Introduction

 

Josephine Clark, with a heart as untamed as the Western landscapes she yearns to explore, dreams of a life beyond the confines of a simple farmer's wife. A chance meeting with the enigmatic Gabe Bolton, a globetrotting stranger with tales of distant lands, sparks a flame within her. Fate separates them until the circus where Gabe performs as the mesmerizing trick rider arrives in town. Charmed by his skills, Josephine's world crumbles when a jilted suitor's malicious rumors turn her community against her.

 

Can the whispers of the townsfolk extinguish her blossoming romance with the trick rider?

 

With her reputation tarnished, Josephine finds solace among the colorful performers of the circus, lost in the mysterious eyes of Gabe. However, their haven is threatened when the town accuses the circus folk of a series of horse robberies. Determined to clear their names, Josephine and Gabe join forces to unveil the true culprits. In a race against time, Josephine and Gabe navigate treacherous terrain, seeking the truth that will set the circus free.

 

Will they reveal the cunning conspiracy before it’s too late?

 

As their quest for justice unfolds, Josephine and Gabe’s irresistible attraction grows even more. Yet, with time ticking away, they must confront the looming shadows that threaten not only the circus but also their chance at love. Will Josephine's newfound courage be enough to embrace her true self and join Gabe on a life-altering adventure? Or will the whispers of the past drown out the possibilities of a future filled with love and freedom?

Chapter 1

 

 

“Josephine, you must come down, darling. You have a gentleman caller.”

 

 

 

Josephine Clark was brushing her hair in front of her mirror when her mother came through her bedroom door. Her mother’s voice was breathless, and she was trying to suppress a wide grin, surprising as her mother always preached the value of keeping a tight rein on one’s emotions.

 

 

 

Since Josephine turned nineteen, she’d received gentleman callers at least once a month. That made six offers of courtship in total. Josephine knew she should be grateful; instead, it tied her stomach in knots. Everyone was looking at her expectantly to make a decision.

 

 

 

“I’ll be right down, Mama.”

 

 

 

Josephine hoped it would be the end of the conversation, but her mother strode forward and took the brush from her hand. She began brushing Josephine’s hair gently.

 

 

 

“Let’s tie your hair with your pretty sapphire ribbon we got in town the other day. Take care not to tie all your hair back, perhaps just the top half. You’ve got such beautiful hair, and we want him to see you in your full glory,” her mother said as she pulled the brush through Josephine’s hair.

 

 

 

Josephine had inherited her hair from her mother. It was a deep chestnut color with lighter streaks running through it. Her hair had a natural wave to it and fell halfway down her back.

 

 

 

“Mama …” Josephine murmured, her cheeks turning red.

 

 

 

She tried to hide her feet under the dresser, but the movement caused her mother to look downward.

 

 

 

“Heavens, Josephine! What did you do to your feet?”

 

 

 

Josephine’s face turned a brighter shade of red as she turned to look at her mother. “I went for a ride earlier and had no idea someone would be calling this morning.”

 

 

 

“This simply won’t do,” her mother said, making a clicking sound with her tongue. “There must be something else to wear.”

 

 

 

Josephine grimaced as her mother began digging through her closet. Her hem was spattered with mud, but she didn’t mind. It had been worth the morning ride, especially since she’d have to endure meeting another potential suitor.

 

 

 

“Honestly, Josephine,” her mother chided as she looked through the closet. “You’re beautiful to be sure, but that doesn’t mean you get to act like a savage. Beauty will only carry you so far, you know!”

 

 

 

Josephine sighed. The rant was supposed to scare her into submission.

 

 

 

“Do you think your future husband will put up with your wild behavior?”

 

 

 

“I hope my husband will love me for who I am, Mama,” Josephine said simply.

 

 

 

“Yes, well I doubt you’ll get a better offer than the one waiting for you downstairs,” her mother said, taking out a light blue dress.

 

 

 

It was Josephine’s best dress and complemented her eyes perfectly. Like her father, she had bright blue eyes the color of Blue Jay eggs. As soon as she finished dressing, she changed her boots as her mother tied the ribbon into her hair.

 

 

 

“Alright, Mama, shall we go down to meet our visitor?”

 

 

 

“One moment,” her mother said. She pinched Josephine’s cheeks for a little color then stood back and beamed at her daughter.

 

 

 

“Goodness, who is this man? The King of England?”

 

 

 

“Close,” her mother said with a laugh, “come down and see for yourself.”

 

 

 

Josephine chuckled to herself as she followed her mother out of her room. Her heart constricted with nerves, and she took a series of deep breaths to calm herself. Was this the man who would win her heart?

 

 

 

When she made it down the stairs, she heard a deep booming voice emanating from the living room. The sound made her slow down slightly. She knew people in town accused her of being picky, especially when she rejected her third potential suitor, a good-looking rancher.

 

 

 

But Josephine was conscious that she was making one of the most important decisions of her life. Was it so terrible that she wanted to be careful?

 

 

 

Her mother picked up on her reluctance and looped an arm through hers.

 

 

 

They stepped into the living room and Josephine saw her kind, gentle father scowling at the man sitting on the adjacent couch.

 

 

 

Josephine scrunched her nose slightly and her father looked up at her. He shook his head almost imperceptibly, and she raised her guard. What kind of man was he if he couldn’t get along with someone as sweet as her father?

 

 

 

Her father cleared his throat and stood up. “Wyatt, I believe you know my daughter, Josephine.”

 

 

 

Wyatt stood up, and Josephine’s heart sank. She knew all about Wyatt Bolton. He turned to her and gave her a charming smile.

