Victoria was losing control over her mind and her limbs. No man had ever called her adorable. Usually they called her stubborn and relentless, but never adorable. Alan's words and the way his gaze hypnotized her, made her unwilling to move. However, although her feet would work so that she could retreat, her body betrayed her by leaning against him as she rested her hands on his muscular chest. His strong arm wrapped around her waist holding her up, while his other hand gently cupped the side of her face.

She couldn't tear her gaze away from him. His dreamy blue eyes had fascinated her from the moment they'd met. Since she'd never had a man look at her this way, she wasn't certain how to act – and she was sure she was doing this all wrong. Yet, it felt so right. Her heart sang as she watched his gaze move slowly over her face as if he tried to memorize it. When his attention stopped on her mouth, it became difficult to breathe. She'd never kissed a man, and at this moment, she wanted Alan to be the first – and only – man she ever kissed.

As he bent his head, she held her breath. She really should stop him, but heavens, how could she now? Her mind had grown quiet and refused to scream at her that this was wrong. Even as he pulled her closer, she was helpless to stop this from happening.

Closing her eyes, she waited for his lips to touch hers, and when they did, she released a pleasurable sigh. Yet, there was more, and when both hands moved around her, leaving absolutely no space between them so that she could feel his heartbeat against hers, she realized this was the most pleasurable thing she'd ever experienced. However, when his mouth started moving over hers as he deepened the kiss, she knew she'd died and gone to paradise.

Another moan floated through the air, and Victoria wasn't certain if it came from her or from Alan. She assumed by the passionate way he kissed her, that he was enjoying the moment as well. At least she hoped.

Alan broke the kiss, and his tender lips moved over her cheek and down her neck. Shivers of delight ran rapid over her body as she clung to the front of his shirt, not wanting to let him go. Everything around her seemed to disappear, and the only thing filling her mind was this incredible man who caused glorious havoc to her system.

"Oh, Lydia. You are... perfect."

Lydia? Had Victoria heard correctly? He couldn't have possibly said her sister's name, yet, he did.

It was as if a bucket of ice-cold water was suddenly dumped over her. She jerked out of his arms. She placed her hand over her mouth as panic filled her. If Lydia ever discovered that Victoria had been kissing her soon-to-be husband, Lydia would be devastated and never talk to her older sister again.

What have I done?

"Lydia?" she asked in a tight voice as she stared at his confused expression. Lowering her hand, she tried to control her ragged breaths. "Why did you call me Lydia?"

Alan sighed heavily and his expression relaxed with a smile. "You don't have to pretend anymore. I know you're my mail-order bride from Woodville, and I think it was so sweet of you to want to get to know me before the wedding, which is why you gave me a fake name."

His hand moved to Victoria's cheek as he lightly caressed it, but she pushed his hand away. Tears of humiliation stung her eyes. Why did she continue to make such terrible choices? She would not be the only person hurt this time.

"No, Alan." Her throat was so tight, it was almost a whisper. "I'm not Lydia Swanson. I'm her older sister, Victoria."

Shock registered on his face and his cheeks turned a bright red. She wanted to quickly explain before he became too upset.

She inhaled deeply, trying not to cry in front of him. "When Lydia told me about you yesterday, I was determined to find you to see if you would make my sister a good husband. I thought fate had stepped in to help me when I saw your overturned wagon and I stopped to help." Slowly, she shook her head. "I was desperate, only because my sisters deserve the best. I didn't want Lydia to marry a man like our father."

A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away. "I have made some awful mistakes in my life, but what I did to you has topped the list. I shouldn't have done that. I know that now, even though it's too late to repair the damage. However, I pray you'll forgive me."

The anger growing inside him was obvious. His hands balled into fists, and his chest heaved each heavy breath.

"Forgive you?" he snapped. "All this time... You... let me to believe..." Growling, he turned and marched back to the guest bedroom.

Victoria's heart sank, and she couldn't let things end like this. She followed him and hurried inside the room before he could close the door.

"If you don't mind," he said tightly, "I would like to be alone."

"Yes, I'm sure you do. However, I cannot end things this way. I don't want you upset at me."

"What?" His eyes widened, but his expression still showed his irritation. "Do you honestly think I'm not going to be upset?" He shook his head. "Victoria, the only reason I kissed you was because I thought you were Lydia. Now that I know you're her sister, do you realize how this makes me look?"

