THE Prairie DREAMS Trilogy

by Susan Page Davis

Her features were impassive, but her cheeks bore spots of high color that David didn’t think were caused by rouge. He’d have to tell her everything now. She probably deserved to know. He almost wished he’d told her earlier, but he couldn’t change that. She would be discreet about it—he was sure of that now. Keeping Walmore quiet might be more difficult.

  When they reached the stairs, Walmore said, “Lean on me, if you will, sir. I see that your injury is not completely healed.”

  “I’m fine,” David said, slightly annoyed. “I shall come along a little slowly, but I’ll get there.” Using his cane and the railing, he mounted the first few steps as vigorously as he could. The pain in his bones was still there, but much less than it had been previously, and he was able to put up a good front for the first flight. Walmore himself seemed to limp a bit, and David wondered how badly he’d been beaten.

  They reached the landing, and Millie gazed at him anxiously.

  “One minute,” David said, leaning heavily on the railing. He tried not to pant, but to breathe slowly and normally.

  “I say, my room is right here,” Walmore said. “You could come in there for our chat if you wish. I could help you up to your own room afterward.”

  David hesitated. Millie looked alarmed. Was she worried about leaving him alone with Walmore? He supposed he would feel a little less vulnerable if they met in his own room. He had a sitting area there, and Millie would be just across the hall. He could leave his door open to reassure her. After the attacks on him last year, he supposed it made sense, though this fellow seemed rather a vacuous young whip, one of the useless, idle society lads he disdained. He’d refused to become like Walmore—that was part of coming to America in the first place. He’d never wanted it said that he was the lazy third son of an earl who never got his hands dirty.

  “I think perhaps I’ll be more comfortable in my own chamber,” he said. “My leg still pains me some, and Mrs. Evans can help me get settled before she leaves us.” Millie gave a tiny nod. David wished he could speak to her without Walmore overhearing. He smiled and set his cane on the first step of the next flight. “Shall we?”

  A few minutes later, they had reached the sanctuary of his room. With a sigh, he sank into the chair by the window. Millie set the straight chair in place for Walmore.

  “Shall I get your medicine, Mr. Stone?” she asked.

  “Oh, no thank you,” David said. “I think I’m all right for now.”

  They both knew she’d dosed him shortly before their trip to the dining room. Millie must be giving him an opening to keep her there a little longer.

  “It’s warm in here, however,” David said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d crack this window open and leave the door ajar when you leave.”

  “Certainly.” Millie opened the window a few inches, as he’d requested. It did let in a soothing breeze, and it also gave credence to his ruse about leaving the door open.

  “Well, gentlemen, if there’s nothing else…” She gazed expectantly at David.

  “I shall call out if I need you.”

  She nodded and left the room. David had no doubt she would also leave her door open and be ready to return at an instant. This, he hoped, would serve as notice to Walmore that any funny business would come home to rest squarely on him.

  And now, he thought, how long before he asks for money?

  Peregrin sat facing David Stone, completely at a loss for words.

  “Tell me what happened when you were robbed,” Stone said. “Did it take place here in the hotel?”

  “No, out on the street. A couple of fellows accosted me. One was a huge brute. I tried to put up a fight, but that was a mistake.”

  “It usually is,” Stone replied. “So, I suppose your pockets are to let now.”

  Peregrin winced. “I’m afraid so, sir. They took everything I owned but five dollars, which I had hidden away. If not for that—well, let us just say that by the time I settle my bill here, I shall be strapped. I doubt I can get passage back to New York.”

  Stone sighed and eyed him thoughtfully—disapprovingly, Peregrin felt. “I don’t like to see a countryman in need. But neither do I like to give out large sums of money, especially to people I don’t know.”

  “Perfectly understandable,” Peregrin said quickly. “In fact, I feel the same way, sir, and it pains me greatly to ask you to come to my aid.”

  “Well, I shan’t leave you here in dire straits. After all, you are connected somewhat to the family.” Stone reached inside his coat—for his wallet, Peregrin hoped. Of course, his plan to ask David to cover his entire debt to Baxter and his flunkies could hardly come to fruition now. He’d look awfully shabby if he touched David for more than the minimum to get him to New York.

