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“But why? It’s reasonable not to want to travel across the country with a strange man.

And if you want me to join this long-lost family, it makes no sense to do something so nasty as kidnap me.

” When Tilda inhaled, she could still smell the sweet scent of the cloth they’d pressed to her face. “And you drugged me.”

“Yes. I hoped I could convince you to come with me. But once I accepted that you wouldn’t, I made arrangements. Tilda.” Ben caught both her hands in his. “Once you’re in New York, I know you’ll love it. Please give us a chance.”

Tilda’s eyes narrowed in anger, and she didn’t respond.

Ben clearly understood. “I’ll drug you again when we get near a town. I’ve got a double water tank and plenty of coal in the tender car. We can go far and fast and not have to stop for a long time. When we do need to stop, you’ll sleep through it.”

“Josh won’t accept this. He’ll be coming for me.”

“We got out of town without any sight of him. If he’s off to work for the day, no one should notice you’re gone until suppertime.”

Ben wouldn’t be budged, and his expression was pure determination. The man clearly did not understand western ways. Tilda locked eyes with him. “You’re not even my brother, are you?”

“Enough questions. Do you want to continue to sleep on the floor, or do you want to move into the bedroom I have for you?”

Why wouldn’t he answer her question? “Are you really taking me to my father?”

“Of course I am. I just want you to give us a chance. Please accept that I know best.”

A statement that made Tilda eager for Josh to catch up with them and close Ben’s mouth. His words sounded kind, but Tilda decided to trust her instincts this time. “I’ll lie down in the bedroom, please.”

Ben studied her for a moment, then gave her an almost apologetic smile. “The windows are locked. Just so you don’t try and do something foolish, like leap out of a speeding train.”

Which was exactly what she’d planned to do. She had to think of something unexpected. And she’d count on Josh’s promise to not let them take her away.

But Josh was heading out to herd cattle.

And Zane was with him. Michelle was working on her inventions.

Tilda had no idea how long she’d spend doing that.

Would Gretel think anything of Tilda being gone when she came to the house to cook dinner?

On a normal day, Tilda moved back and forth between the ranch house and the dormitory.

And Ben spent a lot of time in his room.

He was right—she might not be missed for hours. Dismayed, she thought of how far away she would be by then. If this train carried extra water and coal, who could catch up with them?

Ben slid an arm behind her back. He was gentle for a kidnapper. He helped her to her feet, and she swayed. Whatever drug he’d given her was still affecting her.

He swung open the closest door to reveal an elegant bedroom. This was not how Tilda had traveled across the country before.

He stayed at her side until she lowered herself to sit on the bed.

Then he stepped back, all the way out of the room, and said, “It’s going to be all right, Tilda.

Father is just so desperate to meet you and try to make things right.

I’m sure once you meet him—and even more, when you meet Madeline—you’ll realize what a dreadful mistake it would have been to stay in a backwater place like California when you can live in luxury in New York City. ”

“California has much warmer weather. Maybe Father could move out here. All of you could.”

“But Father is in the shipping business, working out of the ports of New York, and he owns swaths of property in the wealthiest city in the world. He would never give that up to...” He hesitated.

“To what, Ben? To meet his daughter? To try and make up for the neglect we lived with in those early years with a woman who sounds like a drunkard? To show his love now that I’ve survived without it all my life?

He’d never give up his comfortable life to make right what he set in motion all those years ago?

That doesn’t sound like any kind of love I recognize or want. Not when I have the love of Josh Hart.”

But did she have it? While they’d talked of marriage, they’d certainly never spoken of love.

“You’ll understand when you see his home, why it’s best to bring you to him.” Ben slowly swung the door shut, his gaze holding hers as the opening narrowed. “I’ll be watching this door, Tilda. There is no escape.” With that, the door closed, its lock giving a loud click.

Tilda turned toward the window and watched the countryside sliding past, considering what to do now.

Just because she didn’t want to prove herself gullible, she went to the window and tugged on the latch.

It wouldn’t budge. It looked to her as if a line of iron had melted along the edges of the window, sealing it shut.

The train seemed to be picking up speed with every second that passed. She sat and searched her brain for something unexpected.

Then her eyes landed on it, and she had to admit ... he’d never expect this.