by Lynn Landes
He freezes when he feels the pressure of the cold steel against his temple. Eve glares with hatred at both men. “What’s this, a robbery?” He stammers.
“Not quite,” Jonah shoves the pistol hard against his temple as Eve quickly straightens her clothes. “You, my friend, will help us catch a train. If you do as I ask, you stand to make a nice sum of cash. If you don’t, I will kill you and find someone else to help me.” Jonas pulls out his roll of cash and holds it in front of his face. “What’s it going to be?”
“Call me, Stanley. You’ve got yourself a deal.” He licks his lips and looked at Eve with a grin. “But you should know I can’t drive this train alone.”
Eve steps away to glance out of the train door and hears Jonas saying, “Tell us what to do.”
Stanley explains the process of how to load the boiler, and the Chen listen as Eve interprets. They quickly leap into the coal car attached to the back of the engine and begin throwing it into the boilers open door.
Jonas sits the engineer down to discuss his pay and Eve listens from outside the train door. The interior of the cab is quickly heating up as they prepare to leave. "Stanley, there's a train headed to Indiana, and I need you to catch up to it. It left two hours ago.”
"If we drop the other cars, we can catch it by morning," Stanley explains how to unhook the extra cars, and the Chen follow his instructions. He wipes the corner of his mouth and glares at Eve with lust. "Any chance you'd throw the girl in as part of my pay?"
Jonas shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t see why not. She’s of no use to me anymore.” They laugh, and Jonas pays him. “Half now and half when the job is done.” Eve is trembling with fury as she marches off to oversee the drop of the other cars. Jonas calls for them, and she squeezes into the engine. "Let's go," Jonas orders.
Stanley reaches up and pulls on the lever. He blows the whistle and someone waves at him.
“What’re you doing?”
He leans out of the window and yells over the sound of the train. “Got a problem with the engine, taking it to Yard Four to have her looked over before morning.”
"Alright." He clears the track for him, and Jonas grins.
“Excellent.” Jonas laughs from his seat on the floor as Eve stares off, praying for an end to this nightmare she's in. Jonas is just going to continue using her, passing her from man to man until they grow sick of her. Well not if she can help it. Her skin is crawling again as the drops start to wear off. It seems the more she uses the shorter the high lasts. Stanley guides the train through the yard and chooses the track Jonas indicated.
“How fast can she go?” Jonas yells over the constant chug, chug, chug of the engine.
“As fast as they can shovel,” he laughs.
“Eve tell them to keep it fed!” Jonas snaps gesturing behind her.
“Yes, Jonas,” Eve gives the order and wipes at the sweat on her brow. The engineer shoves an overhead lever and pulls the lower lever. Steam fills the night and puffs as it picks up speed, it puffs out massive beats of steam to the rhythm of Eve’s heartbeat.
It is hot in the engine of the train, and soon they are at the highest speed she can travel. To Jonas and Eve, it feels like flying along the track at an impossible eighty miles per hour.
“What are we doing when we catch up to her?” Stanley asked.
“Can you connect to it?” Jonas asked.
“Of course.”
"Good you connect it, and we will cross over." If Eve is surprised by this news, she doesn't show it. His plan is becoming clearer now, cross over and take them out. Her smile mirrors Jonas; finally, this will be over, "They'll never see us coming," Jonas murmurs to Eve.
Chapter 29
Mine, her heart claims. Mine, her soul whispered. “Mine?” She murmurs as she stares at his sleeping form. Love isn’t supposed to happen this way, is it? Bronnah is overwhelmed by emotions she wasn’t expecting.
Curled up on his chest, she lays her ear flat and listens to the steady rhythm of his heart beating, strong. Just like the man, it doesn't skip a beat. He has shown his loyalty to his code, by being a soldier. To his country, by working as a U.S. Marshall and to her, by helping rescue those who can't save themselves. But who will save him? He sees himself as a monster, but when she looks at him, all she can see is her future. A tear slips free and rolls down his chest.