 

 

 

He was a tall man with golden blond hair and a square jaw. His hair hung in ringlets down to his neck. Wyatt was the most handsome man in town by far and the richest, too. That probably explained why her mother was wearing a smug smile.

 

 

 

“How do you do, Miss Clark?” Wyatt walked over to her and extended his hand.

 

 

 

She hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking his hand. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed it. Her stomach roiled as he kept his eyes on her the entire time.

 

 

 

“I’m doing well, thank you, Mr. Bolton.”

 

 

 

He wore polished leather boots and a light grey suit that looked good against his tanned skin. A silver pocket watch peeked out of his waistcoat, and he had a bright red handkerchief in his top pocket. Josephine believed he had put more thought into his outfit than she had.

 

 

 

“Please, you can all call me Wyatt.”

 

 

 

Her mother beamed at him before brushing a strand of hair from Josephine’s face.

 

 

 

“We’re so glad you made the trip, Wyatt,” her mother said.

 

 

 

“Of course, Mrs. Clark,” Wyatt said, still looking at Josephine. “I was just telling your husband here that when I heard Miss Clark was on the market, I knew I had to do something about it.”

 

 

 

On the market? It took everything inside of Josephine not to recoil.

 

 

 

“I must confess that I’m surprised by your visit, Mr. Bolton. I had heard you were courting a young woman further up the county. What was her name? Miss Howard?”

 

 

 

Wyatt shook his head dismissively. “I’m sure you must have heard wrong. I am completely unattached.”

 

 

 

Josephine raised a single eyebrow at him. She had heard the news straight from her cousin, Jim, who was an exceedingly trustworthy man. He wasn’t given to gossip, so she was certain Jim hadn’t gotten it wrong.

 

 

 

“Perhaps,” Josephine conceded.

 

 

 

“I was wondering if you would like to accompany me for a walk through your gardens?” Wyatt asked, extending his arm to her as he spoke.

 

 

 

Josephine hesitated, but her mother nodded eagerly and pushed her forward. She had no choice but to take his arm. His arm felt like steel under his soft jacket. He pulled her along as he marched toward the door.

 

 

 

“It’s a beautiful day,” Josephine commented as they stepped outside.

 

 

 

The sun shone up ahead, and it promised to be a balmy summer. Their farm was situated a few miles outside town, nestled between acres of farmland. The cornfields stretched out ahead of them. It was still about a month before the corn would need to be harvested, so the fields were mostly green and only reached Josephine’s waist.

 

 

 

“Only because you’re out here,” Wyatt said, looking down at her with a smile. “Do you know that you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on?”

 

 

 

Josephine gave him a small smile in return.

 

 

 

Their garden was her mother’s passion. She’d spent hours outside planting various flowers and tending to her plants. People usually remarked on her efforts, but Wyatt kept his eyes planted firmly on her face.

 

 

 

Josephine knew it was meant to be flattering, but it made her skin prickle uncomfortably.

 

 

 

“I’ve heard that you have rejected every man who attempts to court you. Is that true?”

 

 

 

Josephine let out a little sigh. “I suppose it is, but I never meant to be capricious, you see …”

 

 

 

“Who could ever accuse a little thing like you of being capricious?” Wyatt asked, shaking his head slowly.

 

 

 

Josephine felt a stab of annoyance.

 

 

 

“You’re a selective woman, and I think that’s a quality to be admired. In fact, it’s the reason I chose to come here today. As you know, I have a vast estate in dire need of a mistress. I will take you through to look at it next week. I wouldn’t want folks around here to think we’re moving too quickly.”

 

 

 

“Too quickly?” Josephine echoed. “Excuse me, Mr. Bolton, but I had no idea that we were moving at all.”

 

 

 

“My dear,” Wyatt said, his tone suggesting that he was a parent talking to a difficult child, “why do you suppose a man like me calls on a woman like you?”

 

 

 

“I had no doubts about your intentions, but usually a man asks if a courtship is something I’d like to pursue.”

 

 

 

She pulled away from him and gave him the most scathing look she could muster. He seemed amused by her efforts, and that only made her blood boil. Wyatt took a step forward so that he was towering over her.

 

 

 

“Why must we indulge in this charade, my dear? You and I both know how this will end.”

 

 

 

“I’m afraid that you’re mistaken.” Josephine clenched her fists at her sides. She looked around to see if she could spot her father or one of the farmhands. It was clear that Wyatt wasn’t used to being rejected, but she wouldn’t let him bully her.

 

 

 

Wyatt scoffed and ran a hand through his hair. He clenched his jaw briefly, then relaxed his shoulders and smiled at her. “Alright, I see you’re the type of woman who enjoys the game. I assumed that we could be adults about this, but I should have known that women rely on flattery and persuasion.”

 

 

 

“I beg your pardon?” Josephine asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

 

 

 

“No need to beg, my dear,” Wyatt said, straightening his jacket. “I’m happy to play your little game. I do plan on making you happier than any other woman in the West. So, what does it matter if I have to pretend to chase you? It will all end in the same outcome.”

 

 

 

“I don’t want to be chased, Mr. Bolton, I’d prefer …”

 

 

 

“Miss Josephine Clark,” Wyatt grabbed her hand and covered it with his own. It was huge, and her hand immediately began to sweat. “Will you allow me to court you?”

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Josephine jerked backward and pulled her hand away. Her face scrunched in disgust, and she felt the urge to run away as fast as her legs could carry her.

 

 

 

“Mr. Bolton,” she said coldly, “I do not want to court you.”

 

 

 

Wyatt’s face became an impassive mask, and he clenched his jaw. She stood her ground as he took a step closer.

