TO ELLA’S RELIEF, THE train started moving again once the storm blew over. There were still bursts of lightning here and there on the horizon, but nothing to keep them from resuming their journey. It looked as if the storm was blowing east.

“Feeling better now?” Colton asked as he looked into her eyes.

She nodded, thankful for his attentiveness during the storm.

There was a knock on the door. “Pardon the interruption,” the conductor said as Colton opened the door. “We’re on our way, but we’re a little behind schedule. Dinner will be served in the dining car in just a few minutes, and while you’re out, I’ll convert your private car into berths.”

“When will we arrive in Wyoming?” Ella asked.

“In two and a half more days. It’s a three-day journey to Laramie,” the conductor said, smiling proudly. “But the railroad is working on making the journey even faster.”

Ella smiled. That meant sharing the cabin with Colton for two nights, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. “Thank you,” she replied, forcing a smile.

He nodded and tipped his hat as he walked on to the next cabin.

Colton smiled mischievously.

Ella rolled her eyes. “Don’t even think about it.”

Colton chuckled under his breath, obviously enjoying her discomfort a little too much. “Shall I leave, my lady, so you can dress for dinner?”

She shook her head. “Let’s go.” She shook her head as she pushed past him.

Colton chuckled behind her.

She heard him close their cabin door, and a moment later, his hand was on the small of her back. “Shall we?”

She rolled her eyes, but let him guide her to the dining car.

Fine china and crystal were set on white tablecloths against spacious windows.

“Two for dinner?” a steward asked.

“Yes, please,” Colton replied.

The steward reached for two menus and held them to his chest. “Very well, then. Right this way.” He walked to a nearby table, expecting them to follow.

“Well, I’m pleasantly surprised that we’re traveling in first class,” Ella mused as she slid into her seat.

Colton smiled, unable to resist. “I’m sure that Mr. King would want nothing less for his future bride.”

A slight pang of guilt pulled at her chest, but didn’t let on as she looked at the menu. Here she was having such a good time with Colton when she was promised to another, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.

A waiter approached a moment later. “May I fetch you something to drink prior to ordering?”

Ella shook her head, but looked over at Colton. “Are you ready?”

“Um... I think I need another minute to look over the menu, but I’ll take a bourbon, please,” Colton stated.

Ella fumed at Colton’s snide comment that Mr. King would want nothing less than first class for his future bride, sure that he was just trying her patience. “Very well. I’ll take a glass of wine.”

The waiter nodded. “Any specific kind?”

“Chateau Margaux.” She’d heard so many people speak of the French wine, but had never been able to bring herself to spend so much money.

A grin spread across the waiter’s face. “A very good choice, madam, if I may say so.”

Ella nodded her thanks and watched as he walked away.

Colton bit his lip to keep from smiling.

“Don’t say it.”

But, obviously, he couldn’t resist. “He thinks we’re married, I’m sure.”

Ella gave him a sarcastic smile. “And since we are sharing a cabin, we aren’t going to tell him anything different.”

Colton nodded, clearly amused, and reached across the table to hold her hand, teasing her. “As you wish, my lady.”

She quickly pulled away. “And stop calling me that!”

A couple dressed in their finery gave her a dirty look.

“Well, what are you looking at?” Ella asked.

The woman scoffed. “Well, I never!”

“Yes. That’s probably the problem,” Colton mumbled under his breath.

Ella bit her lip to keep from smiling.

“Huh,” the woman scoffed, and then she turned her attention back to her husband. The gentleman narrowed his eyes at Colton. He must have thought better of it, because he quickly turned his attention back to his wife.

Colton chuckled as he looked at Ella. “You have spunk, I’ll give you that.”

Ella laughed, too. “I guess that was a bit unladylike.”

Colton shook his head, still laughing. “No. That was perfect! Do me a favor.”

“What?”

Colton reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Don’t ever change.”

She slowly pulled her hand away, enjoying the feel of his hand on hers a bit too much.

“Here you go,” the waiter chirped as he set the drinks down on the table. “May I take your order?”

