Until September

by Brenda Jernigan

  Billy’s gaze lingered on Claire’s kiss-swollen lips. “You still care for that cad, don’t you?”

  “No. I did what I did out of pride. Not because I wanted to make David jealous, as you thought.”

  “So you’re not trying to impress anyone this time?” Billy asked as he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.

  “Only you,” she said in such a soft voice that he wasn’t sure he’d heard her.

  It was a good thing that they were not alone on this train. Billy thought, because he wanted this woman so much.

  As he stared down into the wonderful blue depths of Claire’s eyes, Billy realized that he should assure her that this wouldn’t happen again. But why lie?

  Chapter Thirteen

  The morning started off well enough, Claire thought, her mind still reeling from what had happened last night. And what had not.

  They had just finished their breakfast in the eatinghouse. It was a routine that Claire was learning. The conductor called them Refreshment Saloons. Every fifteen miles, the train would stop, all the doors were thrown open, and the passengers rushed out and went straight to the Refreshment Saloon where tables were available for eating. The food was pretty good—pies, patties, cakes, hard- boiled eggs, ham, and custards. An hour later a bell would ring letting everyone know that the train was getting ready to depart.

  Claire followed the others as they returned to their seats in the passenger car. Fredrick had gone back to get something from the sleeper car, and Willie rubbed his eyes sleepily as he settled into one of the seats next to Floppy. He curled up with the dog and went to sleep.

  Claire glanced out the window while the rest of her companions talked. Coal smoke drifted by the windows as the train rumbled down the track. She was used to the swaying of the train now, and she enjoyed watching the countryside as they passed through it. How much it had changed from that of New York! The farther she traveled from her home, the cruder the buildings outside became. The fine, silken dresses worn by the passengers in New York had also disappeared, she noticed when the train stopped in a small town. She supposed the women out here had no use for such finery.

  Claire was determined to act as normally as possible today—as though Billy had never kissed her. She certainly didn’t appreciate the silence he had maintained so far this morning. Was he always going to have regrets after they kissed?

  At least he hadn’t become angry this time. She wasn’t too sure what she was doing wrong. Obviously, she wasn’t doing something she should, or Billy wouldn’t be so withdrawn. She would love to ask Ann, but of course, Ann was hundreds of miles away. Perhaps she wasn’t very good at kissing and Billy was simply disappointed.

  Something was certainly bothering him this morning, and Claire was sure he wouldn’t tell her what it was, even if she asked.

  She frowned. Ann had said to go after what she wanted, but Ann hadn’t told her what to do if the man she wanted wasn’t cooperating.

  When she couldn’t stand the stony silence any longer, she asked him, “How many days until we get to Independence?”

  “Tired of traveling?” Billy asked, his brow raised with an I-told-you-so look. It was the first time he had spoken this morning.

  “Did you sleep with a burr under the cover?”

  Claire snapped back. “I was simply asking a question.”

  “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” he said.

  No, you probably wouldn’t, she thought to herself. Why were men so difficult to understand? Or was it just this man? Claire turned to Aunt Ute. “Tell him how grumpy he is this morning,”

  Aunt Ute looked from one to the other. Something was going on between these two. She could see it in the way they looked everywhere but at each other. The funny part was they were not fooling her. She hadn’t been born yesterday, and she knew physical attraction when she saw it. Ja, these two had it bad. They just didn’t know it. “Maybe he doesn’t know when we’ll get there,” she said.

  Billy frowned at her. He must have thought she was criticizing him, Ute thought.

  “We will be in Independence some time tomorrow,” Billy replied. “From there, we will take the Overland Stage on to Denver.”

  Claire looked at him. “Let’s hope that trip will be as pleasant as this one.”

  “It will be a little harder,” Billy said, trying to soften his voice. He realized he’d been snarling at Claire and he really wasn’t sure why, other than he’d gotten very little sleep. Every time he shut his eyes, her face floated through his mind, and he couldn’t seem to stop it

  “It will be a lot more confining from that point on. We have plenty of room to walk around on the train. However on a stagecoach, there is nothing to do but sit and stare out the window.”

  “Will you be riding in the carriage or on your horse?” Aunt Ute asked innocently.

  Billy’s brow arched. “I’ll probably ride to give you more room in the coach. Or I might ride shotgun if I’m needed.”

  “Surely the stage will stop some,” Claire reasoned.

  “Billy didn’t mean to make it sound like the stage never stops. It stops every fifteen miles to change horses, so you’ll have a chance to get out and stretch your legs,” Fredrick supplied as he sat down with them. “You’re going to like the landscape once we board the stage. That part of the country is very different from what you’ve seen so far.”

  Fredrick and Claire continued talking about the trip, so Billy tried to relax. He sat back. He was a little worried about Claire. He hoped the dust wouldn’t cause her to cough more. Sometimes it could be pretty bad even inside the stage.

