She’d figured that out almost immediately, after she’d caught the fellow looking at her more than once, and not with anything one could consider admiration or curiosity. His neat dress—and frequent passes by her seat—made his occupation even more evident. He hadn’t interrupted her, and as far as she was concerned, he could notify her father that she was happy, confident, and determined all he liked so long as he didn’t impede her progress.
Charlotte had been certain Papa would keep him employed once she’d reached town, and yet she hadn’t seen him once.
But shehadseen Mr. Becker frequently, with his devilishly handsome grin and his penchant for lurking just where she might need him.
Her brow furrowed as she considered the shop where she’d seen him disappear. A slight smile lifting the corner of her mouth, she made a decision.
She strolled directly past the shop to walk toward the Riverside Boarding House.
And she’d see if Mr. Mark Becker might find her there.
Chapter Five
THIS WOMAN WAS GOINGto be the death of him.
Why could she simply be content with visiting other ladies at the boarding house, or, better yet, keeping to her room? Instead, here she was again, traipsing about town, and this time headed into an area she ought to avoid—if she had a modicum of sense in her head.
And yet, as he peered around the corner of a building, Mark had to acknowledge a grudging respect for Miss Montgomery. She clearly hadn’t a shred of fear in her body, and she approached everyone she met as an equal despite the fact that her father made more money in a day than most men made in a year.
She paused outside a nondescript building. From this angle, Mark couldn’t tell if it was the boarding house or the neighboring saloon. Surely she’d had her fill of saloons last night, and considering she’d taken to heart his suggestion to visit general stores and boarding houses, he supposed the saloon wasn’t what had her so intrigued.
Thankfully.
Miss Montgomery slipped inside the building, and after a heartbeat, Mark stepped around the corner and made his way down the road to the boarding house. He paused outside, his heart sinking when he saw the place.
He hadn’t been in this area recently, and what used to be an inexpensive but clean establishment looked as if it had devolved into something much worse. The exterior of the building was so unkempt, with boards over one window and a broken sign, that he feared what the inside would contain. Orwhoit might contain.
The door opened, and he stepped back, only to find himself under the scrutiny of a man missing one eye and sporting a black bruise around the other. On his arm was a woman Mark immediately knew wasn’t the man’s wife, not with the gaudy skirts and the way she eyed him as if he were her next meal.
And Miss Montgomery had gone into this placealone.
Mark didn’t wait another second. All thoughts of remaining unseen and ensuring her safety from a distance fled his mind as he threw open the door. If she was in here and being hurt or manhandled in any way—
He ran straight into a person. And not just any person . . .
Mark reached up and grabbed onto Miss Montgomery’s arms to keep her from falling backward. “I apologize. Are you all right?”
