The Stranger's Secrets by Beth Williamson Read Free Book Online Page B

that.” Whitman picked up her bags as they headed toward the door. “I can be just as pigheaded as you.”
    Of that, Sarah had no doubt. One thing was certain, their trip would never be boring.
     
    Whitman wanted to shake Sarah. She was stubborn, maddening, and damned if he wasn’t attracted to her. As she had sat there on her bed with her boots unlaced and a mulish look on her beautiful face, his world had been turned upside down.
    He didn’t want to be attracted to her. She obviously didn’t like Yankees and wasn’t shy about letting him know. Aside from that, she had a big mouth, an even bigger chip on her shoulder, and she was absolutely the wrong woman for him.
    Whit was engaged, for God’s sake. Melissa was waiting for him in Kansas City, ready to start their new life in San Francisco. Yet he was traveling with a woman who knocked him sideways, making him question his sanity.
    What if she was the girl he’d thought about for the last twelve years? What then? He would definitely be the wrong man for her. He hadn’t helped her, hadn’t reported Booker, had done nothing but swallow the right thing to do, instead of doing it.
    Perhaps Sarah was a test for his promise to Melissa, his promise to the future. It would be a very long two weeks if that was the case. He’d need to keep thinking about Melissa’s sweet letters, and the image of what he thought she looked like.
    She was a small-town girl, and the simpleness of her life attracted Whitman. He’d lived in a cauldron of complex drama that wore on his nerves. When he’d lived on the farm in New York, it had been such a happy time in his life before his father died. Melissa represented a return to that life and he wanted to so badly, he could taste it on his tongue.
    Remembering where he was going and why helped tamp down the insane urge to kiss Sarah. It had come over him when he was on his knees in front of her, and it had stayed on his back as they left the hotel. Until they made it to the platform to board the train, Whit could hardly control his thoughts.
    As Sarah was walking up the steps into their compartment, she fell backward into Whit.
    “Son of a bitch.”
    The fact she cursed didn’t surprise Whit in the least. The feel of her in his arms hit him like a brick wall. Her scent, the softness of her curves, even the way her height matched his. All of it made him curse to himself.
    “She pushed me,” Sarah snapped as Whit set her back on her feet. “That bitch pushed me.”
    He didn’t have to ask who since he already knew. Apparently Mavis wasn’t going to go quietly into that good night. She was a vengeful creature who wanted Sarah to suffer for firing her. Any normal, sane person would accept it and move on. She’d gotten a train ticket in payment, and probably cash already, so there was no need to harm Sarah.
    Whit’s overactive protective instincts roared to life. A soldier was sworn to protect the innocent, and even if Sarah couldn’t be qualified as completely innocent, she didn’t deserve to be harassed.
    He helped Sarah to their compartment, then turned to look for Mavis Ledbetter. She deserved an adjustment to her attitude and he was the man to do it, with respect, of course.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Sarah’s voice stopped him in his tracks. She sounded annoyed at him.
    “To find Miss Ledbetter.” He never did like bullies.
    “Sit yourself back down then. I don’t need you to fight my battles, Kendrick.” She arranged her skirt on the seat, shaking off the dust from the walk over.
    “You’ll accept my help on this trip, but not my protection?” He snorted. “What kind of logic is that?”
    She gave him an impatient look. “Whoever said I have to be logical?”
    Whitman tried not to let his now active temper get loose yet again especially so early in the morning. The damn sun hadn’t even risen yet. A commotion out in the passageway distracted him before he could give Sarah a proper retort.
    “I have a