 

 

 

“I am not a patient man, Miss Clark. I won’t let you keep playing these games much longer. You must be aware that I am the most eligible bachelor in town.”

 

 

 

“That may be the case, but I am not interested. I’m sure many women in town would be flattered by your attention. Go, find them.”

 

 

 

She turned on her heel and walked away from him.

 

 

 

“Don’t you walk away from me!” Wyatt snapped, following her. “Who do you suppose is a better match for you? No one in town would make a better offer!”

 

 

 

“It’s not about that,” Josephine said, keeping her eyes on the house as she walked. “I don’t want to court you because I don’t think I could come to love you.”

 

 

 

Wyatt scoffed. “You’ll come to love me. I shouldn’t imagine that it would take very long.”

 

 

 

“Mr. Bolton!” Josephine said, rounding on him. “Do you know what kind of life I want for myself? You don’t know a thing about me. I suppose you want a wife who would serve you hand and foot for the rest of your days. If that’s the case, then I most certainly am not the woman for you.”

 

 

 

“I am richer than any other man in town. You would never want for anything. I’d keep you safe, and our boys would go to all the best schools. Besides, we’d get to know each other during our courtship. I’m warning you not to throw away the best offer you’ll ever get.”

 

 

 

“I don’t want your money, and I certainly don’t want to bear your children!” Josephine glared at him in disgust.

 

 

 

Once again, he seemed unaffected by her outburst and merely blinked at her reaction. “A temper is not attractive in a woman. I expect you to unlearn that beastly habit at once.”

 

 

 

Josephine threw her hands in the air in frustration. If she were a man, she would have physically thrown Wyatt out on his ear. Of course, if she were a man, she wouldn’t have had to deal with him in the first place.

 

 

 

“I don’t know how to be any clearer, Mr. Bolton. I will not court you.”

 

 

 

Wyatt’s face darkened. He loomed over her and sneered. “I see now that your parents have spoiled you beyond measure. You should be begging on your knees for this opportunity. I don’t enjoy this coy game of yours.”

 

 

 

“Is everything alright, Josephine?”

 

 

 

Josephine looked backward to see her father standing on the porch, watching them with a wary expression. The relief she felt threatened to overwhelm her. She could always count on her father.

 

 

 

“Everything is fine,” Wyatt said. “We’re just having a little chat.”

 

 

 

“Actually, I think we’re done talking. I have nothing left to say.” Josephine turned on her heel and walked over to her father. When she got close enough, she put her hand on his arm, and he gave her a comforting look.

 

 

 

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Wyatt said, gritting his teeth. “I’ll see you all tomorrow. Hopefully, Miss Clark will have come to her senses.”

 

 

 

With that, he walked toward the hitching post where his horse was waiting. It was a huge beast of an animal and looked like it would be more suitable on the battlefield than waiting outside a farmhouse.

 

 

 

“I take it that you didn’t accept his offer of courtship?” her father said, looking down at her in amusement.

 

 

 

“He didn’t offer, Papa, he demanded.” Josephine shuddered as she spoke.

 

 

 

“Oh no, that simply won’t do. Shall I greet him with a shotgun tomorrow?” The corners of his mouth turned upward, and Josephine bumped his shoulder with her own.

 

 

 

“Now isn’t the time to be joking. I fear that Wyatt won’t leave me alone until he gets what he wants,” Josephine said with a frown.

 

 

 

“No one can force you to do anything you don’t want to,” her father said, putting an arm around her and holding her close.

 

 

 

“Where did Wyatt go?” her mother asked, walking onto the porch with a frown.

 

 

 

“I don’t think Mama feels the same as you do,” Josephine whispered, causing her father to smile.

 

 

 

“He’s gone, Grace,” her father said simply. “Poor fellow didn’t pass muster with our daughter.”

 

 

 

“What?” Her mother’s mouth fell open with shock as she stared at her daughter. “What on earth were you thinking, Josephine? Call him back this instant.”

 

 

 

“I will do no such thing,” Josephine said, pulling away from her father and crossing her arms over her chest. “That man is a brute, and I will never marry him.”

 

 

 

“Ben!” Her mother cried, looking over at him. “Please, talk some sense into your daughter. She simply cannot be rude to Wyatt.”

 

 

 

He looked between the two women. Josephine raised an eyebrow at him, and he sighed. “Grace, darling, this is Josephine’s decision. We must support her.”

 

 

 

“She’s rejected every suitable man in town! The only people left are farmhands and shopkeepers. Is that what you want for your daughter?”

 

 

 

Ben hesitated, then shook his head. “I want whatever Josephine wants.”

 

 

 

“Josephine,” Grace said with a frown. “I need you to be careful. You’re a good girl from a fine family, and you’re beautiful. You might feel invincible right now, but that won’t always be the case.”

 

 

 

“What do you mean?” Josephine asked with a frown.

 

 

 

“It’s not only love that you’re after, is it?” Grace asked, looking Josephine right in the eyes.

 

 

 

Josephine pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. Ben looked away uncomfortably and scratched the back of his head. He muttered something about needing to feed the cows and then hurried away.

 

 

 

Josephine wished she could have asked him to stay, but she knew her mother wanted to speak with her alone.

 

 

 

“I’m afraid that you’ve set your sights too high, and that’s blinding you to the wealth of good options right in front of you.” Grace studied Josephine’s face, and when Josephine didn’t answer, she sighed. “This is a good life, my darling. Most girls would kill to have the kind of life you’re throwing away.”

 

 

 

“I’m not throwing anything away,” Josephine protested.