  Instead of a wallet, however, Stone brought out a pair of railway tickets and squinted at them.

  “Let’s see, our train goes at 7:20 in the morning. Can you meet us at the station by seven? Or ride with us if you like. I’ll purchase your ticket then, and you can go with us as far as Philadelphia. I’m going to escort Mrs. Evans to her friends there, before I go on to New York.”

  “That’s very good of you.”

  Inside, Peregrin fumed. He wasn’t going to hand over a cent. Not one penny. How was that supposed to help him with Wilkes and Teddy? Should he tell Stone everything and throw himself on his mercy?

  “Well then, “Stone said cordially, “we shall see you in the morning.”

  Peregrin caught his breath. He hadn’t expected to be dismissed quite so summarily. But if he showed displeasure, Stone might back out on his offer to buy his train ticket. Peregrin rose.

  “Yes, indeed. Thank you very much.” At the doorway, he dared to turn back. “I don’t suppose…” He appraised David’s impassive face. What plausible excuse could he give to elicit a few more dollars? “Well, I don’t like to mention it, but I had hoped to see a medical man before I leave here. I’m afraid those thugs cracked a rib or something.” He rubbed his abdomen, which truthfully was very sore.

  “I doubt any doctor would come out tonight unless it was an emergency. But go around to Doctor Lee this evening if you want. Tell him to add it to my bill.” David rattled off the address.

  Peregrin blinked. Best to just accept that graciously, he supposed.

  “Thank you, sir.” Recognizing defeat, he bowed himself out of the room. The door across the hall stood a bit ajar, but he could see no sign of Mrs. Evans in his brief glance. He strolled to the landing and down to his room below. Now what? He certainly couldn’t go out to consult the doctor, much as he would like to. His head ached terribly, and his ribcage pained every time he moved. But he’d hurt a lot worse if he tried to leave the hotel again without paying Wilkes and Teddy.

  For the next hour, Peregrin paced his room. What could he do? Maybe if he sneaked up to David’s room in the night, he could take his wallet and…No, as much as Merrileigh would like to see the job done, he wasn’t going to raise a hand against David Stone in this hotel. He would be the first suspect. But if he met Stone and Mrs. Evans in the morning and got on the train with them…

  He fetched up by his window and peered out around the edge of the curtain. Teddy stood across the street whittling, as seemed to be his hobby. No doubt Wilkes was nearby. Or perhaps they spelled each other so they could eat dinner in turns and not lose sight of him.

  As he watched, Wilkes joined Teddy. Peregrin drew back a little. The two talked for a minute. Teddy shook his head and whittled. Wilkes crossed his arms and leaned against the building, watching the hotel.

  Millie hustled to get their bags out to the landing in the morning. She’d suggested that David shave the evening before, to save time. Yawning, Billy answered her summons and carried their bags down. The driver she’d engaged was on time, but there was no sign of Walmore. She tipped Billy and ran upstairs to see that David got down in one piece.

  They met on the second-floor landing. David was moving fairly confidently, using the cane more as an accessory than
a crutch.

  “Where’s Walmore?” he asked first thing.

  “Haven’t seen him,” Millie replied.

  David nodded to the door marked 201. “That’s his room. I’ll see if I can raise him.”

  “All right. I’m going down and make sure the bags are all loaded. If Mrs. Simmons is up, I’ll see if she has hot water. Maybe you can get a cup of tea.”

  “No time.” David strode to Walmore’s door and rapped on it with his cane.

  Millie bustled on down the stairs. Let David handle this. The young paragon of British indolence was probably sound asleep. Would David wait for him? She strongly doubted that. David was a good traveler and never missed a departure unless he meant to. Rather wise of him not to give Walmore any money, nor purchase the man’s ticket until they reached the station. He was a shrewd businessman, and she liked that in him.

  The driver lounged on the seat of his wagon but straightened when she came out of the hotel, wrapping her shawl snugly about her shoulders.

  “All ready now?” he asked.

  “Almost. Mr. Stone is checking on the third member of our party.”