Fear is a shadow that she can't escape. Neither of them has spoken the word yet, Love. Now is not the time for such thoughts. Until this is over, and she is free to love him completely, she will just be careful and guard her heart. Sleep claims her, and Chase pulls her tight.
How quickly he has grown accustomed to her scent, her taste, and her touch. "Mine," he murmurs and presses a kiss to her forehead. Bronnah has no clue what that word means, but he intends to show her. It never occurred to him that he could find the kind of love his parents or brother had found. A partner, who would stand toe to toe with him and fight for what she believes. Bronnah is a fighter, his lips curve in a smile of pride.
She's a passionate, giving lover who doesn't shy away from him. Instead, she meets his desire with demands of her own. His desire flares just thinking about loving her. He can see the future, and it will never be boring. Now, he has to convince her that he's worth loving.
Chase slips from the bed and washes up before dressing. He straps on his gun belt and sits by the window to watch the sunrise from the train. Bronnah watches quietly as he works, oiling and cleaning, then loading his weapons. "A woman could get jealous watching the way you care for your guns," she teases.
"Don't tempt me back to your bed, siren. You've nothing to be jealous of, they are merely tools." He grins at the picture she presents. Blonde hair tousled and swollen lips, staring at him with a sheet covering her perfect breasts. His hands stop moving, "God, you're beautiful, Bronnah."
A blush steals across her cheek, and she shoves a hand through her hair, causing the sheet to slip. "You are blind." Gathering the sheet around her Bronnah sits up and stares at him as he stalks to the bed.
“Surely your first husband told you.” Chase is curious about her life. He drops to the bed beside her and strokes a hand over her shoulder causing her to moan.
Bronnah shrugs, “Davey and I were only married three months when he died. We were so young, and I thought I loved him.” Until you, her mind said. “I was angry at him for leaving me and angry at myself for being upset with him. I pushed away all thoughts of that time in my life and what could have been. To hold on to it would have driven me mad.”
"So, you're as smart as you are beautiful," he tugs the sheet down and stares at her pink tipped nipples, and she gasps. "Damn, you need to get dressed, or I will keep you on this train all the way to San Francisco just so I can keep loving you."
Bronnah pushes up to her knees and wraps her arms around him as he jerks her into his arms. "I wouldn't be complaining Marshall if ya follow through with that threat," she groans and writhes in his arms as his hand roams freely over her body.
"Yes, well breakfast is served in the dining car and as beautiful as you are, I don't share. You are mine and mine alone," he growls, and Bronnah goes still in his arms, gently stroking a hand through his hair.
"What a beautiful dream you weave, Chase." Sadness echoes in her voice, and she pushes out of his arms, scrambling for the sheet to cover her naked form. “I’ll dress quickly, I’m famished.”
“It’s not a dream, but a promise, Bronnah mine,” he murmurs as she closes herself in the bathroom to dress.
Chase grins while he straps on his gun belt. Both colts are fully loaded. A shoulder holster is added to the mix which holds a third pistol, giving him eighteen shots if needed. He pulls on a light denim coat overtop of his guns. Bronnah steps out and quickly packs what little she has with her.
This train has five sleeping cars with approximately sixty-five people in them. The engine and coal car are attached to the front with the five-coach passenger cars behind that. The dining car separates th
e sleeper cars followed by the baggage cars. They are located in the second sleeper car and make their way quickly to the dining car. Large windows, still dark will provide a fantastic view once the sun starts to rise. Tables set with lovely white tablecloths, flowers, and coffee. Breakfast is served at seven, and through the window, they can see the sun beginning to rise behind the trees. "Heaven help me that coffee smells good!" Bronnah teases Chase.
"You gave me an appetite, I could eat a horse," Chase replies.
"I thought cowboys loved their horses," she quips as they take a seat. Glancing around the cabin, she smiles at a few other couples. It's still early yet, and most are going to enjoy a later breakfast.
“Not nearly as much as I love a steak and egg breakfast,” he laughs.
