Read Online The Iron Horseman by Kelli Ann Morgan - Free Book Online Page A

inside. Supper is already on the table.” Mrs. Cavanaugh placed
her palm against Cadence’s back and guided her into a chair at the beautifully
decorated table.
    “It
looks lovely.” Cadence was reminded of the parties she used to attend as the
table was set quite formally. And the food smelled so good.
    The
men joined them shortly. Mrs. Cavanaugh nearly pushed Levi into the chair
directly across from Cadence. It amazed her how easily such a small woman could
command these large men.
    Mr.
Cavanaugh offered grace.
    “You
heard the bank burned to the ground earlier?” Levi asked after he’d finished
chewing a bite of meat.
    “News
travels fast out here,” Mr. Cavanaugh replied.
    “Such
a shame too. Ezra just had his new vault installed. He was so proud of that
building.” Mrs. Cavanaugh slurped up a spoonful of soup. “Who could have done
such a thing?”
    “I
still don’t understand why it was more important to get that bank built, than
to complete the building for the General Store.” Mr. Cavanaugh cut off another
piece of beef. “But, you sure picked some good folks, Levi. This is beautiful
country. God’s country.”
    Silence.
    This
territory had seemed more like a barren wasteland to Cadence than God’s
country, but she figured that these folks would find beauty anywhere. Maybe
she’d just been too preoccupied with thoughts of her father and her assignment
than to actually appreciate the differences the landscape had to offer.
    “Miss
Walker here was trying to help put out the fire and the bank sign tumbled down
right on top of her,” Levi said before taking another bite of his food.
    “You
must have been awfully scared, my dear.” Mrs. Cavanaugh placed a hand over
Cadence’s.
    “She’s
real lucky to have nothing more than a few small burns on her leg and those
cuts on her face. It could have been a lot worse.”
    Why
did he have to mention it? She just wanted to change the subject. Mrs.
Cavanaugh did it for her.
    “So,
Miss Walker, did Levi recruit you too?” The question seemed simple enough, but
Cadence wasn’t sure how to respond.
    “Recruited?”
Cadence asked. “I’ve only just met these gentlemen. My father is the one who
recruited me to the West.
    “It’s
okay, dear,” Mrs. Cavanaugh patted her on the shoulder. “Not everyone gets
chosen special like us, isn’t that right Earl?”
    “Now,
Bessie,” her husband warned, but in a gentle sort of way. “The girl is
certainly made of the stuff it takes to make it out in these parts. Leave her
be.”
    “Where
did you say your family is from, my dear?”
    Cadence
wasn’t sure where this conversation was leading, but alarm bells starting going
off in her head. “Chicago originally, though my father travels a lot with the
railroad and has purchased land just outside of Bryan for a new homestead.”
    “Oh,
my. How terribly exciting. Are you heading to Bryan then to be with your pa?”
    “Why
all the questions, Bess? Let the girl eat her supper.” Mr. Cavanaugh looked up
from his food to wink at Cadence.
    “A
body can be interested, can’t she?” Bessie stared at Cadence, apparently still
awaiting a reply.
    Cadence
swallowed the warm mouthful of soup she’d taken. “Yes.” She unfolded her napkin
and dabbed at the corners of her mouth. “There wasn’t much left for me in
Chicago…” Suddenly, her reasons for leaving swelled to the surface and she
didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She hadn’t thought of Daniel once today.
    Everyone
stopped what they were doing and looked at her expectantly.
    Cadence
sucked in a short breath and smiled. “So, I am going to Bryan to find my father
an—”
    “You
mean he’s not expecting you?” Mrs. Cavanaugh opened her mouth in what Cadence
thought was an attempt at mock horror. “And no chaperone,” she tsked. “You’re
traveling all alone out here where anything can happen and no one knows where
you are?”
    Suddenly,
the older woman didn’t seem so endearing.
    “I
know