Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

gaze.
    “What is it? News about Abby?” Noah asked, his chest tightening. He’d seen the look in Gabe’s eyes before, indicating whatever he had to say wasn’t good.
    “In a way, yes. She jumped off the train in St. Louis—”
    “What the hell?” Noah slammed his hand on the chair arm, trying to make sense of her doing anything so irresponsible.
    “The companion Tolbert sent along didn’t realize Abby hadn’t returned until the train was miles from the depot. Tolbert wanted to go after her right away, but I convinced him to wait. I’m going to send some messages to people I know in towns between Splendor and St. Louis. Someone must have seen her.”
    “To hell with that, Gabe. I’m going after her.” Noah set his glass on the desk and stood.
    “Sit down. We need to talk this through before any of us react too early and waste time.”
    Noah sat down, crossing his arms over his chest. “Go on,” he ground out, his eyes hooded.
    “Think about it. Abby’s stubborn and willful. She hates being controlled by her father, and she loves you.”
    Noah cursed softly, nodding toward Gabe to continue.
    “I don’t believe your woman has been taken. My guess is she had money stashed away and will return to Splendor, probably to find work. I’ve had time to think through this and I believe her first stop will be Suzanne’s boardinghouse. She trusts her, knows she can be honest with her. I think your girl is going to do what Ginny did—find work and become independent of her father.”
    Luke’s wife, Ginny, became the sole support of her and her younger sister, Mary, when their parents died. She worked as a server in a saloon and cleaned rooms at the boardinghouse before going to work at the Pelletier ranch and, eventually, marrying Luke.
    “What are you suggesting? That I sit around and hope she’ll return and no one’s abducted her?” Noah didn’t like the idea of biding his time, hoping no one had taken Abby.
    “The same as I said to Tolbert. I’ll send telegrams, see if I can learn anything.” He looked at Dax and Luke. “I’d be obliged if you two would notify anyone you know between here and St. Louis. Someone will have seen a beautiful young woman traveling alone. Her red hair is distinctive, and her clothes identify her as someone from wealth. I doubt she went east. All my instincts tell me she plans to come home.”
    “But not to her father.” Noah agreed with Gabe, at least on that point.
    “Where would she find work?” Luke asked, remembering how hard it had been for Ginny to earn enough to support her and Mary.
    “She can do bookkeeping. She learned it in school back east, but Tolbert would never allow her to help with ranch business. Horace Clausen at the bank told her he’d hire her if he could, but she never told her father.” Noah recalled their one formal meal together at Suzanne’s restaurant. Abby had shared much about herself and her dreams. When Tolbert found out about their meeting, he’d forbidden her from spending time with Noah again.
    “Abby may go straight to you, Noah,” Dax added.
    “I want to believe it, but doubt it’s true. The look she gave me when Tolbert pulled her from the church, well…I hurt her by not standing up to her father.”
    “You had good reasons. Nothing would’ve been gained by pushing Tolbert. He was beyond being able to have a rational conversation about you and Abby,” Luke said.
    “He mentioned speaking with you about mounting a search.” Gabe looked at Luke.
    “I’m glad to help, if that’s what’s decided, but it would be better for him to contact Allan Pinkerton directly. He has the resources for a search such as this one.”
    “I told him the same thing, but also said I’d mention it to you.”
    A soft knock preceded Rachel entering the room. “Everyone is here and supper’s on the table.” She glanced around, knowing right away something wasn’t right. “What’s going on?”
    Dax walked around his desk and put an arm