The Runaway Twin Brides (Preview)

Chapter One

Clouds drifted in front of the moon, obscuring its light and plunging the countryside into darkness. Shane squinted as he clung to his reins. Since neither he nor his horse could see what they were doing, muscle memory guided them down the road.

His muscles ached, but he didn’t dare relax. If his eyes fluttered shut, he could wake up on the ground. His clothes were stiff from sweat and dirt. Only the dream of a warm meal motivated him to keep riding.

It had been three months since Shane had last seen his home. Business had thrown him all across the country, and he was desperate to return to normal. How had his ranch fared since he’d been gone? Only time would tell if investing so much time in a trip had been worth the sacrifice.

The town of Gower rose in the distance, the buildings dark shadows against the quiet night. When he’d first arrived about ten years prior, it had been a one-horse town with nothing more than a mercantile and a church to recommend itself.

Now, it boasted dozens of buildings, with more being built almost monthly. Usually, the streets were filled with people, and he could barely hear himself think. He did his best to avoid town as judgmental stares always followed him around.

Out of habit, Shane guided his horse, Star, away from the main road. They rode along the outskirts of town through the industrial buildings. Up ahead, a light shone like a beacon in the darkness.

Curiosity reared inside of him. Who would be working at this time of night? He tugged on Star’s reins, and the mare slowed down. She let out a huff, shaking her head and making it clear that she was just as eager as he was to get home.

“Hush, girl,” he murmured, patting her neck.

The hair at the back of his own neck prickled as he peered into the warehouse.

The light shone above the back door of the only warehouse in town. It belonged to Mayor Hendrick and housed all the mercantile stock, which supplied most of the warehouses in a five-hour radius. The light formed the shape of a crescent moon on the ground, with a rectangular doorway in the middle.

Shane dismounted Star and walked slowly toward the light. He hovered in the darkness, taking stock of the situation. A horse and wagon waited nearby; the horse snorted nervously as it sensed their presence.

Who would be rummaging around in the mercantile warehouse in the middle of the night?

The light emanating from inside the warehouse grew stronger as someone walked toward him. He inhaled sharply and pressed himself against the wall. If he stopped a robbery at Hendrick’s warehouse, the mayor would owe him a favor. It wasn’t a bad thing to have in his back pocket.

As things stood, the mayor barely acknowledged his presence. If he played his cards right, perhaps this was an opportunity to turn things around.

A slight figure walked out of the warehouse, carrying three stacked crates. He wore a cap low over his face and a heavy jacket despite the warmth. The young man panted from exertion, and halfway between the doorway and the wagon, he stopped and slowly placed the crates down.

He looked around before picking up the top crate and carrying it to the wagon.

Shane tilted his head at the young man. Is he working for a boss? Perhaps he’s hungry and stealing out of necessity. Shane shuddered at the thought.  Could he ruin a desperate man’s life?

Just as he was about to return for the other crates, the man must have thought better of it because he went to lock the door instead. The other two crates remained on the ground, waiting to be loaded. Great—Shane would catch him in the act.

Shane’s trepidation melted away. This was an inside job. He couldn’t abide treacherous employees. With that, his decision was made. This was his chance to get in Mayor Hendrick’s good graces. Shane wasn’t one to let such an opportunity slip through his fingers.

“Excuse me,” Shane said, stepping out of the shadows.

The young man jumped and clutched his chest. His cap obscured the top half of his face, making it hard to make out his features.

“How can I help you?” His voice was gruff but had a melodious undertone.

Is he trying to mask his voice on purpose?

“I’m curious as to what you’re doing here,” Shane said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You ain’t Mayor Hendrick.”

“Oh…” He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a stilted laugh. “I work for the mayor. He’s having a little soiree at his place tomorrow and asked me to pick up a few last-minute goods.”

“Soiree?” Shane echoed in amusement.

“Uh, garden party. Yeah. There’s some people coming by tomorrow and he wants to show them a good time.” He put his hand on his hip and tilted his head at Shane. “What are you doing out here, anyhow?”

