The two men were back in the paddock with Duke by mid-afternoon. The horse hadn't bucked or resisted John in anyway, but he warned Thomas that he still could.

“Every horse is different. Some take a week or two before accepting a rider, some a few days, and some never will.”

“Those are the ones that get trained to pull a wagon or some such, right?” Thomas asked, trying to distract himself from the fact that Valerie was in the house talking to the women. “How long before you know which is which?”

“Depends. Some, like this fella here, I can pretty much see he'll be good to ride for sure, but others you don't know until they've thrown you off a few times. You never really know what you're going to get until you try. You just have to wait and see.”

His words were heavy with meaning and Thomas released a long breath. Although there was more than twenty years between the two men, Thomas felt comfortable around John, who in turn, never spoke down to the younger man. Their relationship was something of a cross between father and brother.

“I don't know what to do,” he finally confessed, leaning against the fence and crossing his arms. “I'm torn between hightailing it out of here and trying to find out what she's thinking.”

John let the comment rest for a moment and then responded.

“I'm kind of confused. I didn't think people arranged marriages anymore. Is it even legal?”

Thomas grimaced. “Legal has nothing to do with it. And it still happens quite a lot among, uh, certain members of society.” He could tell that John had a lot of other questions on his mind, and he felt he owed it to this man to tell him. “You can ask.”

“I just don't understand why you didn't tell us before. We wouldn't have treated you any different.”

Now he raised an eyebrow. “Really? You wouldn't have treated the rich man's son differently than the one raised by a miner?” John merely raised an eyebrow. “Maybe not you, but I sure would have caught it from the other fellows. I never felt good about lying, and I pretty much just omitted a lot, but I guess you can't escape the past forever.”

He saw John's jaw clench and unclench. “Well, maybe not escape, but leave behind and move forward anyway.”

Thomas knew that there was something in John's past that very few people knew about, but he also knew it wasn't a topic for conversation.

“I just wonder if I should move on. If she found me, her father won't be far behind, and then my father after him.” Thomas nearly shuddered. It was as though he'd broken out of prison and the warden was on his trail, ready to bring him back to finish out his life sentence.

“And that's so bad?” John asked, patting the horse and pulling the blanket off his back. “Isn't it better to deal with all this straight than run away?”

“I was arrogant here, though. I used my real name, or at least a variation of it. I won't be so stupid again.” In his mind, he was imagining another ranch, somewhere south, maybe close to the Mexican border. Texas?

“No man can tell another what to do, but I don't know if you'll be happy living that way.” He gave the horse a final pat on the rump and gathered up the rope and blanket, passing them to Thomas. “Put that away and let's go for a ride.”

They saddled up their own mounts and took off toward where the other hands were sorting cattle and branding them for the next drive. Abruptly, John turned and headed in a different direction. Thomas followed wordlessly.

After about ten more minutes of riding, John stopped near a deep ravine. “You have a choice to make, clear and simple,” he told him. “Jump or turn back. What do you do?”

Thomas didn't understand immediately. “I just wouldn't come this way.”

“Wrong answer. You're already here, but you need to get to the other side. Do you jump or give up and go home?”

Looking over the edge, Thomas saw that there was a fifty-foot drop to the bottom. He swallowed hard and looked at the other side. It was only about five feet, but what if his horse didn't make it?

“I'd find a place where the gap is smaller,” he declared finally. “And then I'd jump there.”

John gave him a half smile. “That's your answer then. Find a way to deal with your problem without ruining your life.”

“But what if I can't find that place?” He understood what John was saying, but wasn't sure if it was going to be possible. Even though he didn't regret escaping the burden his parents wanted to put on his shoulders, he did feel bad sometimes that he'd hurt his mother, but not enough to stay. And now Valerie was here and he was hurting her too.

“When I can't find the way, I ask for help,” John said softly. “From the One who knows.”

His spirit tingled at the implication. “Yeah, well, God and I haven't really been on the best of terms for the past while.” He'd grown up going to church, but when he'd run away from his family, he'd left God behind too, or rather, he'd tried to.

“You might have some issues with God, but He'll wait until you've got them sorted.” He gave a little nod and then looked down into the ravine. “It's not His will to see you in there.”

“It sure feels like it sometimes,” Thomas grumbled, but he knew it wasn't true. Although he'd never had a deep faith, he wished for it. Seeing how much the others on the ranch loved God made him envious at times. “You don't think God has favorites? Seems to me He blesses some people more than others.”

