His father had blustered and bellowed, but in the end, Jeremy stood firm. He refused to perpetuate the deception any longer and told his father of his plans to travel to Laramie. Finally, John Murray Forbes had lifted his glass toward his son. “She must be quite a young lady.”
The memory of the confrontation lingered as Jeremy peered through the train window. “She is, Father. She is.” Once again he prayed Otto’s assessment of being “too late” wasn’t accurate as he watched the Laramie depot come into view.
But the sting of Otto’s declaration—“she was cryiri’”—hadn’t lessened one bit. He drew in a deep breath and prayed for favor.
Cowboys, cattle brokers, and other travelers milled about the platform, impeding Jeremy’s progress to inquire where he might rent a rig. Obtaining a hotel room could wait. The desire to see Rosemary drove him toward a crude sign announcing the location of a livery.
The livery man took his sweet time harnessing the horse, so Jeremy helped fasten a few of the straps.
“Do you happen to know how to get to the Denton place?”
The man straightened. “The Double D? Sure, everyone around here knows where Daniel Denton’s ranch is.” He pointed northwest. “Take Sentinel Street out of town till you come to the Laramie River. Follow the river road about six miles till it branches off. Take the left fork for another three or four miles. You’ll see the Double D on the rise to the west.”
Jeremy tossed his valise into the buggy and climbed into the seat. “Thanks.”
“Daniel Denton don’t take kindly to strangers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He slapped the reins on the horse’s rump and moved out in the direction of Sentinel Street. Praying all the way, he followed the stableman’s directions until a large gate bearing an overhead DOUBLE D loomed ahead. A half mile past the gate, a sprawling log home sat between towering fir trees, with expansive fenced enclosures and grazing land as far as he could see.
He tied the horse to the hitching rail and strode to the wide front porch. Before he reached the door, it opened and a mountain of a man with an intimidating scowl filled the doorway.
“Help ya?”
“Yes, sir. My name is Jeremy Reide For—”
Before he could get his whole name out, the huge man grabbed his hand and pumped it. “I sure am glad to make your acquaintance. I’m Daniel Denton. When my daughter wired that she was comin’ home, an’ I went into town to git her, she was a bawlin’ like an orphan calf. Now I can handle a calf but never could figger out what to do with tearyeyed woman. I felt about as useless as a twenty-two cartridge in an eight-gauge shotgun. She ain’t stopped cryin’ since she got home. Keeps sayin’ if only she could explain to Jeremy. So I reckon I’m glad you’re here.”
Denton led the way through the house and stopped short of a pair of doors that stood open to a covered back porch. He pointed. “She’s out there. Sure hope you can do somethin’ to stop them waterworks.”
Jeremy took a step, but Denton put one meaty hand in the middle of Jeremy’s chest and narrowed his eyes. “But if you hurt her worse, me an’ my shotgun are close by.”
Jeremy swallowed hard. “I don’t plan to hurt her, sir. God willing, I hope to help dry her tears.”
Denton nodded and stepped aside.
Rosemary blotted her tears with the corner of her apron, so heartsore she could barely raise her eyes at the sound of footsteps. Her mind played cruel tricks on her. After pining for Jeremy for days, his image now formed a mirage before her.
He positioned a chair in front of hers and sat, fidgeting with his hat. “Rosemary.”
Mirages didn’t speak.
“Jeremy, it’s really you.” The words barely slipped out on a raspy breath.
“It’s me.” He reached for her hands. “I couldn’t stay away. I had to tell you how sorry I am for walking away without giving you a chance to say what you wanted to say. You must admit, though, hearing you call me by another man’s name wasn’t exactly flattering.”
She shook her head, loosening tendrils of hair, but she didn’t care. “Wade is, or was, one of Pa’s cowhands. He’d been flirtin’ and tryin’ to charm me, and said he loved me.”
She went on to explain Pa’s reasons for sending her away and shared how she’d begged God to help her sort out her feelings. “I realized I didn’t love Wade. The day you came in all covered in soot, I’d been talkin’ with God about him, knowin’ he’d be here when I came home. It was the blue bandana. That’s why I thought for a moment you were Wade. He always wore one.”
Jeremy glanced out toward the cattle enclosures. “So he’s one of your father’s hands?”
“Not anymore.” A tiny smile tipped her lips. “Pa tells me he took up with a saloon girl in Laramie and ran off just a week after I left. I’m glad he’s gone.”
His gaze appeared to lock on their clasped hands. “I have something I need to tell you as well. I’ve been less than honest with you—with a lot of people.”
She stared wide eyed as he told her about his father’s plan to indoctrinate him in the workings of the business from the lowliest job to the boardroom. Hearing him speak his full name gave her pause.
She rolled the revelation over in her mind. So many things made sense now. “I wish you would’ve told me, wish you’d felt you could’ve trusted me. But I think I understand. We were both strugglin’ to honor our fathers.”
Jeremy dipped his head. “Please forgive me.”
She tugged his hands. “Jeremy, your name doesn’t change who you are. You’re still a gentle, compassionate, hardworkin’ Christian man.…”
Jeremy lifted his shoulders and finished her sentence. “Whose father just happens to be the president of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.”
Heat climbed into her face. “I’ve already told Pa.”
Jeremy jerked his head up. “Told him what?”
The burning in her cheeks intensified, and her heart drummed. “That I’ve fallen in love with a man who works on the railroad.”
A smile stretched across his face. His gaze slid to her lips, and he leaned toward her, pausing barely an inch away. “I think I fell in love with you the day you missed your train.”
His lips brushed hers ever so gently, and she murmured, “Promise me somethin’?”
He arched one eyebrow. “What’s that?”
She pulled back just far enough to lose herself in the depth of his eyes. “Promise you’ll never wear a blue bandana again.”