Shane frowned. It was a nice trick, turning the line of questioning back on him. But he wasn’t going to let himself be distracted. Something about the young man puzzled him.

“What’s your name, boy?” Shane asked, taking a step forward.

He stumbled backward. “Uhh… Jack?”

“Are you asking or telling me?”

Jack raised his chin defiantly. “Telling you. I’m Jack, and I work for the mayor. Now, let me get on with my work or else he’s going to be real mad and I won’t hesitate to tell him whose fault it is.”

“You know my name?” Shane asked.

“Everyone in town knows who you are, Shane Martin,” Jack said, his lips turning upward.

His lips were like a rosebud, the color unlike anything Shane had seen on a man.

“Is that so?” Shane murmured, taking a small step forward. A suspicion grew in the back of his mind, but he wasn’t sure how to test his theory.

“Yeah.” Jack put both hands on his hips and stared at Shane. “I know all about you. People don’t trust you as far as they can throw you.”

Jack’s horse snorted in the darkness, causing Jack to turn toward the animal. As he did so, the light revealed the side of his face. Shane caught sight of a delicate jawline hinting at a heart-shaped face, a pert nose, and large eyes.

He darted forward before “Jack” could respond and ripped the cap from his head. All at once, a cascade of golden hair tumbled around her shoulders, transforming her from a fidgety man to a young woman.

His triumph was cut short when he gazed at one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. Her eyes were wide with surprise and fear. They held him in a trance as time seemed to slow down. Then, all at once, everything picked up speed. She scowled at him and grabbed the hat from his hand.

Turning on her heel, she hurried back to the wagon.

“Wait just a minute,” Shane sputtered, hustling after her. “You’re obviously not a Jack… are you Jill?”

She stopped short and gave him a withering look, her mouth pursing as she studied him.

“Sorry, bad joke. I wasn’t expecting the likes of you, that’s all… What are you doing here all by your lonesome?”

“I already told you,” she snapped. “It’s not my fault you don’t listen.”

Shane raised his hands in surrender. “Woah there, I ain’t going to hurt you. I’m curious. You have to admit that this ain’t something you see every day.”

He’d seen her around town before. Gower was a small community, and everyone knew each other. His mind worked as he tried to put a name to the face.

“It’s none of your business,” she said, clasping her hands behind her back. “Look, you don’t need to tell anyone that you saw me here. It can be our secret.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Shane rubbed his chin as if thinking her words over. “I’m sure Mayor Hendrick might also find this situation very interesting.”

“No!” She jumped forward, holding her hands out. “Please, don’t tell him. He doesn’t need to know.”

Shane took a step back, surprised by her vehemence. Why was she here in the middle of the night? And how did she have a key? Realization dawned on him.

“There’s usually two of you,” Shane murmured, looking her up and down.

“Pardon?” She wrinkled her nose.

“You have a twin. You’re either Janie or Rita…”

“Janie,” she said quickly, wringing her hands as she gazed out into the darkness.

“I knew you looked familiar.” Shane snapped his fingers. “You’re Janie Hendrick. What are you doing out here? Surely your father would give you whatever you wanted out of the warehouse if you just asked.”

Janie snorted. “Benson. I’m Janie Benson.” She grabbed hold of one of the crates and walked over to the wagon.

He frowned as he considered her words. Janie and Rita were never seen in town without the mayor, and as far as he knew, the mayor was their father. However, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d misread social cues.

“Let me help you with that,” Shane said, taking the last crate and hurrying after her.

His opportunity to make a good impression on the mayor was dissipating before his eyes. How would the mayor react if Shane revealed his daughter had been running around in the dark? And apparently, she was stealing from her old man. She could even turn it on him and paint Shane as the culprit.

Rich, pretty girls could get away with murder. Besides, who would believe that the pampered Miss Janie had dressed up in men’s clothing and was stealing from her father? Mayor Hendrick would quash that rumor so quickly it would make Shane’s head spin.