The sun was heading toward the mountain peaks, so John turned his horse in the direction of home. “Nah, not favorites really. He loves us equally. That doesn't mean we all get the same thing, though. He's a good Father. He gives us what we need, not what we want.”

On the ride back to the house, Thomas considered John's words and tried to figure out how this current situation could be something that he needed. It was true that Valerie's sudden appearance reminded him of all he'd fled from back home, but something else had happened too. Memories that he had buried for years rushed forward, visions of Valerie and him talking, laughing, playing harmless pranks on their parents and siblings. She was two years his junior, but they'd gotten along well when their families were together. It was also true that he'd always thought of her like a sister. No romantic notions had entered his mind.

Then one summer, she'd left to spend time with her aunt upstate, and when she came back, she wasn't the same. Gone was the playful Valerie whom he'd enjoyed teasing and playing with, and in her place was a miniature debutante, someone he didn't recognize. She'd learned to imitate the airs and graces of her female relatives, and he hadn't liked it one bit. Then he'd overheard their parents talking about their future marriage, one that they'd apparently arranged years ago, and that had been the final blow. Already he'd been dreading his eighteenth birthday when he'd have to fully take part in his father's business, but to hear that his whole future had been planned out for him was too much to take.

The very next day, he'd run away and aside from the one letter he'd sent when he'd gotten to Minnesota, he'd had no contact with anyone from back east since. Until today.

His head spun with the consequences of Valerie's arrival, but even more with the feelings that swirled inside him. Seeing her grown up had surprised him, but he'd been able to put a distance between them until she'd shown her former self to him: sarcastic, funny and real. At that moment, he'd come to the very frightening realization that it wouldn't take too much for him to fall for her. She was exactly the type of woman he wanted to marry one day, except that she was still very much a part of the world he'd left behind.

* * *

Valerie awoke from her short nap feeling disoriented. When she realized where she was, her heart sank. Despite all her plotting and manipulations, her fantasy would always remain just that: a fiction of her own making. It was clear that Thomas had no desire to go back to New York with her, and now she was stuck. There was no way she could go back by herself.

However, she was never one to wallow in self-pity, so instead of lying in bed moaning about her predicament, she got up, washed her face, and sat down to contemplate her choices. Brow lowered, eyes half-opened, and lips pursed, Valerie went over all that had happened and all that she'd done.

It had been an act of defiance, some might say bravery, to travel west by herself, but she'd only been able to do that with the belief that Thomas would see his mistake in leaving and compliantly agree to come back. Now that the illusion had been destroyed, she had to decide what to do with the rest of her life. Going back to New York was not an option, but what else could she do?

Mentally she made a list of possibilities, dismissing nothing, no matter how silly. First, she knew that she could easily marry another man on the ranch, but being so close to Thomas would be torture. She played with the idea of opening a business in Great Falls, possibly some sort of clothing store. In her reticule, she carried a great deal of money by Western standards. It was all the money she'd ever received and it would likely be enough to at least start a business. Another idea entailed traveling north, away from all the drama. With the money, she could create a whole new persona for herself and with that, a new life. Perhaps the actual love of her life was waiting for her in Canada.

After going through a whole host of ideas, Valerie felt her hope slowly deflate. None seemed truly viable or desirable. And so, she did the one thing she should have done first. She prayed.

As she bowed her head, conviction of her own stubbornness coursed through her. She hadn't truly sought God for direction, but had only followed her own desires. Now she begged for wisdom. She was determined to make better decisions, truly seeking God's will first.

No sooner had she finished praying when the door opened a crack and Kate peeked in.

“Oh! You're awake. Good. May I come in?”

It might seem silly for the woman to ask permission to enter her own room, but Valerie appreciated her consideration. She nodded and Kate entered, closed the door, and sat down beside her.

“I've been talking with Marge and Elise about your situation, and I think we've come up with a solution. If you're agreeable, you can share a room with Maddie and stay here for the time being. We all believe that God brought you here for a reason. If that's to marry Thomas, time will tell. If not, then another answer will present itself, we're sure.”

Out of all her ideas, that one hadn't occurred to her. Valerie's eyes went wide and she looked at Kate in wonder. Her heart flooded with shame at having put Kate in this awkward position, but at the same time, she believed God was answering her prayer. Even though she wanted to pounce on the offer, she had to maintain some decorum. “Are you very sure?” she murmured. “I'm a complete stranger to you. How can you be so generous to me?”

