The miles between Tylerville and Spokane passed quickly, and the growing city was visible in the distance when suddenly there were shouts and the stagecoach came to a sudden stop. Lily heard Sam Hargrave swear up in the box of the coach, and for one terrible moment she thought they'd been set upon by bandits. She was completely shocked when Caleb wrenched open the stage door. "You've changed your mind," Bianca said softly. Lily's gaze shifted from Caleb to Bianca and back again. Even with his face shrouded by the shadow of his hat brim Lily could see that Caleb had gone a little pale. "No," he answered flatly. "Damn it, Major," Sam complained from the box, "I got a schedule to keep!" "Hold on," Caleb said distractedly. "Lily, I've got to talk to you." An awful suspicion was forming in Lily's mind. Bianca had been talking about a man she'd hoped to marry, and when she saw Caleb, she'd said, "You've changed your mind." Lily folded her arms. "I'll be at my brother Rupert's house on Division Street," she said, though a moment later she regretted sharing the information. Bianca had taken a handkerchief from her bag, and she was drying her eyes with it. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she wept. "Rascal," Lily said to Caleb, wrenching the door closed. "Fiend!" "Lily!" Caleb shouted. Sam yelled to the horses, and the coach raced into motion.
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Lily and the Major ]
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