And Shane hadn’t gotten this far by sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. The last thing he needed was to make yet another powerful enemy. The previous one had nearly destroyed him.

“You don’t have to…” Janie started, but Shane was already putting the crate on the wagon.

He smiled at her in the dim light, and she chewed on her bottom lip as she looked away.

“I won’t tell anyone I saw you out here,” Shane promised.

She looked at him in surprise. “All right… What do you want in return?”

“You’re not very trusting, are you?” Shane said, raising his eyebrows.

“Am I wrong?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t want anything. But if you should find it in the goodness of your heart to put in a good word with your father, I would be eternally grateful.”

“Trust me, that’s the last thing you want,” Janie said with a grimace. “If I said anything about you, he’d fly into a rage. He’d assume there’s something going on between us and he’d run you out of town.”

“Does he hate me that much?” Shane scratched the back of his head. “You could do a lot worse than me, you know.”

The corners of her mouth turned upward, suggesting she was about to smile. Victory! He was making some headway with her.

“No… He’s very protective of us.”

“You don’t have to mention how handsome I am,” Shane pointed out. “Just tell him that you think I’m a respectable businessman. What’s the harm in that?”

Janie rolled her eyes. “You certainly think highly of yourself.”

“If I don’t, no one will,” Shane joked, but it was partially true. “Fine, I won’t ask you to put in a good word for me with your father—”

“Stepfather.”

“Stepfather… then you might as well satisfy my curiosity and tell me what you’re doing out here in the first place.”

Janie sighed and looked over at the wagon. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

“Now you’re tantalizing me on purpose,” he complained.

“Trust me.” Janie took a step away from him. “Would it make you feel better if I told you that the mayor will never find out? And that these crates will make a world of difference to those who need it?”

Shane considered it. “I suppose that’s all I’m going to get out of you.”

Her eyes twinkled in amusement. “I’m impressed. You’re a quick learner. If Mayor Hendrick weren’t so mercurial, I might have recommended you to him.”

“That means a lot.” Shane inclined his head toward her.

She smiled and got onto the wagon, making it clear that the conversation was over. A stab of disappointment went through him, but he turned away from her. If he overstayed his welcome, he ran the risk of making her uncomfortable. What if she started believing the rumors about him?

A familiar shame washed over him as he went over to Star.

It wasn’t safe for Janie to be out on her own. But she didn’t want him around. Guilt and unease gnawed at his stomach, overshadowing his fatigue and hunger. Curiosity had always been his Achilles’ heel. Once, it had almost destroyed his life, and he had yet to learn to control it.

“At least let me come with you,” he said, turning back to her.

She’d been about to move and looked over at him with an irritated expression. “No, thank you.”

“I know this town seems peaceful, but it still ain’t safe for a woman to be out on her own in the middle of the night,” Shane said.

Whatever she was up to had to be important to her, but was it worth the risk? What would happen when her stepfather discovered her misadventure? He couldn’t rightly judge her actions as he was a rogue with a history of getting up to no good. However, he could still warn her.

“I’ve been doing this for a while,” she assured him. “Nothing’s happened yet.”

“All it takes is one time,” Shane pointed out. “This town ain’t safe for those who play with fire.”

Janie raised an eyebrow at him, pinning him down with her stare. “It ain’t safe for those who try to control the flames, either.”

He couldn’t help but be impressed. Whoever tried to give her trouble would run into great difficulty. He raised his hands in surrender.

She clicked her tongue and pulled at the reins. The wagon trundled into the darkness, the light from the lantern bouncing around them. Shane waited for a moment. He had every intention of going home, but he couldn’t tear his eyes from her.

Star nickered and shifted impatiently. Shane smiled to himself and began riding after Janie. He’d never forgive himself if anything happened to her. Although, if he was being honest with himself, he would have admitted that it was more curiosity than concern that made the decision for him.

Chapter Two

Janie pressed her hand against her heart. It thudded painfully in her chest, speeding up each time she remembered Shane stepping out of the darkness. She’d been so sure that it was her stepfather. Her life had flashed in front of her eyes the moment he’d revealed himself.

