Valerie Hillcrest pressed her back against the front door and let out a long, shuddering sigh, but it wasn't out of fear or worry. She was elated. Finally, after almost a year of searching, she knew where Thomas was, and she would see him again soon.

“Was that the door I heard?” her father boomed from his office. “Who was it?”

Heart pounding, Valerie raced up the stairs to avoid her father. If she didn't see him, she wouldn't have to lie. Once in her room, she threw herself on the bed, rolled over, and stared at the ceiling, the small scrap of paper clutched to her bosom as she poured out her gratitude to God for answering her prayers and providing a way of escape from the dreaded future her parents had planned.

Her mind flitted back to how, as she'd turned eighteen, they had informed her that she would soon marry. For a moment, her breath had caught as she believed that they'd found the man her parents had betrothed her to since forever, and that he was coming back to New York. However, the news that followed had her stomach plummeting.

“He may not be exactly what you were hoping for in a husband, but he'll be a good provider,” her mother informed her with a tight smile. “And please remember that marriages in our class are done for connections. Love may come, but it's not nearly as important as honoring the family name. Of course, there is Father's business to consider. This man will ensure the future of Hillcrest Fabrics for many years to come.”

Fear gripped her and ice ran through her veins. It was not Thomas, and the stern look on her father's face made it clear that she was not going to like the new fiancé.

“Montgomery Bainbridge may be somewhat older than you, but he is a good man and has agreed to take you as his wife.” His tone left no room for argument. He expected her to obey without question, but Valerie found herself shaking her head ever so slightly as though rejecting the very idea.

If she'd had eaten anything, she would have been sick. As it was, she felt that someone had punched her right in the stomach. The man they were talking about was nearly thirty years her senior. That alone wouldn't have fazed her, but in addition, he was cold, exacting, and somewhat repulsive as well, but she knew that her protests would fall on deaf ears. Instead, she pretended to go along with it.

“I see,” she replied evenly, forcing a small smile. “And so, will there be one year's engagement or two? I should prefer the latter if it's at all possible.”

Since they were obviously prepared for a tantrum, her calm reply threw them off their guard, and her parents actually agreed to her request. Inside, her mind was spinning. Two years seemed like a long time, but she knew it could pass in a flash. She wouldn't waste it.

The very next day, she'd asked to go out shopping, but managed to lose her driver and found her way to the steps of a private detective agency. She presented the solitary man inside with a sizable fee and told him that he had one year to find Thomas Wellington. If he managed to do so, there would be another such payment.

Harry Tubman, a somewhat questionable private investigator, had eyed the money greedily and promised to do his best. Now, just under a year later, he'd made good on that promise and had received his just reward.

The next part of her plan was going to be very tricky, she knew, and she would have to trust her servant to help her. She didn't tell the girl where she was going because then her father could pry it out of her, but gave her enough money to leave if it came to it, compensation for the trouble that would follow.

“Are you very sure, miss?” Sarah asked. “It's such a big risk. You won’t ever be able to marry someone from your class if it doesn’t work out.”

“I can't marry Mister Bainbridge,” she nearly growled. “You of all people know that.” The two of them were more like sisters than servant and mistress. “Thomas is whom I'm supposed to be with. Wouldn't you do the same?”

The girl bit her lip even as she folded up Valerie’s stockings and laid them in the trunk. “I don't know. If you marry Mister Bainbridge, you'll have a lot of power and money. Isn't that enough?”

Valerie sighed. “It might have been if there was no Thomas Wellington. He's the love of my life, but he's a most stubborn person, and if anyone tells him he has to do something, you can be very sure he'll do exactly the opposite.”

Their parents had arranged the marriage long ago, when they were just children, but she hadn't fallen in love with him until she was twelve, when he'd defended her against a group of boys who'd been taunting her about her most unfeminine figure. He'd given two of the boys a beating and sent the other two off with a warning. Since that moment, she'd found every reason to give him her heart. However, he had no interest in it. That alone hadn't deterred her affections in the slightest. She was certain that God had designed them to be together, but she needed to do her part to make it happen.

When the detective had finally found him, it had been confirmation enough for her. This was a sign from God that they were meant to be together, and she was willing to stake all the money she had and even her reputation on it.

