As he sat thinking of the possibilities, Allie began to stir. She opened her eyes with a feeling that someone was watching her. She jolted awake and braced herself. Her heart was once again racing and making her deaf to the sounds aboard the roaring train. Her hands went to fists and flew to her head.
Her reaction startled him, and Frank reached out a hand to her. “I’m sorry, ma’am, I know you from somewhere—but can’t remember from where.”
Allie’s breath came rushing back into her lungs. She slowly lowered her hands and forced them to unclench. When will I wake up without panic controlling me? She attempted to calm her heart. The man was talking, but she was struggling to hear him.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry for startling you. What’s your name? I know I’ve met you.” Frank thought better of touching her arm and placed his hands in his lap.
Allie turned her head and blinked. She could not believe who she was seeing. Only one man she knew had the deepest chocolate brown eyes paired with light brown hair. Here on the train with her was a childhood friend. Well, to him a friend, but to her…he could have been so much more. Of all the places and timing. She lowered her head. “You know me. We went to school together. How are you, Frank?”
The puzzle quickly came together. She vaguely looked like Allie, but those bruises made it hard to see the girl who was once his playmate. Last he knew, his parents said she had married and moved to Idaho. What is she doing here–alone–and looking like she got hit by this train instead of just riding? “I’m good! Surprising my parents for an impromptu visit. Winter was awful this year and as soon as the snow melted enough to make the trains run smoothly, I decided it was time to head back home. Allie, are you okay?”
Inside she sank. What was I thinking going home looking this way? What will people think of me? “I am much better now, thank you.” She brushed some falling hair behind her ear.
“Allie, your lip looks like it might need some attention. I have my bag with me. Let me go grab it and I’ll see if I can do something for you.” He stood to leave but didn’t take his eyes off her.
Tears threatened to fall. “No, thank you, Frank. I’m sure it’s fine. Doesn’t hurt real bad.” She was falling apart inside but refused to let him see. He could have been my future—not this. If he only knew. He needed to leave, though. He had to chase his dreams…and leave me behind. “Please, Frank, I don’t mean to be rude, but I am awfully tired.” She needed him to leave.
“Of course, you sleep. We can talk later.” He refused to leave her. He would sit and wait for her to rest. He folded his arms and pretended to sleep, waiting for her to close her eyes so he could watch her again.
Frank’s mind began spinning, thinking of the last time he was home. Allie’s father would be furious with me if he knew I left her like this. Clearly something is wrong. I need to know what happened. Last time I was home, I was hoping to find her, but found out she had moved away. I can’t let her go again. I won’t!
Allie closed her eyes and struggled to fall asleep. Why won’t he go back to his seat? Most people knew Frank as just nosy, but Allie knew the real reason behind his nosy behavior. He cared for people…deeply. She opened her eyes and turned her head to face him.
“Frank, I’m not ready to talk about it.”
“Okay, then we’ll just sit here. But, I want you to know I’m’ ready to listen whenever you need me.” Frank sighed and then crossed his legs to prove he was not leaving anytime soon.
She closed her eyes again. Might as well sleep. He won’t leave me. And this way I can avoid him longer.
Frank watched Allie sleep for a while. There were three stops before they reached Drummond where they would need to change trains. Allie was in such a deep sleep she didn’t budge when the train whistle blew to signal the next town. Passengers continuing through did not need to disembark, so he let her sleep.
She has obviously been through something. Might as well let her sleep. I better stay with her, though. Something’s not right. Frank stood to stretch his legs but didn’t move from the row. His bag was back at his seat. I’m staying with Allie whether she wants me to or not. I will see her all the way to her pa’s place.
When the train slowed to a stop, Frank waited for those getting off the train to clear the aisle. Then he walked back to his seat, grabbed his bag, and was back by Allie’s side before any new passengers boarded.
As Frank watched her sleeping, he felt a sense of sadness for what could have been. He had liked Allie, but had to get out of that town. He didn’t want to follow his pa and run the family business. Banking bored him. He wanted to help people. His parents accepted it easier than he thought they would, but he knew Allie was devastated. She had never actually told him how she felt, but he knew…and he felt it, too. With those thoughts, he started drifting off to sleep.
Frank woke suddenly to find Allie flailing and crying.
“Allie! Allie! Wake up! You’re dreaming.” Frank gently shook her.
“Stop, Eddie! I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Eddie, please!” Allie’s eyes flew open and she jumped at Frank’s touch. “Don’t tou…touch me. Please!” She was shaking now. Where am I? Her head was fuzzy. She rubbed her eyes as everything started coming back to her. “Oh, Frank! I am so sorry. I didn’t mean…”
Frank shushed her. Something was really wrong, and who was Eddie? “Allie, I need to know. Are you in trouble?” Did someone do this to you?” He gently touched her check and she winced at the pain.
“Frank, I am so sorry!” The back of her hand touched her lips to try to control a sob. It was useless though. She couldn’t hide what was blatantly on her face. She had to talk to him. Maybe if she got it all out, it would be easier to talk about with the next familiar face. “Might as well start from the beginning. That’s the easier part to talk about, anyway.”
