Will of Steel

by Lynn Landes

  “After you drugged her parents!” His face pales, and he shoves Orson.

  “None of that matters,” David says, shoving them apart. “We are all in the same boat if she talks.”

  “Find her, now!” Orson shouts. “It’s Sunday night, how far could a little girl get on her own!”

  Chapter 20

  Jordan glances at Tony, “We need to act like we have every right to be here. Orson has men at the train station by now, but they are looking for a child, not a mother and son. Do you understand?”

  “Call me Anthony, Mom,” Tony slips a hand through the crook of her arm and she smiles at him.

  “You’re a gem, Anthony. Don’t let anyone tell you different.” Jordan straightens and they walk past the men standing outside the station and disappear into the crowd inside.

  “Two tickets to Clearfield, Pennsylvania, in a sleeper cabin if you have one.” Jordan pays, and soon they are on their way.

  They both fell asleep and three hours later she wakes up with a pounding heart. Tony is sleeping on the pull-down bunk in their cabin. Traveling as a mother and son was the perfect disguise. At the first stop, Jordan bought him a change of clothes and had him change in the cabin. He looks like a different boy. They will stay the night and head to the post office to get directions.

  “This time tomorrow I’ll be holding, Erin,” she sniffs back tears that threaten and stares at the pin in her hand.

  Tony rolls over and stares down at her. “Erin thought you were dead too,” he whispers.

  “Why? Tell me what she said, Tony,” she pleads. Her eyes fill with tears, and she is desperate to understand. He climbs down and sits across from her.

  “At first, she didn’t seem to know me, Miss Jordy, so I took her hand and she started to cry.”

  “You said they hurt her, how bad?”

  “I don’t know, she said they hurt her leg, but we had to leave fast. I didn’t ask too many questions.”

  “I understand, I’m just trying to understand why they would lie about her being in the fire and how she ended up in the attic at the orphanage.”

  “All she said was that Mr. Orson told her you died trying to save her.” Tony watches her flinch and sees the rage enter her eyes.

  “He did that to make sure she wouldn’t try to run,” Jordan snarls. It occurs to her that if he killed her husband and her family, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt an orphan like Tony.

  “We have to be careful, Tony. He’s a very dangerous man. When we get to town, let me do the talking. After we collect Erin, we are leaving. There’s nothing left for me in Philadelphia.”

  “I understand. You can leave me in Clearfield,” Tony mumbles and Jordan jerks.

  “Not a chance.” She grips his hand, “I can’t offer you much, Anthony, but Erin needs you and I wouldn’t be where I am without you. You don’t have to answer me now, but I’d like for you to think about staying with us. We are not always born into our family, sometimes we get to choose our family as well.” She smiles at the surprise on his eight-year-old face.

  “I’ll think about it,” Tony grins and nods as he looks out the window.

  “Thank you.”

  “Clearfield, Pennsylvania, next stop,” the Porter calls and they grin at each other.

  “Miss Jordy, you can’t walk around with that much cash in a bag. Kids like me, we look for Moms to steal from,” he blushes with shame and she laughs softly.

  “I know what you’re saying, I have it safely stashed on my person, most of it. Some of it I kept out for the hotel and dinner.”

  “How did you know how to do that?” he asks as she picks up the two bags.

  “Tony, when you live in a city like Philadelphia, you learn to take care of yourself. My husband traveled a lot, and I was alone. After I was robbed three times, I learned to be wary.”

  “Oh,” he is quiet as they make their way off the train and into the train station.

  “Stay close,” she murmurs and looks around. “It’s a smaller town, which should be comforting, but that also means we will stand out. Best not to dawdle and draw attention to ourselves.”

  Stepping into the train station, it surprises them that it is smaller than Philadelphia but still busy.

  “Could you give me directions to the nearest family hotel,” Jordan asks the train agent at the nearest desk.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” the young man smiles at her, “The Dimeling Hotel has just opened. It’s across from the Clearfield Courthouse. If you’d like I will arrange a driver for you?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Jordan smiles in relief and follows the clerk with Tony. Soon he waves them over. Tony stays quietly by her side with his eyes flicking from person to person.

