by Clay, Verna
One of the drivers yelled, "Leavin' fer Dallas!"
Rush glanced down at Lilah. She was watching him with an expression that almost looked like desire. He blinked and it was gone. Hell, he hadn't been with a woman in months and his body was giving him fits now that he was married to such a desirable one. He turned his face to the window and decided his mind was playing tricks on him.
* * *
Five days later with their stagecoach scheduled to arrive in Dallas that evening, Lilah couldn't have been happier. Inasmuch as the coach was always cramped and uncomfortable, she wished they'd ridden the trails on their own. Even so, travel by stagecoach had been perfected over the years with stops every two to three hours to swap out horses for fresh ones. They also reached "home" stations for meals each day around noon and every evening. They spent their nights at the rustic lodgings of their suppertime stops. Sometimes the food was okay, but mostly it was barely palatable. Chad never complained.
At their frequent stops, fellow passengers often remained behind to await boarding of inbound coaches headed for other destinations, or new passengers joined their coach, sometimes cramming the interior with as many as nine inside and nine on top with the luggage. At every stop, mail sacks were loaded and unloaded from the rear boot.
In spite of the miserable swirling dust that coated her face and made her mouth gritty, Lilah smiled when she thought about Chad. Since he was no longer fearful of either being hanged or returned to his uncle, he talked a blue streak about anything and everything, and laughed frequently. Rather than worry about the child's future, something she intended to discuss seriously with Rush, she decided to enjoy the present. She would worry later.
She squirmed and tried to put distance between herself and Rush, but her body was smashed against his. Usually, he placed Chad between them, but the boy had requested to sit with a child his own age on the seat across from them, and Rush had given his permission. The two boys were deep in conversation about all the gold nuggets to be found just lying on the ground in California.
Rush gave a little grunt and Lilah said, "I wish I could give you more room."
He bent to her ear and whispered, "Don't worry about it. I think Mrs. Coffee and her daughter are catching another coach at the next stop. Thank God."
Lilah stifled a giggle. The woman and her adult daughter were huge, and growing larger by the minute, considering the baked goods they had brought and were constantly nibbling on.
Lifting laughing eyes to Rush's, she wondered why he looked so tense, even though he was obviously jesting with her. She lowered her lashes with sudden insight at what she saw in his eyes—he was reacting to being so close to a woman—her. Did he have feelings for her? Her immediate thought was, No, of course not. Besides, he's getting our marriage annulled. That truth saddened her and she didn't want to examine why.
* * *
Rush could feel Lilah's body stiffen and he almost cursed aloud. She knows. When she'd glanced up at him with innocent eyes, he'd seen that innocence replaced with understanding of his discomfiture. Hell, his goose was cooked.
When the coach finally stopped and they debarked, he said to Chad, "Let's go for a walk and stretch our legs."
The boy asked, "Can Jimmy come with us?"
"Sure, if it's okay with his pa and ma."
The boy's pa, a friendly man, older than most men with young children, readily agreed. "These boys have become fast friends. We're headed to Omaha, how 'bout ya'll?"
"We're also on our way to Omaha, but our final destination is Oregon."
The friendly man laughed and stuck out his hand. "Josiah Williams at your service. My wife is Myrtle."
Rush shook the man's hand. "Rush Garrett and my wife's name is Lilah. You've already met Chad."
"Well, I'm right sorry we didn't talk in the coach. We're not used to stagecoach travel and haven't slept well. I guess it caught up with us because even the rattling of the coach couldn't wake us. I'm sure glad Chad was there to keep Jimmy entertained. That boy never has trouble sleeping." He laughed and said low, "The child is actually our grandson, but we've raised him since he was a baby. His poor ma, our daughter, died of the cholera the same day as her husband. They was feelin' fine one mornin' and dead that night. Never seen the likes of it. We brought the boy to our home, expectin' we'd all get it and die that horrible death, too. But my Myrtle prayed the heavens down. I ain't never heard such a wailing. Anyway, most of the town died, but we never got so much as a twinge. Myrtle made a believer outta me and now when she prays, I get outta the way."
