Chapter Five
HOW HAD SHE WISHEDa fiancé into being?
No, that was ridiculous. But how else could Sophia explain the presence of the man who was now pushing and pulling at the rope around her wrists?
And he wasn’t justanyman. He was exactly the sort Sophia might have chosen for herself, if she’d had time for suitors back in Kansas City. Tall and rugged, with a kind smile, he had rich brown hair that her mother would have said was a bit too long and dark blue eyes. Those eyes had darkened when he’d looked at the outlaws that had held her captive. She was certain he would have fought every single one of them for her freedom—and she’d never even met him before.
“Almost got it,” he said through clenched teeth as he yanked on the rope.
Sophia waited silently. Thankfully, she’d caught his name when her captors had asked for it.Matthew Canton. It was a good name, strong and with purpose.
And one she knew belonged to Daisy Timperman—not to Sophia Zane.
He was the reason Daisy was supposed to be on that wagon train. And clearly, he’d never met Daisy or seen a photograph of her, else he’d know Sophia was an impostor. Which meant their marriage was some sort of arrangement. Through well-meaning relatives, perhaps, or through a church hoping to civilize the West with the presence of good women. Or maybe Daisy had answered an advertisement for a wife.
She must have changed her mind. Or else she’d gotten sick, or—heaven forbid—passed on. But one might think her family would have notified Mr. Canton of those latter two options. No, Daisy Timperman did not plan on marrying Mr. Canton.
Of course, Sophia was now Daisy. Which meant—
“There!” Mr. Canton held up the rope.
“Thank you,” she said, rubbing her hands over her wrists to ease the raw ache.
He lifted the strap holding the canteen over his shoulder as he glanced out over the barren landscape. The dust the outlaws had stirred up as they left was now long gone, and it was just the two of them—and whatever else might live out here.
Daisy shivered with the notion. Sure, she’d survived several nights out here, but that had been with multiple men armed with shotguns and pistols. The bandits had taken Mr. Canton’s revolver.
“It’s late in the day,” he said. “Which means that’s north.” He pointed in a direction that looked exactly the same as every other direction. “We’ll eventually hit the river if we go that way, and we can follow that into Pueblo.”
Sophia nodded, not having any better advice herself. And besides, it seemed as if Mr. Canton knew what he was doing, which was more than she could say for herself.
They walked a little ways in silence, and just as Sophia thought she might burst from the fear that he’d figure out she wasn’t Miss Timperman and leave her here in anger, he finally spoke.
“I’m sorry I handed over the ring I bought you. Once we arrive in Crest Stone, I’ll see about getting another.”
She nodded, not sure what else to say.