Inwardly, she cringed. Victoria knew exactly how it made him look... how they both looked. "I understand your frustration, but I still don't want you – or my sister – to hate me." She blinked back the tears. "I won't be able to live with myself if I knew you hated me."

He turned away from her and pushed his fingers through his hair, removing the bandage around his head as it fell to the floor. He winced and quickly dropped his hand from the area of his injury.

"You don't understand, do you?" His tone was bitter. "I wanted you to be Lydia. That's why I said those things to you, because I thought good fortune was finally smiling down upon me."

Victoria's heart twisted. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, my sister is very much like me."

"Is her hair red like yours?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Then she's not like you at all. She has a completely different name, one that I adore."

She wasn't sure how to interpret his words. Did he want a wife with red hair? It definitely sounded as if he wanted a wife with the name of Lydia, not Victoria.

"I will give my blessing for you to wed my sister," she said softly as her heart twisted again. "I believe you will make my sister very happy."

Victoria's voice broke, so she stopped talking. It was bad enough that she was dying inside. She wanted a husband like Alan. In fact, she wanted Alan for herself. Knowing this made Victoria feel more guilty. How could she have fallen in love with her sister's soon-to-be husband?

"No... no." He paced the floor slowly, appearing almost exhausted.

Victoria didn't know what he wanted her to do now. After all, she had apologized, but he was reluctant to forgive, and she couldn't have that. She wanted to make things right again.

When he turned her way, she noticed his face wasn't the vibrant red it had been for the past few minutes. He looked rather pale, in fact. Then she noticed blood coating his blonde hair around his wound.

Fear jolted her into action, and she rushed toward him. Just as she slid an arm around his waist, he sagged against her. Thankfully, they were near the bed and she could help him lie down. A fresh bandage was on the bed stand, so she quickly grabbed it and pressed it against his bleeding head injury.

The creaking of the floor in the hallway pulled Victoria's attention to the opened door. "Savannah! Come here, quickly." Fast footsteps sounded on the floor mere seconds before Savannah entered the room. Victoria nodded toward Alan. "His head is bleeding again."

Victoria's friend hurried to the bed and stood next to her. Victoria carefully lifted the bandage so that Savannah could inspect the wound. Worried lines appeared on her face and she took the bandage and pressed it back to Alan's head. She looked at Victoria and shook her head.

"What happened?" Savannah asked.

"He... he..." Inwardly, Victoria cried. "He knows."

Savannah sighed as she frowned. "He was upset, I take it?"

Victoria nodded.

"Then I'm sure the blood rushed to his head and caused his injury to bleed again." Savannah touched Alan's forehead and her frown deepened. "He feels too warm, and he's sweating."

"What does that mean?" Victoria whispered.

Savannah sighed again. "Infection is setting in."

Victoria's chest tightened. She knew enough about wounds to know that Alan had just entered dangerous territory. Tears fell down his cheeks. This was all her fault!

* * * *

Lydia Swanson ran her hands down the tight-fitting shirt and trousers. Samantha Hansen was a sweet young woman, but a tomboy, nonetheless. Her mother owned the hotel, and both were very nice and went out of their way to assist Lydia. Agent Drake had purchased a night's stay at the hotel and introduced her to the owner and her daughter.

It was difficult to stay upset over everything that had happened, only because Agent Drake – in his arrogant and charming way – had helped her, but Lydia still couldn't come to terms with her sister's disappearance. Victoria could be injured and bleeding right now, but all Lydia could think about was how she was going to wring her sister's neck for traveling to Stumptown in hopes of finding Mr. Cartwright.

It was because of Victoria's foolishness that made Lydia go out in search for her sister, which ended her in the mud quite a few times, and now... Lydia groaned. Now she stood in the hotel room looking like a tomboy in boy's clothes that were too tight on her. They might fit Samantha, who couldn't possibly be out of school yet, but these clothes certainly didn't suit Lydia.

Pretty dresses and bonnets were what she wore. She enjoyed looking like a woman. Although she didn't know Samantha very well, Lydia hoped the girl grew out of her taste for boy's clothes.

