by Lynn Landes
“How do you feel about horses?” There's so much to learn about each other, and this trip should take two weeks if all goes as planned.
“I love them. I've been riding since I was a little girl. My Daddy didn't believe that women were inferior or weaker than men. He made sure I was well educated, and I was taught how to run the ranch. Does that shock you?” she inquires.
“Not at all. I think it adds to your appeal. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re smart too. The mother of my children will need to be tough to handle life out west. I’d like at least five.”
Cassie looks at him in shock. “Dalton!” she starts to argue with him, but the carriage stops, and they have to exit.
He laughs and jumps down. She reaches for him, and his hands catch her around the waist, and he lowers her to the ground. “Ahhh, Cassie life with you is sure to be full of excitement and fun. Are you brave enough to give it a shot?” He presses a kiss to her shocked mouth and tips the driver.
‘Five children! Am I brave enough?’ She wonders as he collects her carpet bag and turning back to her, he finds her staring at him with a small smile. He holds out his hand, and she places hers inside his.
“I’m never going to let you go Cassandra Rivers. Today we start our life together. The question is will you be mine?”
Cassie ignores all the people pushing and shoving around them, and the noise fades away. She feels her family with her, and his hope is shining in his eyes. When she thinks about marrying him and having his children her heart pounds with excitement.
“I will.” She answers, and he whoops and swings her up into his arms, ignoring the stares of those around them. Her laughter rings out, and she kisses him deeply. ‘Mine’ her heart whispers and his answers back, ‘Mine!’
The Pacific Northwest train runs a large black and red steam engine. It has sixteen cars attached to the engine. Cassie has never seen anything like it. The train depot is crammed full of people all excited to be boarding the trains.
“Cassie, the train car we will be traveling in is a pilot program for the railroad. A few choice couples have been asked to travel, expense free in return for their opinions on the accommodations. It is called a Pullman car.” Dalton explains as they move towards the front of the train to load.
Two gentlemen porters wait and introduce themselves before stepping aside to allow them to board. One of the porters leads the way. “This way Mr. and Mrs. Rivers, I will be your porter during your stay. The young black man is dressed proudly in a black suit and white shirt. “Anything you need, anything at all and you let me know.”
He leads them inside a luxurious car. It is lavishly decorated with floral arrangements, seating for relaxation, a large piano is in one corner with couches and chairs are displayed in conversation areas. The interior is mahogany lined panels, and gleaming brass fixtures. Large glass windows for observation line both sides of the car.
“This is one of three lounge cars. Here you can have early hors d' oeuvres, drinks, and listen to music. There are two dining cars which are by reservation only. They are reserved for the guests that are traveling in the Pullman sleeping cars.”
Dalton and Cassie are stunned. The trains they are used to have stuffy, narrow, low ceilings while this one is just the opposite. It has extra space and is exquisitely designed. They stop for a moment to take in the beauty of the train. They continue to follow the porter through the lounge car and into the dining car.
“Welcome to the dining cars, these are designed for intimate luxury. Tables are for two or four people, you will find flowers at every table and waiters anxious to serve you. This is one of two dining cars, not all guests will have the privilege of dining here, and again, that is reserved for your company.”
“It’s lovely. It has the feel of a beautiful restaurant. When is dinner served?” Cassie asks.
“The dining room is open at seven for dinner by reservation. Should I make reservations for you tonight?” he asks Dalton.
“No, tell me do offer room service?” Dalton inquires. They have had a long day, and he finds he wants to be alone with his new bride.
“Of course. I will take your order, once you are settled. I was told to give you the grand tour, shall we continue?” he asks.
“Please do. This is amazing!” Cassie exclaims clutching Dalton’s hand.
“In the middle of the train are the passenger cars. These cars are for travelers who are taking day trips. Attached to those cars would be an observation car.” They step through the car and into the outside area, passing into the new car.
