No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) Read Free Page A

slightly.
    “Well,” Pastor Jones said, “now we’re all sorted out, let’s get the luggage and head to the church.”
    “Can I carry your bag?” Adam said as they all headed for the far end of the train.
    Amy looked down at her shabby carpet bag. “Oh no, thank you.” While she was almost certain he wouldn’t run off with it, she felt safer with it in her hands. It held everything she owned.
    He nodded and looked at the ground awkwardly. Amy felt instantly sorry for him. How on earth was she going to do this?
    The baggage car was being unloaded when they reached it. Amy watched Sara smile up at Daniel. He leaned down to say something to her and she laughed and tightened her hold on his arm. Amy glanced at Adam beside her. He had replaced his hat and was moving stiffly, his hands stuffed in his pockets. She sighed and shifted her grip on her bag.
    The men set about sorting out the various trunks and bags and loading everything into their wagons and buggies.
    “Which one’s yours?” Adam said, looking around at the rapidly dwindling pile of luggage.
    “Oh, I don’t have anything else,” Amy said. She patted her bag. “It’s all in here.”
    He studied the small bag. “Are your things being sent separately?”
    This wasn’t supposed to be happening. She should have just gone, bought the ticket and got back on the train. Later she could have written to Adam and explained and apologised. Why hadn’t she thought of that before?
    “Um, no. This is all I have.”
    His eyes widened. “In the world?”
    She nodded.
    “Oh.” He seemed uncertain what to say at first, then he perked up, smiling. “Don’t worry, there’s a very good general store in town. They have everything anyone could possibly need. We could go there tomorrow if you like, after you’ve rested.”
    Why did he have to be nice? Amy looked at his expression, so eager to please her, and hated herself. “Thank you,” she said softly.
    With everyone’s luggage loaded, they began the short walk to the church. Amy began to panic. She looked desperately back at the train as it pulled away from the station behind them. What was she going to do? Say no at the altar? She searched around her for something, anything, to get her out of the situation.
    “Are you all right?” Adam said.
    She started at his voice. “Yes. No. I’m...”
    And then she fainted.

Chapter 2
    Shocked voices surrounded her.
    “Oh my, is she all right?”
    “Give her some air!”
    “Amy? Amy, can you hear me?”
    She kept her eyes closed and her body relaxed. She’d seen it performed several times before, the fake swoon. Of course, all those times had involved women fainting into the arms of a convenient handsome bachelor, usually with the intention of gaining a husband. She was doing it for the exact opposite reason, but the technique was the same. After counting to sixty, she opened her eyes, fluttering her eyelids as if she was regaining consciousness.
    “She’s awake!”
    “Give her some air!”
    The first thing she saw was Adam’s face staring down at her, his face filled with distress. His eyes so incredibly blue.
    He was kneeling next to her, his hand on her cheek. He snatched it back as soon as she focused on him.
    “Are you all right?” he said, helping her to sit up.
    She put a hand to her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.” That was the traditional opening line after a feigned swoon and she didn’t see any need to change it now.
    “You’ve obviously had a lot of excitement and stress travelling,” Pastor Jones said, crouching beside her. The others formed a circle around her semi-prostrate form.
    “I’m all right,” Amy said, feeling uncomfortable with all the attention. “Truly, I’m fine.”
    Adam held her firmly as she stood, putting his arm around her waist to steady her.
    Pressed against him, she got the impression of strength. Hoping she wasn’t wrong about that, she took a step in the direction of the church and softened