 

 

 

“But you’re not content,” Grace said, shaking her head slowly.

 

 

 

“What’s wrong with that, Mama?” Josephine asked gently. “I want a life of adventure. There’s more to life than farming and family, Mama. There’s a whole word out there begging to be explored.”

 

 

 

“Oh, darling,” Grace looked at Josephine as if the girl had blasphemed. Her expression was horrified, and Josephine shrank backward. “Those things aren’t available to us. If you refuse to see the good that’s here, you’re going to end up in a terrible position. Please, listen to me. I want you to promise that you’ll at least treat Wyatt better if he comes back.”

 

 

 

Josephine cringed inwardly and shook her head.

 

 

 

“Listen to me,” Grace said firmly, catching Josephine off-guard. “You’re underestimating the kind of power that man has on your life.”

 

 

 

Josephine frowned. She had rejected Wyatt. In fact, she would do everything in her power to ensure she didn’t put him in a position where he could influence her life. “Mama, he can’t do anything to me. I rejected him. I will not consent to becoming his wife.”

 

 

 

“And how will he retaliate if you humiliate him?” Grace asked.

 

 

 

Josephine shrugged. She hadn’t given it much thought, but it seemed more like his problem than hers.

 

 

 

“Darling, he could blacken your reputation. If you’re not careful, you’ll get a bad name around here.”

 

 

 

“People can believe what they want,” Josephine said with a shrug, “surely they won’t be stupid enough to listen to that brute.”

 

 

 

Grace shook her head sadly. “Do not take a threat on your reputation lightly. At the end of the day, a reputation is all that a woman has. If that’s taken away, your life will change forever as you know it.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Gabe Blake was busy packing up everything he owned. The circus was alive with the sounds of folks calling to each other and companions laughing. For the past few weeks, the Barton and Ringer Circus had been camped out in a place called Hope’s Creek. Their time in the town had ended, and they were all set to move on to the next.

 

 

 

“Where’s Gabe?” Beau Ringer called in a gruff voice.

 

 

 

Gabe heard his boss calling him from outside and rolled his eyes. A few seconds later, the door to his caravan burst open as Beau stood there with his hands on his hips. As the circus ringmaster, Beau lived his life as if it were a performance. It became a little tiresome after a while.

 

 

 

“Hi, boss,” Gabe said, turning away from Beau as he folded his clothes neatly. “How can I help you?”

 

 

 

“Last night was a disaster,” Beau said simply. He looked warily at Gabe as if the young performer was about to attack him.

 

 

 

Beau always kept his beard long to conceal a few facial scars. Word around the circus was that Beau had been attacked by a bear when he was a kid. That was why he had a suspicious nature. Of course, Gabe knew better, as he had known Beau for most of his life. The truth was that Beau had had a nasty case of Smallpox when he was younger that left the bottom half of his face pockmarked.

 

 

 

“It’s bound to be different now that I’m performing solo,” Gabe said with a shrug.

 

 

 

“I knew there were going to be growing pains for the first few weeks, but that was worse than I expected,” Beau said, raising an eyebrow. “Is this going to be a problem? Do we need to find you a partner?”

 

 

 

Gabe rolled his eyes and turned to his boss. “Come on, Beau, cut me some slack. I did all the tricks right, and the crowd loved it.”

 

 

 

“That’s because the crowd didn’t know any better,” Beau said, wagging his finger at Gabe. “I know better! We have a standard to maintain. I hate to pressure you, but you need to get your act together. Or else.”

 

 

 

“You can’t fire me,” Gabe said, leaning against the side of his caravan as he looked at Beau.

 

 

 

Up until a week ago, Gabe had shared the caravan with his brother and fellow performer. Now, his brother was gone, and Gabe was trying to get used to the extra space.

 

 

 

“No, I can’t,” Beau grumbled, “you trick riders are hard to replace. No, I won’t fire you, but I’ll make you take a partner. Come on, a pretty girl should liven up your act.”

 

 

 

“Yeah, let’s just look around and find a pretty girl to leave her whole life behind and join the circus,” Gabe said, shaking his head slowly. “You know it’s not that simple. Besides, that situation usually gets messy. Someone’s bound to fall in love, and I don’t have time for that kind of distraction.”

 

 

 

“Fine, fine,” Beau said, raising his hands in surrender. “Are you ready to leave? Remember, I asked you to go ahead and check that the next place is ready for us.”

 

 

 

Gabe perked up; he loved going ahead because it meant he had some time to himself. He desperately needed some time to find a way to improve his act. He’d never admit it, but Beau was right. His performance the previous night had been lackluster.

 

 

 

“Sure, I remember; I’ll head out right now,” Gabe said, grabbing his pack and hurrying toward the door.

 

 

 

Beau stepped out of the way as Gabe made his way outside. Within minutes, he saddled his horse, Khan, and was heading north.

 

 

 

“It’s just you and me, boy,” Gabe said, patting Khan’s powerful neck.

 

 

 

They set off into the woods and followed the main road. Gabe rode for a few hours, and eventually, he spotted the small town over the horizon. It was a beautiful afternoon, and hills, forests, and farmlands surrounded him, but as he crested the last hill before town, he spotted something alarming.

 

 

 

About a mile away, he saw a young woman with long brown hair running toward a nearby patch of woods with all her might. She made a beautiful picture with her hair billowing behind her. He spotted a bright blue ribbon in her hair.

 

 

 

Gabe didn’t have much time to focus on her because he spotted a tall man running behind her. The look of alarm on her face alerted him to the fact that the two weren’t playing a game. She looked terrified.

