by Erin Johnson
Joe leaned over and whispered, “Do you think knowing the possible link between the fugitive and the Andersens might change the sheriff’s mind? And Shaw will know if there’s gold on that train . . .”
“It’s a waste of time,” Grace insisted, but when Joe headed toward the sheriff’s table she followed him. Joe told him about the possibility of the Andersens wanting to free the fugitive, and he nodded.
“You could be right,” he mused.
“Then you’ll have someone onboard the train to protect the passengers?” Grace asked hopefully.
The sheriff leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin. “Hmm. I recollect Deputy Clayton saying the Watkins brothers were transporting that fugitive.” A relieved smile replaced the slight furrow over his brow. “They’re the best bounty hunters in the state. We have nothing to worry about on that front.”
Grace cringed at the sheriff’s praise of the Watkinses and her hands curled into fists at her side. Those low-down varmints had stolen her bounty, and the sheriff trusted them to protect the train passengers? They couldn’t be trusted to safeguard their own mother. She whirled and stalked from the saloon.
Joe followed after her. “I apologized for your abruptness,” he said, giving her a sympathetic look, but his voice was stern. “I know you were steamed up in there, but you need to maintain cordial relations with law enforcement if you want to make a living as a bounty hunter. If they think you’re an emotional, hysterical woman, they’ll never rely on you to do a job.”
Grace scuffed the toe of her boot in the dirt. As much as it pained her to admit it, Joe had a point. From now on, she’d keep her anger and frustration in check. It was tough enough to be taken seriously as a female bounty hunter.
“Hey,” Joe said in a gentle voice. “I didn’t mean to lecture you or hurt your feelings . . .”
“I know.” Grace lifted her gaze from the puff of dust she’d stirred up to meet his eyes. “And you’re right. I should have minded my manners.”
Joe laughed. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever admitted I’m right about something. Maybe we could go for two in a row, and you could also say I was right about the sheriff handling the train robbery.” He gave her a hopeful glance.
“Do you know who he’s entrusting the train’s safety to? Those Watkins brothers, they, they . . .” she spluttered, too angry to put together a coherent sentence. “Did I tell you how they stole my bounty?”
Grace launched into the story, and after she finished Joe was silent a moment. “No wonder you stalked out. I would have too. If I could get a hold of them, I’d wring their necks.”
His voice was so menacing that Grace chuckled. “You and me both.” She told him about shooting arrows at the brothers, and it was Joe’s turn to laugh.
“You’re priceless, Grace Milton. If anyone wants to know why I care for you so much, that’s why.” He grew sober for a moment, then added, “And for a million other reasons too.”
Joe’s eyes met hers and she tingled from head to toe. But when he bent to kiss her, she laid a firm hand on his chest to keep them apart. “No distractions when I have a job to do.”
His sigh came from deep within his chest but he recovered rapidly and flashed her a brazen grin, inclining his head in a slight bow. “Yes, ma’am.”
But as soon as she lowered her hand, he placed a quick kiss on her lips, pulling back a moment later. “Sorry,” he said in a voice that sounded far from apologetic. “I couldn’t resist.”
“Be serious,” Grace scolded, but she hadn’t minded, of course. In fact, she was struggling to keep herself from flinging her arms around him and begging for another kiss. She reminded herself of the Andersens’ possible train robbery, and the danger to Emily and Caroline, hoping it would lessen her desire.
“So, you intend to stop that train robbery yourself?” The flatness of Joe’s words hinted at his disapproval.
“Someone has to.”
“I really do understand your dislike of the Watkins brothers, but law enforcement trusts them. They should be able to handle a train robbery. Besides, we don’t even know for sure that a robbery’s going to occur.”
“True, but I plan to be on that train if it does.”
“Then I guess I will be taking that ticket being held for me. If you’re going, so am I.” When she shot him a withering glance, he only smiled and said, “Think of me as backup.”
“But we can’t go together. I told Caroline and Emily I might go with them, and Emily’s been telling everyone in town I’m leaving. It’s actually a really useful cover — it won’t look like I’m bounty hunting. But if you’re with me, it might start to raise questions . . .”
Joe pinched his lips together for a moment. “Fine, I’ll board separately and stay undercover.”
Grace just hoped they hadn’t chosen the wrong train. If they had, she’d miss her chance to capture the Andersen twins — they’d get away with it all over again.
And innocent passengers might die.
CHAPTER 21
Two days later, Emily danced down the street, holding Grace’s hand and dragging her along. Caroline attempted to keep pace but, weighed down under the burden of all her luggage, she soon trailed behind. Grace had insisted on carrying some of Caroline’s bags in addition to her saddlebag. She’d quietly paid to stable Bullet for a few days, though the stable hands hadn’t been exactly welcoming. But Bullet had calmed down quite a bit when Joe led Paint into the adjoining stall.
