by Jillian Hart
He caught her around the neck with a strong hand and pressed a reassuring kiss on her lips. Holding her so he could look into her eyes, one corner of his mouth quirked into a grin. “You’re the only woman I’d want to be surrounded by outlaws with.”
He released her, and she had to steady herself before taking her place at her window. Heat rose in her cheeks and searing gratification tingled in her limbs. He respected her in a way no one ever had before. He treated her as an equal and expected much from her. He made her feel extraordinary…something she’d never felt before. Jonah’s belief in her gave her credibility and confidence.
He settled at the other window, and she tried to keep her gaze on the view outside, not the man who’d taken to making her heart pound whenever he came near. Last night had been exhilarating. After the kiss they’d shared, she hadn’t imagined she’d be able to sleep, but she’d felt safe with his arm around her and his warmth along her body.
The whole scenario had been inappropriate, and her mother would have had a fit of apoplexy if she’d known. But she never would. Meredith intended to hold what they’d shared close to her heart, an experience that was only hers that no one could change or control. She’d been in charge of her own life these past couple of days and she’d liked it.
Jonah asked her opinion, listened to her concerns and desires. He’d promised not to go exploring because she felt strongly about it. He validated her feelings.
This last kiss had probably been prompted by the adrenaline running high in such a stressful situation, but she didn’t care if it wasn’t heartfelt on his part. He made her feel important.
She forced her attention back to the scene on the other side of the window. Before long her nose was cold from the biting air, so she grabbed a scarf from a nearby table, folded it into several layers and tied it over the lower half of her face.
“Are you warm enough, Jillian?”
“Yes, Miss Abbott.”
She glanced at Hayden. He’d fallen asleep leaning back against an upholstered chair.
The rest of the day was uneventful, but Jonah reminded them not to let down their guard. Not long after the sun had lowered behind the horizon and the countryside as well as the interior of the Pullman became dark, the sound of something falling came from one of the rooms in the rear.
“Go!” Jonah swung a hand to indicate the back of the car.
Meredith jumped up, and Hayden took her position, pointing a long-barreled Smith & Wesson into the darkness.
With trepidation, she crept past Jillian, warning her to stay put. It didn’t take long to find where the sound had come from. Orange light flickered from inside her father’s sleeping compartment.
As could have been expected, gunfire exploded, and from the opposite end of the car came the sounds of Jonah and Hayden returning fire.
Grabbing a blanket from the copper tub, she gave it a couple of twists and ran with the surprisingly heavy armload. Fire licked at the corner of her father’s bed, the burning silk giving off an acrid smell. It took all her strength to stay protectively low and still swing the heavy wet blanket. Quickly, she beat out the flames.
As soon as she’d accomplished that, she found the curtains in her compartment ablaze and repeatedly struck them with the blanket. Now the wool was singed and starting to dry, so she bolted back to the necessary and traded it for the other.
She crouched in the corridor, her heart pounding, waiting for the next development.
“You all right?” came Jonah’s urgent query.
“Yes, I’m fine. I put out two fires and am waiting for another. The blankets were an excellent idea.”
“I’ll remember that next time I’m in this predicament.”
“This is what you said they’d do.”
“It’s what I would do if I wanted in.”
She thought over that remark.
After a couple more attempts with the burning torches and gunfire, things quieted down. Forty minutes passed uneventfully.
Meredith crawled to peer into the darkness where Jonah’s and Hayden’s forms were barely visible in the dim moonlight. “Have they given up?”
“Could be they figured out that tactic wasn’t working. Someone from atop the car hammered the stovepipe loose and pulled it out the roof. I had to bank the coals in the heater.”
Meredith was already freezing, her coat and the front of her dress soaked. “I have to change before I catch my death of cold.”
“Go. Bring back warm clothing for everyone.”
She fumbled in the darkness and donned a skirt, a shirt-waist, and a fitted jacket, then located a wool coat and pulled it on.
“Take off that brooch,” Jonah said when she joined him. “Glittering like it does, it’ll make you a target.”
She hadn’t even noticed the gemstone brooch on the coat and quickly stashed it in a pocket.
“It’s snowing,” he told her.
Her hopes sank. She gave herself a minute to muster them. Their rescuers were already close at hand. It wouldn’t be long now. “Are you hungry? The children need to eat.”
“Couple slices of ham will suffice.”
She turned, but he caught her hand. “Don’t know that I ever met a female as brave as you.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and squeezed his hand. “We’re going to get out of here.”
“Soon,” he agreed.
Meredith piled a plate with pieces of ham and crackers and placed it on a tray with cups of water. She stopped in the corridor to give Jillian a share and then pushed it across the glass-littered carpet so Hayden and Jonah could get theirs. She went back into the corridor to eat with Jillian.
The little girl was wearing necklaces over her coat. Bracelets dangled from both wrists, diamond earbobs hung from her ears, and her wavy dark hair was messily swept up with half a dozen pearl-encrusted combs.
“You’re looking lovely today, Miss Langley. Let’s get some more clothing on you. I’ll pull wool socks on over your shoes.”