When she’d first started this mission a few weeks ago, she’d been hyper alert to every sound and movement. Every time she merely thought she heard something, she’d dive for cover and wait for a while to make sure the coast was clear.

However, over time, she’d become complacent as no one ever caught on to what she was doing. Those days were over now. She didn’t know Shane from Adam and couldn’t be sure that he’d keep his word.

Janie looked over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness. The night was thick, and she couldn’t see beyond the lantern’s light. A million ants crawled down her spine, and her hands shook as she held onto the reins.

Her mind played through various scenarios of what would happen if her stepfather discovered what she’d been up to. Nausea roiled through her stomach, and she clenched her eyes shut. It was too terrible to imagine. She wasn’t just playing with her own life, she also held Rita’s fate in her hands.

If she was caught, her stepfather would lump them together as he always had. Sometimes she wondered if he realized they were two separate people.

Not for the first time, she considered stopping her midnight adventures. It was dangerous, especially now that she’d been seen. Even if Shane kept quiet, it was only a matter of time before someone loyal to her stepfather caught her. They didn’t have to catch her in the act, they only had to figure out that some of their stock was missing.

James Hendrick would take the theft as a personal offence and wouldn’t rest until the perpetrators were brought before him. It was less about justice and more about how he felt he was perceived.

Janie pressed her lips into a thin line. Yes. This had to be the last time. She couldn’t risk Rita’s safety. Rita was all she had left in the world.

Determination settled over her, but it was tinged with guilt. She shoved it deep down inside, doing her best to ignore it. This was for the best. At least, that was what she kept repeating to herself. No matter how many times she said it, she couldn’t make the words sound convincing.

It wasn’t long before the streets of Gower gave way to the barren landscape. All around her, red rocks grew out from the ground, interspersed with thorny bushes. The lantern’s light sank into the rock crevices, lengthening the shadows around her. They jumped and danced, urging her to look around more often. She couldn’t be sure if the movements were caused by the sheriff lying in wait or if they were harmless shadows.

By the time she made it to the dilapidated house at the top of the hill, her nerves were shot. Thankfully, lights were shining through the windows, and she spotted two figures moving inside.

Janie brought the wagon to a stop and hopped off. She ran to the door and rapped against the wood. One-two-one. Silence.

“Janie?” Victoria whispered.

“It’s me,” she responded.

The door swung open to reveal a young couple. Victoria held out her arms to Janie, while Jasper hovered in the background, peering out the door as if he expected more to burst through.

“My nerves can’t stand this,” Victoria said, taking a step back and sizing Janie up. “Every time I know you’re out there, I count the seconds until you knock on the door.”

Janie mustered a smile and squared her shoulders. “I’m fine.”

Victoria studied her for a moment, as if making sure she was telling the truth.

“I’m going to get the goods,” Jasper said, patting Janie’s shoulder as he walked past.

“Come, sit,” Victoria said, waving her over. “Tell me, how are things going at Oakhurst?”

Janie grimaced and sat on one of the overturned crates. “It’s more of the same, really.”

Victoria winced and pulled up a crate for Janie to sit on. “I do so wish I could have stayed with y’all.”

“James would never have allowed it,” Janie pointed out.

Calling her stepfather by his first name was an act of defiance that she practiced whenever she could. She was careful never to do it in the presence of someone who would report her behavior back to him. There were so few people she could speak to freely, so she relished the opportunity whenever it presented itself.

“I know, but I still feel guilty,” Victoria said, shaking her head slowly. “Especially after your mother passed. You girls need more than ever. And now not only am I not there, but I’m putting you in such danger!”

Janie looked away. How could she find the words to tell Victoria that she could no longer help them?

“Janie?” Victoria asked, putting a hand on her knee. “What is it?”

Victoria was about the same height as Janie, but she would always seem taller. The girls had first met Victoria when they were ten years old and Victoria had been hired as their governess. She had quickly become the older sister they’d never had. They could confide in her about anything, and she always gave them sound advice.