* * *

“Great Falls, Montana. Great Falls,” the conductor bellowed through the length of the train. It had only taken two weeks to arrange everything, and now here she was on the point of seeing her intended.

Valerie smiled to herself as she looked out the window. The vast landscape spread before her might have seemed desolate to some, but to her, it was an oasis. “Here’s where you’ve been hiding, is it?” she murmured. “Well, then, Thomas Wellington the third, prepare yourself.”

After the train came to a screeching halt, she stepped into the city of Great Falls and looked around with deep satisfaction. Everything was just as she'd imagined. Small and rustic, the town might be considered tiny by New York standards, but it was fully functional with businesses running up and down both sides of the street and numerous people milling about. With a population of over a thousand people, it wasn't so big that she wouldn't be able to find him, but neither was it so small that he would stand out. It had been the perfect place for Thomas to hide, but he hadn't counted on her tenaciousness, and she was quite sure he couldn’t have dreamed what was in store for him.

It had been easy enough to tell her parents that she wanted to visit her aunt in Upstate New York for a month and then switch her ticket at the last minute. No one would be any the wiser unless her parents decided to write to her while she was there, but even so, she'd asked Sarah to intercept any letters until her mission was complete. By that time, she was sure that her deception would be forgiven. Once Thomas was restored as the heir to the Wellington fortune and installed as head of the company, everyone would be happy.

Now that she had the time, she needed to find Thomas and convince him that he loved her and that they were meant to be together. It was time for his schoolboy adventure to come to an end. Surely he would recognize that the instant she showed up. He just needed to see her now.

Gone was the scrawny little tomboy that he'd known. In her place was a young woman with a full figure, oozing femininity. At least, that was what she'd been told by a number of people.

Such compliments, along with her strong belief this was God’s will, had given her the confidence to make this trip. At times, she still felt like the awkward teen she'd been when he left five years ago, but the mirror said differently.

Smoothing out the wrinkles in her voluminous satin dress, she searched for her trunk and politely instructed the station master to bring it to the nearest accommodations. He'd done that with great eagerness, desirous to please the beautiful, well-dressed stranger.

After being shown to the modest boarding house and signing in, Valerie began her inquiries, producing a picture of sixteen-year-old Thomas for the matron's inspection. She knew he would look different by now, but she thought that the picture would still help.

“Can't say for sure if I recognize him, miss,” the woman had replied indifferently. “Why are you looking for him?”

Her spine stiffened. What business was it of hers? “He is a person of importance to me,” she replied with what she hoped was a gracious smile, but it didn't help. The woman just shrugged and went about her business.

Undeterred, Valerie set out to question anyone she managed to meet while walking up one side of the main street and down the other. However, people in the West didn't seem to find her brand of charm all that persuasive and walls were thrown up in every direction.

“Can't say that I know him, miss.”

“No clue.”

“Nope.”

Frustrated, she reverted to plan B. She figured there would be three people who should know his location, and she would visit them in ascending order. First, she would visit the local minister, then the post master, and finally the sheriff. She didn't really want to go so far as to ask the local law enforcement, but if she had to, she would.

The minister smiled kindly at her, but merely shook his head.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you, miss,” he said apologetically. Valerie had nearly thrown out a comment along the lines of ‘Can’t…or won’t?’ but she’d been raised to give the utmost respect to members of the clergy.

The postmaster said much the same, but the sheriff barely answered her at all.

“If a person wants to be found, he'll show up,” was all he said.

Why was everyone closing ranks around him? Or did they really not know him? Had he changed his name? Had the detective's information been wrong?

Confused and disheartened after less than one day in the West, Valerie briefly wondered if she'd heard from God correctly after all. She'd been certain that a clear path had been laid out for her, but now there were all these obstacles in her way. Was this whole trip in vain?

Tears rushed to her eyes as she marched back to the boarding house, but she wiped them away in frustration. There had to be a way. She would keep asking every person she saw until she found him, or at least had a clue as to his whereabouts.

However, after two more days of searching, she was nearly ready to admit defeat. Thomas was nowhere to be found in this town. She'd walked the streets for hours and hours, all for nothing. Her feet ached, her skin was turning brown and her heart was aching. Frustration peaked at the end of the third day, and she burst into tears before she could make it to her room at the boarding house. The owner, Mrs. Jones, came running.

