Jane nodded. “She cares for you.”
“She’s engaged. There’s no reason for me to go after her.”
The man from the room across the hall returned from breakfast and stared at the crowd. He opened his door and stepped inside but then left it open two inches. Austin cleared his throat, drawing the man’s gaze over the heads of the women. He narrowed his eyes. The man’s Adam’s apple lurched as he swallowed. He slowly shut the door.
“What if I told you that she loves you?” Annie lifted her eyebrows as if daring him to deny the fact.
His heart bucked. “Did she tell you that?”
“No, you dunderhead. We can tell by looking at her.” Annie glanced at the other women, who nodded in unison. “It’s clear she doesn’t want to leave.”
“She knows she can stay. I tried to get her to stay at the big house for a few more days, but she wouldn’t.”
Annie tossed her arms to the side, slapping them loudly against her skirts, Caro and Jane jumped at the sudden action. “Well, of course not. Think how awkward that would feel with you supposed to marry her sister who ran away with one of the ranch hands.”
Austin narrowed his eyes and leaned against the door frame. He didn’t need them to rub in what had happened. “So, what’s your point?”
“Go after her.” Coralee reached out and jiggled his arm. “Ask her to stay.”
“But—”
Annie lifted her hand. “No buts. That woman is in love with you. Don’t let her get away. You need her.”
“She needs you,” Jane said.
He forked his hand through his hair. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Definitely.”
“Of course.”
“Sí.”
All four women responded at once. Could they be right? Was it possible Rebekah loved him? It was almost too much to comprehend. How had that happened? When had it? What did that matter if she truly did love him? A slow smile pulled at his lips.
Annie crossed her arms. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re finally understanding things.”
“You’d better hurry up if you plan to catch her.” Coralee wagged a finger at him.
He spun and crossed to his bed. Sat down and tugged on each boot. He buttoned up his shirt and marched to the door. Annie handed him his hat, and Coralee held up his gun belt by two fingers. He snatched them as he headed out the door. Outside the hotel, he pulled up short at seeing Travis standing in the road holding Austin’s saddled horse.
“Howdy, big brother. Looks like that posse of females made you see things clearly.”
Austin grinned. “You could say that.” He grabbed the reins, hopped up on his horse, and tipped his hat at the women as they walked out the hotel door.
Reining his horse around, he tapped his heels into its side. “He-yah!”
The sound of someone yelling jarred Rebekah from her sleep. She glanced around and moaned. She was still on the stage. Not that she’d been on it all that long, because they hadn’t even reached the first town.
Now that she’d awakened, she didn’t hear anyone, just the sound of horses’ hooves pounding the dirt and the creaking of the stage. Had she merely dreamed someone was hollering at her?
“Stop!”
She jolted. There it was again. She scooted to the window and peered out, but all she could see was the landscape whizzing past.
“Halt!”
She clutched her bodice. Was the stage about to be robbed? She had precious little to hand over to a thief. Only her mother’s cameo and the coins she’d planned to use for her meals. “Please, God. No.”
“Fred! Pull over.”
The voice came from the other side of the stage. She slid across the seat. Surely they weren’t about to be robbed if the thief knew the driver’s name. Suddenly a man flew from his horse and banged against the side of the stage. Rebekah jumped back. The door flew open, and the man ducked his head, showing only the top of his hat, and climbed in as the stage finally slowed.
Rebekah’s heart nearly burst from her chest.
The man’s head lifted as he dropped on the seat beside her.
“Austin? What are you doing here?”
He tugged off his hat and tossed it across to the other bench, his grin tentative. “I couldn’t let you go without telling you how I feel.”
Her heart, which had barely begun to slow, sped up again. Dare she hope? “How you feel about what?”
“You.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “I tried to fight my feelings, knowing that you’re engaged, but I can’t let you go without a battle. Somehow, you sneaked in and stole my heart.”
“I did?” Tears burned her eyes.
“Yes, ma’am. Do you think you could stay a bit longer and give me a chance to win your heart? I mean, I know it’s not fair to that man you’re engaged to, but I really do care for you, Rebekah.”
“Is this because of your land?”
“What?” He blinked. “No! I don’t want the land if I can’t have you there to share it with.”