Page 78 of My Heart Will Find You

Miss Louise—a formidable woman—had held Etta’s half corset between thumb and finger. “We shall burn everything.”

“No!” Etta said. “Please just clean them.”

Miss Louise obviously disapproved, but she had one of her many young workers take the clothes away.

Wonder how much Max paid for all this?she thought. When they got home, her father—correction, Tobias—wouldn’t like how much money they spent. He was a frugal man.

Now it was nearly six and the train was there, ready to leave. But there was no sign of Max.

Sometimes it seemed hard to believe that this was all just a dream. She was acutely aware that it could disappear in a flash.

When Max kissed her on the neck, she almost fainted in relief. She clung to him.

“It’s all right. I’m here.” He lifted her chin. “Don’t look so worried.”

“You almost missed the train. It—” She broke off to step away and look at him. “You’re still dirty.” She sucked in her breath. “You’re not going back, are you?”

“I am but I can’t go on the train. There’s no place for the horses.” He put out his hand to her but she stepped back.

“You saidweare going on the train. Us. Both of us.”

“I lied. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to fret. I wanted you to enjoy yourself. By the way, you look mighty nice.” He paused. “The horses can’t take another trip like the last one. It would kill them. I’ll take them back slowly.”

“You really mean thatIcan’t take the trip back. I was a nuisance to you, wasn’t I? Buffaloes and you washing my clothes and...and...everything.”

Through her whole tirade, he’d not lost his smile. “You know that none of that is true,” he said softly. “You want to see what I did this afternoon?”

Etta was afraid that if she said more, she’d start bawling. She didn’t want to be parted from him. No, the truth was that she was afraid of their being separated. Forever.

He handed her a little wooden case. It was about the size of a playing card.

She just stared at it.

“Go on, open it.”

Inside was a miniature painting of the two of them. He was looking forward, while Etta was in profile, her eyes gazing up at him with love. “How? Who?” she whispered.

“When we rode in I saw the old painter. I met him when I was a kid. I couldn’t believe he was still alive. Anyway, I got him to do it. I described you to him and I think he got you, didn’t he?”

“Sir,” a porter said. “The train is about to leave.” He took away her cases.

Max’s hand closed over hers, the portrait between them. “I sent a telegram, and Alice will meet you when you get there. Everything has been arranged. I’ll arrive not long afterward. If the Cheyenne don’t get me first, that is.”

She didn’t smile at his joke.

“Come on, get on the train.”

Etta’s mind suddenly seemed to come alert. She gave the portrait back to him. “I can’t take it with me.” There was urgency in her voice. “You must hide it in your big desk. Don’t just put it in a drawer but build a secret place that no one will see for over a hundred years.”

Max took her arm and led her to the train. “No one will steal it.”

“No, no! That’s not the problem. Please hide it. You don’t understand. Ineedit and that’s the only way.”

“All right.” He lifted her onto the train step.

She turned to him as the train started to move. “Promise me. Swear it.”

“Yes, I will do it.”

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