"There it is!" The engineer shouts from behind them. Jonas grins, he can just make out the lamps on the rear of the train. It's still dark as the sun has not risen completely yet.
“Hurry,” Jonas urges, “I want to be on that train before they wake up. Eve, tell them to join me on the front of the train. Once we connect, we will cross over.” Eve passes the message and watches the Chen follow Jonas out into the frigid October air.
“You can keep me company until they return,” Stanley sneers at her.
Eve grips the dagger she stole from one of the Chen. He will not be touching her again. “You should concentrate on your task,” she snaps.
Stanley laughs and pushes the lever, giving the train more speed and taunts her, “Oh I know how to get the job done, just watch me get it in the hole.”
Inside the dining car, they enjoy a full meal, with coffee, toast, eggs, biscuits, and Chase inhales a steak while Bronnah watches in amazement. "You keep eating like that, and your horse will run from ya."
Chase grins at her and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, “You could always help me work it off. We have two hours before we reach our destination.”
Bronnah leans forward whispering, “Do ya feel lucky, Mr. Rivers?”
“Every second I’m with you, Bronnah mine,” he replies softly. His silver eyes flash with the truth, and the words weigh heavily between them.
Bronnah's smile fades, "You shouldn't call me that, Chase. It's cruel. We will be going our separate ways soon." Chase puts down his napkin and sips his coffee while the staff clears the table. As soon as they are alone again, he leans forward.
"We should talk about that. Bronnah, when we arrive, we will go straight to the Marshall's office to give your testimony. Once that is complete you will be put in protective custody. I want you to know that your safety is my number one priority."
"I understand." Bronnah stares quietly at him. She tries not to think about leaving him, but of course, he will want to get on with his life and return home. Her stomach feels like a stone has dropped into it. Every time she thinks about leaving him, tremors start, but she makes sure he doesn't know. Bronnah wraps her arms around herself in a protective gesture.
“No, you don’t,” Chase leans forward and sets down his coffee. “Once this is over, we need to talk about us…” Chase feels the train jerk and leaps to his feet, pulling Bronnah towards him.
Stanley maneuvers the engine to the rear car where the connection hook is, but just as he eases back on the speed, Eve attacks. Hissing with excitement, she waits for Jonas to turn back and look at them through the glass. The moment his eyes widen in realization, Eve's blade slices the engineer's fat throat, spurting red, hot, blood all over the controls. Jonas screams in rage as Eve reaches up and grabs the throttle slamming it forward. Stanley grabs his throat and falls backward when the train lurches forward.
In that second Eve’s plan goes awry. The train in front of Eve begins to slow unexpectedly as it takes a turn and starts to cross a wooden bridge over a river below. The impact is surprisingly violent as metal screeches, sparks fly, and the Engine pushes straight into the baggage car.
Instead of connecting to the caboose of the train in front of them, the cow catcher on the front of the engine slices like a metal blade straight into the car. Jonas and the Chen are killed instantly, crushed in a screaming crush of metal on metal and Eve is thrown forward into the levers and panels. One axle snaps on the coal car behind the engine, causing it to leap from the tracks and slide sideways. The impact causes the main engine to slam over violently on its side and the steam boiler bursts, spraying scalding water and steam all over Eve.
Inside the train, Chase and Bronnah hear screaming and the pressure of something approaching before the dining car explodes with hysterical people and wood splintering. Chase tries to run, pulling her behind him but the car is thrown sideways from the tracks, sending bodies floating through the air. Bronnah's ears ring, and everything seems to happen in an instant. Her hand is ripped from Chase, and they are torn apart. She slams up against the bottom of the car, or is that the side of the car?
The runaway engine tears into the baggage car, tossing it from the tracks and straight into the rearmost sleeping car. Feeling the impact on his train, the conductor screams to the brakemen who immediately slow the massive train. They fight furiously, trying to stop the train from being tossed off the side of the bridge. Having just started the crossing he was already slowing down when they were struck from behind.