Standing on the platform, Grace fidgeted in the walking dress Caroline had insisted on giving her in thanks for their tickets. Used to looser calicos or Ndeh buckskin clothing, Grace chafed in the multi-layered dress with a pleated overskirt that draped across the front and met in a set of low hip tucks on either side. Suede high-button boots and a hat with feathers completed her outfit. Caroline had tried to talk her into a dress with a bustle, but Grace declined. She needed to be able to move freely. This dress was restricting enough, but it did have one advantage — the puffiness at each side allowed her to conceal her gun easily, and no one would suspect that in her saddlebag she carried coils of rope, a knife, and bullets, or that she planned to apprehend some of the most wanted criminals in the state.
Grace spied Joe further down the platform leaning against a wooden post, acting nonchalant. He gawked for a moment when he saw her, grinned, and winked. Then, obviously recalling their plan, he resumed his casual, uninterested air. Although they weren’t traveling together, she had to admit that knowing that Joe would be on the train gave her a feeling of comfort.
Grace tried to keep up with Emily’s non-stop chatter, but all she could think about was the fugitive, the Andersen twins, the Watkins brothers . . . Her main worry was whether the Andersens were working alone or if other members of the Guiltless Gang would assist them with the robbery. Much as she’d love to apprehend other members of the gang, the more there were, the more difficult it could be to take them on. Although they’d cheated her out of her reward money, Grace assumed the Watkins brothers would at least be helping to capture the train robbers, and she reminded herself that she had Joe for additional backup. Together they should be able to subdue the criminals, she told herself firmly. As long as she’d chosen the correct train . . .
Emily tugged at her hand. “Are you listening?”
Grace forced her attention back to the small girl, who was bobbing up and down with excitement. “What did you say, sweetheart?”
“I asked if you would want to come and visit me at my grandma’s house.”
“I’d love to,” Grace answered, but guilt pooled in the pit of her stomach where fear had already made it tense. She hoped she’d be able to keep her hurried breakfast down once she boarded the train.
“Ma!” Emily called eagerly at Caroline, huffing and puffing her way toward them. “Grace is going to visit us back East.”
Her mot
her beamed and plopped her bags beside the ones Grace had carried. “We’d love to have you,” she said, catching her breath.
That made Grace feel even worse. She hadn’t exactly lied — she would love to visit Emily and Caroline, but the half-truth that hung between them added to her remorse. She’d miss them both, but she had to hide that sorrow as well as conceal her true purpose.
“Where’s your family located?” Caroline asked.
Grace took a deep breath and swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
Caroline clapped a hand to her mouth, then reached over to touch her arm. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to —”
“It’s all right,” Grace said, her voice shaking a little.
“How about we talk about something else,” Caroline suggested to Emily, and Grace felt a wash of relief. “Why don’t you take a peek to see if you can spy the train arriving?”
Emily rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. “I don’t need to look — I hear it. Listen.”
In the distance, the train rumbled toward them, belching plumes of smoke. Metal screeching, the engine finally shuddered to a stop and the platform launched into action. Men shouted and loaded cars, while passengers milled toward the two carriages. The conductor jumped onto the platform and tried to organize the disorderly crowd. “Luggage in the first combination car,” he shouted, but most people ignored him, clinging to their possessions as they boarded.
Grace helped Emily up the steps of the nearest carriage and found two seats across from each other, plopping herself quickly into the window seat and gratefully taking off her hat. She needed to keep Emily away from the windows if any shooting started. The girl pouted for a second but then sat in the aisle seat, and her mother squeezed into the space opposite them, piling her bags under both Emily’s and her own feet.
“This is so exciting!” Emily said, squeezing Grace’s hand. “It’s the best day ever.”
Grace hoped for her sake that the small girl was right and their ride would be uneventful and fun, but inside she quivered with anticipation and dread. The next station was two hours away but she estimated the hidden supplies had been stashed about an hour from town.
She stole a glance around the carriage but saw no sign of the Watkins brothers or the fugitive. She wasn’t sure if they’d be in the other passenger car, or perhaps in a secure carriage, possibly with the gold, and she had no real idea how to find out.
Beside her, Emily was chattering away to the other passengers. Maybe one of them would know, or had seen something? But if Grace asked too many questions, she might raise people’s suspicions.
The train whistle blew and Emily covered her ears, and as the carriage lurched forward the young girl clutched Grace’s arm. Caroline leaned across the aisle to pat Emily’s shoulder. “It’s all right, honey. The train’s just starting up.” She had to shout to be heard over the thump of the engine, the squealing of metal, and the jolting of carriages bumping back and forth.
“Are you sure?” Emily’s face had gone pale.
“We’re fine,” Grace reassured her. “I remember how frightened I was the first time I rode a train, and I was much older than you are now.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “Really? You were scared?” When Grace nodded, she sat up straighter. “I’m going to be as brave as you then.”
Grace smiled at her. “You’re very, very brave,” she said with a laugh — and it was true. If she managed to apprehend the Andersen twins, it all would be thanks to Emily’s keen observations.
When the conductor came through to check tickets, Grace tried to quiz him, feigning innocence, about the different carriages on the train. He smiled indulgently and answered her questions, listing the various cars, most of which were hopper cars carrying silver or other minerals from the mines, or boxcars filled with cargo. Then he mentioned the combine.
