Yes. There was still hope.
Then another thought occurred, causing her hopes to rise further. If she could not pass the roads today, then Owen likely would not be able to either.
“What?” Rebecca asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Leah looked at her askance. “What do you mean?”
“You are smiling, which I find a bit odd, seeing as we are stuck in a blizzard.”
Leah forced her mouth not to smile at the thought of Owen being stuck in the town’s inn for the night. “I would hardly say it’s a blizzard.”
Rebecca picked up the rabbit’s foot again, using her thumb to stroke the fur. “Well it isn’t good, that’s for certain.”
“We have hardly gone a distance. Once we have the horses unhinged, we will be able to make our way back. All will be well.”
The two of them sat in silence, listening to the wind whistle through the minute gaps in the carriage, feeling the ever-so-slight sway as gusts pushed against it. And that’s when she heard it.
A voice.
Leah shot up in her seat, leaning to look out the window. “Rebecca, did you hear that?”
“The wind? Yes. How could I not?”
“No.” Leah pressed her nose against the window, placing her fingertips on the icy cool of the glass. “I heard someone outside.”
“Who would be out in this weather? Other than us, of course.” Rebecca gave her a sideways glance, but Leah let the moment pass. Shewasto blame for this after all.
Leah used her muff to wipe away condensation on the window, trying to peer out and see the stranger whose voice she had heard. She couldn’t make out much through the foggy glass and swirling snow, other than a black cloak. It was a man—that much was sure. But he had his arm raised to keep the wind off his face, thus obscuring any other details.
Leah withheld a sigh. She needed to show patience since this was her own doing. “You may rest assured that we will be safely inside Stonehill within fifteen minutes.”Assuming they left immediately.Leah kept a close eye on the black figure outside as he straightened. She narrowed her eyes as his cloak fell, revealing his face.
No. Please no. It couldn’t be. He was supposed to be trapped at the inn! She hunkered down into her seat, hoping he wouldn’t see her.
“Miss,” Rebecca scolded. “Whatever are you doing?”
Lowering herself until her back was almost flat against the seat bench, Leah finally resorted to using her muff to cover her face. “I do not wish for that gentleman outside to see me.”
“Huh!” Rebecca gasped. “Why? Do you think he is a highwayman?”
“No,” Leah hissed. She grimaced at the awkward angle of her spine as she tried to hold herself still. “As I said, he is someone I do not wish to see. Is he gone yet?”
Rebecca shook her head. “No. He seems to be helping Mr. Ashley with the wheel.”
“Confound it!”
“Is the man unsafe? Should we be worried?”
Leah sighed, then wiggled her nose, trying to hold in a sneeze as her muff tickled her face. “The worst he will do is trip us on our way out of the carriage. Unless that frightens you, you have nothing to fear.” Leah moved her muff so she could at least see the interior of the carriage.
Rebecca tilted her chin, leaning to get a better look. “He seems quite young. And if my eyes are not mistaken, quite attractive.”
Leah puffed out a breath. “Posh. He is an insolent young man. Nothing can convince me otherwise.”
“Oh dear. He must have done something quite dreadful.”
Yes. Leah believed having one's childhood smeared with pranks really was quite dreadful.
Rebecca’s eyes widened and she leaned closer to the glass. “I think he is leaving.”