“What in the world?” she asked. The woman had softened slightly toward her over the past few days, seeing through the thin veneer of propriety and spying the sweet, determined girl underneath. “Are you hurt? Did someone do…something to you?” The woman had expressed some concerns about Valerie wandering around town unescorted and had been flabbergasted to discover that she had traveled across the country on her own.

“N-no,” she stumbled, hiccupping and sobbing at the same time. Mrs. Jones reached out to take her hand and at her touch, the truth came pouring out of her mouth. “I-I can't find my fiancé! I came out here to see him, and no one will tell me where he is!”

The matronly lady pulled Valerie close to her ample bosom and ran a rough hand over her soft blonde curls. “Now, now. Calm yourself and tell me all about it. I had no idea it was your fiancé you were looking for.” She brought her to the back of the boarding house to a large, bright kitchen. After pouring a cup of tea and pushing a plate of fresh cookies toward her, Mrs. Jones sat across the table from her and waited expectantly.

Although she'd hoped to keep her intentions to herself, Valerie found herself spilling all the details to the kindly lady. She started with the arranged marriage, then told her about how she'd fallen in love with Thomas and closed her story by explaining how she'd finally located him and come west. Throughout the tale, Mrs. Jones tutted and patted her arm.

“Well now, my dear, I can see that you have good intentions after all. At first, I worried that you were here to cause trouble, but I don't think that anymore.” Valerie leaned forward, hopeful that the woman had some knowledge as to Thomas’s whereabouts. Her next sentence confirmed it. “I know who you're talking about. He's changed his name to Thomas Wells, but that makes sense. He wouldn't want to go around with such a fancy handle while looking for work as a rancher.”

That bit of information caused her to stop crying and brought her up short. Her breath caught in her throat and she clenched the folds of her skirt. “Thomas is a rancher?” Her question came out more like a squeak. Although she thought that perhaps he was engaged in some kind of labor, she didn't quite see him branding cattle and riding horses. The image of him on a horse and sporting a ten-gallon hat brought a grin to her face. “Where? Could I hire someone to take me there? Do you know how to get there? Could I rent a horse and ride it out?”

Her barrage of questions made the older woman bark out a laugh. “Eager, are you? Well, you shouldn't let him see that. Play it cool with young sir and he'll come running.”

“But I crossed the country to see him,” she replied, aware that the comment came out more as a whine as her brow wrinkled in dismay. “I think it's too late for playing it cool.”

Again, Mrs. Jones chuckled. “Yes, I see your point. Well, still don't appear too eager. Just put the offer before him and see what happens. If he thinks you're desperate, he might hightail it out of town. A lot of young men are like that. It's the ones past twenty-five that'll marry anything alive in skirt.”

She'd heard that from more than one person now. The West was teeming with older men looking for wives. In the time that she’d been there, five different men had proposed to her practically upon introduction. She’d even heard of some who went so far as to put out an advertisement in the Eastern newspapers and ended up marrying complete strangers.

Well, none of that mattered anymore. Now that she knew his location, Valerie couldn’t stop thinking about how she could get to where he was, but Mrs. Jones wasn't going to let her run after him now. The ranch was more than two hours away and night was already falling.

“It'll keep till morning,” she assured her. “And then you'll have time to fix yourself up right. You don't want him seeing you for the first time in five years all raggedy like this.”

It was true that her outfit was not as fresh as she would have liked. She'd only brought five dresses and faithfully brushed them down and removed any spots each night, but the one she was wearing looked like it'd been through a battle.

“Yes, you're right of course,” she agreed, disappointment clear on her face. “I'll go tomorrow.”

It took some time to fall asleep that night as thoughts swirled around her head in a torrent. Each time she imagined seeing his face, butterflies beat against her ribcage. Would he light up at the sight of her? Would he take her into his arms? Would he propose right then and there?

Somewhere in the very back of her mind, she acknowledged that it might not go exactly like that, but she refused to dwell on the possibility. God had allowed her to come this far, and surely He wouldn't have let her if she was going to be refused. Her faith was strong enough to bring her thousands of miles away from home. It couldn't all be for nothing.