"It's a big city," Cecilia said now. "You might never see them."
It would be just her luck for Adam's family to move in the same social circle. What would her grandparents do if they saw her at some fancy party on Adam's arm? It didn't bear thinking about.
"Maybe not, but his family is wealthy. I would never fit in." How many dresses had she ruined over the years because of rough playing or sheer clumsiness? She didn't know which fancy fork to use at a dinner party. And she couldn't possibly be expected to hold her own in society conversation with her eighth-grade education.
"How do you know? You've never met them."
Cecilia's kind, practical words were like a spark on tinder to Breanna's temper. Her niece was playing devil's advocate, not agreeing with Breanna as she'd hoped.
"I've met Adam," she ground out. "He's well-read, well-spoken. We're nothing alike."
She was a novelty to him now, but their lives would never mesh. It was impossible. Her chest ached just thinking about it.
"And he doesn't know about the seizures," Breanna whispered into the phone.
"You haven't had one in almost two years." Cecilia was being practical again. "Why should you tell him?"
When she'd been a child, Breanna had experienced random seizures. Ma and Pa had discovered through corresponding with her birth mother that the seizures would fade away after she'd reached her majority—which had happened earlier this year.
But sometimes she couldn't quite believe they were really gone.
Cecilia was quiet for long moments. "If you've decided against him, why don't you send him away?"
Breanna gulped back the hot emotion in her throat. "I like him," she whispered.
"Then perhaps you should give yourself a chance."
"You're no help at all."
Cecilia laughed.
Breanna returned what turned out to be a soggy laugh.
"Sure I am,” Cecilia said. “I happen to think you're an intelligent, caring woman who will make a great wife."
It was so much the opposite of what she'd been told her entire life that Breanna found herself blinking back tears yet again. What was wrong with her this morning? She never cried.
"I'm glad to at least have heard your voice," Cecilia said.
"I miss you. You'd better get to class."
They rung off, and Breanna stared at the wall, unseeing. The phone call hadn't helped one whit.
She thanked Hattie, who was scrambling eggs in the kitchen, and walked outside to untie her horse.
She hadn't even mounted up yet when the crazy idea rolled through her brain again. It had popped into her consciousness last night when she couldn't sleep.
The Cowboy Race. Adam had mentioned it in passing.
She'd always longed for adventure. Craved it. And until two days ago, a husband hadn't even been a consideration.
It would take her two days to get to Iowa on the train. The race started soon after.
She could win. She knew it. Buster was fast and had enough stamina to make the long rides.
She swung up into the saddle but hesitated when she should've been riding toward home.
Home, where Adam would call on her again today. Discombobulate her and make her believe she could be his wife in Philadelphia. She couldn't.
