Mail Order Bride: Emma's Escape: (Clean Historical Western Romance) (Brides of River Valley Book 1) by Autumn Vanderbilt Read Free Book Online Page A

to ask questions. Emma wasn’t sure what to do. The men had their backs to her so she couldn’t see their faces but then the two men fighting changed position which made the man watching them intervene. There was something familiar about the observer's shoes. As they continued to fight, Emma could make out their faces from the street lamp but she got a big shock when she saw the face of the man who had to join the fight. It was Lenny! It couldn't be but it was, she saw his snakeskin shoes that he was so fond of wearing.
    Frozen in fear, she watched him and his accomplice pummel the other man into submission resulting in the man falling to the ground. He didn’t move. Abhorred that she had witnessed a murder and that her Lenny was part of it, Emma screamed alerting the men to her presence. They came running towards her and then she saw Lenny for who he was. He glared at her and catching her by the wrists pinned her to the wall.
    “You shouldn’t have come here, Emma. I told you that I’d call by. You don’t say nothin’ to anyone, Emma. Hear me? This is men’s business. You had no right to be here. Arnie, call a cab for my beloved and see her home. I’ll deal with that.” Lenny’s eyes went to the man lying on the path.
    Emma’s mind was having trouble reconciling the gentleman Lenny she loved with the brutish thug who had just killed a man. Even the way he spoke was different. She rubbed her wrists and the way he looked at her made Emma understand that she was in big trouble. There was no getting away from Lenny.
    Bundled into the carriage with Lenny’s friend sitting beside her, Emma’s mind went to other people’s comments and looks when she mentioned Lenny’s name. She hadn’t understood it at the time but the fear that she saw now made sense. Others knew this side of him. Did Leah know or was she just suspicious? Emma was stuck now. And her dress was torn. Lenny’s man said nothing to Emma. He just opened the door as they stopped outside her boarding house. He watched her go inside and then the cab left.
    Emma went straight to Leah’s room. Leah knew straight away that something was wrong. Emma wore her heart on her sleeve and her face was always her giveaway. She held Emma tightly as Emma told her of Lenny’s “job” and what she had seen.
    “Leah, should I go to the police? I’m so confused. How can my Lenny be that man?”
    “Emma, you must tell no one. Lenny will kill you if you go to the police. We have to find a way to get you away from here but for now you must stay on Lenny’s good side. Let’s get you changed, it’s 6:30 pm and my guess is he will be here by 7 pm. You’ll have to courteous to him, it’s the only way to keep you safe. I’ll figure something out. Now come on.”
    Leah was right. At 7 pm precisely, Lenny arrived all dapper ready to pick his lady up. Leah had returned to her room but listened out.
    “You look so pretty, my love. Why aren’t you wearing the purple dress?” Lenny spoke as if nothing had happened.
    “It’s a little ripped so I chose this one but I can change if you want me to.” It took all of Emma’s energy to remain calm but she was very afraid.
    Lenny never discussed the incident with Emma. Instead, he pushed her to set a wedding date, the sooner the better.
    Over the next few days, Emma stopped eating, she just couldn’t stomach the idea that the man she loved was a killer and she had no escape. Lenny seemed more attentive than ever, although Leah suspected he was keeping an eye on Emma to make sure she wasn’t talking to anyone, even her as it was harder for her to find time alone with Emma.
    Emma prayed for divine intervention. The Lord had been good to her and a source of great comfort but it didn’t seem like he was listening to her at the moment. She felt very alone. Convinced that Emma was back under his control, Lenny relaxed a little. As his “business” required his attention, it gave Emma and Leah an opportunity to hatch a plan