Chapter 3
Cody rode through town, finally finding Travis near the livery. His friend smiled in greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Travis’s words carried a hint of the accent that denoted his Irish heritage. He patted his horse before swinging into the saddle.
Cody nodded. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Are the kids all right?”
“Depends on what you mean by ‘all right.’” Cody rubbed a hand across his eyes.
“We both know I’m struggling with them. But that’s not the reason I searched you out.
I came across a young woman crying in an alley.
She fainted, so I took her to Cassie. My sister got her changed into some dry clothes, then told me the woman had bad bruising along her arms and sides. Cass thinks she was attacked.”
Travis growled low in his throat. “I’ll never understand how a man can harm a woman.” They nudged their horses into a walk. “Did you recognize her?”
“No. She had a carpet bag. I think she was a passenger on the train, probably passing through. Her clothes looked fancy, and I couldn’t find a purse when I went back for her bag. She must have been robbed.”
“That would explain why she was attacked.”
They rode in silence for a bit. When Travis spoke again, his words were blunt. “You look tired.”
“It’s that obvious?”
“Yeah. How’re you holdin’ up?”
Shaking his head, Cody sighed. “I’m not, Trav.
I barely get by each day, and I don’t know the first thing about being a parent.
What am I gonna do when I’ve got to work?
Hank and the boys have taken on more than they should because I’m trying to figure out fatherhood.
Those poor kids need more stability than I can give. ”
“You know Cassie and I would be happy to…”
Holding up a hand, Cody cut him off. “You two are as busy as I am. That café is Cassie’s dream. I won’t ask her to give it up because her big brother can’t manage his own problems.”
“Have you considered the orphanage?”
A pit formed in Cody’s stomach. Unhappy memories threatened to surface. “You know I can’t.”
“I figured you’d say as much.” Travis drew in a breath before leveling a look at Cody. “I have another suggestion, but I doubt you’ll like it any more than the others.”
Cody cocked a brow when his friend didn’t continue. “Well?”
“If you plan to keep those kids, you need a wife. I’d recommend a nanny, but you can’t afford one after your losses this winter.”
A lump formed in his throat. “I have no intention of loving again. Not after Liza."
“I know. But you need help, and those kids need a mother. You keep saying you can’t do this by yourself. Logically, that means getting married.”
“You realize I don’t have time to court, right? And even if I did, there’s a shortage of available women in this town.”
“You could advertise for a mail-order bride.”
Cody winced. His stomach knotted into a hard rock. “And invite a stranger into our lives?”
Travis shot him a sympathetic look. “I know it’s not what you want. But you don’t have many options.”
The lump in Cody’s throat grew. “No kidding.”
When they reached the house, they dismounted. Travis clapped a hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Pray through it, my friend. Perhaps a solution will show up where you least expect it.”
“I hope so.” Cody scratched his jaw as he followed Travis up the porch steps. That was something he’d consider later. For now, they had to figure out what happened to the young woman resting in the Doyles’ guest room.
As they stepped inside, Cassie met them with a huge grin. Both men stopped in their tracks. Travis gave his wife a puzzled look. “I thought this was a serious situation.”
Cassie grabbed his hand. Cody could almost see the excitement radiating from her.
“You’ll never guess who’s here, Travis!” She dragged her husband into the house and up the stairs to the stranger’s room.
Cody followed, confusion burning inside.
When he left, Cassie had been hovering over the woman in concern. Now, she bounced with glee.
His eyes landed on the woman he’d carried here.
She was awake and sitting up in bed. Her auburn hair had been plaited into a neat braid.
Her fair skin was smooth as porcelain, no longer mottled from crying.
But what arrested his attention were her eyes.
They were a unique shade of green, one he’d never seen before.
He stared into them, his mind working to label the color.
Only when she fidgeted did he realize his gaze made her uncomfortable.
He immediately shifted it to Travis, who also stared at the young woman, mouth gaping open.
“Ella?”
She smiled. It didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hello, Travis.”
Travis wasn’t often at a loss for words, but he floundered before finding his voice. “What’re you doing here?”
Uncertainty crept over her features. “You said if I ever needed a fresh start…” She fiddled with the covers. “That is, I thought…I thought…”
The poor woman looked at a loss. Cassie took charge. She stood in front of Travis, hands planted on her hips. “Travis McKenna Doyle, get a hold of yourself! Your friend is here, and she needs your help.”