Frank wanted to gather her in his arms, but knew she needed space to talk about this. Allie always liked to keep things to herself, but when she was ready she came to him. He was always ready to listen to her on her time.
They had been friends for years through school. Everyone thought they would eventually marry, but they didn’t know Frank’s dreams to be a doctor. No one knew he was planning to leave, not even Allie. He was regretting that decision now. He turned his body and kept his hands in his lap, preparing to hear something that was bound to shake him.
“You remember Andrew’s accident, I’m sure? He had such promise. My parents needed his help. That stupid, stubborn horse. The head injury made it impossible for him to work, and I was forced to take a job to help out. The job I got was at the restaurant, but it wasn’t enough. Ma and Pa were struggling. I could see that. They tried to hide it, but Ma was getting thinner. She was eating less and less to save food for us. Pa’s tools kept disappearing, and I knew he had sold some. Ma couldn’t work since Andrew needed a caregiver. He had seizures. I never saw anything like it before.
“Well…one day, a guy showed up at the restaurant. I thought he was nice looking and, apparently, he thought the same of me. He asked me to dinner the next night—and I went. Eddie was passing through town on his way to Idaho to work on the railroad. He stayed in town for a week and we saw each other every day. When he asked me to marry him, I saw a way to help my parents. I would not bring in any money, but I was one less mouth to feed.
“We eloped and then told my parents. They were not pleased. I thought they would be thrilled, but I was wrong. I was wrong on everything. But, here we were married, nothing else to do but go with my new husband. He took me to Idaho with him. At first it was fine. We fell into a routine quickly. He liked me to stay home. Didn’t want me meeting the town folk. He claimed they were a rough sort that I didn’t need to know. That was true. Grand Forks people are not our kind of people. They are rough, crude, foul mouthed… He partied with them and would come home smelling of alcohol most nights. After a while, he began to get upset if dinner wasn’t just right or my dress was dirty. Little things began bothering him. Before I k
new it, he started hitting me. Just slaps at first, but it didn’t take long for them to become punches. Then I began missing chunks of time. One minute he was hitting me, and I would wake up hours later. I didn’t know what to do. I hid some money and waited for an opportunity. And here I am.”
Frank sat frozen. Allie is such a sweet girl, how could anyone…
“Allie, I am so sorry.”
He was torn between stopping the train and finding this Eddie guy right now or grabbing Allie and never letting go. He knew neither of those options would help. Why did I leave her? I thought I could return with my degree and we could start a life. When I was told she started her life with someone else, I assumed she was happy. How stupid could I be? I should have found her then. Then what? Steal her? What could I have done? Frank decided to gently touch her hand. Allie flinched, then let him lay his hand on hers. If felt good. Almost protective.
“Frank, I’m going to try to sleep again. I haven’t slept well in a long while. And, knowing you’re here, I think I could sleep for a week.” She didn’t wait for him to answer, but instead laid back her head and closed her eyes.
Frank scooted closer to her and gently nudged her head on his shoulder. It wasn’t exactly appropriate, but he dared anyone to call him out on it. They stayed that way through the next few stops. He dozed a bit, too. It felt right having her here, leaning on him. He was not going to let her slip out of his life like he did the first time.
CHAPTER 6
Frank woke Allie for the train change in Drummond. There was a little gap of time before the next train, so they had time to grab some proper food. The train usually had some food on hand, but at this hour there was no meal. She was hungry. He could tell. She had tried to eat slowly, but eventually the hunger won and she finished her meal before him. Now they were back on the train making their way to Deer Lodge. Only two towns to go until they were back home, and he could safely deliver Allie to her Pa.
Allie felt better with sleep and a good meal, but a sense of unease washed over her. The closer they got to Deer Lodge, the sooner she would need to retell her story. This time she felt people wouldn’t be so quick to let her stop talking. What would they do when she suggested divorce?
Before she could continue her thoughts, Frank picked up his bag and set it on his lap.
“Allie, could I please look at your wounds?”
She exhaled and gave a gentle nod. “Is it really bad?”
He opened his bag and pulled out thread and a needle. “It is. But once I clean up your eye and that gash on your cheek, it will look much better. Can’t do anything about the bruising and that swollen lip, though.”
He set the thread and needle down on his seat, placed his bag on the floor, and stood to flag down the conductor. He requested a glass of water and a towel. Once those items were brought to him, he sat back down and dunked the towel into the glass.
“This is going to hurt a little. I’m sorry.”
She closed her eyes and gave a slight nod. “Can’t be any worse than it is already.”
He began dabbing her eye and wiping away the blood streaking down her face. Once that was clean, he moved to her check.
“Just as I thought. This needs a couple of stitches. What was it? What did he hit you with?”
Her shoulders drooped.
“A leather strap,” she replied.
Allie couldn’t tell him about the metal grommets. She felt like crying, but no tears would come. She had choked them back all day. Now, it was pitch black outside. No one could see her. The dim train lanterns weren’t even bright enough to read, but she couldn’t cry.
Frank managed to get his needle threaded, but it took longer than usual, and not just because of the dim light. He needed to steady his hands, but he was so angry it was a struggle.