  A carriage pulls up and Jordan and Tony are quick to climb in. “The Dimeling Hotel,” the clerk tells the driver. “Enjoy your stay.” After tipping the young man, they sit back for the ride and stare out at the town.

  Red brick homes line the streets. It is impressive, and Jorden can’t help but wonder what fuels the economy here. Obviously, the railroad, but what else? “Are you hungry, Anthony?” she asks.

  “Starved,” he replies just as the carriage stops.

  “We will have dinner as soon as we’re checked in,” Jordan steps down cautiously and looks up in surprise. “Oh, it’s lovely.”

  “That she is.” The older driver offers a hand to steady her. “The Dimeling is a seven story, one hundred twenty room Hotel. It has luxury accommodations. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay. Make sure you try the swiss steak,” the driver suggests.

  He glances at Tony and then back at her. “If you don’t mind me saying, it isn’t safe for you to be on the street at night. We are a railroad, mining and brickyard town. Most of the workers come to town to drink at night. Best to stay inside until morning.”

  “Thank you,” she glances at the impassive look on Tony’s face and steels herself. “We will take your advice.”

  They hurry inside and Jordan pays the fee, trying not to show her shock at the price of twenty-five dollars for the night! It better be worth it, she thinks as they take the elevator to the fourth floor. “We are in room 31 B,” she murmurs as they walk down the elegantly designed hallway. Lush green carpet, wallpapered walls and glass lanterns flicker to light the way.

  “Here we are,” Jordan uses the key to open the door and they step inside a huge suite.

  For the first time, Tony looks impressed. His mouth falls open, and he steps inside with cautious steps, as though waiting to be yelled at.

  “First, we will have to get cleaned up and then go have dinner in the dining room.” Jordan watches him and smiles. “I think we should try the swiss steak, don’t you?” she asks.

  “If you think so,” he murmurs.

  They hurry through clean up and make their way to the dining room where they enjoy a fantastic meal and Jordan orders a slice of cake for Tony. The waitress, Melissa, smiles at his excitement.

  When she returns with the cake, Jordan glances at her and decides to take a chance.

  “We’re in town to surprise my Uncle. We haven’t seen in in a few years and I will need a driver to take us to his home tomorrow. Would you happen to know where we could hire someone?”

  “Absolutely, go to the post office early. They list all the driver’s names, but you should ask for Samuel Nariel. He’s the best and not just because he’s my father.” She grins at Jordan’s delight.

  “Thank you, that’s wonderful!”

  Chapter 21

  Monday

  “Erin, I have to go to work. Do you think you could watch Saint for me? He cries like a baby when I leave him,” Ryder says over pancakes.

  Her giggle has him smiling, “Yes, Mr. Ryder, will you come back soon?”

  “I will be back as soon as I can. Maybe I can teach you how to ride a pony when I get home.”

  “A real pony?” she gasps and stares at Loren who is smiling at them.

  “Yes, she’s an old pony, but the swe
etest girl in the world,” Donovan teases.

  “First, we have to get you some clothes and then we can help feed the animals,” Loren says.

  “Do you like animals?” Donovan asks.

  “I don’t know any,” Erin replies causing them to chuckle. She watches Ryder go with a worried look in her eyes and when Saint follows him to the door and whines, she immediately goes to pet her new friend. “It’s okay, he promised to be home soon.”

  Ryder leaves the farm and rides straight to town, headed for the post office. Thankfully, they are only a few miles outside of town.

  Jason Daniels and Ryder met during the war. They took different directions, but their friendship remains strong.

  “I need to send a telegram,” Ryder tells the Western Union clerk and slides a handwritten note to him. “I’ll need a messenger boy to bring the reply to my office as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, Sir,” the young man replies. “Where should we deliver the reply?”