Chase watches in horror as Bronnah is thrown around the cabin like a rag doll. He fares no better as his shoulder slams into a wooden table and the train skids to a stop in glass and debris. “Bronnah!” He roars and scrambles towards her, ignoring the glass shards embedding themselves into his hands and knees.
Bronnah opens her eyes just as Chase reaches her. The noise comes back instantly and all around her the sounds of people moaning, screaming, and praying echo through the cabin. Before she can speak, the world tilts once more. Attached to the train in a mangled mass of metal and burning wood the contorted trains dangle and finally, begin sliding, pulling the train cars off the bridge.
Chase grasps Bronnah to his chest, and they start to slide.
"NO!" Bronnah screams, "Chase we're being dragged over the bridge!" There's no time to act, only react. They hold onto each other, and he protects her as much as he can as they slide along with all the wood and debris to the bottom of the train cabin.
Unable to withstand the destruction to its structure, one corner of the bridge gives way. Some of the passenger's leap from the front cabins, trying to flee to safety only to be crushed to death, trapped beneath the splintered cabins and the burning wood of the bridge as it tumbled into the rushing river below.
Bronnah squeezes her eyes shut and holds onto Chase, sobbing, she thinks of all the times she should have told him she loved him. Securely held in his arms, she feels his love as his body trembles with fear. Every grunt from the debris striking him vibrates through his body and into hers.
The train crumbles into the water below, and the water acts as a cushion. Oil lamps ignite the wooden wreckage in some areas, and the now sinking cabins begin to fill. Chase looked up and realizes that they are floating on their side with broken windows above them.
“Hurry, Bronnah!” He lifts her to the broken frame and shoves, standing on wood and furniture, other passengers begin to do the same. They help each other, pulling and lifting the women and children and any who need help. Some leap from the train into the freezing water.
“Go, Bronnah!” Chase orders. Bronnah leaps into the water and swims toward, shore, slowly, struggling against the push of the water and the weight of her skirts dragging at her.
“Help me!” A voice screams and Bronnah turns to watch a mother struggling to drag her two sons through the water. She too fights the current of the river, while she struggles to keep them from sinking under. Bronnah races back into the rushing water just as the women loses her grip on the smallest child.
"NO!" The woman screams as her oldest tries to break free to go after his brother. Bronnah leaps and grabs his foot, pulling him to her body. Immediately, she plants her feet in the muddy ground and lifts his head above wa
ter. He wraps his arms around her neck and coughs as she pushes to the shore and falls sobbing to the ground.
“Oh, God! Thank you, thank you,” the mother sobs and pulls the small child into her arms.
Bronnah nods and turns to watch as the crumpled train cars fill with water entombing those within in an icy grave of metal and wood. “Chase!” She gasps and scrambles to rise up and go back in search of him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Chase calls from behind her. He was forced to leap off the other side the cars when more of the bridge fell onto the train. Bronnah whirls around just as he falls to his knees in the mud beside her. Chase drags her sobbing body into his arms.
"It's alright," Chase murmurs and rocks her in his arms. He pushes her back and begins checking her for wounds. "Let's check you over now." Bronnah is battered and bruised, her blonde hair is saturated and her tattered, torn, dress is bloody. Smoothing back a piece of hair from her face, he notices everything about her. From the bruise on her forehead to the split lip and blood in her hair. To his eyes, she has never looked more beautiful. Kissing her softly Chase sends a prayer of gratitude. Around them the screams of the wounded and those searching for loved one’s registers.
"Chase, I'm okay. You took most of the battering for me." Rising to her knees, she takes his face in her hands and kisses him before dropping her forehead to his.
“We’re going to be okay.” Standing slowly, he pulls her to her feet. “I have to help them.”
“Yes, we must help them,” Bronnah murmurs and they help each other up and begin tending to the injured. Her nursing skills come in handy, and Chase helps pull as many people as they can from the cars. The engine, baggage and sleeping cars were thrown from the track and are lying on their sides, sinking beneath the water. The men who can help begin setting up a field hospital to care for the wounded.