“And David was playing music with his harp. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence, and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.”
Goose bumps covered Leah’s arms, and a little chill shot down her back. She kept reading.
“Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, ‘If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.’ So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.”
When Saul was trying to kill David, David fled and escaped.
Escape.
That’s what she had to do.
Chapter Two
Leah breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the breakfast room early and found Emily already seated at the long mahogany table. A faint shadow under Emily’s eyes was the only sign in her otherwise impeccable appearance that she may not have had a restful night’s sleep.
Leah, on the other hand, knew from a glance in her mirror earlier that she looked like she may have slept an hour at the most. And that was fairly accurate.
After she’d received God’s direction for her to flee Richmond, Leah had spent an hour packing four trunks with the personal items she might need on her journey. Then she’d spent another hour unpacking two of the trunks, after deciding she should travel light so as not to raise suspicions with the bellboys and luggage handlers wherever she went. So now she was down to a minimal amount of clothing, toiletries, books, and the five hundred dollars she had saved from her spending money. Most of Papa’s money was in the trust held for her twenty-third birthday, except the monthly stipend she received for personal expenses.
She waited impatiently for the housemaid to remove the covers from their full plates, and then fill each of their mugs with warm coffee. Even after Papa was gone, Emily had insisted they continue to eat formal meals so Leah wouldn’t lose the habit.
“Thank you, Amanda.” Emily was always full of grace and kindness. The servant girl curtsied and scurried from the large dining chamber. As soon as she was gone, Leah leaned forward to place a hand on the table.
“We’re leaving Richmond. You and I. Today. God directed me to flee and escape, so we have to leave this morning.”
Emily dabbed at her mouth, not looking as shocked as Leah had expected.
“And where do you plan to go?”
Leah had given that a great deal of thought, but hadn’t come up with a good answer. “I don’t know, really. I don’t have any family left, and we never did much traveling, so all of my friends are in Richmond. I guess I’m thinking we should go to Charleston for a while, since we used to vacation there and I know the city a bit.” She frowned. “I’m not sure what I would do there, though.”
Emily shook her head. “No, you need to go to St. Louis. It’s in Missouri, and I have family there…of sorts. My sister’s husband came from that area, and I know his family will help you. Their name is Barnett, and they’re good people. I’ll send them a wire after you leave, so they’ll be expecting you.”
“But you have to go, too.”
Emily’s eyes shone—with kindness or unshed tears? “No, I think this is also the opportunity God’s given me to spend some time helping my sweet sister. It’s been hard on her since her Robert died, and I think it would do her good to have someone with her right now.”
“But don’t you think you should leave town?” Panic welled in Leah’s chest as she thought about getting on a train by herself. Walking away from the only friend she had left—the only life she’d ever known.
Emily’s face dissolved into that gentle look of affection. “Leah, love. I spent many hours last night praying, too. God told me He has a special plan for you, and this is the way He wants you to start. He has other plans for me.”
Leah’s heart filled with both relief and panic at Emily’s answer. “Are you sure?”
She patted Leah’s cheek in a motherly way. “God has you safe in His hands, love. And you can know for sure I’ll be praying for you every step of the way.”
And then Leah did what she’d been trying not to do all night. She cried.
~
In less time than she had thought possible, Leah stood in front of a Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac train car. The observation car’s exterior may once have been a cheery yellow, but the harsh sun and the layer of ashen soot from the steam engine had rendered it a murky beige. She felt like a stranger in the simple homespun dress—gray, with no frills, lace, or bustle—and only a faded carpet bag in her hands. Not a soul would recognize her as a Townsend in this depressing—and scratchy—costume.
When Emily got an idea in her head, there was no one save the Lord Himself who could stop her from acting on it immediately. She had inspected Leah’s trunks and approved of most of the items inside, but changed out a few of the gowns for more ‘serviceable’ dresses. Then she’d found the homespun wool dress from who-knows-where so no one would recognize her at the train station, sent for a hired hack so no one from Townsend Manor would know where she’d gone, and had Cook pack a lunch to put in Leah’s satchel. On the way to the train station Emily had given so many instructions that Leah’s mind was exhausted already. And it was only nine o’clock in the morning.
Emily had kept their goodbye short and hopeful, pressing several papers into Leah’s hand. “Please send me a note as soon as you arrive in St. Louis to let me know you’re all right.” It was the first time Emily had shown any kind of reluctance for Leah to leave. “Do you have the letter for Mr. Shelton?”
“Oh, that’s right.” Leah reached into her reticule and pulled out the sealed stationery addressed to her father’s steward, Mister James Shelton, Esquire.
Emily reached for it, her eyes meeting Leah’s. “You didn’t tell him where you’re going, did you?”
Leah shook her head. “Only that I was leaving town and would contact him next year after my birthday to arrange my inheritance. And then I detailed the conversation I overheard between Simon and that other man, and also the things Simon said to me. I asked him to inform someone in the police department—someone he trusts.”