Rush realized that Mr. Williams was one of those men that once he got wound up, could talk for hours. Before the man started on another round of his family's history, Rush said, "I think these boys need to run off some of their energy, maybe I'll go with them. I'm mighty pleased to meet you, sir. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about until we reach Omaha."
The man responded, "I look forward to it, young man. Guess I better go see to my Myrtle's comfort."
That evening the coach arrived in Dallas only one hour overdue. And instead of staying in the inexpensive accommodations provided by the stagecoach lines, Rush checked his new "family" into a nice hotel. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep since leaving San Antonio, what with being housed in tiny, one bed rooms provided at the stagecoach stopovers. He always slept on the floor, leaving the bed for Lilah and Chad, but his body wanted her and wouldn't leave him be.
Tonight he intended to catch up on all that missed sleep and paid for two rooms. As tired as he was feeling, he didn't give a rat's ass that the clerk shot him a strange look for not sleeping in the same room as his wife. And the fact that their coach was leaving Dallas for Omaha the next morning, and he'd once again face the same sleeping arrangements, didn't help his grouchy attitude.
He was so tired he quickly ushered Lilah to her room, handed her the key, and said, "I'll have supper sent to our rooms. You want the dining room special we saw advertised of roast beef and mashed potatoes?"
She frowned and asked softly so that Chad couldn't hear, "Have I offended you in some way?"
Rush felt like a rat. He lifted his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "No, ma'am. Please forgive my short attitude. I just need some sleep."
With a sweet smile, Lilah touched his arm and responded, "You go rest. Chad and I can order our own supper."
"Lilah, please don't take this the wrong way, but I can't rest until I know you and Chad are safely locked away behind this door. We've been through a lot, and if anything else happens, I'm not in any shape to deal with it at present. Darlin', please just go in your room and lock your door until I can get food delivered."
Rather than give him an angry look at his brusquely spoken orders, Lilah again smiled sweetly. "You're a good man, Rush." Chad stepped beside her and she placed her arm around his shoulders. "Let's get settled in our room, sweetie, and make sure you get a belt-busting meal."
Rush watched the boy's face glow pink at her attention and wished she'd turn some of that attention on him. Hell, he wanted a damn sight more than her arm around his shoulders. Quickly, he said, "Tell me what you want and I'll go order supper."
A night of rest did Rush good, but soon he was back in the same predicament. The travel to Omaha was a twelve-day ordeal and by the fourth one he was exhausted again. And the fact that Mr. Williams talked nonstop about anything and everything, drove him to distraction. Mrs. Williams rarely spoke and Rush could understand why. With her husband's constant babble, no one could get a word in. As for Chad and his new friend, Jimmy, they behaved like typical nine year olds, discussing everything from gunslingers to the best way to train dogs.
Rush glanced out the window at Tex. During their journey he'd tipped the drivers well to make room for the dog, and most of the time Tex rode topside between the drivers or amongst luggage and fellow passengers, but sometimes, like now, the mutt enjoyed running alongside the stagecoach. Smiling slightly, he decided the dog was well worth every dime he'd forked out.
Yawning, he closed his eyes and tried to catch some shut eye.
Mr. Williams started his incessant talking. "Seein' that dog reminds me of when I was a boy. I had a rangy old mutt named Ralph who also loved to run. He was so big…"
Rush felt himself drifting into visions of Lilah bending over him and lowering her mouth to his. He had just gotten to the best part of the dream when the coach suddenly lurched sideways and abruptly slowed. He was jerked forward and said, "What the hell?"
There was a gunshot and some shouting. The coach finally came to a complete stop. Rush reached for his holstered revolver under the seat, but it had gotten tossed in the commotion and he couldn't find it without looking. And he couldn't look because there were so many people crammed inside the coach.
His door was suddenly jerked open and he was yanked to the ground by a masked man. I can't believe this.
Two other men atop horses yelled for everyone to get out of the coach. The outlaw who'd pulled Rush outside was carrying a sawed off shotgun and Rush knew the damage one of those could inflict. He sure hoped no one tried to be a hero.
