Rebecca (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #15) - Lily Graison Page 0,30

must have lost a good size traveling across the country. Did you not get the meals you were supposed to? I know Caleb paid extra for them all.”

Guilt stole some of her joy. Agatha thought her clothes didn’t fit because she’d lost weight on the trip out west? “I’m sure you’re right.” What else could she say? That the clothes don’t fit because they weren’t really hers? That she stole them along with the identity of the woman they belonged to?

No. She couldn’t tell any of them that. Nor could she tell them her real name. Being called Diana wasn’t anything to fret over, but it had been so long since she’d heard her own name—other than Hazel shouting it to the world—she wondered if she’d ever hear it again.

The bedroom door swung open and Amanda’s scowl vanished when she saw her.

“What do you think?” She asked, holding the skirt and turning a half circle.

Amanda grinned. “I think we look just alike.” The girl's dress was in a green three shades lighter than her own. When Agatha started altering the one she was wearing, Amanda had insisted on wearing the same color.

Because she wanted to dress like her new mother.

The guilt was back. It gnawed at her like a living thing. Rebecca turned her back to Agatha and Amanda, to try and put it out of her mind, and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She barely recognized herself in this fancy get-up and if anyone she’d known in Charleston could see her now, they’d laugh themselves silly and ask her how she’d weaseled her way into these people’s lives.

She pushed the thought away and turned from the mirror to face Amanda. “All right. I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Caleb was indeed pacing when they stepped into the main room. He stopped the moment he saw her.

She’d spent her life dreaming of her future. Of the husband she hoped to have one day and in all those fantasies, she’d never dreamed anyone could make her feel wanted with nothing more than a look. Caleb’s gaze on her made her pulse leap and heat filled her face before traveling the length of her limbs.

A shyness she’d never felt before made butterflies dance in her stomach. She ran a hand over her skirt and lowered her eyes. “Is it all right?” Long moments passed. He said nothing but his heated gaze burned every inch of skin on her body and for the first time in her life, she felt pretty. It was ridiculous that nothing more than a simple look from a man would make her feel that way but the expression on Caleb’s face as he stared at her warmed every nerve and made her blood sing through her veins.

“You look beautiful.”

His words were spoken at barely over a whisper but she’d heard them as if he’d been shouting. “Thank you.”

“Let’s go,” Amanda said. “We’re going to be late.”

The girl grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the door. Caleb grabbed her fur-lined cloak. She never thought she’d have use for it since Diana’s coat was what she wore most of the time but she’d admit, when Caleb draped it over her shoulders, she felt different, as if that one garment changed her and turned her into a high society lady instead of someone most people overlooked.

The walk to the livery stable was filled with Amanda’s constant chatter. Rebecca wondered where the girl found so much to talk about but was growing used to it. It saved her from trying to think of something to say so she didn’t mind. She was still at a loss for words most of the time. Being around Agatha and Amanda, there was always something to talk about but the moment Caleb walked into the room, all sensible thought flew right out of her head. She didn’t know if it was just being in his presence or the guilt she felt knowing every day she lived a lie she needed to confess to.

The ride across the prairie took longer than she thought it would. Not that she minded. The seat of the small wagon Caleb had borrowed from the livery stable was barely big enough to seat them both. They were sitting so close she could feel the heat from his body warming hers. Amanda chattered from the short wagon bed behind them and asked at least a dozen times if they were there yet.

The Bailey ranch ran for miles, according to Caleb. She could see clean