Putting her arm around the younger woman, Kate gave her a tender squeeze. “How can I do anything less for a sister in Christ? And besides, we've all been where you are now, in one way or another.”

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “I don't think you've been in quite my situation,” she whispered. “I haven't told you everything.” Kate listened carefully while Valerie explained what she'd done and why. To her credit, she didn't flinch when Valerie explained how she had snuck away without so much as a word to her parents. Valerie hung her head, not daring to look at Kate.

“I see,” Kate said finally. “Well then, I think our idea is still the best one. If you earnestly believe that God has planned your engagement to Thomas, then you should stay until he believes it. I don't know how long it will take, but stay until one of you changes your mind. However, you must send a telegram to your parents letting them know that you are safe. They must be half-sick with worry by now. I know I would be.”

Valerie shook her head. “I don't know about that. They only wanted to marry me off to be rid of me, or turn a profit of sorts. Daughters are a burden to their parents, and me more than most, I'm afraid. Please don't ask me to do this.”

Kate pressed her lips together. “It is my only stipulation. Whatever else you do is up to you. If you really want to avoid letting them know exactly where you are, then I can have the postmaster send it to another location, and they will receive it from there. However, I must insist on this.”

“But...”

“Are you worried that they will come out here after you?”

She paused for a moment. What she was really concerned about was that her parents would force Thomas to marry her if they found out where she'd gone and why. Her own parents' marriage had been arranged and seemed completely devoid of love. She didn't want that for herself. “That's part of it,” she finally admitted. “But there’s more.” She relayed the information about Montgomery Bainbridge and Kate sighed.

“Yes, I can see why you’d want to avoid that. I don’t know if running away was the right choice, but I understand.”

Valerie had really believed that Thomas would fall helplessly in love with her upon seeing her again, but if that wasn't meant to be, then she would accept it...for now.

“I just thought I was doing the right thing,” she mumbled. “But now it all feels so wrong.”

Kate pursed her lips and nodded. “Well, I can't tell you what to do, but I hope you'll consider what I said. We're all in agreement about the matter.”

Giving her a wry smile, Valerie asked, “You mean all the women?”

“Yes, but I'm sure the men won't mind having another woman around the house. As you can see, Elise will be delivering her first child soon, so she can't do much in the way of housework, and my aunt is getting on a bit. She wouldn't admit it, but she's been feeling poorly lately and I know she wouldn't object to having you help out a little.”

Panic rose in her chest. “I-I’m afraid I'm mostly useless when it comes to work. My parents never let me lift a finger except to embroider, hold a pen or paintbrush...or play the piano.”

Giving her another little squeeze, Kate said, “Don't worry about that. Housework isn't hard to learn, just hard to do, but I think you're probably very capable. However, you will need something different to wear.”

They both looked down at her full, shimmering chocolate-colored dress with its flounces and lace.

“You mean I can't scrub floors in this?” Valerie asked with a cheeky grin. “But it's my plainest dress!”

“Honestly?” Kate's eyebrows arched up.

“No, it's one of my best,” Valerie laughed. “I thought it would impress Thomas, but if anything, it seems to remind him of a time he'd rather forget. Perhaps if he sees me in something simple, he'll be able to talk to me more openly. Okay. I'll do it. Let me just get changed.” She rose from the bed, a determined look on her face.

“Now?” Kate asked in surprise, but she followed her lead.

“No better time.” Valerie marched over to her trunk and flung it open and studied its contents. “I'm not sure I have anything suitable. Would you consider a trade?”

Kate laughed. “No, but I would be more than happy to lend you a dress or two that no longer fits me. After childbirth, it's pretty hard to get one's figure back. Come. You can choose.”

An hour later, Valerie was outfitted in a modest, simple dress. The garment was an inch or so shorter than the dress that lay in a heap on the floor. It wasn't scandalous at all, but the lighter garment moved easily, presumably for the sake of working. It was blue and white checkers, with a minimum of pleats and a plain bodice. It felt strange to be wearing something so unadorned, but freeing at the same time. Valerie stood tall and confident, smiled and nodded her gratitude.

“I like it,” she enthused. “Now, let's get to work.”

Kate and Maddie took great pleasure in showing her how to handle a broom and soon she was almost enjoying the labor. The dirt and dust vanished out the door under her vigorous sweeping.

As she moved from room to room, a small laugh escaped her lips. “If only you could see me now, Mother,” she murmured. “I'm afraid you would die of the shock.”