Emily’s mouth pinched in a grim line. “I hope he believes you. And I hope he finds the right person to help investigate. Simon has an impeccable reputation and the money to sway any decision.”
“I know.” Urgency washed through Leah. “We have to get out of here. Simon’s probably already called at home.”
Emily pulled her into a final fierce hug. “I’ll be praying for you. Remember, I love you.” And then she turned Leah around with a hand on each shoulder and practically pushed her toward the train.
After boarding, Leah made her way down the narrow aisle in search of an empty seat. She finally found a vacant bench, and collapsed onto the hard leather next to the window. She peered through the murky glass to get a final glimpse of Emily, and saw the woman waving and blowing kisses from the wooden platform. Leah waved back wildly, feeling her world slip away as the train jolted forward and her friend faded into the distance.
Leah leaned into the seat, and her heart ached like it was in a vise. What was she doing? She was leaving everything she knew and the best friend she’d ever had. And for what? Safety? How did she know where she was going would be any safer than staying with Simon Talbert? Sure he was planning to kill her, but who knew what menace she would meet on a trip halfway across the country to a strange city in the middle of an even stranger state.
Leah gazed out the window for a final glimpse of the Richmond train station. Why hadn’t she forced Emily to come along? As far back as she could remember, she had been her dearest friend and confidante. Emily was fifteen years older than Leah, but that had never mattered. Mama died when Leah was sixteen, and Emily had stepped in to fill the void. A tear trickled down Leah’s cheek as she sank into self-pity.
“Oh, you poor thing. Is this your first time travelin�
�� by yourself?”
Leah looked up to see a short lady carrying as many bags as would fit in her wrinkled hands. The woman’s hair had likely been blonde at one time, but it was now mostly white with a few golden strands mixed in, and her lined face radiated a kind soul.
Leah sniffed and made an effort to pull herself together, beginning with her poised smile. “Uh, yes, it is. Can I help you with those?”
With effort, the woman managed to set some of the bags on the bench, and then leaned over to place others underneath the seat. For a second, she swayed like she might topple with the rocking of the train. Leah reached out to grasp her arm, surprised at how bony it was, then moved the bags from the seat and helped the older lady sit.
“Ah, thank you, dear. These trains can knock my old legs over some times. I didn’t used to be so unsteady on my feet, but gettin’ old can be rough.” She patted Leah’s arm.
Leah couldn’t help but smile at the likeable woman. “Do you travel often?”
Her clothing didn’t appear lavish, but neither was it ragged. She wore a clean brown taffeta dress with a strip of lace around the high collar and long sleeves.
“My youngest daughter lives in Richmond with her four little ones. I try to visit a couple weeks each year to lighten her load a bit. Her oldest is barely in school and the youngest has started walkin’ now, so she has more than a little on her plate. They’re all smart as chickadees, though, and the two oldest can already read and recite sums.”
She finally stopped to take a breath, then added, “I’m Louise Mathers, by the way, but everyone calls me Gram. And what might your name be?”
Gram was too bubbly to allow sadness to hover, so Leah relaxed against the cracked leather bench. “Leah.”
“Ah, what a lovely name for a lovely girl. It’s a pleasure to have your company. You remind me a bit of my Rebecca. She’s my oldest grandbaby and has your pretty caramel-colored hair. She’s a bit stouter than you, but she can sing like an angel. She’d like you, I’m sure…”
Gram chattered for another hour, then closed her eyes for a nap. When soft snores sounded from the older woman’s open mouth, Leah took the opportunity to look at the papers Emily had given her.
Two scraps held addresses. One for the Barnett family in St. Louis, and the other for Emily’s sister outside of Richmond. Next, she found a copy of the Richmond Enquirer. That was odd. Emily had always said it wasn’t seemly for a young lady to be interested in newspapers and worldly affairs. The paper was open to one of the pages near the back, where rows of advertisements filled the space.
Her eyes wandered through the listings. In the “Lost.—Found.” section, someone offered a five dollar reward for a missing lady’s gold watch. The “Wanted…Situations …Females” took an entire column, but she couldn’t bring herself to read too deeply. No doubt she would need to study those types of advertisements in detail when she reached St. Louis.
An advertisement in the “Personals” section just above the “Wanted” ads caught Leah’s eye.
An intelligent young rancher of 25 years, 6 feet height, red hair, green eyes, seeks a wife in the Montana Territory. The young lady should be between 18 and 25 years, pleasant, and God fearing. Please send telegram or letter to Helena, MT addressed to Abel Bryant at Bryant Ranch, Butte City.
How curious! She’d heard of men placing advertisements for mail-order brides, but she’d never actually seen such a listing.
The snores beside Leah ended with an unladylike snort, and Gram raised her head from the seat back. She licked her lips and looked around, taking in the landscape still flying by outside the windows.
“Nothin’ like the rockin’ of a train for a good nap.”