 

 

 

“Let’s go, Khan,” Gabe said, urging his horse toward the woods. A sense of urgency dogged him as he raced toward her.

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

The morning after Wyatt’s first visit, Josephine awoke with a sense of foreboding. She knew Wyatt would return, and she needed to be careful about how she treated him. Her mother’s words had scared her more than she cared to admit.

 

 

 

Were her dreams too unrealistic? She didn’t like to think so, but she also didn’t want to look back and regret anything. Josephine tried to get her mind off things by singing as she worked.

 

 

 

It worked a little too well because as she was busy sweeping the porch, she was surprised to hear the thundering of hooves down the road. She looked up to see Wyatt riding toward her with an older woman riding alongside him.

 

 

 

“Hi there, Miss Clark,” he said, tipping his hat toward her as he dismounted his horse.

 

 

 

“Hello,” she said quietly, holding onto the broom as she watched him.

 

 

 

Grace came out of the house and stood beside Josephine. She put an arm around Josephine, her grip a little tighter than necessary.

 

 

 

“How pleasant to see you again, Wyatt,” Grace said with a polite smile.

 

 

 

“It’s a pleasure to see you too, Mrs. Clark,” Wyatt said, grinning widely.

 

 

 

Josephine kept her eyes cast downward.

 

 

 

“Oh please, call me Grace. And call my daughter Josephine. There’s no need for such formalities anymore,” Grace said.

 

 

 

Josephine looked up at her mother to protest, but Grace responded by squeezing Josephine’s arm a little tighter.

 

 

 

“That’s mighty kind of you, Grace,” Wyatt said, his eyes alighting on Josephine.

 

 

 

She cringed and kept her gaze carefully averted.

 

 

 

“I thought I’d come by and extend an invitation to join me for a picnic, Josephine. My housekeeper, Claire, offered to be our chaperone.”

 

 

 

Josephine looked up to see Claire sitting on her horse. Claire’s expression suggested that she would rather be anywhere else. The older woman looked in her late forties and was dressed in a depressing grey dress. There seemed to be no color in her at all, as her skin was sallow, and her hair was mouse-brown.

 

 

 

“I don’t …” Josephine started.

 

 

 

“Josephine would love to go,” Grace said, all but shoving her daughter off the porch.

 

 

 

“Mama, I have chores to do,” Josephine pointed out, lowering her voice. “I fear that I simply don’t have the time to go gallivanting at the moment.”

 

 

 

“Come now, Josephine,” Wyatt said, his voice slightly whiny, “there will be plenty of chores when you get back.”

 

 

 

“Go on,” Grace said, “it’s such a lovely day. You wouldn’t want to spend it cooped up inside, would you?”

 

 

 

Josephine looked between Grace and Wyatt. It was clear that she wasn’t going to get out of the picnic. Instead of protesting, she decided to change her tactic.

 

 

 

“Fine,” Josephine said, “but I’m taking Aurora.”

 

 

 

“Aurora?” Wyatt echoed.

 

 

 

“My horse,” Josephine said simply as she turned and walked toward the stables.

 

 

 

A few minutes later, Josephine met Wyatt and Claire in front of the farm. She had dragged her feet while getting Aurora, but eventually, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

 

 

 

“I was starting to think you had run away,” Wyatt said with a tense smile when he saw her.

 

 

 

“No such luck,” Josephine said, returning his smile.

 

 

 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday,” Wyatt said, spurring his horse. “Since you seem to enjoy the chase so much, I thought I should pull out all the stops and make you feel special.”

 

 

 

Claire snorted beside him and rolled her eyes. She then gave Josephine a withering look.

 

 

 

“I’m sorry that I gave you the wrong impression,” Josephine said, keeping her back straight as they trotted along. “I don’t want to be chased. I simply don’t think we will be a good match.”

 

 

 

“And thank you for giving me the chance to prove you wrong,” Wyatt said with an impish grin.

 

 

 

Josephine’s hand tightened on the reins, and Aurora let out a little huff. Aurora was a sleek, dappled mare who had a wild streak. She loved to gallop and often had a mind of her own. Ben had given the horse to his daughter when Josephine turned sixteen, and the pair had been inseparable ever since.

 

 

 

Aurora began cantering a little faster, and Josephine made no move to stop her.

 

 

 

“You’re going a little fast there,” Wyatt said, sounding peeved.

 

 

 

“Oh, I’m sure a man like you can keep up,” Josephine quipped.

 

 

 

His smile seemed a little forced, but he made his horse go faster, too. Aurora twitched under Josephine. It was a sure sign that the horse was itching to start running. Although Josephine felt the same way, she knew it probably wouldn’t be a good idea.

 

 

 

“Slow down, girly,” Josephine whispered to Aurora. “I promise I’ll take you riding this afternoon.”

 

 

 

Aurora snorted loudly, but she slowed her pace. They rode in silence for a little while as Josephine racked her brains for something to say.

 

 

 

“Does your mama let you manage parts of the household?” Wyatt asked, causing Josephine to look at him in surprise.

 

 

 

“She entrusts me with chores,” Josephine said with a frown. “And we work together closely. Is that what you mean?”

 

 

 

“Well, I know your father owns a vast farm, but it’s nothing compared to my own estate. I was merely wondering if you are prepared to take on the immense responsibility of managing my household,” Wyatt said earnestly.

 

 

 

Josephine stared at him in shock. “Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?”

 

 

 

“It’s a reasonable question,” Wyatt said with a shrug. “After all, the courtship will end in marriage.”

 

 

 

She gritted her teeth as she looked away. It seemed that no matter how often she said it, he still didn’t seem to understand that the last thing she wanted was to be courted by him.