  “The Law office of Ryder Foster,” he replies and pays.

  A few minutes later he stops a boys selling papers, “Can you get me the last two week’s newspapers for the Philadelphia Times?”

  “Yes, Sir, but it will cost you,” the twelve-year-old says with a grin.

  “Bring them to my office,” he gives him the address. “I’ll pay you when you deliver them.”

  The kid takes off at a run while he walks across the busy street into his office and sits down to work. “Adoption laws,” he digs through his books and sits down to take notes. Dark hair and haunted eyes flash through his mind, and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to help his family and little Erin.

  When the papers come, he goes through them one at a time, taking notes and stopping on one incident.

  “Fire in the city. Fire Chief Edward Nash is stumped. It looks to be intentionally set. Leaving fifteen men, women and children dead.”

  “No,” Ryder reads the names and stops on the name Erin Sims and her parents, Robert and Alexandria Sims. He jumps up and runs from his office to the livery to get his horse. It’s time to have another talk with Erin.

  Chapter 22

  “Ryder, it’s lovely to see you,” Mrs. Kathryn Miller nudges her daughter who blushes brightly. Ava is young, at sixteen years old, much too young for him.

  Inwardly Ryder sighs, as he steps off his horse and ties the reins at the post in front of his parents’ house. His questions will have to wait. The pastor’s wife is here with clothes for Erin.

  “You too, Mrs. Miller. Ava, it’s nice to see you again,” Ryder looks past them and sees his father speaking to the pastor at the fence. “If you’ll excuse me,”

  “Ava could walk with you,” she starts to say, but Ryder shakes his head.

  “No thank you, I need a private word with my father,” he walks away leaving her glaring darts at his back.

  “Mother, that was awful!” Ava is angry and embarrassed. “He has no designs on me or anyone from what I hear.”

  “Maybe if you spoke to him instead of hiding. Look at him! He’s a successful lawyer and you can’t ask for a more handsome man,” she suggests, and they both fall quiet to look at him. At six-foot Ryder is big, blonde and muscular, but Ava’s heart belongs to someone else. Her eyes drift to the stables. Thankfully, Erin returns with Loren.

  “Oh, I knew we would find something in the box that would work,” Mrs. Miller claps her hands gleefully.

  “Thank you and please pass on our gratitude to the congregation. They were more than generous,” Loren says and invites them inside for lemonade.

  “May I go see Ryder now?” Erin asks.

  “Of course,” Loren smiles as Erin runs, calling for Saint. “They are inseparable,” she explains.

  Mrs. Miller watches as Ryder covers his heart and bows to her. He teases her while she laughs and spins for him. “He has a way with children,” Ava says softly, and they watch him scoop her up in his arms.

  “He’s quite taken with her, probably because he never had siblings,” Loren explains.

  “That’s one lucky little girl,” Mrs. Miller sniffs. “It’s pastime for him to get married.”

  Loren laughs, “Try telling him that. He hasn’t met a woman that could hold his interest long enough to marry. His work is what’s important to him.”

  “I understand.” Mrs. Miller glances at Ava and sees her staring at one of the stable hands. She nudges her to get her attention and Ava glares at her.

  “No offense, Mrs. Miller, but the truth is better than false hope,” Loren explains.

  “None taken. I’m going to go see the animals, Mother,” Ava hurries away before her mother can complain.

  Erin giggles as Ryder carries her towards the barn. “Have you met the animals yet?”

  “Not yet, we’ve been busy,” she yawns and lays her head on his shoulder while he walks towards his father.

  “Pastor Miller, it’s nice to see you again.” Ryder places Erin on her feet and she runs to Donovan and grips his hand.

  “You too, Ryder. I hope to see you at church on Sunday,” he hints.

  “Not this weekend, I’m afraid. I’ve got an important case I’m working on.” His eyes flick to Erin.

  Ava is standing at the coral behind the barn talking to Thomas and her laughter draws her father’s eyes.

