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Cassie slept fitfully that night and woke in theto force its way through the curtains She dressed hurriedly and grabbed her spare clothes Darting down the stairs, she ran to the stage office, arriving as the driver was preparing to climb into the seat The driver pitched her old clothes in the boot and helped her into the stage He spat a strearinned at her

"You look a sight different today I hope you find this trip a little more comfortable than the last"

She settled into the seat and smiled down at hiave her a strange look and secured the door She glanced at the woht her breath It was the woed into respectable clothes and looked painfully beautiful No wonder Bordeaux was so taken with her

The wo an attractive di, but aren't you the young lady that had Ashley in a dither?"

Cassie frowned "I' the town in adither,"

The wohed softly "I meant that in a nice way Everyone was so worried You have a lot of friends there, don't you?"

Cassie shrugged "I don't know about friends, but there sure are a lot of people in Ashley who see I do"

The woman stuck out her hand "Well, I'enuine enthusiasm "I'm Darcie Smi…" She hesitated "I mean, Bordeaux"

Cassie's heart lurched wildly, and her face felt cold She stared at Darcie, clenching her hands so tight that her fingernails bit into her palms Bordeaux? So, Bordeaux had coerced her to meet him at the church after all It was no surprise that Darcie had accepted his proposal Bordeaux was a persuasive man with a tendency to move fast - apparently not only omen Now he had a ranch - her ranch

What would his Aunt and Uncle say? Surely they were unaware of his deceit But then, what could they do? Had he told theet her? Did they know about Darcie? Maybe Darcie was god-sent She had nearly married a man just like her father For a moment she was tempted to tell Darcie But ould that solve? Maybe Bordeaux would stay with this wo tiht even feel happy for them