Sam placed the last plate in the crate. “You may change your mind by the time we reach our destination.”
It had been difficult to pass on purchasing a home in Baltimore. After several sleepless nights and half-eaten meals, Sam forced himself to focus on why he’d made the decision to leave—reasons that would change Robbie’s life forever.
Sam wanted to return to his job as deputy, raise his son in a smaller community where people took care of one another, and build a life with Jinny. Each time he thought of her, his heart squeezed and stomach twisted. He’d made no move to contact her or any of her family, including Brodie.
A beautiful and vivacious young woman, he knew there’d be others who’d take advantage of his absence, declaring their intentions to court Jinny. Sam hoped she had turned them all away.
“Have you sent word to your lady friend about your return?”
His father’s question took him by surprise, making Sam wonder if he could read his mind. “Not yet.”
“Is she beautiful?”
“Very.”
“A joy to be around?”
Sam sucked in a breath. “Very much so.”
Thomas nodded, lowering himself into a chair. “Do you love her?”
“Yes sir, I do.”
“Well, then, I feel compelled to give you some advice.” Thomas leaned forward, piercing Sam with a knowing gaze. “Get word to her before we leave. You don’t want to set foot in Conviction to find she’s promised herself to another man.”
Circle M Ranch
“Thank you, Mr. Arrington. I had a wonderful time.” Jinny accepted Deke’s help to the ground, then brushed her hands down her dress.
“So did I, Miss MacLaren.” Grinning, he took both sets of reins. “I’ll groom your horse. Go ahead inside.”
“You’ll have supper with us.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Deke marveled at the way she didn’t feel the need to request his presence. “Is that an order?”
“Aye. You may consider it one.” Jinny didn’t look back as she walked up the steps and into the house.
Following the sway of her hips, Deke felt a ripple of awareness, the same as he had the first day they’d met. Shaking his head, he tried to push away the rush of desire. Of all the women in Conviction, he didn’t need to develop feelings for one whose heart might already be taken.
He’d heard rumors Jinny still pined for a former deputy who’d left town about the time Deke arrived. Details were scarce, other than the man had been well-respected, and if he could believe the locals, used to work for Pinkerton. Deke still hoped to find a way to confirm it with Brodie. If anyone would have the true story, it would be her brother.
Finishing with Jinny’s horse, he walked his own out of the barn as a group of riders reined their horses in a circle around him, then stopped.
“Deke?” Colin slid to the ground, extending his hand.
“Good evening, Colin.”
“Did you come to visit Jinny?” Quinn walked up next, shaking Deke’s hand.
“I wanted to see how she’s doing.” He glanced around, feeling as if he were facing a jury of his peers.
“And?” Sean, Jinny’s cousin and the oldest of Ian’s children, eyed him with a bit of suspicion.
Deke smiled. “She’s improving. We took a short ride.”
“You had the lass on a horse?” Fletcher, one of Jinny’s younger brothers, came up to him, cocking his head. “Doc Tilden said for her to take it easy.” His voice was the least friendly.
Caleb stepped closer, running a hand down Deke’s horse. “Good to see you. She did all right, did she?”
“Jinny did fine. I think she might have been going a little crazy being in the house all day.”
Quinn glanced around. “Where are the rest of the lasses?”
His younger brother, Bram, laughed, slapping him on the back. “You forgot already? You sent Emma, Geneen, Bridget, and Coral to the north range with Blaine to check on the cattle.”
“Ach. That’s right. I’ll be seeing to my horse. Glad you came by, Deke.”
Everyone said their goodbyes, except Fletcher, who hadn’t budged. “Did Jinny invite you for supper?”
“She did. Is that a problem?”
Fletcher shook his head. “Nae.” Turning around, he started walking toward the barn. Deke hurried to catch up.
“Fletcher?”
“Aye?” He didn’t stop until he was inside, then removed his horse’s saddle.
“It’s not my business, but…”
Fletcher continued grooming his horse, not looking up. “You’re wondering about Sam Covington.”