“What’s that?” Emily asked, and Grace glanced at her, thankful the little girl was asking questions now — it deflected some of the pressure off her.
“Well, miss,” the conductor said with a friendly smile. “The combine carries both cargo and passengers. People sometimes store their luggage there. Big shipments can go there too.”
“Like what?” Emily asked. Grace smiled.
“Oh, mail and such. And other important things.” He leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. “Sometimes secret things.”
He started to move on but Emily stopped him. “Are there secret things on this train? I’m good at keeping secrets, aren’t I, Grace?” She turned to her with wide, innocent eyes for confirmation.
“Very good at it,” Grace said, wanting to squeeze her in thanks, even if she didn’t know how helpful she was truly being.
The conductor winked at Emily. “Some secrets are better kept private, young lady.”
“That’s the car at the end of the train, right?” Grace tried to make her question sound harmless.
“Yep, they go at the rear. Usually we only have one of those, but today we got two.”
“How come?” Emily asked the question that was on the tip of Grace’s tongue. They made a good team. The conductor had a cagey look in his eyes when he answered. “Like I said, some things are best kept private.”
In spite of that, Grace had got the information she needed. If the gold and the fugitive were on the train, they must both be in the combine car. Now her only problems were to work out which of the two cars they were in, and how to get in there so she would be ready for the attack.
A few people strolled the aisles, stretching their legs. Maybe she could do the same? But none of them left the carriage and she worried she would look suspicious, especially as a woman alone. Still, she couldn’t wait much longer — they’d shortly be getting to that isolated spot where she’d uncovered the supplies.
Grace stood and moved into the aisle, holding on to the seat back as the train swayed from side to side. “I’m feeling a bit cramped. I’ll just walk around for a bit.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Grace,” Caroline said. “Our luggage is taking up too much room. I’ll hold some of it on my lap —”
“Please, don’t worry. I have plenty of room. I’m just not used to sitting much — except on horseback, that is,” she said with a smile.
“I understand completely. It’s such a luxury for me to sit during the day.” Caroline sank back onto the seat. “I’m enjoying every minute. I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Emily pulled at Grace’s arm. “Can I come with you?”
“Why don’t you stay with your ma? When I come back, maybe we can play a game.”
Caroline leaned across the aisle. “Come on, sweetie, let Grace have a break. She’s been listening to your chatter since we arrived at the station,” she said to her daughter with a smile.
Emily thrust out her lower lip and crossed her arms.
Grace bent over and whispered, “Why don’t you play detective while I’m gone? See if you can find out where all the passengers are headed.” She hoped that would keep the little girl occupied for a while. She staggered to the front of the carriage, trying to keep her balance. Joe was seated in the same car, close to the door, and he looked up as she passed, raising his eyebrows subtly at her outfit. She smiled back, pursing her lips ruefully, but when he started to stand she shook her head. He gave her a questioning look but sank back into his seat.
Not yet, she mouthed.
Joe nodded a little, drifting his eyes closed as if he were falling asleep, but Grace could see that his eyes were open a slit.
Once she had become used to the train’s rocking motion, Grace walked from one end of the carriage to the other and back again to make sure that she didn’t seem to be heading anywhere too specific. When she passed, Emily was busy questioning an elderly man. Grace strolled back down the aisle again. This time when she reached the rear of the car, she peeked into the next one — but instead
of windows, a wooden door covered the opening. That must be one of the combines, she thought with a leap of hopefulness. But how could she sneak into the car if she couldn’t see in? Anything — or anyone — could be in there.
Grace glanced around to see if any of the passengers were watching, and when she was sure she was unobserved, she tugged open the door and stepped out onto the platform between carriages. Wind rushed past and she grabbed the metal railing as the train swung around a curve. Between the wind and the pull of the train’s momentum, she could barely stand, and she clung to the metal bar as the train tilted and swayed.
When the tracks straightened out and Grace could stand upright, she stepped across the gap, the track beneath her whizzing by at a dizzying speed, and clutched the handrail on the other side. She pulled at the heavy door to the next carriage, but it didn’t budge. Afraid it might be locked, she pushed down on the metal handle again and yanked.
This time the door slid open so fast, her feet skidded across the metal platform and she almost lost her balance. Grace hung on to the handle and scrambled for a foothold as the train tilted the other way. Before the door could slam back into place, she stuck a foot into the opening and then squeezed her body through.
She found herself in a car piled high with luggage. Peering around each stack to be sure no one was there, she weaved her way through the towering piles of bags. Thankfully, the Watkins brothers and the fugitive weren’t in this carriage when she’d made her noisy entry. Then she realized that if they were here, they must be in the final car. But getting that next door open without being noticed was going to be nearly impossible . . .
Behind her, the carriage door opened and then slammed shut again, and someone shuffled behind the heaps of luggage. Grace jumped and turned, one hand sliding under the apron folds of her skirt to reach her concealed holster. Heart racing, she stood rigid, watching, waiting. Whoever entered made no further move. Had it only been bags sliding along the floor? Grace had almost convinced herself it had been her imagination, when a head peeked around the largest pile of luggage.
