Radford Crossing, Texas,
Late August 1874
Hot wind swirled around Gwendolyn Jones as she stepped off the stage
and shook her skirts. Someone from the school board was supposed to
greet her upon her arrival. Her valise clasped firmly in her hand, she
watched the stage driver unload her trunks.
A young man from the hotel rushed down the steps. “Shall I take those
for you, ma’am?”
From behind her, a familiar baritone called out, “No need, Hiram.
Unless I’m mistaken, this must be Miss Jones, our new school teacher.”
Gwen whirled toward the speaker and stared, unable to believe the man
who’d once broken her heart stood in front of her. “Mark? But I
corresponded with a man named Joel Stone.”
Color drained from his face and Mark Hardeman gaped at her as if he
also had trouble believing they were again face to face. “Gwen? I-I had
no idea you were the Miss Jones I was meeting.”
He exhaled and stepped closer. “Um, Joel Stone’s the head of the School
Board, but he’s an attorney and is in court today. He asked me to fill
in for him.”
She looked anywhere but at him. “Can you tell me where I’ll be staying?
I understand there’s a house near the school.”
He shrugged as if shaking himself then moved toward her belongings.
“I’ll load your trunks and take you there.” He heaved her things into a
nearby wagon.
When he finished, he extended his hand to help her up to the seat. Her
fingers twitched and she fought the urge to pull away. Resolved, she
allowed him to touch her only to learn his strong grip still sent
tingles along her arm.
But this was the man who’d crushed her dreams and she couldn’t help
jerking her arm away from him abruptly once she’d sat on the
bench. Barely sparing her a glance, he went to the other side
and climbed up into the wagon. Once seated, he turned his attention to
the horses without another word.
He was even more handsome than when she’d last seen him in Austin two
years ago. His dark blond hair showed beneath his Stetson and his tawny
eyes were mesmerizing. He’d filled out and appeared even stronger.
Once again, she wondered what had caused him to leave without a word.
She stared down at her hands, her thoughts whirling. Of all the men in
Texas, how had she managed to run into Mark? She had questions, but she
would bite off her tongue before she let him know she still gave a fig
about him.
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