Jillian obediently let Meredith bundle her, even managing a weak smile. When Meredith was satisfied, Jillian sat to eat and poked a slipping piece of ham into her mouth with a fingertip.
Hercules meowed and joined them on the thick covers. Meredith broke him off pieces of ham and fed them to him. “You’re being a brave kitty and staying out of the way, aren’t you?”
Jillian chewed and swallowed. “I looked for him, but couldn’t see him anywhere.”
“He has hiding places where he feels safe.”
“When are those bad men going to leave?”
She wished she had an answer, one she was confident about. “I’m not sure. Soon, I think.”
A sound from the front end of the car caught her attention.
“I heard something,” she called to Jonah.
“What did it sound like?”
She crawled to the corridor opening so he could hear her, without her yelling. “Metal, I think. Like the sound when the Pullman is affixed to the train.”
“Likely they’ve uncoupled us.”
“Why?”
“Not sure.”
She thought about what he’d said before. “What would you do? If you wanted in?”
“Depends what resources I had at hand. How much did you say this car weighs?”
“More than twenty-five tons.”
“They can’t tip it.”
“Or pull it,” she added.
“They may have brought along something to get into a safe or a strongbox.”
“A crowbar?”
“D-Y-N-A-M-I-T-E,” he spelled.
Chapter Eight
Her heart leaped. She crawled the remaining couple of feet to the end of the corridor to look at him.
“As a last resort only, because they want it in case they need it to extract the gold.”
“Where would they use it?”
“A door would be logical, but they know the first person who tried to come in would be…”
�
�S-H-O-T,” she supplied.
“You spelled dead,” Hayden said.
Jonah inclined his head. “Smart boy.”
“Why ain’t someone come from a town yet?” he asked.
“Could be Bloom and his men spotted them before they could get here.”
“In the dark we could make a run for it afore they bust in,” Hayden suggested.
“They might be watching,” Meredith replied.
Jonah looked her way. “It’s almighty cold out there. Nobody’d want that watch. We’d have difficulty surviving if we risked it.”
She thought of the falling snow and said nothing.
“But we should be prepared,” he added. “Do you have a satchel?”
“Yes.”
“Wrap slices of ham and crackers enough for a couple of days. One cup. Gather matches and all the ammunition for the Spencer, the Winchester and two revolvers. Bundle it up tight and affix a belt to it for carrying over a shoulder. Roll a couple of blankets tight for carrying, as well. Have it all at the ready.”
She did as instructed, praying they wouldn’t have to risk leaving their haven, but resigned to doing whatever it took to keep them alive. She made sure the revolver in her coat pocket was loaded and ready.
“See if you can get some sleep now.” She stroked the little girl’s hair and tied a scarf around it. Most of her hats were too big, but she rolled a small one under her boot to soften the felt, and then fitted it on Jillian’s head. “Keep this on.”
After piling the satchel and blanket rolls against an interior wall, she took up her rifle and relieved Hayden at the window. “You might as well rest now. I found extra clothing for you. We need to stay bundled.”
He did as she asked and went to lie down near his sister.
“Is there more than one trap door?” Jonah asked in a quiet tone.
“Only the one in the kitchen.”
“I pulled the icebox over it.”
“I saw,” she said.
“You know what you asked me?” he said a minute later. “Which time?”
“About what I’d do.”
“Yes.”
“More and more I think I would set off a blast. Maybe under the car. Or on top. Anywhere the car was vulnerable enough to make a hole.”
His words were disturbing, but she trusted his judgment. “We’d be vulnerable. We might get separated in the confusion. They could get the children. Or kill us.”
“Could happen.”
“We shouldn’t be here when they set off an explosion.”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
“Are you thinking we sneak out?”
“I’ll start the heater in the rear. Rising smoke will make it look like we’re here. The snow will cover our tracks. We can make our way into the foothills and take cover.”
“All right, Jonah.”
“It’ll be cold,” he said. “We can’t make a fire.”
“It’s our best chance. Now?”
“Now.”
“I’ll get Jilly.” Obviously Hayden had been listening to their conversation.
Jonah double-checked the guns, stuffed his pockets with bullets and hefted the satchel on one shoulder. He stretched the other bundle toward Meredith. “If you can carry the blankets, I’ll get Jillian.”
Quickly, she ran into the corridor and came out with the furry white cat. Until that moment he hadn’t seen the second satchel open and waiting. “You’re not taking that cat.”
“I’m not leaving him here to get blown up. Or worse.”
He tried to reason. “Meredith—”
“I’ve done every last thing you’ve asked of me. But I will not leave Hercules behind.” She placed the cat in the leather satchel, closed it and fastened the buckles. Picking it up, she reached for the blanket rolls and stood at the ready.
Arguing with her wasn’t going to do any good, so he picked up Jillian and led the way to the door. “Quiet now,” he ordered. “Don’t say a single word until we’re far away. Do you understand how important it is to keep silent?”
“Yessir,” replied Hayden.
“Yessir,” echoed Jillian. “I won’t cry, neither.”
