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“I want to pay you to take my family to Oregon.” Leo stood dumbfounded, staring into the darkness. A few minutes ago, he'd been rousted from a deep sleep to Coop’s whispered, "Evangeline needs you,” and he still wasn’t fully awake, his brain sluggish and slow. He still felt the shape of her burned into his memory. Had it been instinct or something he didn’t want to admit even to himself that had prompted him to reach for her in his half-awake state? "Start at the beginning," he said. He heard her inhale. "You said yourself that Father won't be able to drive the wagon. I can learn how to do it, but there is so much else. Taking care of Sara and now Father. Feeding the oxen. Driving the team. Cooking supper. I can't do everything on my own." “Why not ask Owen? He seems sweet on you. He wouldn't even need to be paid. Or someone else.” His gut twisted when he said it. He felt some motion in the darkness, as if she had waved her hand. He could perfectly imagine the dismissive gesture. “That's why you’re the perfect man for the job. The two of us would never suit. There are too many things you don't like about me. And—” He waited for her to list off all the reasons he wasn't suitable for her, but she remained silent. He stood in the darkness, his face burning. "I don't know whether or not to be offended," he admitted. "I didn't mean to offend you," she said quickly. "I only meant—” He waited. And then waited some more for her to say something. Maybe apologize. But what she said was, "I'll pay you two thousand dollars to get my family to Oregon.” That made him clamp his mouth shut. The weight of coins in his hand felt heavier. “There are more gold coins in a compartment in our wagon. I can pay you five hundred dollars now and the rest when we reach the Willamette valley. I didn't count that, it was dark." “Two thousand dollars?” he croaked. He’d known she and James were well-off. It couldn’t be more obvious from their fine clothes and brand-new wagon. But a secret compartment? Gold coins? "Who else knows about the money?” Gossip tended to spread through the wagon train like wildfire. Two days ago, a little boy had been bitten by a snake while walking alongside his mother. Leo had heard about it sitting around the fire eating supper. "No one. When Father liquidated—” “Don't tell me," he interrupted her. "I don't want to know." How had Evangeline and her father kept a secret this big? Two thousand dollars. That much money would allow him to get Alice and Coop and Collin settled. He could buy them a castle with that kind of money. He'd planned to help them build a house, put in a garden, raise cattle. He’d known it was going to take years. But with this kind of money, Collin and Coop could start a business. Alice could have a nice house, built to her specifications. There had to be a catch. “A lot of things can happen on the trail. More river crossings. Buffalo stampede. Sickness. What if —” What if James didn’t survive the injuries he’d sustained today? Leo couldn't say the words. She did. “What if we don't make it to Oregon?” Her voice was quiet, pensive. “If you put in all the effort, I won't hold it against you if there is a natural disaster or we get cholera. You'll still be paid." "Why me?" There had to be a half dozen men that would be willing to help Evangeline. She’d witnessed him with his drunken lout of a brother. Knew he was desperate. It made a bitter taste in his mouth. "The men trust you,” she said. “I’ve seen the way you’ve handled conflicts between travelers. I trust you." I trust you. The two of us would never suit. Something wasn’t making sense here, but his brain was too muddled with the thought of all that money—enough to buy his freedom—and the sleep he was missing. She’d pricked his pride saying they didn’t suit. So what? Was he going to let pride get in the way of two thousand dollars? No. His sluggish brain finally fed him an idea. "If we do this, we don't want anyone getting wind that it's a business arrangement. It's dangerous for you and for your sister if anybody knows you've got that kind of money." "Agreed," she said quickly. "So you'll do it?" "I'm not sure you're going to like my condition." "What condition?" “If we’re keeping our arrangement a secret, we'll need to give everyone a reason to think I would be near you all the time. More than simply helping out." “You’re our captain. Isn't that reason enough?" She sounded stiff and uncomfortable. And maybe it was wrong of him to feel a bit of glee. "It’d be more believable if we play-act that I am your beau.” She was silent. “You know it’s not real. So do I. But to everyone else, we are courting. No one will question it.” She still didn't say anything, and he wondered for a moment whether his pride and his suggestion had lost him the chance for that cash. But then her voice came stiff and cold in the darkness. "Fine." She'd agreed. Maybe he would regret it when he was fully awake or tomorrow morning, when she couldn't hide that little displeased frown. But for now, he could almost taste the freedom of knowing that his siblings were settled and well taken care of. "You should get some rest," he said. "I've got to go on watch." He sensed more than saw her nod in the darkness. "I'll walk you back to your tent." She hesitated. Was she rethinking the whole thing? “Good night,” she muttered. And it was. A night offering him a whole new start. ~~~ "I stayed up far too late reading this." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review 📚 Start the wagon train romance readers adore—by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams. Three unforgettable frontier romances. ✔ Fake fiancé�✔ Hidden identity�✔ Marriage of convenience�✔ Slow-burn love Now available in a 3-Book Paperback Bundle. Get all three books for $35.99 (33% off). 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