Chapter Three
By the time the train pulled into the station in Washington, D.C., Leah had to try hard to remain amiable. She was tired, her spine and bottom ached from the unforgiving seat, her legs were cramped, and she wanted nothing more than to walk straight to a hotel with a warm bath and soft bed.
But as Emily had instructed, she disembarked the train and made her way into the depot.
“I need passage on your next train to St. Louis, please.”
The thin man behind the spectacles was clean-shaven and balding, and he perused her with an air of condescension. “That would be the next Baltimore and Ohio, scheduled to arrive in about…” he peered at the watch hooked to his vest “…thirty minutes. You’ll need to be ready to leave within ten minutes of its arrival.”
Forty minutes. That would barely allow time for a quick meal, not a bath or a night’s sleep. “Is there another train leaving tomorrow?”
His scowl made her almost wish she hadn’t asked. But it would be heaven to crawl under warm covers and sleep. Leah pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. The sun was beginning to set, bringing on another cold March evening. She wished she had her wool coat, but at least it was packed in one of the trunks.
The man’s whiny voice brought Leah back to the present. “The next train traveling to the western states arrives on Tuesday.”
Tuesday? That was five days from now. Leah mentally groaned. “I’ll need a ticket for today’s train, then. Are there sleeping chambers available?”
The man’s chest puffed out like she’d just thanked him for saving the President’s life. “Yes, indeed. This train has one of the famous Pullman cars, with both upper and lower berths.”
Leah sent up a silent prayer of thanks for little blessings.
~
By the end of six more very long days, the Pullman car proved to be much more than a little blessing. It was the only thing that made this trip endurable. When the car attendant announced the St. Louis Depot, Leah almost jumped to her feet to hug him. Her craving for solid land was palpable, tightening her muscles into knots. She could imagine a warm bath with scented soaps, silk sheets, and a soft feather bed that didn’t sway through the night. And clean clothes. Her clothes, that didn’t itch or stink.
Leah peered out the window, but couldn’t see much through the small square of dingy glass. She stuffed her book into her carpet bag and rose as the train quivered to a stop. She filed behind the other passengers, shifting from foot to foot as they inched forward. Even in her exhausted state, she was too giddy to stand still. She’d arrived in St. Louis, and her new life was about to begin. Would this city be as large and cultured as Richmond?
Stepping from the train, Leah twisted her head to take in the sights, but what she saw brought her up short.
Water.
She stood in front of a vast lake. Not as large as the bay in Charleston had been, but close. On the other bank, far in the distance, a city rose from the murky depths like an Irish Sea monster.
“That’s a lot of water.” The baritone voice came from just behind her, and Leah whirled to find herself staring up into the emerald eyes of a man unlike any she’d ever seen. A full beard covered his face, making it hard to distinguish most of his features. Except those piercing green eyes. He looked to be a few years older than her, but probably not over thirty. His blue work shirt was clean and pressed, and accentuated the breadth of his shoulders.
The man didn’t meet her gaze, but stared out over the water as if he were seeing far beyond. Then his comment registered in Leah’s awareness.
“Yes, I suppose it is. Do you know what it’s called? I thought we were far away from an ocean or any of the Great Lakes.”
“The Missouri River.” His voice was rich, and he still didn’t look at her.
Leah arched a brow, then turned back to study the water before her. “It’s a river? I’ve not seen one so wide. Is that St. Louis on the far shore?”
“Yep. The ferry’s loading up now.” He took a step, then motioned for her to precede him. The other passengers were moving forward, too, pressing toward the flat boat at the edge of the water.
“This way to the Wiggins Ferry,” called a man with an official-sounding voice. “Only five cents to ride the ferry across to St. Louey.”
Just then, she remembered her trunks, which she hadn’t seen in several days. “Excuse me, sir,” she said to the attendant. “Will my luggage be brought across on the ferry?”
“Yes’m. You can pick ’em up at the yonder dock.”
“Thank you.” She dipped a slight curtsey and was pushed forward by the crowd boarding the boat. The rocking of the craft in the water was like being on the train again. Leah turned back to mention it to the man with the emerald eyes, but he wasn’t behind her. Why did that make her feel even more alone?
She took up a crowded spot by the rail where she could see both banks, but her eyes drifted over the other passengers. There he was, standing in a quiet corner away from the swarm of passengers pushing toward the boat’s edge. The crowd pushed in on her, too, so Leah gathered her nerve and moved toward the empty space next to the man. It was a bold move on her part, approaching a stranger she’d only just met and didn’t even know the name of. But something about him intrigued her. Maybe he’d think she was just moving to a less congested part of the boat’s deck.
Leah stepped up to the rail in the empty space between the man and an elderly couple. He turned his green eyes toward her in a nod, then gazed back over the water. He certainly was quiet.
“Are you from St. Louis then?” She infused a casual air into her tone.
“No, ma’am. Montana Territory.”
That might explain the wild aura that surrounded him. Leah wanted another good look at him, but couldn’t risk being caught staring. “How interesting. And were you visiting the East for pleasure, sir, or for business?”
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