Quickly, the coach emptied and everyone was lined up beside it. The bandit with the shotgun shouted, "Empty your pockets!" and everyone hastened to comply. Rush scanned the area for Tex and hoped the earlier shotgun blast hadn't been aimed at the dog. He released a sigh when he saw the mutt sitting near the horses. Smart dog. One wrong move and he'd be splattered all the way to Omaha.
Something was nagging at Rush. While he emptied his pockets, he studied the man holding the shotgun. Hell, the guy was so nervous his hands were shaking. Damn, I sure hope his trigger finger's not as nervous as the rest of him. He looked at the other men and they appeared to be as scared as the stagecoach occupants. This is probably their first robbery.
While Rush was considering whether he should try to talk these guys out of a life of crime, an unearthly cry sent the hair on his arms standing straight up. Everyone jerked their heads toward the rear of the coach where Mrs. Williams had fallen to her knees and raised her hands in the air. She had such a contorted expression that Rush wondered if one of the outlaws was going to shoot her to put her out of her misery.
Her shrieks grew louder.
One of the thieves on horseback shouted, "Roy, what'd ya do to her?"
The shotgun waivered in Roy's hands. "I didn't do nothin'. I told ya'll this was an asinine idea."
When Mrs. Williams voice changed from high-pitched shrieking to guttural moaning, Roy said, "I ain't goin' through with this. You boys can count me out. That woman's puttin' some kind of hex on us." After that, Roy dumped the goods he'd stashed in his pockets, ran to his horse, and galloped away.
Mrs. Williams started the shrieking part again and one of Roy's partners-in-crime looked at the other one and said, "I ain't never–." Both men suddenly galloped after Roy.
Mrs. Williams began moaning like a stuck pig and everyone backed away from her. Mr. Williams walked over to Rush and said matter-of-factly, "What'd I tell ya. That woman can pray the heavens down."
* * *
The day the coach rolled into Omaha, Rush wanted to kiss the ground. They were parting ways with the Williams family.
Soon enough Rush and his new family would be riding the rails all the way to California, and the way his luck had been going, he hoped to hell the train didn't fall victim to a holdup. In all his days, he'd never encountered so much trouble in so short a time—and he had been chasing bounty for years.
After finding a decent hotel and getting Lilah settled in her own room, he and Chad entered theirs across the hall. Rush tossed the dime novel he'd purchased toward the boy. "It's all about the California gold rush of 1849." Then he wondered if the kid could read. "You ever been to school to learn to read and write?"
"Yes, sir, when I lived with my ma. She couldn't read, but she sure wanted me to learn. My teacher taught me how to sound out the letters. Mostly, though, I jus' like lookin' at the pictures and makin' up my own stories." He said with disgust, "Ol' Sneed wouldn't let me go to school so I know I'm behind in my studies."
Rush stretched across the bed and closed his eyes. "Well, you enjoy your book while I get some rest and don't worry about being behind. You'll be back in school soon enough, and smart as you are, I have no doubt you'll be one of the brightest kids in class."
"Ah, Mr. Garrett?"
Rush cocked open one eye.
"Yes?"
The boy looked embarrassed and said quickly, "If you want to spend time with your missus, it'd be jus' fine by me. I'd be okay here by myself. I know married folk like havin' time alone."
Rush closed his eye and for a moment entertained visions of him and Lilah spending time together. "Thanks, son. That's kind of you to offer. Maybe later."
Over the next week, Rush got caught up on his sleep and Lilah and Chad shopped for more clothing and a small trunk to hold their belongings. Rush also sent a wire to Cooper and Hallie updating them as to their whereabouts. In his previous wire he hadn't gone into Lilah's kidnapping and rescue, and he had no intention of doing so now. They would find out soon enough. Unnecessary worry never served any good purpose.
During supper at a family run restaurant that one of the locals had highly recommended, Papa's Steak House, Rush leaned back in his chair after the delicious, belly-busting meal, and watched Lilah and Chad joking with each other. Lilah had gained weight back and her complexion was once again flawless. She looked lovely in a pink gingham dress with puffy sleeves. Anyone seeing her now would have been hard pressed to imagine her as a woman of ill-repute. She looked like a farmer's wife—a beautiful one—enjoying a night out with her husband and child. Even now, he saw men at surrounding tables often glance in her direction.