Dalton looks around, it is luxuriously decorated as they all are. Plush carpet and mahogany panels, which shine from the exceptional care taken to keep them clean. Everything has a new smell. He smiles and looks back at Cassie. She is glowing with excitement, and he can't help but share in it.
“This particular train has six private sleeping cars. All feature private windows, and each is staffed with care. They will turn down your bed and leave the next day's itinerary for you. You can also choose to have breakfast delivered to your suite, and pick coffee and or tea. Each suite has a private sink and water closet with a full bed. Two chairs and a table are provided for your convenience.
“The final remaining cars are mail cars and baggage cars. You can choose to pull some of your baggage for storage in your suite or leave it in the baggage car. The choice is yours.” He glances down at his watch and smiles.
“Time to get you settled. Our train will depart in one hour. Follow me, please.” They quickly pass through the passenger cars which are just as nice, large seats, framed by large glass windows and into the sleeping cars.”
“You are in the second sleeping car.” He slides open the door to their car and stands back so they can enter. They are instantly captivated by a two-level room. The downstairs has a couch, two chairs, a large picture window and table with two club chairs. To the right is the water closet and sink with a door for privacy. Wooden steps lead to a sleeping loft, with large velvet curtains that can be pulled to block the light.
“Oh, Dalton! This is magnificent! Have you ever seen anything like it?” Cassie beams.
He smiles and turns to the porter. “Truly amazing.”
“I'm glad you find it satisfying. Your bags have been stored in the closets, behind the couch here. If you need anything, day or night, you only have to pull the cord.” He gestures to a cord hanging in the corner.
Dalton walks to the door and offers his tickets and asks for a bottle of champagne and light snack to be brought once they are underway. He tips the porter and slides the door shut, locking it and Cassie sighs in relief at the immediate privacy it affords.
They sit for a while, watching through the window at the loading platform and the people moving around as the final loading of the train continues. After a time, they hear in the distance the sound of a steam whistle as it rings out. It's the first of three boarding whistles, and the train lurches into motion as it starts rolling in a great billow of steam and smoke.
Dalton looks at her and smiles. “What shall we do first? Would you like to visit the observation car, or I can make reservations for dinner?”
Cassie looks at him in wonder. “How did I get so lucky, Dalton. I mean to find you amongst the chaos and drama of my life, that I would be this lucky? It makes no sense.” She whispers with a tear gleaming in her eye.
He moves to her immediately and takes her in his arms. “I won't ask why Cassie. I will only offer my thanks to God for sending you to me, an angel determined to save me. If you let me, I will spend our lifetime showing you how grateful I am.” His mouth finds hers, and they move together, spending the next two hours showing each other the depth of their feelings. As the train moves to their future, they hold each other and sleep.
Chapter 21
Aiden waits in the dark, without a fire and in the distance, he watches the man eating his dinner and enjoying the warmth of his own campfire. His instinct is to kill the surveyor and never
let him make it to San Francisco, but if he wants to find Cassandra, he needs to know where to look. San Francisco is a huge city, and thousands of people mill around. It's the perfect place to get lost if that is one's intention.
So, for now, he waits and follows. All bets are off once he leads him to her. He leans back against the tree and sleeps. The next morning the surveyor is up kicking his fire out and loads up on his mount and rides out.
Aiden stays back far enough that he loses track of him but soon finds his tracks. He rides following for a few hours before the surveyor stops for lunch, then gets back on the horse again.
The ride to San Francisco can be made in a day and a half if you push it and have fresh horses. The surveyor isn’t in a hurry. Eight hours later, he makes camp again for the night.
“Great! Another night of freezing while he eats and sleeps.” Aiden grumbles and settles in once more finding a spot under a tree. He slips his flask out and sips on his whiskey. Why not, the old man will probably sleep all night again he tells himself. Two hours later the whiskey warms his belly, and he passes out for the night.
