One Heart to Win Read Online Free Page A

had been. She’d agreed to travel to the “Wild West” because she’d admitted that she’d always wanted to see more of the world. Tiffany wanted to travel, too. She wanted to go on a grand tour of Europe like other young ladies her age, or even up to her friend Margery’s cottage in Newport, where she’d spent a good deal of time last summer. But she certainly didn’t want to go to uncivilized Montana Territory.
    “The seats on this train aren’t that uncomfortable, just not as lushly padded as those in the Pullman. At least this train has a dining car,” Tiffany pointed out.
    Anna’s expression turned even more sour, telling Tiffany the seats weren’t the problem. Of course they weren’t. Anna’s real complaint was how crowded the train was, and the heat and the stench that came with such overcrowding. The long seats in the passenger cars were designed for two to three people, but they were now occupied by four or even five, including children and screaming infants. Tiffany would have been complaining if Anna hadn’t beaten her to it, which made it quite difficult for her to see the bright side of their situation. This was such a far cry from having that fancy private Pullman all to themselves, which had been like riding in a small parlor!
    Rose certainly wouldn’t have let them get on this train if she’d known they’d be traveling in such deplorable conditions. But then the long line of farmers hadn’t boarded in Chicago but after they’d crossed the border into Wisconsin. The conductor had apologized to Tiffany and Anna, explaining that the high number of passengers was quite out of the ordinary, but nonetheless, they were now operating as an immigrant express train. It was just their rotten luck that a new tract of farmland had opened up in Montana and had been advertised in the East, causing hundreds if not thousands of immigrants to pour into the territory to start new lives. While the influx of farmers was good for Montana’s growing population, which needed more food crops, it made the train ride into the territory uncomfortable.
    “Look on the bright side,” Tiffany said to Anna as their lunch was served. “We’re actually going to arrive a few days early because the train is no longer stopping at every depot to pick up more passengers, merely to refuel and resupply as needed. And Mama said the ranch house is big and finely furnished,thanks to her. She’s sure we’ll feel right at home when we get there.”
    After reading Frank’s last letter, Rose had also said, “They’ve already started building your house on the contested land—and come to blows. It was a mistake to think they could work together before the marriage takes place. But that’s your father for you, quite the optimist.”
    Her mother had said that with such a fond expression on her face it sparked all sorts of new possibilities in Tiffany’s mind, including one she used to think about often when she was little, before she’d turned bitter—getting her parents back together.
    Before the waiter finished setting their plates down, he leaned slightly toward Tiffany and whispered, “I’m sorry, miss, but due to the long line, we won’t be able to finish serving before the dinner hour is over if we don’t fill every seat at the tables now.”
    It wasn’t the first time Tiffany and Anna would have to dine with strangers. If the train hadn’t turned into an express line to deal with the land giveaway, they could have taken advantage of restaurants at the station stops. As it was now, they were barely given twenty minutes to stretch their legs when the train stopped, sometimes not even that. But at least they still had the dining car, crowded though it was.
    Tiffany nodded her understanding to the waiter. Anna sighed. A young woman named Jennifer, whom they had met the day before, sat down with a chuckle. Blond, rather pretty, she was dressed similarly to Tiffany, just without the high-fashioned bustle and in much