Page 31 of The Gilded Lady (The Gilded West #3)

She nodded in agreement. If Justin was still on their trail after all these years, then that was likely true. “I think you have to go too. We simply go in separate directions. Chances are he’ll follow me and you’ll have a chance to get away once and for all.”

Able squeezed her fingers. “Do you really think I’d let you face him alone?”

“No.” It had been worth suggesting the option, but she’d known that Able wouldn’t agree to it. “I want this to be over. I don’t want to run anymore, but I don’t like that I’m putting everyone in danger. If he comes here, the women, the staff, anyone who gets in his way becomes his prey.”

“They’ll all be in danger anyway. Justin Dubose is a madman. He won’t care that you’re not here anymore. They’re connected to you now and he could use them to lure you back,” said Able.

It was impossible to argue with his logic. Justin was the devil incarnate.

“He’s right.” Zane caught her gaze and held it. “If Dubose is half as bad as you both say he is, then we have no choice but to fight him. Our chances are better here on our own terms.”

She nodded, torn with the reassurance of that statement and the fact that she wanted Zane as far away from Justin as possible. “We need to come up with a plan. How long do we think we have before he arrives?” There was no question that he was coming.

“Hunter sent out a telegram late last night,” said Zane. “He’ll have a solicitor from Charleston let us know if Dubose is still at his estate. With any luck we’ll hear back by tonight, maybe tomorrow. If we know he’s still there, or when he left, that should help us narrow down a time.”

“That’s good.” If he hadn’t left yet then they would likely be able to intercept him, but they’d have to cross that bridge when they had more information.

She felt confident that they could handle this, so this time when she smiled it was a little more genuine.

“In the meantime I think we need to start the process of closing the boardinghouse.”

“What?” Able’s surprise wasn’t unexpected. She’d never have wanted to do that in a million years.

“I think we have to do it temporarily. If he shows up here, I don’t put it past him to try to use the children or women there to get to us.

We have to send them away for their own safety.

” The very thought of sending Emily and Edward away tore at her heart, but it would be so much worse if Justin got to them.

He had no regard for human life. He’d proven that to her over and over again.

“It’s the smart thing to do.” Zane agreed.

“I already have a couple of positions in Seattle lined up for the two women staying there. I’d hoped to give them more time, but I think we need to put them on a train as soon as possible.

” She’d settle extra money on them to help them get situated in a room before having to start their new jobs in their new town.

“What about Emily and Edward?” Able asked. He knew what the twins had come to mean to her.

She swallowed thickly. “I’ll have to telegram their mother and let her know to expect them.

” Pain welled in her chest and she had to blink past the prickling of tears.

She didn’t want to lose them, and especially not if their mother didn’t want them.

But what else could she do? She couldn’t keep them here and submit them to facing down Justin with her.

Zane reached across the table and took her other hand. She nearly sobbed from the tenderness of that touch. “Do you know if she wants them?”

She shook her head. She hadn’t had time to write to her.

He squeezed her hand. “I’ll talk to Hunter and Emmaline. The kids would be safe out at the Jameson ranch. I’m sure they’d be happy to have them there for a little while.”

Tears of gratitude filled her eyes nearly spilling down her cheeks before she could blink them back.

“Do you really think they’d agree to that?

” Keeping them near—keeping them safe—while avoiding sending them to a mother and stepfather, who may very well not want them, would be the perfect solution.

“I do.” He gave her a comforting smile.

Able cleared his throat. “Do you think they’d be willing to have Clara come along?”

Zane nodded, none of the previous ill will between them evident in the exchange. “I think they’d like that.”

Able nodded and she squeezed his hand again. With Clara so close to giving birth, she could only imagine how it must hurt to send her away.

“Let’s pay a call after breakfast. I’d rather ask Hunter and Emmy in person,” she said.

In that moment she realized exactly how lucky she was.

Justin might be coming, but she had Able and now she had Zane.

It was almost scary how quickly Zane had come to mean so much to her, but he had.

What she felt for him was real and one day soon they were going to have to talk about what the future might have in store for them.

But for right now, she was simply going to appreciate what she had while she still had it.