  “Ryder, did you see the new fox kits?” The Pastor asks before he excuses himself to check on his daughter.

  “I did not,” his eyes jump to his dad. “How many?” he asks.

  “Two,” Donovan sighs. “Coyotes ate the mother, so we’re feeding them twice a day and making sure we keep them warm.”

  “Has Erin seen the farm animals yet?” Ryder asks.

  “No, she’s been busy with your mother and Mrs. Miller.”

  “Can I see them now?” she asks.

  Pastor Miller walks over with an upset Ava, and they decide to postpone seeing the animals until the guests are gone.

  “Soon, sweets, we need to change you out of that pretty new dress. Feeding the farm animals can get messy,” Donovan explains.

  “We should be going,” Pastor Miller says. “If you need anything, let us know and I hope to see you Erin at church this Sunday.”

  “Yes, sir,” Erin replies and Ava whispers goodbye, but her eyes are on the stable hand, Thomas who waves at her.

  Ryder waits impatiently for them to leave, and Erin runs to change into her play clothes.

  “I take it you have news,” Donovan says to his son.

  “Yes, Erin’s parents died in a fire that killed fifteen people, but that’s not all. They think the fire was intentionally set.” He pulls the paper out of his leather bag and hands it to his father. They read it quickly, and no one speaks for a moment.

  “Do they know why or who would do this?” his Mother asks.

  “Erin said someone named Orson. You have to let me talk to her,” Ryder insists.

  “No.” Donovan stands up and shoves the paper at him. “She is safer with us and this only proves that.”

  “Erin was a witness to a fire that killed fifteen people! I owe it to those people to find out what we can,” he lowers his voice. “It’s the only way to make sure that she’s safe.”

  “Let us think about it,” Loren says.

  “We should give her another day to rest and get to know us before we put her through that,” his father insists.

  “I have a friend finding out what he can about the orphan train and the Sunshine Orphanage. I’ll wait until I have more information, but then we need to share it with the police.”

  Loren smiles when Erin runs down the stairs, followed by Saint.

  “Let’s go feed some animals.”

  Ryder watches his parents leave and has a feeling that this not going to end well for them. The sooner they get some answers, the better for all their sakes. Erin walks between his parents and he can’t help but feel protective of all three of them. He bows his head and says a quick prayer, asking for guidance and
protection for the people he loves.

  Chapter 23

  Jason Daniels is in his office in Philadelphia when a messenger boy walks in and delivers a telegram. He pays the kid and takes it to his desk to open and read.

  “Need info stat. Sunshine Orph. Orphan train. Recent fire involving families. Ryder.” He frowns, “Okay, what kind of trouble are you getting into now?” He grins and runs a hand through his blonde hair and tucks the note into his pocket.

  A knock has him looking up, “Good Morning, Jase, I have a new job for you,” his boss, William Odell says. He and his brother inherited the Pinkerton business from their father. Jase freelances for them, taking the jobs he wants and offering his special services on the side at a good cost. It has proven profitable for him. “Mr. Orson Barnaby wants to hire us to find a missing person. The pay is triple.”

  “Triple! I’ll take it.” Multi-tasking is my specialty, he thinks with a grin. “Who is the lucky person?”

  “A Mrs. Jordan Steel, of Regent Steel. She went missing after losing her family in a fire. He’s concerned about her mental well-being.”

  Alarm bells ring in his mind, but his face doesn’t show it. “A fire? When was this?”

  “There was a fire last month that killed fifteen people, including children. I’d start with that one. Maybe talk to the fire department.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll be out the rest of the day.” Jase pulls on his suit-jacket and walks out. First stop, fire department, then the orphanage.

  “This is getting interesting.”

  Chapter 24

  Donovan guides Erin around the back of the barn where the corals are set up for the different animals.

  “What’s that one?” Erin asks and points at a strange-looking animal.

  “That’s called a llama,” he laughs at her confused face.

  “I’ve never seen that before,” she frowns and backs up when it comes up to the fence.