 

 

 

“I will be perfectly capable of managing my own household someday,” Josephine said.

 

 

 

Wyatt seemed pleased by her answer, and she felt sick to her stomach. She wished that she wasn’t going out for a picnic with him. Wasn’t giving him the wrong idea worse than rejecting him outright?

 

 

 

Her mother’s logic seemed flawed, and now Josephine felt trapped. She decided that when she returned from the picnic, she would tell Wyatt in no uncertain terms that his pursuit was unwelcome.

 

 

 

“Ah, here we are,” Wyatt said, stopping at a shady patch beside the road.

 

 

 

A dam was nearby, and the fields were alive with wildflowers. Overhead, the birds were singing gaily. It was a beautiful spot. And it was located by the main road leading into town, so anyone who passed would immediately see them together.

 

 

 

Josephine’s shoulders sagged. By nightfall, most of the townspeople would know that she had gone on a picnic with Wyatt Bolton. That news would set off all the gossips in town.

 

 

 

She dismounted her horse and loosened the reins so Aurora could graze in the field nearby. There was a thicket of trees nearby. She had explored the area around the farm thoroughly as a child and knew there was a shortcut through the trees back to the farm. Something told her that she might need an escape route.

 

 

 

“I must say that I’ve enjoyed watching you grow up, Josephine,” Wyatt said.

 

 

 

While he spoke, Claire dismounted her horse and carried a bulky basket to a shady spot. She unrolled a blanket and began taking food out of the basket.

 

 

 

“May I help?” Josephine asked, walking up to Claire.

 

 

 

“No, no,” Wyatt said, taking Josephine’s arm and steering her away from Claire. “When you’re with me, you don’t have to work.”

 

 

 

“I don’t mind,” Josephine said, but Wyatt shook his head.

 

 

 

“No, I insist. It would only embarrass me, and Claire would be uncomfortable. Now, what was I saying before you interrupted?”

 

 

 

Josephine pursed her lips. She wanted to point out that he rarely let her finish a sentence without interrupting.

 

 

 

“Oh right, you’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. I remember passing by the schoolyard a few years ago and seeing you among the other children. You were a pretty child, and I knew you’d be one to watch out for …”

 

 

 

Josephine shuddered in disgust. She had never noticed him lurking by the school, probably because she had been too busy playing with her friends. Now, she knew he had been spying on her for a while.

 

 

 

She was conscious of his hand on her arm, so she stepped away. He ignored her efforts and took a step closer to her. Every time he came closer, he made her want to run away screaming.

 

 

 

Claire cleared her throat meaningfully, and Wyatt turned around to look at her.

 

 

 

“Look at this spread! It’s fit for a king. Come, sit with me, Josephine.”

 

 

 

Josephine dutifully walked over to the blanket and sat on the outer edge. She kept a careful eye on Wyatt. The food certainly looked magnificent. There were roast beef sandwiches, miniature apple pies, and bottles of cider. It looked good, but Josephine was too tense to eat.

 

 

 

“Come, let us say grace,” Wyatt said.

 

 

 

Before Josephine could say anything, he grabbed her hand and began praying. She stared at his hand in shock and looked around frantically. No one had come past yet, but she knew what they would see if they did.

 

 

 

It was exhausting. She never usually cared what people thought, but her mother had instilled a terrible fear in her. The thought of people turning away from her in disgust hurt her, and she wanted to do everything she could to keep her reputation spotless.

 

 

 

As soon as Wyatt was done praying, Josephine pulled her hand away from him.

 

 

 

“Here,” Wyatt said, holding a sandwich out for her. “Take a bite.”

 

 

 

She leaned forward to take it away from him, but he pulled away at the last second.

 

 

 

“No, no, you have to take a bite.” His eyes flashed dangerously, and she leaned back.

 

 

 

“No, thank you,” she said, taking a sandwich for herself. “I already have one.”

 

 

 

Wyatt snorted and stuffed the sandwich into his mouth. She let out a small sigh of relief and looked around. It was a beautiful day. Unfortunately, Wyatt decided he wasn’t done yet and moved to sit next to her.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Claire had retreated and stood at a safe distance, watching them carefully.

 

 

 

“That’s too close,” Josephine said uncomfortably, trying to move away.

 

 

 

“Oh, don’t make me sad,” Wyatt said, catching her hand when she got up. “I did all of this just for you. It’s supposed to be special.”

 

 

 

“I appreciate that,” Josephine said, trying to loosen her wrist from his grasp.

 

 

 

“You haven’t thanked me for all my effort yet,” Wyatt said, lying on his side and propping his head up as he looked at her.

 

 

 

“Thank you, Wyatt,” she said tensely.

 

 

 

“I didn’t feel your appreciation,” Wyatt said, tugging her hand.

 

 

 

Dread filled her stomach, and she looked around. The road remained empty, but her nerves were frayed. A single question ran through her mind. What would people say? She looked at Claire, but the housekeeper seemed intent on ignoring what was happening.

 

 

 

“Thank you, Wyatt,” she said in a louder tone.

 

 

 

“Perhaps I need more than words,” Wyatt said, the corners of his mouth turning upward. “I know how you can properly thank me. You can kiss me on the cheek. That sounds like a fair trade.”

 

 

 

Josephine recoiled and yanked her arm hard. He chuckled as he let her go and watched her stumble a few steps back. Anger bubbled up inside of her as she glared at him. All rational thoughts slipped out of her mind at that moment.

 

 

 

“I have had quite enough of this,” she decided. “Good day to you, Wyatt.”