A smile crossed Travis’s face. “Yes, dear.” He chuckled, pressing a kiss to Cassie’s cheek. “What would I do without you?”
Her eyes softened. “Thankfully, you don’t have to find out.” She slipped to his side, motioning to Ella. “Now, you were saying?”
He chuckled. “Forgive me, Ella. It’s a shock seeing you here. But a happy one.” He took a step forward. “Things got that bad, did they?”
Tears welled in her luminous eyes. She nodded, then stared down at the covers, twisting them in her hands.
Cody cleared his throat. “Ma’am, could you tell Travis who attacked you? Were you robbed?”
She blinked, her eyes moving up to meet his. “Robbed?”
“I didn’t see a purse, and Cassie said you had bad bruises…”
Before he could continue, Ella shook her head. “I was not robbed, nor was I attacked.”
It was Cody’s turn to blink. But the bruises? How did she get them? He shifted his gaze to Travis. His friend watched Ella with a thoughtful expression but didn’t say anything. Cody continued. “But you were so distraught, you almost froze in the snow.”
Her cheeks turned pink while her hands resumed their mutilation of the covers. “Yes, I was distraught. I missed my sister.”
Cody waited for her to continue, but it seemed that was the only explanation she planned to give. Anger flared. “You nearly gave yourself frostbite because you were emotional? Do you realize you could have died out there?”
The words came out harsh and loud. Ella flinched. Her cheeks went white, and her body shook.
Cassie glared at him. “Quit growling, Cody. You’re scaring her.” She sat on the bed and slipped an arm around Ella’s shoulders. “Don’t mind him, honey. His bark is worse than his bite. I promise. He doesn’t mean to sound so menacing.”
Travis laughed. “He has some bear-like tendencies, but underneath that gruff demeanor, he’s got a heart of gold.”
Cassie chuckled. “A big softy. That’s what he is.”
Cody gaped. “A softy…!” He couldn’t even finish his sentence, the idea was so preposterous. Clamping his lips shut, he crossed his arms and glared at his sister and friend. That just made them laugh harder.
Ella looked between the three of them with utter confusion on her face.
Cassie stopped laughing and pierced him with her blue gaze. Her brow hiked up near to her hairline.
He knew exactly what she expected of him. Cody suppressed a sigh, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “My apologies, ma’am. I didn’t mean to frighten you…again.”
Ella tilted her head, a question in her gaze.
He scratched his ear. “In the alley. I scared you into that faint, didn’t I?”
Roses bloomed on her cheeks. She ducked her head. “You were trying to help. I should have realized that.”
Cody frowned, taking a step closer to the bed. “Why’d I scare you so bad?”
Ella swallowed. Her hands moved to rest on either forearm while her throat worked.
Cassie’s glance slid over her arms. “The bruises. Who gave them to you, Ella?”
A tiny moan sounded from Ella’s lips.
Travis stiffened beside Cody. “Howard.”
The single word was a statement, not a question. It also held unmistakable venom.
Ella sniffed with a small nod.
Cody watched in amazement as Travis’s face turned red with rage. “If I was still in Boston, I’d…”
Cassie shot him a warning glance.
Ella huddled over, bent in on herself.
Travis dropped to his knees beside the bed.
Cody stood back, feeling like an intruder, knowing he could do nothing to help.
He had no history with this woman. Travis did, and Cassie had already made friends with her.
They would be able to do something. He fidgeted, hating the helpless feeling as he watched a silent river of tears slide down Ella’s cheeks.
Travis spoke quietly. “It’s all right, Ella. We’ll keep you safe. You’re free from that monster.”
She sucked in a breath. “Am I? What if he finds me? He won’t rest until he possesses me, Travis. He’s obsessed with my money and…and with me. My parents will try to find me too. They won’t take kindly to the rumors that are sure to develop with my sudden absence.”
Travis gently took her hands while Cassie rubbed her back. “We’ll think of something,” he said. “I promise.”
Ella relaxed. Her tears soon dried up. A wobbly smile touched her pink lips. “You always were a good friend.”
Travis whispered something to her, too low for Cody to hear. He shifted from foot to foot.
Cassie glanced his way. She stood and came to him. “Why don’t you get your errands done? Travis and I will take care of Ella.”
Cody looked at the young woman. Ella would probably feel more comfortable with him out of the house. He’d already scared her twice. He didn’t want to do so a third time. “Good idea.”
The next morning, Ella smoothed the front of her green dress, then braided her long hair. After a full night’s sleep, she felt more like herself.