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man watched her walk away, a small smile on his face as he shook his head a little. She had smiled at him as though he’d given her a sack of gold.
    Reagan did not look back. She moved toward downtown, a woman with a mission, her eyes swiftly scanning the storefronts. She watched the door of the general store just being opened, reminded again of the early hour. It was a brisk day, but not at all cold like New York. Reagan had everything she could do not to smile and greet everyone she saw.
    A bit of preoccupation over one advertisement in the barber shop window almost made her miss her turn, but with just a few maneuvers, she was on her way again. It didn’t take long to find that the instructions had been perfect. Doing exactly as she’d been told, she stood in front of a large, well-kept home and saw the name Harmond on the porch. Thinking there was no time like the present, Reagan started up the walk.
    A brisk knock on the wide wood door produced a woman. She didn’t look like a servant, and Reagan could only hope he hadn’t hired someone else.
    â€œMay I help you?” the woman asked.
    â€œYes, please. I’m Reagan Sullivan. I’m looking for Mr. William Harmond.”
    The woman nodded, and Reagan thought she looked at her oddly.
    â€œI’ll get him for you” was all she said before leaving Reagan on the front porch.
    â€œWell, at least she didn’t shut the door completely,” the nanny muttered, wondering what to think of what had just happened. She wasn’t given much time. Within seconds the door opened wide and a man stood there.
    â€œMiss Sullivan?”
    â€œYes. Are you Mr. Harmond?”
    â€œI am. Won’t you please come in?”
    â€œThank you.”
    Her heart surging with excitement, seeing now that it was all going to work out fine, Reagan stepped across the threshold.
    â€œYou didn’t get my letter,” Mr. Harmond began before Reagan could even set down her bag.
    â€œYes, I did,” she said plainly. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
    William Harmond hesitated, his mind scrambling for words.
    In that instant, Reagan knew something was wrong, and it wasn’t hard to figure that the woman at the door had something to do with it. Nevertheless she was going to wait for this man to admit it.
    â€œHow is it you got my letter if you’re just now arriving? I mailed it two weeks ago.”
    Reagan smiled. “I left early and took a little time to see the country.”
    Mr. Harmond nodded. He had hoped to avoid this, but now he had no choice.
    â€œI must tell you, Miss Sullivan, that since I contacted you the first time, I’ve taken a wife.”
    â€œHave you now?” she asked calmly.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd that would have been mentioned in this letter that I missed?”
    â€œYes. I’m sorry you’ve had to come all this way.”
    Reagan eyed him for a moment and then let her gaze take in the foyer. It would have been a nice place to work.
    â€œWell, I guess that’s the end of it,” she said, not with a stinging tone but one that spoke of regret.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Reagan smiled at him and started toward the door. Mr. Harmond was there ahead of her, his gaze anxious as he watched her. For this reason he saw the exact moment she stopped. He froze when she turned to him, not at all sure what she might do or say.
    â€œWho did you marry?”
    Nearly flabbergasted at the question, the man still managed, “Beth Barton.”
    â€œWhere did she work?”
    â€œShe was a cook at the hotel.”
    Mr. Harmond was awarded one of the smiles that drew people to Reagan.
    â€œI’ll have to head there then, won’t I? They’ll be needing a cook.”
    William Harmond couldn’t stop his shoulders from shaking. He’d never encountered anyone with such charm and pluck.
    â€œGood day,” Reagan said as she moved out the door, across the porch,