Rush turned his attention to Chad. Like Lilah, his appearance had changed dramatically. He appeared to be just a kid out with his ma and pa having a good time in the city before returning to the farm and chores. What am I going to do about them?
* * *
Although Lilah bantered with Chad, her attention was on Rush. A week ago he'd been grumpy and looked like he hadn't slept in days. Now, as he leaned back in his chair, he seemed…content. Yes, that was a good word for it. He'd changed from his trousers, duster, and woolen shirt, into new clothes—black slacks, a fine white shirt, and black suit jacket. She smiled inwardly because the wild outdoors look of him would never be tamed, no matter what he wore.
He'd had his hair cut from touching his shoulders to grazing his neck, and the black silkiness with its slight wave invited a woman's fingers to roam through it. She wanted to be that woman. She wanted to touch him. She glanced at the table so he couldn't see the desire in her eyes. Rush was only doing his job by transporting her to Oregon and she'd been nothing but trouble. More than likely, his mother's righteous upbringing had contributed to his current situation of now being a married man with a child.
Chapter 22: Transcontinental
As the Union Pacific transcontinental train bound for Sacramento left the station in Omaha, Lilah marveled at the elegance over previous railways. She and Chad sat beside each other and Rush's seat faced theirs. On either side of the aisle, the same configuration made it easy for passengers to converse. Ornate lacquered-walnut carvings decorated the ceiling; velvet draperies at the windows could be drawn against the sun.
Rush grinned. "After traveling the trails by horseback and then stagecoach, this should be quite comfortable. This coach is known as a Pullman coach. The train also has dining and sleeping cars."
Lilah blurted, "I must surely reimburse you and my sister. This has to be very expensive."
Rush frowned.
Lilah apologized. "I'm sorry if that sounded rude."
He only smiled at her apology. "No, Lilah. You'll not repay anyone."
"But–"
He lifted a hand to stay her response and shifted his attention to Chad, who had been glancing back and forth between them during their exchange. Rush asked, "Have you ever been on a train, Chad?"
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"No, sir."
Lilah suddenly felt terrible for subjecting the boy to her concerns.
Chad glanced around the coach. "I ain't never seen nothin' so grand as this, 'ceptin' maybe Missus Butterworth's parlor when my ma used to bring her ironin' back to her."
Lilah lifted a hand to her lips to cover a smile. She simply adored this child.
Rush winked at them, "Would you like a history lesson about the building of the transcontinental railroad?"
Both she and Chad said simultaneously, "Yes!"
While they listened enraptured, Rush explained, "Believe it or not, the transcontinental railroad makes it possible to travel from the east coast to the west coast in only eight days. Before the completion of the railroad, it took months." He shifted his gaze to Lilah. "As your sister can attest to."
Lilah placed a hand over her heart in amazement, waiting for him to continue.
"It was in 1862 that President Lincoln signed an Act to extend the rails to California. Of course, as with all grand ventures, there were some hang ups, so the laying of the tracks didn't come up to speed until the mid 60s. There were two companies involved in completing the transcontinental line; the Central Pacific built eastward from Sacramento in California, while the Union Pacific built westward from Omaha, which was as far west as the rails had come."
Chad interrupted, "That's where we just boarded!"
"That's right, son. Anyway, after laying over 1,700 miles of track, the companies finally met at Promontory Summit in Utah in 1869. The event was celebrated by Governor Stanford pounding The Golden Spike."
Chad asked the question on Lilah's mind. "Was it real gold?"
Rush chuckled. "Not pure gold, but I can tell you it was a beaut. In fact, it was so pretty it wasn't really driven into the ground. It was placed in a hole already drilled and the governor only lightly tapped it. I suppose it's on display somewhere to remind everyone of what's been accomplished with back-breaking labor, determination, and vision for the future. Sadly, it's also a reminder of the many lives lost laying the rails across this country."