Lydid scowled. She didn't exactly want to travel through Stumptown looking like this. After all, she would soon be Alan Cartwright's wife. She didn't want to do anything that would embarrass herself – or him. Yet, until her clothes were washed and dried, which Mrs. Hansen assured Lydia she would do, Lydia would have to look for her irritating older sister looking like a tomboy. At least she'd taken a bath a felt much cleaner now. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything she could do with her hair but run her fingers through it in hopes that her thick mane would appear brushed.

She moved to the door and cautiously pulled it open. From up the hallway, she could hear Sheriff Denton's and Agent Drake's voices. When Agent Drake had brought her to the hotel, she remembered Mrs. Hansen saying something about it happening again and that one of the girls was hurt. Lydia thought maybe the middle-aged woman was referring to one of the maids in the hotel. However, the sheriff acted like it was top priority, which was why he had Agent Drake help Lydia.

Now she was ready to be helped, even if she did look ridiculous.

Pulling her shoulders back – and trying not to act as if she was completely embarrassed about how she appeared – she stepped up the hallway. The closer she came to the room, the louder the men's voices became.

"Until I can solve this very confusing case," the sheriff said, "I might have to rely on you more. After all, I cannot be in two places at once."

"I understand," Agent Drake said. "I'll be very happy to help, until I get a case of my own, then Mr. Pinkerton is my first priorty."

"Yes, I agree." The sheriff paused. "So, whatever happened with that lady looking for her sister?"

There was a pause in their conversation, which made Lydia stop. They were talking about her and she was interested to know what the Pinkerton agent thought.

"Well, she's a little snooty, if you ask me." Agent Drake chuckled. "The muddy ragamuffin was the one needing help, yet she acted as if she were better than me." His heavy sigh was audible. "I just don't understand women like that."

Lydia hitched a breath. Ragamuffin? Snooty? How dare he say that about her! If she didn't consider herself a true lady, she would march right up to him and punch him in the nose.

"That's too bad," the sheriff said. "But the faster you help her, the quicker you can find her sister."

"Yes, and I'm thankful that she'll be Alan Cartwright's problem soon."

"Nicholas!" The sheriff's voice lifted. "You are an awful man. However, take Miss Swanson to Alan's house and see if the woman's sister is there. That's all you have to do."

Alan Cartwright's problem? The more Lydia heard the rudeness spouting out of the agent's mouth, the more she wanted to scream. Perhaps she'd rethink her decision about being a mail-order bride and living in Stumptown. Then again, because of Agent Drake's profession, she assumed he didn't stay in one place for very long.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to find her determination. With or without the agent's help, she was going to find her sister. She squared her shoulders and resumed her walk toward the room. Just as she neared the door, Agent Drake walked out, and she ran into him before she had a chance to stop.

With her hands on his chest, she realized how muscular he was, and up this close, she detected a musky scent. Her stomach fluttered, and she quickly withdrew. She lifted her gaze to his surprised face.

"Oh, forgive me, Miss Swanson. I didn't know you were there."

"I..." She cleared her throat. "I just left my room and was looking for you or the sheriff to take me to Mr. Cartwright's house."

His gaze slid over her attire in a slow perusal. Inwardly, she groaned. Any second now she would see disgust on his self-assured, handsome face. He already found her irritating, and Lydia knew this would make it worse. Yet... instead of seeing disgust, she noticed a sparkle of interest in his gaze.

Her heart did a silly little flip, and she quickly cursed the affect this particular man's gaze had on her just now. Well, she wouldn't put up with this ridiculous emotion. Agent Drake might be handsome and charming, but she did not like his rudeness.

"I see that you and Sam aren't the same size in clothes."

Lydia crinkled her forehead. "Sam?"

He chuckled lightly and met her gaze. "Samantha Hansen. People in town call her Sam."

"Oh, then your answer is yes. We are definitely not the same size." She crossed her arms over her bosom, not liking how the buttons down the front of the shirt practically came apart.

Grinning, Agent Drake shook his head as he took off his overcoat. "Here, put this on. Outside is still a little chilly."

Lydia's heart softened slightly. She honestly didn't think this man had an ounce of kindness in him, but he proved her wrong. Still, she knew she was right that he was a cad. The sooner they could find her sister, the better off she'd be. And, if she was lucky, she'd never have to see Agent Nicholas Drake again!