“Yes, I am.”
Standing, Fletcher straightened to his full height of close to six feet six inches, tossing the brush into a bucket. “There’s not much to tell. Jinny liked him, and from all we could tell, the lad liked her. Then business took him back home to Baltimore. From what I know, she’s not heard from him since.”
“How long has it been?”
“Four or five months.” Finishing, Fletcher picked up his hat. “If that’s all, I’m ready for supper.” A slight grin curved his mouth. “You might as well follow me inside.”
Deke kept pace with Fletcher, considering what little he knew about Jinny MacLaren. The last thing he wanted was to poach on another man’s woman. Still, they were miles apart, and from what he’d learned, she’d heard nothing from Sam in months.
Letting out a breath, Deke followed Fletcher inside. He considered himself a good man who valued integrity, doing his best to live in an honorable way. As much as Jinny intrigued him, he wasn’t ready to court a woman whose emotions were torn, or offer his own heart only to have it handed back to him if Sam returned.
A compromise formed in Deke’s mind. He might not be able to court her in the way he hoped, but if she approved, he could be her friend, enjoying whatever time she allowed him.
Chapter Eight
SS Lincoln Steamship
The dense fog wrapped around the big ship, the same as it had for the last two days. They’d boarded the steamer in New York twelve days earlier, hugging the eastern seaboard before navigating through the islands of the West Indies. Until yesterday, they’d been blessed with good weather.
Over two hundred feet in length with a forty-foot beam, the Lincoln carried mail, cargo, and passengers to San Juan del Norte, also known as Greytown. They’d travel the short distance overland, then board the SS Jefferson. If all went well, they’d dock in San Francisco thirteen days later.
“Papa, where are we?” Robbie gripped Sam’s neck, holding tight, as if his young life depended on it. Twisting around, his eyes blinked several times as they adjusted to the thick gray mist surrounding him.
“We’re on our way to Greytown, son. The captain says we should arrive by evening.”
“Is that where the horses are?”
Sam set Robbie down on the deck, grasping his hand. The steamer had room for over two hundred passengers, and this sailing was booked to capacity. He’d been fortunate to obtain four second cabin tickets, although the two hundred dollars per person put a huge hole in the money he’d set aside for the trip.
Chuckling, he ruffled his son’s hair. “No, son. I’m afraid you won’t be able to ride a horse until we get to our new home.”
“Will I get my own horse, Papa?” Wide, hopeful eyes locked with his, once again reminding Sam of the enormous blessing he’d been given.
“Perhaps.”
“I thought I’d find you two up here.” Thomas Covington joined them on deck, smiling down at his grandson. “More fog, I see.”
“The captain thinks we’ll be moving out of it soon. Where’s Mother?”
“In the cabin. I told her she needed fresh air, but she refused to budge from the warmth of the covers. Perhaps I’ll be able to convince her to join us on deck after she’s eaten.”
“Papa says I can have a horse, Grandfather.”
Stooping, Thomas lifted Robbie into his arms
as a group of passengers walked past. “Is that so?”
Robbie nodded several times, a broad smile on this face. “Papa said so.”
Thomas glanced over his grandson’s shoulder to see Sam shrugging. “Well, if your papa says so, I’m certain you’ll have a horse.”
He watched Robbie’s eyes widen as several children, some near his age, ran by on their way aft. Getting Sam’s attention, Thomas nodded at Robbie, his brow lifting. Sam picked up the silent question.
“Would you like to see where they’re going?” Sam asked his son.
He nodded, excitement obvious on his face. Setting his grandson on the deck, Thomas clasped his tiny hand as the three of them moved toward the rear of the ship, noticing a small amount of sunlight peeking through the fog. Walking next to Sam, Robbie tugging on his hand, Thomas felt a satisfaction he hadn’t experienced in years. Even Susannah’s occasional bouts of seasickness hadn’t dampened his enjoyment of the voyage.
