both turned at the sound of their father clearing his throat. “She has a point there,” Holbrook said.
    Caleb could tell his father was trying hard to keep from smiling. Caleb stood even straighter and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. “Megan, think about this. What future could there possibly be this far west for a young lady like yourself? There are no fine schools, no society functions, and certainly no decent young men would come this far looking for a wife."
    Megan put her hands on her hips and threw Caleb a glare. “Who said I wanted to be a belle of society or catch myself a rich husband? If I wanted any of those silly, superficial things, I would have stayed home with Mother. God knows she's already started a list of guests to invite to my wedding—provided she finds the proper husband for me soon."
    She twisted one foot back and forth on its heel. “I'm only sixteen, Caleb. I don't want to marry and start a family. I want a chance to see the rest of the world; I know it can't all be like
New York
. I want to