“That’s right. You’re a brave girl. Hayden, you walk behind me and Meredith you bring up the rear. Get down as low as you can. There’s a ravine just a short way from the rails. That’s where we’re heading to get out of sight.”
Snow fell, but didn’t blow much as their little party exited in silence. Meredith pushed the door shut and they headed away from the Pullman.
Responsibility was always a part of his job, but Jonah had never felt the weight as heavily as he did now, taking this woman and these children into the cold winter night.
Even bundled so she could barely move, Jillian managed to cling to his neck, and she wasn’t heavy. Their feet made soft crunching noises as they waded through the snow.
He turned to observe the railcars silhouetted against the backdrop of snow. All three sat in stillness, a slender curl of smoke rising from the front end of the Pullman where he’d left the heater burning. The enormous car gleamed in the moonlight. Another thread of unease wove its way into his mind, but he’d made his decision. There was no turning back. He had a task at hand, so he focused on their safety.
Once they reached the ravine, much of his anxiety faded. They’d made their escape undetected, and now they could work their way north and find a place to navigate into the foothills, where signs of their passing would be obliterated by trees, pine needles and snow.
Hercules complained loudly from the valise, and Jonah was thankful the feline had waited until they were out of earshot.
Jillian had fallen asleep, her weight growing more clumsy to carry. He propped her over his shoulder and carried on.
“Are you all right, Hayden?” Meredith asked softly from behind.
“Yes’m. My feet are cold, though.”
“You’re doing great,” Jonah assured him.
As they trudged farther from the tracks and left the ravine behind, their journey took them up the incline and into the trees. Meredith and Hayden’s labored breathing joined the sounds of their boots in the snow.
The pungent scent of the evergreens enveloped them. Jonah kept a watchful ear tuned for animals, since it was too dark to see one. That bear had gone back to his cave by now, and hopefully no others would cross their path. The last thing he needed was to be forced to shoot a wild creature and alert Bloom’s gang to their whereabouts. As it was, the men would have no reason to notice they were missing until they attacked or set off dynamite and got no response.
The wind picked up, sending showers of needles and gusts of snow down from the tallest trees. He broke off a long branch for later and shook the snow from it. Still they made their way upward. As they left the wooded area, the moon on the snow made it easy to find a way up the rocky hillside. It took another fifteen or twenty minutes of searching and winding around boulders to locate an overhang, under which they could all fit and remain out of the wind and snow.
There might have been animal remains or feces, so Jonah used the branch to sweep the area while they waited. “Hand me the blankets.”
Jillian roused only long enough to glance around and assure herself she was safe, then drifted back to sleep.
“Sleep now, Meredith,” Jonah told her. “When you wake, I’ll take a turn. We need to get rest so we can stay alert.”
He didn’t need to say it twice. She took the cat from the satchel, affixed a leash to its collar and tucked Hercules beneath the covers between herself and Jillian. Hayden lay beside Jillian and next to Jonah.
“You, too, Hayden. You can take a watch with Miss Abbott in the morning.”
Hayden lay down and within minutes snored softly. The boy had gone through as much stress as Jonah and Meredith, hadn’t complained once and had been as brave as any grown man Jonah had ever ridden with. He was an extraordinary young man. Jonah vowed to find the Langley fellow and not desert these kids until
he was assured they’d be well taken care of.
He counted stars to keep himself awake. Listened to the sounds of the night. Occasionally, he got up, stretched, and paced in front of the overhang, assuring himself enough snow had fallen to cover their tracks. As dawn broke through the clouds, Meredith woke and sat up.
“Did you sleep?” he asked softly.
“Surprisingly, yes. It made a difference not feeling trapped.”
“My eyes feel like sandpaper.” He lay down and fell asleep within a few minutes.
Meredith used Jonah’s branch to sweep a path and cleared a circle not too far away where she and the kids could relieve themselves. When they woke, she took Jillian and showed Hayden the path. She cut them bits of ham and rationed the crackers. Each of them used the cup for snow, letting it melt on their tongues. She couldn’t help thinking of the steaming pots of coffee Jonah had boiled for them before the outlaws had arrived. She could almost smell it now, and her mouth watered. She shivered. The ham made her thirsty, so she let more snow melt on her tongue.
After he’d slept a few hours, Jonah awoke and ate.
“I’m going to climb farther up and see if I can find a spot that overlooks the Pullman. Likely they’ll make a move today and learn we’re gone.”
Having thought to tuck a book into their stash of provisions, Meredith opened it and read to the children while he was gone. Hayden fell back asleep, and she realized he’d gone without rest nearly as much as the adults.
Upon returning, Jonah wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and seated himself. “I found a vantage point where I can observe them. I could make my way down and shoot at least one from a distance. After that they’d wise up and stay out of sight, but there would be one less threat. I’d be gone a long time, because I can’t leave tracks to lead them back here. I’d find another vantage point and wait.”
He didn’t see fear in her eyes. She appeared to think over his suggestion. Finally, she nodded. “Take out more than one the first time.”
“I’ll do my best. Let’s carry out the ham and cover it with snow so animals don’t smell it, and if they do, you’re safely away from it. Take your best shot while it’s eating.”