The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) Read Free Page B

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with her. Haunting her. She tried to smile at the woman, but fearing she’d fail
completely, she simply nodded. “Thank you,” she finally managed with the best
American accent she could muster. She shivered against the cold of the unusually
crisp April night and snuggled deeper into the warmth of the blanket, breathing
deeply to help keep her calm.
    “What’s your name, honey?” Grace asked quietly.
    “El…” the rest of her name danced on the tip of
her tongue, but she wanted to rid herself of her father’s reputation and
everything he stood for. When she’d come to America, she hadn’t wanted to be
Elizabeth Archer, daughter of Sterling Archer, wealthy and distinguished fraud and
master crook. “Eliza Beth,” she offered instead. “Eliza Beth Jessup.” Jessup
had been the name she had used to purchase the home and it fell off her tongue
more easily than she would have expected.
    “Did Ferg get out all right?” Grace asked, a
worry line appearing on her young forehead.
    “Mr. Ferguson?” She needed to explain, but her
head still seemed a bit groggy. “Um, well, Mr. Ferguson sold me…us…me—Mr.
Ferguson sold me the house just a week or so ago. I haven’t seen him
since.”
    “Were you alone?”
    Elizabeth had a choice to make. She’d lied about
being married to buy the property and then again in an attempt to scare off
some ruffians, but somehow it didn’t seem right to keep pretending with this
woman who had been so kind. Lying about her name was one thing, but to pretend
she had or lost a husband was another entirely and she breathed out deeply with
a nod.
    “It was just me and the dogs.” Relief washed over
her as she spoke the truth. It was as if the husband lie had been consumed in
the blaze.
    “Do you have any family close by?”
    What could she say?
    “I…I don’t have a family…anymore. It…it’s just
me.” It wasn’t a lie, was it? She’d left. Hadn’t looked back. She hated the
stutter that accompanied her words. You are stronger than this, Elizabeth Archer!
    She reached up to the small gold pendant that
dangled from a chain around her neck. It had once belonged to her grandmother
and now served as a reminder of how strong she could be in the face of
adversity. She rubbed it between her fingers for strength.
    “I’m so sorry, Eliza Beth,” Grace said, picking
up the corner of the blanket that had fallen from her shoulders and tucked it
tight up around her neck.
    “How did you know that I was out here? That I was
in trouble?”
    “My husband,” Grace answered with a smile. “He
said he had a feeling that something was wrong and I learned a long time ago to
never ignore a Redbourne gut.”
    Redbourne? Elizabeth gulped. Husband?
    “As soon as we stepped outside, we could smell
the fire. The blaze was big enough that it wasn’t hard to see it in the dark.”
She twisted enough to look Elizabeth in the eyes. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
    Elizabeth barely heard what Grace was saying as
she marveled over the revelation that it had been real. He was here.
Will Redbourne had indeed carried her to the wagon and he was…
    Married.
    Her heart dropped into her stomach and a fresh
wave of tears welled up inside of her—though she refused to let them spill in
front of a stranger, no matter how sweet she had been to her. Elizabeth could
not explain why the thought had affected her so. It wasn’t like she had a claim
on the man. She had never even met him in person. But, still, he’d inspired her
to be a better person and to stand up for what was right.
    She stole a quick glance at Grace. Will had done
well for himself. Grace was beautiful. And kind.
    “He’s just gone around back to get you some
water,” Grace said, pointing toward the back of the house. “My husband,” she
clarified. “He knows his way around this place. Helped Ferg out quite a bit.”
    “Look who I found whimpering around back by the
pump.” The tall, blond man made his way to the back of