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Granger paled, his eyes bulged out from his head, and his mouth hung open so wide that it reminded Prudence of a perfect fly trap.
"Prudence, please. I was upset . . . not thinking properly," he begged, realizing too late his mistake. "Please, please forgive me."
"Forgive you?" She shook her head sadly. "I pity you." She walked up the stairs, ignoring his pleas, his vows of love and concern for her, and his promise never to speak so inconsiderately again.
She closed her door, locking it and leaning her forehead against the thick wood. She had forgotten her father had paid Zac to look after her, to protect her, to return her to him safely. She had been a fool. A stupid fool. And the memories she had collected were worthless. They meant nothing. His words meant nothing. They were all lies. All lies.
She wiped at her tears and hurriedly packed a small traveling bag. She grabbed her wool shawl, threw it around her shoulders, and ran out of the room.
Prudence made her escape down and out the back way so Granger wouldn't see her. She searched for Josh, finding him by the corral watching the mare and her new foal.
"Josh," she called, "I need your help."
"What's the matter? That easterner bothering you?" he asked and, with a menacing look, took a step toward the house.
"No," she said, reaching out to grab his arm and stop him. "I just need to get away from everyone for a few days. I need time alone. To think. To straighten things out. Is there someplace you could take me?"
"Alone?" he asked. "Are you sure you want to be alone in these parts? You're still pretty new to things around here."
"I'm adaptable." She almost laughed.
"Yeah, Zac says that all the time." He shook his head and smiled.
"Please, Josh, just three days. You can check on me. Please."
"Never could turn down a pleading woman," he mumbled. "I'll get the wagon. You go tell Tom, the mess house cook, to throw some food stuff together for you. Then meet me the other side of the barn."
Prudence was so ecstatic that she threw her arms around Josh and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she cried, and rushed off to do as he had directed.
Josh shook his head and rubbed his moustache. "Zac ain't gonna like this one bit."
"She's gone!" Granger shouted as Zac, James, and Silver Fox walked through the door. "I've searched the entire house. She's no place to be found."
"She's probably down by the corrals. She's taken with the new colt and enjoys watching him," Zac said, not the least bit worried.
Granger shook his head and tugged at James's coat sleeve. "I tell you, she's gone. I heard a wagon pull out of here a short time ago, and being she was upset I'm sure—"
"Upset over what?" Zac asked his tone curt. "When I left her she was fine."
Granger shrugged, while a nervous twitch started in the corner of his right eye. "We had a discussion. She became upset upon realizing all the problems she faced."
James rubbed his forehead and shook his head in regret. "I should have never brought you along, Granger."
Granger was insulted. "And why not? Who else would have been honest with poor Prudence and told her the truth? You would have kept her in a fairy-tale world. You would have had her believe that this marriage could actually work and, worse yet, that Stewart actually cared about her."
Zac wasn't pleased with the way Granger pointed an accusing finger at him, nor did he relish the thought of the exchange that must have taken place between him and Prudence. He had a dreadful feeling that Granger had damaged, if not completely destroyed, all the trust and confidence he had steadily built with Prudence.
"What exactly did you say to her?" Zac asked.
"I told her the truth," Granger defended.
"And what is the truth?" James snapped. "What vile opinion did you attempt to force on her?"
"James, really," Granger said. "You're acting more and more like your daughter. Don't let this uncivilized land turn you into a savage, too."
"Savage?" Zac repeated. "You called her a savage?"
Granger cleared his throat in an attempt to explain. "I merely pointed out the obvious and what others would comment on once we returned to Boston. And, of course, I reminded her why you so conveniently married her."
"Why did I marry her, Granger?" Zac asked in such a menacing tone that Granger paled considerably.
"Her—her money, naturally," he stammered. "Or what James paid you already. Why else would you marry someone so plain and with a deformity?"
Zac shut his eyes against the pain he was certain Granger's thoughtless words had caused Prudence. He had an overpowering urge to shoot the senseless bastard, but unfortunately —or fortunately for Granger —he wasn't wearing his six-shooters.