She taught them how to braid their hair and hide their true feelings from their stepfather. After their mother had married James, she hadn’t been able to spend as much time with them anymore. He had demanded all her time and attention, and the girls had acted out in response.

The early days of the marriage had been filled with tears, tantrums, and threats. Janie had lashed out, punishing everyone around her for her hurt feelings, while Rita had retreated inward, barely speaking a word to anyone. James had been on the verge of sending them to a boarding school, but their mother had successfully persuaded him against the notion. To appease her husband, she’d asked Victoria, the local schoolmistress, to help keep an eye on the girls after school was done so they wouldn’t be underfoot.

Things had steadily improved until Victoria met Jasper, fell in love, and left Oakhurst. It had been a tremendous loss, but how could the girls begrudge Victoria her happily-ever-after?

“Look at this haul!” Jasper announced, bursting through the door with a wide smile. “You’re a wonder, Janie!”

Pride warmed Janie’s heart and she sat a little straighter.

“The folks up in Red Rock are really going to appreciate this,” Jasper said, winking at Janie. “Look, my love! There’s enough food to last them three weeks at least.”

Victoria shot Janie a glance that told her their discussion wasn’t over. She got to her feet and peered into the crates.

“Oh, Janie. This is too much! Isn’t Mayor Hendrick going to notice it’s missing?”

“Not at all,” Janie said, squaring her shoulders. “I used some of my allowance to buy things from the mercantile. I only took a few things tonight.”

Victoria’s brows drew together. “Darling, if your stepfather discovers you’re buying goods from the mercantile, he’ll know immediately where you’re sending it and punish you. He’ll say people will think you’re undermining his orders.”

“Well, I am!” Janie stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. “He had no right to send those people away. He had no right!”

Jasper and Victoria shared a worried look.

A few weeks earlier, there’d been a terrible explosion in one of the local mines. Twenty men had died and about fifty had been left without work. The group had gone to various towns looking for help. Some had found the assistance they needed, but Mayor Hendrick had outright refused to help the refugees, calling them lazy scoundrels who would turn to thieving when the handouts stopped.

The displaced families had taken up residence on the church grounds where Jasper and Victoria arranged food and shelter. Jasper was the local pastor, and he took his duties very seriously. Unfortunately, Mayor Hendrick’s dire prophecy had come true as people started complaining that clothes went missing from their washing lines, crops were ripped from the ground, and various store owners reported missing items.

Even though they’d suffered terribly, the families had been run out of town. They’d been forced to take refuge on a barren strip of land known as Red Rock. Mayor Hendrick pointed to the dilapidated state of their shanty town as proof that they were lazy and no-good.

“It’s admirable that you want to help them,” Victoria said, “but you need to be careful about criticizing your stepfather.”

“It’s just us here, Vicky,” Jasper pointed out. “She can say whatever she wants here. Besides, she needs to be careful in every aspect of her life. Let her be herself around us.”

Janie shot him a grateful look. “Thanks, Jasper. How are things going in Red Rock, anyhow?”

Jasper sighed as he sorted through the supplies. “Marjorie just had her baby. It’s a tiny thing, and I’m worried about what’s going to happen in winter. It’s still hot now, but it’s just a matter of time before the weather turns. Those people need a purpose… There’s talk of them moving on, but there’s no guarantee they’ll get help anywhere else. It’s not as if they have any supplies for a trip.”

Janie rubbed her chin. “What if we helped them get enough for a journey? There must be somewhere they can go. I can squirrel away some money, and we could stockpile some supplies.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Jasper said excitedly. “I’m writing to some mine owners in the county, but none of them have gotten back to me yet. Don’t you worry about it, I’m praying every day!”

Janie smiled, but her mind was working on other solutions.

“Careful,” Victoria warned. “She’s already risking everything by doing this for us. Janie, you’re doing enough, do you hear me? I don’t want you stockpiling anything. Besides, you get such a small allowance. Don’t use it all on other people.”

