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build on the tenuous relationship growing between them. Now, he would have to stop Joel and Virginia from revealing his identity before he could explain.
    Surprised to learn Michael and his men would be continuing on to Houston, Angeline was pleased to accept their continued presence. At one of the stops, he brought her a women’s magazine and a Henry James’ novel, Daisy Miller . Delighted, she passed the time reading and discussing the book with him.
    Six days later, dressed in a dark gray gown trimmed in black cording, Angeline held Jimmy’s hand as they stepped from the train at the Houston station. The train had, out of necessity, stopped along the way at various points, making the last part of the trip seem interminably long.
    Angeline hoped someone would come forward to greet them, as she had no idea who she was to meet.
    A man in his early thirties, one arm protectively around the strikingly lovely woman at his side, made their way toward them through the jostling crowd.
    The woman spoke. “Are you, by any chance, Lady Angeline Ashley?” Tall, with golden blond hair, her clipped speech affirmed her as English.
    “Yes I am.” Angeline inclined her head.
    “I’m Joel Donnelly and this is my wife, Virginia. We’re here to greet you and welcome you both to Texas.” The man’s warm smile lit his face.
    When Jimmy slid his hand into hers, Angeline glanced down to see his lower lip quivering.
    He stared at Virginia and whispered, “You look like my mama.”
    Glancing quickly at Virginia, Angeline was surprised by the likeness.
    Virginia bent down and spoke softly to Jimmy. “Your mother was my sister, sweetheart. I am your aunt.” She straightened and addressed Angeline. “I know this was a difficult trip at a most difficult time. Come, I imagine you would like to freshen up and have something to eat. Joel has arranged for accommodations at the hotel just across the street.”
    Angeline passed Jimmy’s hand to Shirley. “Would you take him inside? I’ll assure a tray with some pudding is sent to the room.”
    “Yes, my lady.” Shirley bobbed a curtsy and steered Jimmy toward the hotel.
    When Angeline would have introduced Captain Harrington, he was nowhere in sight. His sudden departure left her unaccountably disappointed. She’d hoped for the chance to say goodbye.
    Virginia tucked her arm through Angeline’s. “I’ve been looking forward to your arrival. I know you’ve had a lot to deal with of late, but once we’re at the ranch, you can relax and not worry about anything.”
    After kissing Jimmy goodnight, Angeline met Joel and Virginia downstairs in the dining room. Her dress of midnight-blue velvet was a brief concession to the severe black and shades of gray for mourning. A net covered in tiny pearls secured her hair at the nape of her neck.
    “You look lovely, my dear.” Joel helped Angeline with her chair.
    “Thank you, Mr. Donnelly.”
    “We do not stand on formality here in America, especially with family.” Virginia patted Angeline’s hand. “He is Joel and I’m Virginia. We’ve taken the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
    Angeline let herself relax. “Not at all. Is the food quite different from that in England?”
    “At times,” Virginia smiled. “But I think you’ll enjoy it.”
    As the evening progressed, she was entertained with stories of Texas and Spencer Ranch in what she knew was an effort to help her relax.
    The ranch covered sixty-four thousand acres, a hundred sections, and lay sixty miles north of Houston. Adrian and a group of wranglers had driven cattle to a stockyard in Abilene, Kansas. It was expected to take as long as three months. With the demand for beef increasing, more and more steers were being driven north where the prices were much higher.
    Angeline listened with rapt attention as they described the hardships of such a trip; the half crazy longhorn cattle, the rough terrain and the real possibility of rustlers.
    She glanced up