Harrigan announced as he reined to a halt on a small rise in the well-rutted road. Ella’s little mare came to a sedate stop right next to his gelding, blithely ignoring Ella’s wish to keep some distance between herself and Harrigan. She looked down the road at the city she had fled nearly three years ago and felt her insides knot up with fear. It was not the city itself which caused her such terror. There was a lot to appreciate in Philadelphia. There were also a lot of bitter, sad memories. And, at the moment, Philadelphia was a death trap for her. She opened her mouth to try to talk Harrigan out of handing her over to Harold, then closed it again. She had repeated herself until she was sick of hearing the words. While it was true that he no longer thought she was lying or trying to trick him, he did not waver in his intention of completing the job he had been hired for. It annoyed her a little that she could sympathize with his unwavering sense of purpose. He blamed himself completely for his family’s losses and was determined that they would not suffer too badly.
