No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) by Nerys Leigh Page B

reputation. It’s you I’m worried about. I don’t want you to have to be bothered with all that.”
    Amy considered it for a moment. She wasn’t staying here so it didn’t matter what people said about her. Her only concern was Adam, but if he wasn’t worried, then should she be? “Well, I don’t care what people think of me. Gossip’s everywhere in New York and I was never in the kind of social circle where it mattered. Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible about gossiping being bad? And if God thinks that about it then so do I. As long as it doesn’t hurt you, it doesn’t matter one bit to me.”
    Isaiah removed the pipe from his mouth and burst into laughter. “Miss Amy Watts, I like your style.”
    “That makes two of us,” Adam said, grinning. “Do you know of anyone who’s looking to hire?” he said to Isaiah. “Amy wants to find a job today. Maybe in one of the stores or the hotel?”
    “Haven’t heard nothing,” Isaiah said, replacing his pipe. “’Part from George is lookin’ for someone for the livery, but mucking out horses ain’t no job for a lady. But that don’t mean there ain’t nothing to be had. There are some things that go on in this town even I don’t know about.”
    “I’m not sure that’s true, Isaiah,” Adam said, smiling.
    Isaiah grinned back. “Maybe.”
    They left Isaiah to his pipe and people watching and continued along the road, Adam pointing out the local landmarks as they walked.
    “Down that road is Green Hill Creek Emmanuel Church where we’ll be going tomorrow. I don’t know if you remember the way from yesterday.”
    “Where I performed my fake swoon, yes.”
    He chuckled. “It was very convincing. Scared me half to death.”
    “I’m sorry,” Amy said with a sigh. “It was the only thing I could think to do.”
    He stopped and turned to face her. “You don’t need to apologise, for any of it. I understand you were desperate. To be truthful, I think you were very brave to do it.”
    “You do?” she said in disbelief.
    He resumed walking and she fell into step beside him. “Not many people, man or woman, who would have the courage to come all this way across the country to this wild place with no real idea of what was going to happen once they got here.”
    She looked around at the slightly rough around the edges, but otherwise pleasant seeming town. “Doesn’t look very wild to me.”
    He smiled. “Well, no. It is pretty peaceful in these parts nowadays, but there are some places where it’s still dangerous, with bandits and the fighting with the Indians and such. Marshal Cade is good for the town too. He’s been here just over a year. Fought in the war. He keeps everyone in line.” He pointed to a one storey brick building ahead of them, a sign next to the door saying ‘MARSHAL’S OFFICE’ swinging slowly in the breeze. “That’s his place there, but I hope you never have cause to need his services.”
    Further on they passed a three storey wooden clapboard building painted in a faded green with red trim. A big sign on the front of the second floor balcony proclaimed it to be the saloon. From the scantily clad women lounging in chairs on the balcony, Amy guessed it was more than just a drinking establishment.
    “If you were thinking... and I’m not saying you were because I’m sure you weren’t, but just in case, that place isn’t safe for women, even just to walk into. Not that I’m suggesting you would want to work as a... I meant if you were thinking of working in the saloon itself, not upstairs.” Adam ran one hand down his face and groaned. “I think I’ll stop talking now.”
    Amy put one hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Adam was so adorable when he was flustered. “I understand. No going into the saloon. Got it.”
    He gave a rueful chuckle. “Believe it or not, there are times when I do actually sound like I have a brain in my head.” He dug a watch from his pocket, worry on his face as he checked it.