Jefferson circles around the camp slinking through the woods and discovers that Aiden is drunk and passed out cold. After checking his pistol to see how many shots Jefferson pauses and thinks about just shooting him. After everything he's heard about this man and his father, he would be doing the world a favor.
“Lucky for you, I won't kill a man while he's sleeping.” He chuckles and heads to Aiden's horse to untie the animal and smacks it on the rump sending it riding off into the night. That will buy him some more time.
Time to ditch the dead weight. Jeff returns to his camp and dumps his coffee on the fire. Within twenty minutes, he is mounted and riding out to put some distance between them, before he changes his mind.
Aiden wakes to the sun and taste of day-old whiskey. He sits up and waits for his eyes to adjust. He stumbles around the tree to relieve himself and is finishing up when he notices the quiet. His horse is gone!
“Shit!” he whirls around and runs to look for signs of movement from the camp below and his scream sends birds flying into the sky. He gathers up his pack and rolls it up reaching for his gun.
“Son of a bitch!” His gun is gone. He walks carefully over to where his horse was tied and squats down looking at the footprints. Two sets, his and another. “The bastard took my horse and my gun!”
He follows the tracks of the horse and knows without it he will die. Two hours later he tracks down the animal and finds his lead tangled in some bushes. “Time to catch up to him!” He gives the horse a drink from his hat and spurs him on.
“You need to get me to San Francisco, now!” he snarls.
Eight hours later he enters the town and heads to Market Street. He's in need of a drink and a woman or two. Then he will find Cassie.
Chapter 22
Willow and Jackson hug Faith tightly and kiss baby Hope before they load the train. Faith wave’s goodbye as the train departs and tries not to cry. “They are going home, this a good thing, baby girl,” she whispers and kisses her daughter's head. “Now it’s our turn.”
Faith turns and wraps her cloak around her, and the baby then heads across the street to the Western Union office. They keep all the job listings posted for the different offices, and she's determined to have a new job by the end of the week. Fifteen minutes later she leaves disappointed. No jobs are available, but the manager had taken her information and told her to check back in a few days. Now, she needs a new plan. San Francisco is no place to raise a baby. They’ve been here for weeks and she’s starting to give up hope that she will find a job. Hope starts to squirm, and Faith glances down to rock her gently as she walks towards the exit only to collide with a wall.
Large hands steady her, “I beg your pardon,” she stammers out and looks up in shock. Solomon Abbott! A smile of recognition lights her face.
“Mrs. Smith? What in the world are you doing here?” he growls out, releasing his hold on her. His dark eyes don't look happy to see her. The light fades from her eyes, and she whirls to leave. “Excuse me, Mr. Abbott. I didn't see you.”
Solomon stands gaping at the swiftly moving woman who has tormented his dreams for the past two weeks. She's a block away before he realizes what he's done. He bolts out the door after her and catches up.
“Faith, wait! Damn woman, you are fast!” he says, walking quickly beside her. Faith feels like a fool. She was excited to see a familiar face, but she will not be treated like less than by anyone ever again. Her daughter will be raised by a strong woman as her mother!
“Mr. Abbott, did you want something?” Faith moves swiftly up Market Street away from the hustle and bustle of town business. Willow had rented a house near the ocean for the duration of their stay, and Faith split the cost with her. It was much cheaper than the hotels in town and afforded Faith privacy.
“Please forgive my rudeness, Mrs. Smith, but I was shocked to see you.” Faith ignores his statement and hurries home, she can feel Hope begin to stir, and the cold breeze will not be good for her. She picks up the pace, sure that Mr. Abbott will take a hint and leave her be.
“Obviously,” Faith snaps. Solomon has to skid to stop when she suddenly stops. She glares up at him, trying to ignore his good looks and snaps, “Mr. Abbott is there a reason that you're still following me.”
“Let's try this again.” Solomon removes the cowboy hat, “Mrs. Smith, it's nice to see you again. Will you forgive my rudeness?” His eyes dance merrily, and the wind blows his long dark hair around his head.
