He inched forward. Her head snapped up again. A whimper left her lips. She stared at him, frozen in place, as if he was a rattler posed to strike. What had made this young woman so skittish? From her delicate cheekbones and heart-shaped face, he guessed her to be in her early twenties. Her clothes looked fancy, as though she came from wealth. What was she doing in an alley in the snow?
A dark thought whispered through his mind. Harmony Springs was a safe town, but people came through all the time on the train. Had she been robbed? That would explain her distraught countenance.
“You need to get somewhere warm.” He rose, holding out a hand with his palm up. “Why don’t you let me take you to see the sheriff? He’s always got a pot of coffee on. Maybe you could tell him what’s wrong.”
She looked him fully in the face for the first time. When she spoke, it was a degree above a whisper. “The sheriff?”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s a good man. He’ll make sure you’re safe.”
She swallowed. Her teeth chattered, and her body shook. Her wet clothes must have her chilled through.
Alarm ran over him. “Please, let me help you.”
She eyed his extended hand, uncertainty written all over her face. It was clear she didn’t trust him. Not that he blamed her. He was a stranger, and her reactions told him she’d suffered some kind of mistreatment at the hands of a man. But they didn’t have time to dally. If she didn’t get warm soon, she could get sick. Or worse.
He reached out and grasped her hand. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
The woman’s eyes widened into saucers, but he ignored it and pulled her to her feet in one fluid motion. He overestimated her weight. She flew toward him, gasping as she landed with a thud against his chest. He could feel her heart beating rapidly through the layers of her coat. A tiny, frightened mew left her lips. To his horror, her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp. He caught her up in his arms as she fell, dismay pulsing through his veins. A woman had never fainted on him before.
A pang smote his belly. If he’d scared her that much, he owed her reparation, no matter how well-meaning his actions had been. Silently cursing his impulsivity, Cody lifted her into his arms like a baby and cradled her close to protect her from the wind.
There was no way to escape the eyes of the townspeople as he walked from the shelter of the alley. Many of them stopped and stared. He heard whispers, but he ignored them. His only concern was getting the young woman to safety.
Warm darkness surrounded Ella. Something pressed down on her, a heavy weight holding her limbs still. She cracked her eyes open. Bright sunlight streamed through a nearby window. Glancing down, she took in the stack of blankets laid over her. She blinked. Looking up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. Panic seized her. Where was she, and how had she gotten here?
Memories of the tall, intimidating man from the alley crashed down on her, his face indiscernible in the shadows. Though he spoke with a kind voice, it held notes of gruffness. He’d insisted he wanted to help her, but then he jerked her toward him, and the terror…
She shivered despite the layers of blankets. Why couldn’t she remember anything after that? Closing her eyes, she tried to fit the pieces together. Within moments, it clicked. Ella sucked in a sharp breath. She’d fainted! The one thing she promised herself she’d never do had happened because of another overbearing man who thought he knew best. Another man who tried to make her bend to his wishes. Another man who…
Ella cut the thought off by squeezing her eyes shut. “No!” Speaking the word out loud helped her calm. The man in the alley had been trying to help. Perhaps she judged him too harshly. Just because men had proven false time and again in her life didn’t mean this man was bad.
Did it? He’d said he wanted to take her to the sheriff. She let her gaze roam the room. This bright bedchamber was decidedly not an office of law enforcement. It was clean and comfortable, decorated in good taste, with dainty blue curtains at the windows and an ornate vase on the nightstand. Had he taken her to his home?
Panic threatened again, but a cheerful, feminine voice cut it short.
“Oh, good. You’re awake.”
Ella turned her head as a blond woman walked into the room. A smile graced her face, making her blue eyes twinkle. She came to a stop beside the bed. “You had us worried there for a bit. A good portion of your dress was horribly wet. Cody was afraid you might take sick or have frostbite. He wasn’t sure how long you’d been in the cold.”
“Cody?”
“My brother. He’s the one who found you. I’m Cassie.” She plopped in a chair beside the bed. “You’re not from around here.”
“No.” Ella pushed back some blankets and struggled to sit up. Her ribs ached in response. She grimaced, falling back against the pillow.
Cassie stood at once. “Let me help you.” She slid an arm behind Ella’s back and helped her into a seated position.
The ache soon subsided. Ella gave the woman a small smile. “Thank you.”
Cassie sat again. She chewed on her lip for a moment before blurting out, “Is it the bruises?”
Ella froze. How could Cassie know about those? She looked down, noting that she wore a nightdress that didn’t belong to her. A gasp left her lips. “Did you change my clothes?”
Cassie nodded. “You couldn’t stay in that wet dress. You needed warmth. But I saw…” She trailed off, glancing at Ella’s arms. “Well, I saw your arms. And your sides.” She looked up, meeting Ella’s eyes, compassion lighting her own. “What happened? Cody thought someone might have attacked you as you left the train station.” She frowned. “But I didn’t think bruises formed that fast.”
“I…I…” Panic set in again. She swallowed, trying to fight it.
Understanding flashed over Cassie’s face. “It’s all right. You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”