 

 

 

She turned on her heel and began walking. Aurora had already strayed quite far and was standing close to the thicket.

 

 

 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Wyatt shouted.

 

 

 

She kept her eyes fixed forward and kept walking. Only when she heard Wyatt start after her did she begin running as fast as she could. From the corner of her eye, she saw a rider on the hill. She considered calling for help, and then she heard Wyatt behind her.

 

 

 

“Get back here!” his voice hit her like a sledgehammer. “You’ll be sorry for this!”

 

 

 

Josephine glanced back to see Wyatt running after her.

Chapter 4

 

 

Josephine focused on her breathing and the way her feet hit the ground. She kept her eyes on Aurora and refused to look back. It would only slow her down.

 

 

 

Her fear threatened to choke her. He was so much bigger and stronger than her.

 

 

 

“I just want to talk!” he called out, but she refused to believe him. “This is just a misunderstanding!”

 

 

 

Josephine shook her head as she ran. She had to keep going. It didn’t matter what people thought. All that mattered was that she was happy with her choices. Although she didn’t want her reputation to be tarnished, she knew then that she would rather be rid of him than anything else.

 

 

 

Aurora spotted her and quickly trotted toward her. Josephine quickly mounted her horse. As soon as she was on top of Aurora, Josephine began to breathe freely.

 

 

 

When she turned, she saw Wyatt stop a short distance away. “Josephine, don’t be like this. I was only joking. Come back to the picnic.”

 

 

 

“You made me feel uncomfortable,’ Josephine said slowly, trying to control her breathing. “I do not want to see you again.”

 

 

 

“You’re overreacting,” Wyatt said in frustration. “Don’t throw away a good thing here. We’d be such a good match. Come on, there’s still plenty to eat. Claire made all that food just for you.”

 

 

 

“I said no,” Josephine said, narrowing her eyes at him. She kicked Aurora’s sides lightly, and the horse broke into a trot then quickly began galloping.

 

 

 

Josephine guided Aurora toward the woods and ducked when she saw a low-hanging branch. She breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the woods. Her skin felt hot and prickly. Wyatt’s words hung around her like a swarm of bees, and she wondered if he had been right.

 

 

 

Was she spoiled? Had she simply overreacted? She decided that she would make sense of it all from the safety of her own home. Aurora began to slow down as she rode, and Josephine quickly checked behind to ensure no one was following her.

 

 

 

The path was narrow, with trees on either side. There was a bend up ahead with a sharp turn. Josephine knew it well because she had once taken the turn too quickly when she was younger and had been thrown from her horse. She had been bruised for weeks.

 

 

 

“What’s going on, Aurora?” Josephine asked gently.

 

 

 

Aurora snorted, and a few seconds later, a man on a horse came galloping into view. Josephine grimaced, and her whole body tensed up. The man brought his horse to a halt just in time, and they stared at each other in shock.

 

 

 

For a moment, she wondered if Wyatt had hired a man to stalk her. It was a ridiculous thought, and she shook her head firmly. The whole situation was making her paranoid.

 

 

 

“Are you alright?” the man asked in alarm. “I saw you were being chased.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Gabe found himself face-to-face with a strange woman. The only thing he could think was, ‘beautiful’. She regarded him warily, her eyebrows raised as her body tilted away from him. He couldn’t blame her if what he had seen was accurate, she had good reason to be suspicious.

 

 

 

“Are you alright?” he repeated when she didn’t answer him.

 

 

 

She stared at him for a moment longer before nodding her head. “Yes, I’m alright, thank you.”

 

 

 

Gabe didn’t believe her, so he continued watching her silently. He wanted her to feel safe around him. A leaf rustled behind them, and she looked behind her in alarm.

 

 

 

“What about the man?” Gabe asked. “I saw him running behind you.”

 

 

 

She let out a heavy sigh and bit her bottom lip. Gabe sensed her reluctance and slowly got off his horse. Khan let out a whinny, and Gabe gently patted his neck.

 

 

 

“Hush now, Khan,” Gabe said. “We’re alright.”

 

 

 

“Khan?” the woman asked, tilting her head curiously. “I’ve never heard that name before.

 

 

 

“It means ‘prince’,” Gabe explained proudly. “I got this prince from a Turk in New York.”

 

 

 

“I’ve never been to New York before,” she said, leaning forward. “Is that where you’re from?”

 

 

 

“Not quite,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m not from anywhere in particular.”

 

 

 

“What does that mean?” She frowned at him as if trying to discover all his secrets.

 

 

 

“It means that I travel a lot,” he said with a shrug. “I guess you could say it’s in my blood. I’m Gabe, by the way.”

 

 

 

“I’m Josephine,” she said, “and this is Aurora.”

 

 

 

“Do you live around here, Josephine?” He liked the way her name sounded. It was almost lyrical, and his heart skipped a beat as he said it out loud.

 

 

 

“You ask an awful lot of questions,” she said, the corners of her mouth turning upward in amusement.

 

 

 

At that moment, they heard the sound of hooves galloping toward them. Gabe took one look at the fear on her face and gestured for her to follow him. The woods around them were thick, but that would work in their favor.

 

 

 

“Come on,” he said, “we can hide here.”

 

 

 

Josephine didn’t question him as she dismounted Aurora and followed him into the woods. They carefully made their way through the undergrowth until they came to a small hill. Together, they went downhill until Gabe was sure they weren’t visible from the road.

 

 

 

He looked over at her and noticed she was fidgeting with the sleeve of her shirt. He tilted his head until she looked at him, then he brought a single finger to his lips and shushed her.

 

 

 

She frowned at him as the hoofbeats subsided. Once it was quiet, Gabe felt it was safe to speak.