She can't help but smile at him. “Mr. Abbott, there is nothing to forgive. I am here to catch a train. I'm staying in a home two blocks away, with Willow and her son Jackson.” Her smile fades, and something like fear enters her eyes, “I need to get back. It was lovely to see you again.”
She turns, and the scent of lavender catches the breeze, and he makes his choice.
“Now what kind of man would I be if I let you walk home alone? Allow me to escort you, Mrs. Smith. These streets are no place for a beautiful woman to be.” Faith blushes and continues walking.
“That's kind of you, I would appreciate that very much.” They walk quietly, and soon she turns down a street of row houses that are close together. Two-story wooden houses. Clean and quiet, they provide a sense of comfort one can't find in the city. She turns and leads the way up the wood steps of her rental house.
After a moment of hesitation, she asks, “Mr. Abbott would you care to come in for coffee?”
“Coffee? I'd like that.” He stomps the mud off his boots on the porch and follows her inside.
“Call me Faith,” she says and moves inside the small house. To the right is a galley kitchen with a small table and chairs. In the living area, a fireplace is flanked by a couch and two chairs.
Solomon glances around the simple house in surprise. “All this time I’ve worked in San Francisco, and I didn't know these row houses existed.” He is looking around when her eyes meet his. “Call me Solomon, Faith.”
“I must admit that I was happy to see a familiar face, Solomon, I don't like it here.” A sound like a kitten meowing startles him, and she smiles. Her hand goes to her cape, and when she sweeps it off, his mouth falls open.
“Solomon, meet my daughter, Hope,” she says with such love that he's captivated instantly and steps closer.
His large hand cups the tiny head of the newborn and he says with awe in his voice, “Surely she is perfection.”
Instant concern fills his eyes for Faith. He is calculating the time they have been apart as she walks her slim figure over to the couch. Faith lays baby Hope on her side and rolls up a blanket to tuck beside her to keep her from rolling anywhere. When she stands up, she stretches and rolls her shoulders. “For such a tiny baby, she gets heavy after a little while.”
“You should be resting, or sitting, or something… but not walking around a city like this with a newborn!” he exclaims.
“Solomo
n, I appreciate your concern, but I didn't have a choice. Let me make some coffee, and we will talk.” He watches her walk away, and he steps over to the couch to peek at Hope.
“She’s tiny, and she has your hair! Look at all that copper just dancing around, the boys are gonna love you, little one.”
Faith laughs and says, “Over my dead body.” She returns carrying two cups of coffee, hands him one and sits in a chair near the fireplace with a sigh. Solomon grabs the wood and starts a fire without asking, thinking only of her and the baby.
“I’m sure that’s what your father said too, Faith.” His warm voice chuckles, “I know my Pa, threatened every young buck that came near my sisters.” He stands and moves to a chair, excepting a cup of coffee from her.
The intimacy of the moment is not lost on either of them. They are virtual strangers, yet it feels right. “Is your husband here on business?” Solomon asks.
“Hope was born, the day you left. My husband was killed in a blast at the mine, he was working in. The news sent me into labor early.” She glances at the baby, “She is small, but she will be mighty, Solomon. Hope is a picture of health, and I left to get her away from that town and those men.”
“Faith, I am so sorry,” Solomon says, glancing at the newborn thinking of how hard life without a father will be for her.
Her voice draws him back. “Billy was gone long before the explosion. It sounds bad, but in a way, it's almost a relief. I missed the companionship and protection he was supposed to offer, but he never offered either. I was a means to an end for him. Miners who are married get a bigger share of the profits. He never brought home a penny, and when I told him about the baby, he was more excited about his shares than her.” She hangs her head in shame, “I guess I wasn't a good enough wife to keep him home.”
“Now Faith, any man who can't see the value in the sun deserves to live in the darkness,” he replies gruffly. Tears fill her eyes and threaten to spill over.