“I get food from the house, and I have a roof over my head,” Janie pointed out. “That’s a lot more than the people at Red Rock can say. What am I going to do with that money? Buy more ribbons?”

“Mayor Hendrick expects you to look a certain way,” Victoria said. “If he feels you’re neglecting yourself, he’ll assume you’re trying to make him look bad. Who knows how he’ll punish you? Please, don’t do anything that might put you in his crosshairs.”

Janie looked down at her hands. After spending about a decade at Oakhurst, Victoria was well aware of what happened behind closed doors. Despite everything, her first priority was still keeping Rita and Janie safe.

Jasper walked over to his wife and put his hands on her shoulders. Janie looked up just as they shared a glance. It was full of love and meaning. They made a handsome couple.

Jasper had dark hair with piercing eyes and a sharp jawline. Every girl in town had had a crush on the dreamy pastor, but he’d only ever had eyes for Victoria. Her vibrant red hair and willowy figure helped her stand out in a crowd and drew all eyes to her. From the moment they’d seen each other at church, their connection had been cemented.

Janie had been with Victoria in the front pew when Jasper first saw her. He’d tripped over his words and blushed a deep red. Victoria hadn’t even noticed as she’d been wrestling a story book out of Rita’s hands.

Jasper had stared at her open-mouthed for a moment, and when she finally looked up at him with Rita’s book in her hand, she’d given him a shy smile. The pastor had nearly fallen from the lectern.

Janie smiled at the memory, a familiar longing tugging at her heart. Would she ever experience something similar? Would her love story be as romantic? It was more likely that she’d be married off to whoever her stepfather chose for her.

“Vicky’s right,” Jasper said. “The moment you feel unsafe, or you think you might get caught, you need to stop. Do you hear me?”

Janie nodded slowly. “But what will happen if I don’t bring supplies? How will the people at Red Rock eat?”

Jasper grimaced and looked away.

“We’ll make a different plan,” Victoria insisted.

Janie was unconvinced. It was clear from Jasper’s expression that it would be extremely difficult. They had run out of options. Janie chewed on her bottom lip and looked out the door into the night. They needed a permanent solution to their problem. The people of Red Rock needed work, homes, and some security.

They couldn’t continue being treated like pests. Things didn’t end well when people were stripped of their dignity. She didn’t blame them for turning to petty crime. They hadn’t hurt anyone, and they had families to feed. Although the people of Red Rock vehemently denied ever stealing a thing, Janie couldn’t quite believe them.

If people were treated like criminals and denied every opportunity to provide for themselves, they would have no other choice but to break the rules. After all, wasn’t that what she was doing by taking from her stepfather? Janie shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Did something happen?” Victoria asked, stepping away from Janie.

A pair of startling green eyes jumped into Janie’s head. She leaned back on her crate as her heart pounded in her chest. Could she trust Shane? He didn’t have the best reputation in town, but did that mean the rumors were true? Would she risk the people of Red Rock’s well-being on Shane being able to keep a secret?

“No,” Janie said, fixing a smile on her face. “I was just wondering.”

Janie tried to push her unease out of her mind. Rita would be fine. Their stepfather wouldn’t find out what she’d done. The people of Red Rock needed to eat. As long as she was careful, nothing bad would happen. Besides, Shane had seemed concerned about her well-being when she’d left.

Perhaps she should see him again and explain what was going on. No. It was better that he didn’t know anything. If he did betray her, she could find a plausible explanation to distract her stepfather. At least, she hoped so.

Victoria raised her eyebrows suspiciously. It was the same expression she’d worn when interrogating the twins about missing cookies. While Janie had protested their innocence, Victoria had looked over at Rita, who’d still had crumbs on the front of her dress.

“It’s nearly sunrise,” Jasper said, distracting Victoria. “We should sort through these supplies so Janie can get home.”

Victoria turned away, and Janie let out a relieved breath. It seemed she had no choice but to trust Shane.