The Iron Horseman by Kelli Ann Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

of impropriety.
“What…what happened?”
    “Sorry.”
Cadence hadn’t intended to scare the woman. “Everything is grand,” she said.
    “But,
your cheek. Did someone hurt you?”
    “No,
it’s nothing. Really,” she said when the woman looked as if she didn’t believe
her. “I just took an embarrassing little spill on the road.”
    Emaline
looked down at her feet.
    “The
room is lovely.” Cadence wanted to put the woman at ease.
    Emaline
looked up at her again, a smile alight on her features.
    Cadence
glanced over at the table where the wash basin sat filled with filthy water.
“Is there somewhere I might be able to dispose of the water?”
    Emaline
looked at her with scrunched eyebrows. “Would you like me to refill your
pitcher?”
    “That
won’t be necessary. Sorry about the floors. I hope I didn’t dirty them too
badly.”
    “Nothing
a mop can’t handle.” She smiled. “You can just toss the bath water out the window
into the alley. I’ve got some shrubbery growing down there. A little muddy
water won’t hurt them.”
    Cadence
nodded.
    “Well,
then. Will you be joining us for supper?” Emaline asked.
    Cadence
cleared her throat. “Mrs. Cavanaugh has invited me to join her and her husband
for supper this evening. I hope that’s all right.”
    “Of
course, dear. Bessie is a wonderful cook. I’m sure you will have a lovely time.
Is there anything else I can get you in the meantime?”
    Cadence
looked around the room. She couldn’t think of a single thing at the moment. “I
wish I had time for a hot bath, but I think that will have to wait until I get
to my father’s ranch.”
    Emaline
smiled and nodded. “The creek is still a little cold yet for a...swim.”
    Both
women laughed.
    “Thank
you for your generosity, but I think I have everything I need.” A drop of water
fell onto Cadence’s cheek.”
    Her
hair.
    Emaline
had turned to walk away.
    “Actually,
Ms. Emaline, do you think you might help me with this mess?” She held up a damp
lock of hair.
    The
hotel owner’s face lit up. “I would love to. It is such a beautiful dark
color.”
    “Thank
you.” Cadence stepped away from the door to allow Emaline to enter.
    “I
wish you were staying longer. There aren’t many people our age in this town—not
yet anyway.”
    For
the first time, Cadence looked really hard at the woman. Her hands were
work-roughened and her eyes puffy from being tired, but Emaline was indeed a
young woman. It was not appropriate to ask a woman her age, but at this moment,
Cadence really wanted to know.
    “You’ve
really accomplished a lot here. There aren’t many women courageous enough to
brave life in the West.”
    “And
yet, here you are,” Emaline said as she led Cadence over to the vanity.
    “I
admire you. Can’t be easy running this place out here in the middle of…”
    “Nowhere?”
The woman filled in for her. “I’m one of the lucky ones.”
    Cadence
folded her lips together. “Do you have help? A partner?”
    “A
husband, you mean?” Emaline clarified with a smile as she collected the brush
from the dresser.
    Cadence
remained quiet.
    “I’m
afraid I’ve not yet been married. When Mr. Redbourne came to Boston and offered
me the opportunity to start a new life here in Flat Plains I thought he was
mad.”
    Cadence
sat up a little taller on the bench at the mention of the Redbournes.
    “But
when I realized that I could either cook and clean for the family I was
attending for a mere room and board or I could have my own place and cook and
clean for profit, I chose Flat Plains.”
    “Why
did Mr. Redbourne offer...?” Cadence knew her words were coming out wrong.
    “Why
would Mr. Redbourne offer such a thing to a lowly servant girl?”
    “I’m
sorry. That’s not what I meant. You are lovely. Truly.”
    “It’s
all right,” Emaline said, collecting some of Cadence’s hair into her hands and
brushing through the wet locks. “Levi said that he needed people who weren’t
afraid of