Reaching the spot where the other children stopped to play, a strange feeling overtook Thomas, making him glance over his shoulder. A momentary sense of panic claimed him when he saw Susannah, her face pasty white, gripping the guardrail with both hands, her gaze locked on his.
“Here, take Robbie.” Transferring his grandson’s hand to Sam, he hurried to his wife, slipping an arm around her waist. “What are you doing?” Although not harsh, his concerned voice had her looking up.
“I’m getting some fresh air, as you asked me to do.” Removing her grip on the rail, she placed her hand in Thomas’s, leaning into him. “Besides, I’m missing too much staying in the cabin. Where were you going?”
Slowly, he escorted her aft, the sound of children’s laughter drifting back toward them. “Sam took Robbie to play with the other—”
The crushing sound of metal on metal and sudden pitching of the steamer slammed Susannah to the side, ripping her from Thomas’s grip.
“Thomas!” Her muffled scream disappeared as the ship slammed against something hard and unforgiving.
“Susannah!” Thomas shifted from one foot to the other, reaching for anything close to regain his balance. “Susannah, where are you?”
The harsh sound of the steamer’s horn startled him, as did the answering horn of another ship. Swinging around, his eyes widened in panic. They’d run into another steamer, the sound of tearing metal melting with the screams of people unable to get out of harm’s way.
Blood ran down his arms and onto his hands, mixing with waves of saltwater crashing over him, making it difficult to hold on. He continued to yell his wife’s name, getting nothing in response. Letting go of his tight hold, he moved toward the ship’s rail, now a jagged opening—the spot where he’d last seen Susannah. A bright flash caught his attention an instant before an ear-splitting explosion pitched him forward, plummeting Thomas off the deck and into the cold water.
Sam held Robbie to his chest, his gaze darting toward the bow where he’d last seen his parents. The steamer pitched again, his shoulder crashing against the bulkhead. Searing pain ripped through him, although the tight hold on his son never faltered.
“Papa.” Robbie’s scared whimpers terrified Sam as much as not being able to see his parents. He had to believe they’d found safe haven somewhere out of his view. He needed to concentrate on his son, saving a life more precious than his own.
Instead of the unnerving crunching of metal and the screeching sound of wood rubbing against wood stalling Sam’s actions, the sounds of certain danger triggered the opposite. His concentration sharpened as he made his way toward the bow, staying starboard, the same side of the ship where his father and mother last stood.
Children’s laughter had long ago turned to terrifying screams and whimpers. Until he got Robbie to safety, he could do nothing for those already injured or in peril. Protecting his son and finding his parents controlled his thoughts as he inched his way forward, watching as the two steamers vied to control the same spot of ocean.
A burning flash caught his attention before the blast sent him flying backward and onto the deck. For an instant, Sam saw what appeared to be his father lurching to the side, then disappearing into the churning sea.
“No!” His head swiveled in search of the source of the heart-wrenching shout, only to startle, realizing he’d been the one crying out. Robbie’s sobs, his arms clutching Sam’s neck, forced his attention back to the critical present. No matter how much he ached to go after his father, the safety of his son came first.
Continuing toward the bow, Sam’s body pitched one way, then the other as the steamer fought to stay afloat. A few steps later, the entire vessel heeled starboard, bodies flying off the deck, poorly secured cargo following into the churning sea. Sam lost his footing, sliding on the slippery surface.
Robbie’s grip tightened until Sam could barely take a breath as they descended toward the breach in the side of the vessel. As suddenly as the steamer heeled starboard, it righted itself, stopping their slide toward the sea. A burst of optimism passed through Sam, only to be thwarted when another explosion rocked the vessel, sending barrels flying into the air. Still clutching Robbie to his chest, Sam’s eyes widened as one barrel hit its peak, then descended. Rolling to his stomach, Sam covered Robbie with his body, praying it would be enough to shield his son from the falling debris.
Lashing out, Sam struggled toward the light beckoning just beyond his reach, an image of Robbie silhouetted against the blinding rays. Cursing, he fought against strong weights holding him back from his destination.