Colton nodded to her.

Ella smiled and then turned to the waiter. “I’ll take the baked chicken with mashed potatoes and carrots for the main course.”

The waiter nodded. “And for you, sir?”

Colton looked at the menu and up at the waiter. “I’ll have the same.”

“Very well, sir.” The waiter bowed, smiling. “I’ll have that to your table momentarily.”

Ella took a sip of her wine, and it warmed her on the way down. “So, why are you doing this?”

Colton took a sip of his bourbon and set it back on the table. “What do you mean?”

“Why are you going west?”

Colton paused for a moment before answering. “The same as you.”

Ella smiled. “So, you want to be a mail-order bride, too?”

Colton laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant.” He bit his lip as he looked down at his drink and up into her eyes. “I want to start a new life.” He let out a deep breath and then leaned toward her conspiratorially.

Ella nodded as a thought occurred to her. “Colton, why did you come to New York?”

He shrugged as he let out a sigh. “To get away. Actually, I never stay too long in one place. When you’re a gunslinger, a good one, you earn a reputation. Every young upstart wants to challenge the fastest gun around.” He offered her a smile. “Actually, I’m originally from North Dakota.”

She leaned forward, interested. “Why did you leave?”

He let out a deep breath. “My father died in the Civil War, and my mother was granted a homestead. Some banker tried to sidle up to her for the land, but she wasn’t having any part of that.” He laughed, remembering. But then his smile faded. “Then one day he decided to take it by force, and I wasn’t having any of that.” He paused for a moment, and then continued. “Needless to say, after that, word got around, and I left town so as to protect my family. I’ve been moving since.”

Ella nodded, seeing Colton in a new light. “And now?”

He forced a smile. “And now I want to stop moving, start over, settle down.”

Ella looked at him, concerned. “Were there a lot of men who hunted you down?”

Colton nodded. “Men and teenagers.” He looked away, and then back into her eyes. “I tried to talk many a man out of challenging me, but few would listen.”

“And you had to kill them.”

He forced a smile. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t.”

Ella nodded, understanding.

“Sure, some deserved to die, but others were just drunk and didn’t wake up the next morning.” Colton took a swig of his bourbon, and then looked out the window.

“Here’s the first course,” the waiter exclaimed, pulling a cart to a stop at their table. He ladled soup into a bowl and set it before Ella. He did the same for Colton, and then set a basket of freshly sliced bread down in the center between them. “Your meals will arrive shortly.”

It was as if Ella was seeing Colton for the first time. She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers. “You want to leave that life behind?”

He nodded, forcing a smile.

Ella gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “And you will.”

Colton looked into her eyes, and for a moment, her breath caught.

“Here you are.” Ella pulled her hand back as the waiter set plates down before them. “Is there anything else you require at the moment?”

“A glass of water,” Colton stated.

“The same for me, as well,” Ella added.

“Very well, then,” the waiter responded. “Enjoy.”

They ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. But all too soon the meal was over and the plates cleared.

“Shall we?” Colton asked as he held the door of their cabin open for her. Inside, their seats had been converted into berths. Ella nodded, but Colton stopped her. “Ella, I want you to know that you’ll be safe with me.”

She nodded as she forced a smile. “Just give me a minute.”

He nodded. “I’ll wait right out here.”

She closed the door. Her eyes traveled around the room. Their luggage was on a stand to the side. She quickly pulled off her dress, hat, and her corset. Then she slipped into a gown and covered herself with her robe, and then climbed into the berth to the left. “Okay. I’m ready,” she called out.

He slowly opened the door and didn’t look over at her. The perfect gentleman. Ella closed her eyes, but couldn’t help but sneak a peek as he pulled off his shirt, exposing the tight muscles beneath. He left his pants on, but pulled off his boots and his belt, and then climbed into bed. “Ready?” he asked as he looked in her direction.

She nodded, and he doused the light.

“See you in the morning.” Colton’s voice pierced the darkness, causing her heart to flutter. “Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

But when Ella closed her eyes, images of Colton invaded her dreams.