 

 

 

“Do you owe him money or something?” Gabe asked, trying to lighten the mood.

 

 

 

Her brow furrowed as she looked at him. When she realized he was joking, her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled at him. It transformed her face completely and took his breath away. He was sure she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. To his embarrassment, every rational thought flew out of his head at that moment.

 

 

 

“No,” Josephine said with a chuckle, “I wish. It’s more complicated than money matters.”

 

 

 

Gabe shrugged. He didn’t want to pry into her personal business. She was clearly having some difficulty, and he didn’t want to add to that.

 

 

 

“What do you think is the best place you’ve ever been to?” Her soft voice surprised him.

 

 

 

“That’s hard to say,” he admitted. “I suppose I love New York, but Mexico is special too. I spent some time in Europe, but it was cold and dreary. People tell me I went at the wrong time, so I’ll have to try it again.”

 

 

 

Josephine gave a thoughtful sigh. “I’ve never been anywhere.”

 

 

 

“There’s something to be said for settling down and growing roots,” Gabe said slowly. “It’s not the worst thing in the world.”

 

 

 

“It is, especially if you desperately want to experience the world,” Josephine said, sitting on the ground. “I would give anything to travel freely as you do. I can’t even leave my hometown without getting into trouble. If I went on my own, it would be a disaster. My only hope is to find a husband who has an adventurous spirit. The odds of that happening around here …”

 

 

 

Gabe gave her a worried look. Was that why she was being chased? Some men couldn’t take no for an answer.

 

 

 

“It doesn’t sound like it’s any of my business,” Gabe said, lowering himself next to Josephine, “but an adventurous spirit isn’t something you should be sad about.”

 

 

 

Khan had wandered a few feet away and was nibbling on some undergrowth. The other horse had done the same, and they were eyeing each other carefully. Neither got too close, and they kept a safe distance between them.

 

 

 

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re a man. And you’ve already traveled extensively,” Josephine pointed out.

 

 

 

“Fair enough,” Gabe said, raising his hands in surrender. “I only meant that somehow fate will find a way to intervene. You’ll find your adventure someday, Josephine. Keep true to yourself, and I promise that it will happen one way or another.”

 

 

 

Josephine looked at him in surprise. “You don’t talk like anyone around here. No one’s ever told me that before.”

 

 

 

“Are you saying that I’m one of a kind?” Gabe asked with a smile.

 

 

 

“I suppose so,” Josephine said, shrugging lightly. “What are you doing in this town, anyhow?”

 

 

 

Gabe smiled mischievously. “Wait a few days, and you’ll see. It will be a nice surprise.”

 

 

 

The sound of hoofbeats returned, and they both kept quiet.

 

 

 

Most people didn’t take too kindly to circus folk. They came to shows but weren’t eager to be friends with the performers. Gabe sensed that Josephine wasn’t like that but was still hesitant. They were having a nice time.

 

 

 

The sound of the horse faded again.

 

 

 

He peeked over the top of the hill. No one was around. Although he was enjoying himself, he knew that Josephine was likely feeling shaken up by her earlier encounter. It pained him, but he stood up and held out his hand to her.

 

 

 

“May I escort you home?” He secretly hoped that she would suggest that they stay longer. Unfortunately, she took his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet.

 

 

 

Her hand felt warm and delicate in his, but he made sure not to linger.

 

 

 

“My family’s farm is right down this road,” Josephine explained as they made their way back.

 

 

 

Gabe quickly whistled at Khan, and both horses began following them.

 

 

 

“Khan is very obedient,” Josephine observed as she took Aurora’s reins.

 

 

 

Gabe grinned as he ruffled Khan’s mane. The horse hadn’t been very obedient when Gabe had first gotten him. Over the years, Gabe and Khan developed an unbreakable bond forged through hours of training and death-defying stunts.

 

 

 

“Thank you,” Gabe said.

 

 

 

He thought about inviting her to see the show but quickly dismissed the idea. She would have to come on her own. Besides, where would they go from there? Gabe had learned long ago that some things weren’t meant to last. Instead, he focused on what time they had together.

 

 

 

“Today certainly hasn’t been ordinary,” Josephine mused as they walked along the path.

 

 

 

“Those are the best days,” Gabe said, looking at the sky.

 

 

 

It was a beautiful shade of blue, and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. He knew he had to get to the field that Beau had secured before dark. The rest of the circus folk wouldn’t be far behind.

 

 

 

“I don’t know about that,” Josephine said. “I don’t think Wyatt will be too pleased about what happened today.”

 

 

 

“Do you care what he thinks?” Gabe asked.

 

 

 

Josephine blinked in surprise, then slowly shook her head. “No, but my mama says I must be careful around him.”

 

 

 

Gabe shrugged. “He strikes me as the type of person who won’t be happy unless you give him what he wants. Is that something you’re willing to do?”

 

 

 

Josephine shook her head firmly. As they broke through the tree line, he saw a farmhouse in the distance. Their time had ended, and he felt a twinge of sadness about that.

 

 

 

“Well, then it doesn’t matter how careful you are, does it?” Gabe asked.

 

 

 

“I suppose not,” she said quietly. “Thank you for walking me home; it was lovely meeting you, Gabe.”

 

 

 

Gabe inclined his head toward her. “I’m glad our paths crossed. And who knows? We might see each other again someday.”

 

 

 

“I certainly hope so,” she said with a small smile that tugged his heart.

 

 

 

With that, he waved at her and mounted his horse. He watched as she walked back, and once he was sure that she was safe, he turned to leave.

 

 

 

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