“Allie are you ready for this? I don’t have anything to numb it. But I’ll work quickly.”
She gave a nod, unable to speak, not from crying. She still wasn’t able to shed a tear, but her body felt tingly and numb all over. She felt detached…like she was floating above looking down and watching this happen. She was in her protective mode. The mode she sought when Eddie was in true form. But now…here it was. Over the last few hours—in bits and pieces and chunks…here and there—she’d told Frank her story. He’s the only one she’d told. It felt awful…shameful.
What is wrong with me? I can’t do anything right. Now what? I’m going to go cry to Ma and Pa? They can’t take me in. They couldn’t afford me before. Nothing has changed. And then the tears began.
“I’m almost finished…and…there!” He tied off the stitch and cut the end of the thread. “All done! I’m sorry I hurt you. Here! Use this towel.”
“Thank you!” She grabbed the towel and used it to wipe the tears from her face. “I’m getting tired again. I think I’ll try to sleep a little more.”
Frank placed his items back into his bag and offered his shoulder. This time she opted for the window.
CHAPTER 7
Eddie paced the floor of his house trying to figure out his next move. That was hard to do considering he only suspected where she might have headed. Going home was the only option he would have considered before he found the money. Since then, he realized there was more to her than he once thought.
Allie was a sweet, pure girl. Being able to hide money and lie about it for who knows how long showed she had a side to her he had yet to learn. He wasn’t sure if she had the gumption to leave everything behind and go someplace where she knew no one. He did know, though, she left quickly. He found most of her things still in their place. It didn’t look like she took much of anything with her. A knock sounded on the door.
“I lost her, Eddie!” John shifted on his feet. “I was headed to work early…trying to get in a few more hours before my shift started, and I saw him…well…her.”
“Come in, come in John” They both made their way to the small table and sat. “What do you mean him…her? That makes no sense at all, John?” Eddie was clenching his teeth.
“She was dressed like a him. Her hair tucked up under a hat. She rode the train and I followed her all the way to Missoula, but I lost her on the street. She walked into the hotel and must have run out the back. Missed my whole day of work for you. Boss man will be angry. Hope I still have a job.” He put his hands in his pockets.
A small smirk formed on Eddie’s unshaven face. “Thanks, John! At least now I know for sure where she’s headed. Figured she’d go back home. But this is big country and I wasn’t sure who was helping her. Can’t trust anybody these days. People should stay out of our business. She’s my wife! My business…no concern for the rest of the town. I’ll handle her how she needs to be handled. Darn girl didn’t know her place. Just trying to teach her how to be a good wife.” He slammed his hand down on the table a bit harder than necessary “Thanks, John. At least I know I have someone I can trust.”
John gave a nod and walked out the door. Hollering back, “Gonna go talk to the boss…see if I still got a job.”
Eddie closed the door without acknowledging John’s concern and started to work on a plan. Let her go home. Get comfortable for a while. Let her feel safe. Then I’ll go bring her back where she belongs. Satisfied, he poured himself a cup of coffee. Knowing where she was took care of half the problem. He could get her back with the law on his side. A husband has rights! No one could legally stand in his way. Traipsing all over the country side trying to find her didn’t sound very appealing, but knowing she wasn’t too far away…and would stay put…settled him.
Keeping her home was the other half of this current issue. He sat drinking his coffee with a bubbling anticipation brewing in him. His little house was getting messier by the minute…awaiting her return so she could tidy it all up again. But inside the chaos her leaving brought him, his plan to bring her back and keep her here was beginning to form.
CHAPTER 8
Allie woke to the sound of the whistle and the rays of the bright morning
sun penetrating her eyelids. She was home. That thought gave her the strength to open her eyes and look through the window. The town was coming into view and it looked glorious. It wasn’t a fancy town, but it held good people. The hills were tall, green, and snowcapped. And the water was crystal clear. Everything about this area seemed to be more vibrant. The colors were brighter and clearer. The people were cheerful. And most of all—not everyone was a drunk! Sure, the town had their share of drinking establishments, but nothing compared to where she had been.
“Good morning!” Frank was still sitting next to her. He had stayed by her side through the night. “How are you?”
“Mmm…good.” She looked over and gave him a small smile. She was sore and stiff from riding for so long, but nothing was going to get her down now.
The train whistle blew a few more times as the train came to a stop at the depot. Allie and Frank picked up their belongings…which didn’t take Allie very long. Frank had a trunk that would be waiting for him outside in addition to his doctor’s bag that he kept with him. They made their way to the front of the train and walked into the cool morning breeze. There were a few people waiting outside, but no one was waiting for either of them. No one knew they were coming. She wrapped her shawl back over her head, needing to get home before anyone recognized her.
“Let me arrange for my trunk to be delivered home and then I will walk you home.” He placed his hand on her arm to direct her over to where they were removing the luggage.
“No, thank you. I would like to walk by myself.” She turned just as Gladys approached. She was another school friend who knew them both.
“Frank? Frank…is that you?” Gladys waved a white cloth in his direction while almost running to him. “What are you doing here? I just saw your mom the other day and she said nothing of your return.”
By His Hand Page 3