Page 45 of A Steadfast Heart
Maybe she needed a new lawyer.
“He claims you ran from a fine home,” Danna said. “That you weren’t in your right mind. That you might have been coerced into marriage.”
Coerced into marriage.The words sent a shudder through her. The only person who’d tried to coerce her was Michael himself.
If he knew to wire the marshal in Calvin, he could find her on the McGraws’ ranch. Nearly everyone in town had seen her with Drew and the children at the picnic.
Drew. The kids. The ranch. They were all in danger now.
Her first instinct was to run, and she found her gaze already out the window, whirling with wild thoughts.
If Michael could find her here, was anywhere safe?
Drew. Where are you? I need you.
Danna rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’d ask if you’re in trouble, but I think the answer to that is clear.”
Kaitlyn nodded. Her voice seemed frozen.
“Did Drew force you to marry him?”
“You know him better than that.”
It’d be closer to the truth to say that she’d cajoled Drew into her way of thinking, but admitting that wouldn’t help the situation.
Danna’s tension eased. “I do, but I had to ask. How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-three.”
Danna studied her. “Old enough for the wedding to be legal, then. Why would your brother think you were coerced?” She took another sip of coffee, then put the cup on the preparation table. “I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
The words were steady, comforting, but she’d no doubt be like all the others, seeing only the smiling surface of Michael, never understanding what lurked beneath.
Except…everyone else had watched Michael grow up. Remembered the charming little boy he’d been, when it had suited him. And it suited him with most everyone outside of family. But Danna knew Kaitlyn first.
Hope rose within her too fast to be squelched. Maybe this time she had a chance. Michael had only just started spreading his lies.
Besides, hadn’t Drew said something about Danna? The snippet of conversation floated just out of reach for a moment before it came into focus.The marshal can be trusted,he’d said.
Kaitlyn’s eyes burned, but she refused to dash the foolish tears from them, instead blinking them away. They wouldn’t serve her here. “My brother is…difficult. In public, he pretends to be a concerned brother, but in private he is anything but. He’s struck me before. Locked me in a closet.” Her pulse raced as memories of the times Michael had left bruises on her skin, spread lies about her, or locked her in a confined space flew through her mind. No one had ever listened to her.
Except Drew. Her husband had heard her story and called Michael worthless. Maybe Danna would listen too.
She forced herself to meet Danna’s eyes. The marshal was still listening, anyway. “Everything my father left—it’s all gone. Michael gambled it away. We were living on the allowance my mother arranged from my own inheritance.” She straightened a bit. “The money that she left to me, not him, but our lawyer controls it until I turn twenty-five. Unless I marry.”
Danna’s eyes narrowed. “I’m guessing he didn’t like the idea of you controlling it.”
Kaitlyn nodded.
“And he tried to get you declared incompetent?”
Incompetent? Where had Danna come up with…oh, the wire. “No, he had a better idea. Seems his friend held most of his debts. He agreed to forgive them if I, well, if I married him. I couldn’t though. I just couldn’t. He’s a vile man. So I left.”
Danna straightened from the counter. “And you figured if you became a mail-order bride, your brother wouldn’t be able to touch you.”
“Yes. Especially if I lived far enough away, I didn’t think he would travel there.” Kaitlyn shrugged. “In person, Michael seems so reasonable, so honest. When you meet him, you’ll doubt everything I said. I promise you will.”
Danna’s head tilted, and she gave a slight nod. “Oh. He’s one of those. I’ve met a few in my career.” She thought for a moment. “But maybe you should send him a wire. Nothing much. Just let him know you’re happy here. It would help settle the gossip around town as well.”
