Page 37 of A Whiskey River Princess

Dirk reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “He’s a wise man.”

She looked down. “Yes, he is.”

At that moment, she wondered what he was doing. By now, he knew she was gone. A pang of guilt gripped her chest as she realized that he must be frantic. She had never meant to cause her uncle or cousin pain, but she wasn’t ready to go back yet, either. Then she realized that she really didn’t have a choice. While the pass was still closed, there was no way to get word to him, even by mail, since the post rider couldn’t get through. Her sense of adventure had definitely gotten her into trouble this time. But it had also brought her to Dirk’s door.

“What are you thinking about?” Dirk asked, bringing her from her reverie.

She shook her head as she let out a deep breath. “About my uncle. Of how worried he must be right now.”

Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “He doesn’t know you’re gone?”

She shook her head.

He took her hand into his. “Gabriella, how did you come to be in the woods in a blizzard alone? How did you find your way to my door?”

She smiled. “Luck, I guess.”

He let out a deep breath as he released her hand and sat back. “You can trust me, you know.”

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze.

Dirk dabbed at his lips. “Well, you’ll tell me when you’re ready. Are you ready to go to the general store?”

Gabriella smiled, thankful for the change of subject. She dabbed at her lips and laid her napkin on her plate.

Dirk held her chair for her as she rose to her feet. “I’ll take care of the bill if you’d like to wait at the door.” A slight look of disappointment clouded his face as he walked away to hunt down Millie.

Gabriella nodded in understanding. Another pang of guilt gripped her chest as she walked to the front of the restaurant and looked out the window, watching the snow fall. She wished she could tell Dirk about running away, about being kidnapped, but she just didn’t know how.

Across the street a tall man with long brown hair, wearing a gun belt and spurs walked under the covered wooden walkway, headed toward the sheriff’s office. Her heart pounded when she realized it was the same man who had tried to save her in Laramie.

“Ready?” Dirk placed his hand on the small of her back.

“You know, I was thinking that we should just go back home before the snow gets too bad,” Gabriella stammered. A part ofher was grateful to the long-haired man for trying to save her, but if he saw her before she could tell Dirk….

Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “What are you talking about? We came into town today to go to the general store.”

“I know, but I changed my mind.” Gabriella looked outside and the long-haired man stopped with his hand on the door and looked in their direction. He bent his head and narrowed his eyes as he spotted her. Then he released the doorknob and headed toward them from across the street. “Dirk, there’s something I have to tell you—”

Dirk looked outside and noticed the man walking toward them, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. “I wonder what Colton wants.”

“Dirk, please—”

He stepped outside, ignoring her pleas.

Gabriella followed him out, wringing her hands as she waited.

Colton looked only at her. She tried to look away but couldn’t escape his gaze. “Dirk, please—”

“It’s you,” Colton said as he approached.

Dirk narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about? Do you know her?”

Colton nodded. “I went to Laramie the other day to pick up Miss Baker when I saw four men kidnap a woman—”

“Dirk, please—”

“I tried to stop them, and I killed one, but the other three got away with her,” Colton explained, taking her in.

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