The Moon and the Stars Read Online Free

go as far as her money would take her.
    Darkness closed in around her, and she dropped her head into her hands, too weary to hold it upright. After a time, she realized it would be foolhardy to sit in the rain calling attention to herself.
    Exhausted, she took in her surroundings—there was a small hotel across the street and another down the way. She decided to spend some of her money for a room, a hot cup of tea, and a bath.
    A few hours later, when night took a turn toward morning, she awoke and dressed, wading in ankle-deepwater to cross the street to the stage office.
    A man was just unlocking the door when she rushed up the steps. Following him inside, she waited for him to go behind the counter before she placed her money on the well-worn surface. “Can you tell me how far west this amount of money will take me?”
    The agent was a grandfatherly-looking gentleman with long white hair and an equally white mustache. His brown gaze rested speculatively on her for a moment, taking in her pale face and muddy shoes. He saw the widow’s broach that fastened her tattered cape, and his gaze softened.
    â€œYou are very young to lose your husband and to be traveling alone in this country.”
    Caroline had bought the broach when she had applied for the position with the Lowells, hoping that people would respect her right to mourn her husband and not pay too much attention to her. As for the stage agent, she didn’t want to engage his interest, so she quickly said, “I need a ticket on the next westbound stage.”
    â€œJust how far do you want to go?” he asked kindly.
    â€œJust as far as the money will take me.”
    He was silent for a moment and then nodded, taking only ten dollars of her money and shoving the rest back at her. “This will take you as far as San Sebastian, Texas. The stage will be arriving within the hour, and it’ll be pulling out by mid-morning. On this run you will only have to change stages twice. Each time the folks at the way station will give you a full meal.”
    Her hands were shaking as she scooped up the remaining money and stuffed it into her reticule. “You didn’t take enough out for my fare,” she stated in aquiet voice, knowing she must swallow her pride and depend on his kindness.
    â€œIt’s enough.”
    After hiding and running for so long, she was deeply touched by his act of compassion. “Thank you. You are a true gentleman,” was all she could manage to say past the tightness in her throat.
    The warmth of his smile matched the warmth in his eyes. “Have you no one to go to for help?”
    She drew back, frightened, not wanting him to remember her for any reason. “I’ll just go outside and wait until the stage arrives.”
    â€œWait,” he called out to her, scribbling something on a piece of paper and sliding it across the counter toward her. “You seem to be in some kind of trouble.”
    She panicked. “No. I’m not in trouble.”
    He knew better—he could clearly see that she was terrified. “I have a niece who owns the boardinghouse in San Sebastian; that’s why I suggested the town. Go to see Nelly when you get there, and she’ll help you.”
    Caroline glanced down at her muddy boots. “No one can help me.” She turned her head toward the sound of the arriving stage. “And please,” she said in desperation, “I beg of you, tell no one you saw me.”
    He nodded. “I keep my own business and ask others to do the same. Don’t be afraid that anyone will find you through me.”
    Caroline looked deep into his honest brown eyes and took the folded paper he held out to her. She had a sense that she could trust him. “I will not forget your kindness.”
    â€œSeek out my niece,” he said, glancing at the stage driver who had just entered and deposited a leathersatchel on the counter. “This here is the stage