  “Got plenty of time, have you?” the man asked.

  “I should think so.” The sun was barely over the horizon, and that meant they had about an hour before train time. Even so, Millie looked anxiously back toward the door. As of yet, there was no sign of David or Walmore. Across the street, a large man rose from behind a rain barrel, stretching. Had he slept there? Maybe he fell into a drunken stupor in the shadow of the building last night. Millie looked hastily away. Had she seen that big fellow before?

  “You can climb up if you want to, ma’am.”

  She glanced at the driver, then the wagon seat, and decided to wait until David was present. Besides, what kind of gentleman told a woman to climb up without getting down to offer his assistance?

  At last the door of the hotel opened. Billy ambled out carrying two leather bags.

  “Where is Mr. Stone?” Millie asked when he reached the wagon.

  “He’s dressing the other gent.”

  Millie sighed. “All right. After you put those in the wagon, could you give me a hand up, Billy?”

  He smiled at her. “Sure can, Miz Evans.”

  He’d been so helpful over the past two months, and so good-natured, that on impulse Millie dug out an extra half dime for him.

  At last David came out, followed by a rumpled and scruffy-looking Walmore. The young man hadn’t shaved, and he wore his hat pulled low over his face, shadowing his black eye.

  “Jump in,” David said, indicating the wagon bed. He climbed up beside Millie. When Walmore had dragged himself up over the wheel and thumped into the back with the luggage, the driver cracked his whip smartly, and they moved off up the street toward the train station.

  Millie looked back and saw the large man by the rain barrel staring after them.

  Peregrin shuddered and hunkered down in the wagon bed. Wilkes was on watch across the street, and he’d seen him. He could only hope that the two thugs would not confront them. If he stuck close to Stone and Mrs. Evans, perhaps he could get away with this, but those two were persistent.

  The early morning streets were all but empty, and the horse trotted right along. Next thing Peregrin knew, they were pulling the baggage out of the wagon, and David paid off the driver. Peregrin grabbed his own luggage and flung a glance over his shoulder. So far, so good. Wilkes would have had to hoof it mighty fast to get here by now, and Peregrin was banking on the giant’s having to go round up his friend first. With any luck, they’d lost the pair. Of course they’d seen all the bags loaded, but they just might head for the steamboat docks first.

  Inside the station, he waited impatiently for the others. Of course, being a gentleman, Stone was pampering Mrs. Evans. Peregrin supposed he oughtn’t to have dashed inside so quickly, but he wanted to get off the street and out of sight. A minute later, they entered with the remaining luggage. Stone was limping but couldn’t use his cane because both his hands were full of baggage.

  “I say, let me help you,” Peregrin dropped one of his own valises and stepped forward. “Forgive me, I should have thought.”

  “I hoped the driver would carry our things in,” David said, “but he wanted to go. I’ll see about a porter once we’ve purchased your ticket.”

  Peregrin broke out in a sweat while he waited. He couldn’t stop staring at the main entrance to the depot. Mrs. Evans stood serenely beside the pile of luggage while Stone completed the transaction at the ticket window. Finally Peregrin had the ticket in his hand.

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.” He glanced once more toward the door, hoping he would never need to explain the exact depth of his gratitude.

  “Don’t mention it.” Stone waved a porter over and showed him his ticket.

  “You want to go right out there, sir,” said the porter. “Your train is just pulling in. I’ll take your luggage to the baggage car.”

  “Thank you.” Stone put some money in the man’s hand and took Mrs. Evans’s arm. “Come, Mildred.” He threw a glance over his shoulder.

  Peregrin pasted on a smile and hastened after them, leaving his bags with theirs. The train chuffed in, and they all stopped on the platform and clapped their hands to their ears. Once it had stopped, they had to wait for disembarking passengers to climb down. Peregrin thought he might die of apoplexy if they didn’t get aboard soon.

  At last they were seated in the passenger car. He deliberately avoided a window seat, not wanting a chance of Wilkes and Teddy spotting him from outside. The wait for the wheels to start rolling seemed interminable, but Stone and Mrs. Evans chatted amiably.