  Now was bad enough. She seemed to have a coughing spell once or twice a day. Day before yesterday, she’d had such a bad spell that she’d had to lie down. And it worried him. She had told him, herself, that the doctor said she would be getting better. If this was better, he wondered what it had been like before. No wonder she was so pale and thin. The woman needed sunshine and good food that would stick to her bones. Maybe if he could get her healthy she would survive the harshness.

  He watched Claire as she talked to Fredrick. Billy hadn’t known Claire very long, but he had known her long enough to know that there was something exceptional about her, and the harder he tried to ignore the truth the more it persisted. Claire Holladay had come to mean something to him. He just wasn’t ready to explore what that something was.

  A noise sounded above Billy’s head. He glanced toward the roof of the car. Had he just heard footsteps?

  The train started to slow and then the engineer hit the brakes. The train hissed to a sudden halt, throwing the passengers forward. Claire landed in Billy’s lap. Fredrick wasn’t as lucky when Ute landed in his lap.

  “What’s happening?” Claire asked as she pushed her hair out of her eyes, and leaned back so she wouldn’t be in Billy’s face—the temptation to kiss him was too great.

  “I don’t know, but it isn’t good,” Billy replied. “Are you all right, Willie?”

  “Yep, me and Floppy are fine, but what happened? And why is Miss Claire sitting in your lap?”

  “Let me help you back to your seat,” Billy said to Claire, both of them ignoring the child’s comment

  Claire really didn’t agree, but she knew she couldn’t stay in his lap. She was, after all, a lady.

  As she straightened her skirt she realized that everybody was chattering, wondering what could be wrong. She drew out her pad and starting jotting down notes.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Fredrick asked Billy.

  Billy nodded slowly. “Be ready.”

  Claire didn’t understand what they meant, but before she could ask, two men dressed all in black burst into the car. They had black handkerchiefs tied around their necks and their guns were drawn and pointed at the passengers. Children cried and women gasped as if they were going to faint.

  “Sorry for the inconvenience, folks, but this here’s a holdup, and we’re here to relieve you of yo
ur coins and valuables. We expect your full cooperation. Put your coins and jewelry in the bag Bitter Creek’s carrying ’round,” the taller of the two said.

  Billy recognized the tall one. He was Grat Dalton, one-of the members of the infamous Dalton gang. After all these years, Billy recognized him. He was one of the gang that had done away with the gunslingers Billy had lived with. He should probably thank Grat because he would have probably turned into a gunslinger, too, if he’d stayed with the other men. He realized that they must have had at least an ounce of decency because they had let him live that day instead of shooting him, too.

  But at the moment Billy wasn’t in a thankful mood. His hand hovered near his gun.

  Grat stood guard while the other fellow produced a small black sack and started down the aisle.

  “Are you really train robbers?” Claire turned and asked.

  “Well we ain’t Sunday school teachers, ma’am,” Grat replied.

  “You don’t have to be snide, sir,” she informed him.

  “Be quiet, Claire,” Billy warned.

  She glanced at Billy. “I will not” She turned her attention back to the man standing. “Mr.—”

  “The name’s Dalton. You’d best remember it”

  Fredrick drew in his breath behind her. Claire wondered why. “As I was saying, Mr. Dalton. I am a reporter for Harper’s Weekly, and I’d like to ask you a few questions for an article that I’m doing on the West”

  “Jesus Christ lady. We’re trying to rob you,”

  Dalton snapped. “Just put your valuables in the bag and shut up.”

  “It’s very obvious that you are robbing us, but—” Claire stopped as the other man reached for her hand. She tried to jerk it back. “You can’t have my mother’s ring, sir.”

  Aunt Ute whacked Bitter Creek’s hand with her umbrella. “Dummkopfs. ”

  “Jesus,” Bitter Creek swore and snatched the umbrella away, still holding onto Claire.

  Billy jumped to his feet. “Get your hands off the lady, or I’ll put a bullet through you.”

  Bitter Creek immediately dropped Claire’s arm and pulled his gun, but Billy was faster. “Now why don’t you both drop your guns?”

  “Billy, you’re going to get yourself shot,” Claire fussed as she stepped out into the aisle and tugged on his sleeve. “You should sit down.”

  “Be quiet, Claire,” Billy warned.

  “I’m tired of hearing that,” Claire snapped. After all, she was trying to save him. She could probably reason with the men. She’d promise them fame, and then they would forget about taking these good folks’ money.

  “If you’d just take a few moments to answer my questions.” Claire stepped toward Dalton as she spoke. “It would help my article a great deal and make you very famous. What made you turn to a life of crime?”

  Dalton jerked Claire in front of him. “Maybe you’ll calm down now that we have your lady,” he growled as he eyed Billy. “Drop your gun, or we’ll put a bullet in her head.”

