| |
Ellora Shepherd waited, her arms wrapped around her waist as the stagecoach passed her by. She’d expected him three days ago.
Him.
Her true love.
The dingy lace hem of her wedding dress fluttered in the afternoon breeze. She’d been crisp and fresh when she’d arrived from the east. She’d left everyone, everything. Rubbing her forehead and ignoring the gritty dust on her skin, she blinked wearily. Would he ever come?
Maybe if they hadn’t planned on running away together. Maybe if she had made him stay with her instead of promising to meet her in Texas. He’d suggested a no-horse town made of a bench seat by a natural spring and a post office.
That was it. Nothing else.
The town didn’t even have a name. They called it Fountain or something.
Well, if he wouldn’t come for her, she wasn’t going to wait.
She pushed away the biting agony his rejection ripped through her. No, she wouldn’t be a victim. Instead, she was going to thrive. Ellora would push past the disappointment and become the luckiest girl who’d ever been in Texas. She’d turn her sob story around.
She turned toward the spring with its muddy edges and green strands of grass reaching for the cool water. Bending down to scoop more of the refreshing liquid onto her face and hands, she laughed. The sound was deep and euphoric. She’d free herself from the strains of love. Never again would she allow any man to stomp on her pride.
The laughter echoed through the small valley and the man who worked the post office stuck his head out his door to watch her.
She didn’t care. Not anymore. Heck, if she wanted to, she’d kick off her boots and dance in the water barefoot.
In fact, that’s exactly what she wanted to do. Before she’d even fully articulated the idea, she’d stood and kicked off the worn leather boots. Hiking her skirt layers around her upper thighs, she danced into the slightly chilly waters and splashed sparkling droplets of water up around her.
The post office man ducked back into the building.
No more would Ellora wait on anyone to decide her fate. Nope. Not anymore.
And right there, Bride, Texas was born.