  Peregrin noted Stone’s attentions to the lady—nothing excessive, yet when he inquired whether she was warm enough and had sufficient room for her sundries, Stone sounded as solicitous as a new husband might on his honeymoon. All his addresses lacked were my dears and darling Mildreds. Peregrin didn’t doubt for half a second that David Stone was a smitten man. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage. He only hoped that dear Mildred didn’t get in his way when the time came to execute the rest of his plan.

  CHAPTER 33

  The ride to St. Louis took most of the day, but David found the journey almost pleasant with Millie at his side. It would have been even more enjoyable if Peregrin Walmore had not sat opposite him.

  The young man appeared to be ill—apart from his black eye. His nerves apparently jangled badly, so that he jumped every time someone came down the aisle from behind him. He perspired copiously, though the railway car was not overly warm.

  At one stop, they got up to stretch their legs, and David managed to take him aside for a moment.

  “Are you all right, Walmore?”

  “What? Me? Oh, I’m fine, sir.”

  “I thought perhaps you were ill. You did say the men who robbed you roughed you up a bit.”

  “I’ll be fine, I assure you. I just…travel doesn’t agree with me.”

  “I see.” David wanted to ask why on earth he’d come all the way across the ocean and halfway across the continent. But he would leave impertinence to the young.

  Millie had found an urchin selling sandwiches and apple fritters on the platform, and David willingly handed her enough money to purchase a lunch for the three of them. Walmore seemed very grateful and stammered out an offer to pay for his own, but David didn’t want to see him hand over his last few coins. He wasn’t heartless. Assuming, of course, that Walmore was telling the truth about his funds.

  Millie exhibited more courtesy and charm toward their new companion than David felt, and he was proud of her. Aside from her accent, no one would think she was any less a lady than Anne.

  He wasn’t the only man observing her. Walmore seemed quite taken with her, and David intercepted the gazes of several other male passengers who also found Millie pleasing to look at.

  And why not? Her face and form would attract any man, and she had an allur
ing combination of good health, an active spirit, and a pleasant demeanor. She was also a thinking woman, and a spiritual one. In short, she had every quality one would expect in a lady. So why should she not be designated such?

  By the time they reached St. Louis, David’s mind was made up. There was no one else he would rather have beside him when he took his title—or when he returned to his childhood home. Mildred Evans was the perfect candidate to become the next Lady Stoneford.

  Peregrin feared that, for Mrs. Evans’s sake, Stone would insist they spend a night in St. Louis. They reached the city late in the day, and the lady did admit to mild fatigue, but she insisted they should push on if possible.

  This greatly relieved Peregrin. He wanted to keep moving until they were far away from Independence. And he doubted he’d ride all the way to New York. That would be foolhardy in his current situation. He’d have to find another coastal city where he could set himself up comfortably and yet not run into Baxter’s minions. Perhaps he could cash in part of his ticket before they reached New York and fade into another municipality.

  The ferry embarked just before sunset, and they were able to get a light supper on board. Once they reached the other side, a hack took them from the ferry dock to the railway station. To Peregrin’s dismay, they had a two-hour wait. Their train would travel through the night, and Stone tried to engage a compartment, where they could sit in privacy, but none were available on this train. They would have to sit in a car with rows of seats, among the other travelers.

  They escorted Mrs. Evans to the door of a ladies’ waiting room in the depot, where she could rest in safety. Stone was of a mind to wander about the station and perhaps buy a newspaper. Peregrin would have preferred to stay out of sight, but there was no gentlemen’s waiting room. He reasoned that he’d eluded his pursuers and had nothing to fear. Still, he couldn’t help looking about for Wilkes, who would stand out in any crowd.

  After a short while, Stone invited him to walk a couple of blocks to stretch his legs and buy something for them to eat on the train. Peregrin decided it was better than lolling about the depot, where he could be easily spotted. They found a general store still open, and Stone purchased a basket and filled it with crackers, dried fruit, peppermints, cheese, and jerky. After they returned to the station, they kicked about for another hour until their train was ready, and at last they were able to retrieve Mrs. Evans and board.