Travis sat back, holding his wife’s hand. “It was. She certainly made an impression on me. I was hooked at once, though it took a bit of convincing to get her to agree to a courtship.”
Cassie waved a hand. “I was busy getting my café started, with no time for a relationship. Or so I thought.” Stars in her eyes, she turned to her husband. “Thankfully, I was wrong.”
Ella’s heart squeezed in her chest.To think I used to dream of a love like that.She stifled a sigh. Now, she’d be happy just to survive on her own.
Cassie’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Ella? Are you all right?”
Ella shook herself. Both Travis and Cassie were scrutinizing her, concerned expressions on their faces. She forced a smile. “What a wonderful story.”
Husband and wife exchanged glances. She pretended not to notice.
Travis cleared his throat. “Are you thinking about your previous relationships?”
How’d he read her so well? Ella swallowed. “Yes.”
Sympathy shone from his eyes. “I’m sorry you’ve had bad experiences in love. But…”
The hesitation in his voice caught her attention. “But what?”
“Things had been bad for a long time. What happened to make you leave home?”
Her throat tightened. Some memories were better left buried. “I’d rather not talk about it. It’s in the past.”
He studied her. She sensed those hazel eyes saw more than she wanted to reveal. Ella looked down at the table.
To her surprise, Travis’s large, rough hand covered hers. “Someday, I hope you heal enough to bring whatever darkness you experienced to light. For now, we’ll respect your wishes.”
Tears burned her eyes. Compassion and understanding were not things she encountered often. “Thank you.”
Cassie patted her other hand. Ella appreciated the silent show of support even as Travis continued. “Did you tell anyone where you were going when you left?”
She shook her head. “No one. Not even Tori.”
“It must’ve been hard leaving her.”
An ache in her heart, Ella whispered, “It was.”
Travis blew out a breath. “At least your family can’t pry your location out of her.”
A spark of hope lit within. “Do you think I’ll be safe here?”
“Montana territory is vast. We’re a long way from Boston. It’s possible you could remain in Harmony Springs undetected. But your parents are very influential people with strong connections. They aren’t likely to give up. And Howard…” He squinted, anger tightening his cheeks. “If I read him right, he won’t let you go easily.” Travis thrummed his fingers against the table. “Do any of them know where I settled after leaving?”
“I…I’m not sure.” Dread seized Ella as a realization crawled through her mind. “Your letters…they were in my bedroom desk. I didn’t think to take them with me.” Her heart raced. “Do you think they would make the connection if those letters are found?”
Travis pressed his lips together. His eyes told her all she needed to know.
Cassie stood and rounded the table. Sitting by Ella, she slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You have us now. We’re your friends, and we’ll protect you however we can.”
Ella smiled, but it felt weak. Friends notwithstanding, if her family discovered her here, they would find a way to drag her back to Boston. Of that, she was certain.
CHAPTER 4
Life in the West was harder than Ella expected. Comforts she had taken for granted in Boston had no place in Harmony Springs. Indoor plumbing did not exist in this small town. The first time she made her way to the small outhouse in the freezing cold, Ella gagged at the stench inside. The dusty roads made washing more often a necessity. And while she was thankful to gain independence, doing her own chores instead of relying on servants was an adjustment.
Her bruises faded, the marks of her past vanishing in welcome relief. She spent her days with Cassie at the café. Her new friend graciously taught Ella how to cook—at least in a passable manner. Nothing Ella created tasted as good as Cassie’s dishes, but she took solace in the fact that she was able to make anything at all. No one allowed her to set foot in the kitchen back in Boston.
One evening, a week after her arrival, she prepared her first solo dinner for the Doyles. Since she made roasted chicken several times under Cassie’s watchful eye, Ella thought that might be a good choice. While the chicken cooked, she boiled potatoes to mash and opened a jar of canned peas to serve alongside.