“Doctor, I need your help.”
The urgent feminine voice lifted the haze long enough for Sam to open his eyes, his gaze fixing on a young woman. Her face flushed in determination, she used all her strength to keep his arms from thrashing.
“We have him,” a male voice ground out.
She released her hold, giving way to two pairs of thick male arms.
“My son,” Sam groaned. “I need to find my son.”
The nurse looked at the other two, her forehead creasing in confusion. “We have no children here.”
“He’s hallucinating. We’ll administer more laudanum, then let him sleep. When he wakes, let’s hope he’s more lucid.”
Preparing what the doctor needed, the nurse stepped aside until Sam had been given the drug. Within minutes, his face slackened and his body stilled.
“Check the registry to see if we have a wife or child listed when they brought him in.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Leaving, she glanced over her shoulder, wondering if there truly was a child. If so, had the patient’s son made it through alive?
Pushing through the double doors, she hurried ahead. The small hospital had been swamped with bodies and those injured after the two steamers plowed into each other off the shore of Greytown. Details were sketchy, but from what she’d heard, the SS Lincoln stayed on a straight course toward the docks while the other steamer drifted in the dense fog. No matter the cause, many had been lost and more injured, filling the hospital and neighboring buildings.
Reaching the desk, she checked the registry, seeing nothing to indicate the man had relatives who’d been brought in with him. She knew the records were often inaccurate, especially during an accident of this magnitude. It could be days or weeks before a full count of the survivors and those who’d perished could be made, making reuniting families a difficult task.
It had been a long night. Rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands, she let out a deep sigh. At twenty, she’d already seen one other accident such as this. One of the vessels had sunk, the other towed back to the harbor, taking months to repair.
She had no news on the state of the two vessels that collided yesterday. By the looks of those filling the beds, she had little optimism for the fate of the steamers.
Circle M Ranch
Jinny woke with a start, her forehead damp, hands clammy. The strange dream caused her heart to race and stomach to roil with anxiety. The sickening sensation of something terri
ble happening held a hint of reality so strong, it made her tremble.
Tossing off the covers, she grabbed her wrapper, slipping it over her thin cotton nightgown before opening her door. The hall was still bathed in darkness, indicating it would be hours until dawn. Shaking her head, she drew in a deep breath, doing her best to calm her pounding heart. Closing the door, Jinny sat down on the edge of her bed, wondering at the sense of foreboding. She’d never had a dream so real it sent shivers coursing through her body.
Covering her face with both hands, Jinny did her best to understand the odd jumble of pictures that refused to fade away. She often dreamed, forgetting the powerful images as soon as she awoke. This was different. The faces of young and old, mouths gaping open in surprise or fear, eyes wide as waves large enough to swamp a house swept over them. Smoke and flames crowded out other images until it all ended when she jerked awake, damp hands clutching her blankets. Jinny didn’t recognize anyone or understand what any of it meant.
Walking to her dresser, she picked up the pitcher, pouring a small amount of water into the bowl. Splashing her face, she studied her reflection in the mirror, noting an unnatural hollowness in her expression. A soft knock on the door had her spinning around.
“Jinny, are you awake?”
Grabbing a towel, she wiped her face, padding across the room, opening the door to find Emma on the other side. After the horrible dream, a sense of panic gripped Jinny when she saw the worried expression on Emma’s face.
“Is Quinn all right?” She opened the door wide, motioning her best friend to come inside.
Walking past, worry turned to confusion as Emma studied her. “Quinn’s fine. I’ve been lying awake and heard you moving about. I wanted to make certain you were feeling well.”
“Aye, I’m fine. Except for a strange dream.” Plopping down on her bed, she patted the spot next to her, encouraging Emma to sit down.
“Do you feel like talking about it?”
“I’m not certain how to describe it.” Lying on her back, Jinny recounted the images, the horrified faces, the balls of fire disappearing behind thick smoke, the giant walls of water. “It makes no sense to me.”
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