A chatty type, Big-Foot Harry seemed to welcome Emily’s silence as it gave him full rein to fill the space with his own voice. For that, she was grateful. She didn’t feel like talking. She had too much on her mind.

Somehow, she had to convince Mr. Garvey that she had every intention of keeping her promise to marry him. If he refused to live up to his side of the bargain, she’d be in a fine pickle. Staying in her current sham of a marriage and living on an isolated ranch was out of the question. With no means of transportation, she’d be stuck in the middle of nowhere for a full year and dependent on Chase McKnight for her every need. Even the town of Haywire was preferable. At least there, she could get around on her own and maintain some independence.

The buggy wheels hit a rut, and her thoughts scattered. They had reached a rough patch in the dirt road, and it was all she could do to keep from being bounced out of her seat. That and trying to breathe commanded most of her attention. Neither the rutted road nor the dust seemed to bother Big-Foot Harry, and he just kept jawing away like an old woman.

“Next time those dang cattle run rampant,” he said with a shake of his head, “I best take cover. The last thing I need is to accidentally find myself with a wife.”

He’d interrupt himself on occasion to point out various landmarks along the way. “That’s the Buttonwood ranch,” he said. “You better watch out for Mrs. Buttonwood. She makes everyone’s business her own.”

He was still talking as they drove into town. It was hard to believe, but compared to the isolation of the cattle ranch, Haywire didn’t look half as bad as it had when Emily first arrived. Most of the damage caused by the cattle had been cleared away. Save for a few chickens and a goat, there were no other loose animals running around.

Spotting the Haywire Pharmacy, Emily gathered up her purse. “You can drop me off here,” she said.

Big-Foot Harry tugged on the reins, and the buggy rolled to a stop. “Nice meetin’ you, ma’am.” He tossed a nod to the back of the buggy. “Want me to leave your belongin’s at the hotel?”

Unsure of what kind of reception awaited her, she anxiously eyed the front of Garvey’s shop before answering. “Yes, thank you.” She stepped to the ground, careful to avoid a pile of dung. “Stay away from stampedes.”

He laughed. “Will do. Will do.” With that, he clicked his tongue and drove away.

Emily hated to see him go. His friendly chatter had been oddly soothing. Feeling very much alone, she moistened her lips and studied the drugstore with a worried frown. After last night’s fiasco, would Mr. Garvey still want to marry her?

Smoothing down the front of her dress with a gloved hand, she forced herself to breathe. Her only hope was that Garvey displayed the same courtesy toward her now as he had in his letters.