  Claire gasped. “You do, and you’ll go to jail.” “Don’t hurt her,” Willie begged from the floor.

  “Shut up, kid.”

  Billy really didn’t see that he had a choice. He had no doubt that Dalton would carry out his threat. Reluctantly, Billy lowered his gun.

  “Drop it,” Dalton ordered.

  Billy did, and Bitter Creek kicked the gun aside, then started backing up toward Dalton. ‘You could be in one of those dime novels, Grat”

  “Maybe I’ll talk to her,” Dalton said. He sounded as if he were mulling over the idea.

  Another man entered the car dressed just like the other two. “What the hell is taking you so long?” Bill Dalton said. “We’ve already busted open the safe.” His gaze shifted to Claire. “Who’s she?”

  “Some reporter.”

  Billy took a step forward. “Get your hands off her.”

  “I don’t think so,” Grat said. “Maybe we’ll get her to write a story about us. She may come in useful after all.” He looked at Billy. “ ’Sides, we need a little insurance that you are not going to follow us, ’cause if you do, you know what will happen to her,” he said, jerking Claire off her feet

  “You mean, you are going to give me an interview?” Claire said as her hopes built. She could see her article in the magazine now. “Train Robbers and Why They Turned to a Life of Crime,” by Claire Holladay.

  “That’s right, lady,” Dalton said. He tightened his grip around her middle, almost cutting off her air supply as he pulled her backward with him. They inched their way to the door and backed out of the car and off the train. Dalton looked directly at Billy. “If anybody comes out that door in the next few minutes, we’ll shoot her.”

  “Don’t worry. He isn’t serious,” Claire tried to assure Billy. She didn’t want him to do anything foolish—like getting shot. “I’ll be fine. I just need to get my interview.” And with that she was gone.

  Once they were outside, Claire demanded. “Could you please get that gun out of my back, sir!”

  “Honey, you seem to be right bossy. You’re our hostage now. You don’t make demands.”

  “Hostage? No,” Claire said, shaking her head. “That would mean that you’re going to keep me. I’m just going to ask you a few questions, and then we can be on our way,” Claire told them.

  Bill looked at Grat. “She ain’t from around here, is she?”

  Grat just shrugged, then said, “Lady, we just robbed a train. And now you think we’re going to stand around and chew the fat with you? You’re plumb loco.”

  “Shit, lady you’re coming with us,” Bill Dalton said. “Throw her on a horse, Grat, and quit arguing with her. Time’s a-wastin’.”

  “No. No. You can’t take me!” Claire protested, suddenly alarmed. Now that she realized that they meant to take her with them, she began to struggle. “I need to get back on the train. My medicine is on the train.”

  Somebody slapped her on the face, hard. Claire was too stunned to react, so they shoved her on the horse, up in front of Bitter Creek, who wrapped his arm around her much too tight She tried to scream, but his next words stopped her.

  “You scream, and we’ll have to gag you,” Creek told her. “You know you’re a right soft little thing. You just might provide a little fun.”

  Cold chills raced through Claire’s blood. A little too late she realized that she was dealing with unreasonable men who were nothing like the men back home. Even common thugs at home held on to some shreds of decency. These men appeared to have none.

  What had she gotten herself into? She wasn’t afraid of dying. Pain, on the other hand, was something she had no tolerance for. She wasn’t willing to go through hell before dying. And being tortured by these men would certainly be that.

  How was she going to get out of this mess?

  And then Claire knew the answer. Billy would come after her.

  She took a deep breath. Now all she had to do was keep her wits about her and stay alive until he found her. How hard could it be to outthink these dull-witted men?

  The woman didn’t have a brain in her head, Billy thought with a pungent curse.

  He sank down to die seat and tried to figure out what to do. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. He’d lost the boss’s niece! Hell, if he’d only just lost her, it wouldn’t be near as bad. But he’d let her be taken by train robbers. And worse, he couldn’t go charging after them for fear that they would kill Claire, and he didn’t even want to think of what they could do to her before they killed her. His stomach felt like it had been tied in knots.

  He had to do something. He had to reach her before it was too late.

  “We must go after her,” Aunt Ute insisted and headed up the aisle. “I’ll get those Dummkopfs and make Schnitzel out of them.”

  Damn, Billy thought. Was everybody in the family plumb crazy? “Wait,” he said, reaching for Ute’s arm.

  “What will they do?” Ute asked. “Is she in much danger?”

/>   Fredrick answered. “Claire is with a bunch of ruthless outlaws, Aunt Ute. There is no telling what they’ll do.”

  Ute fidgeted with her gray traveling suit as if she were nervous, then she looked directly at Billy, refusing to sit down. “What are you going to do?”

  “If Claire had kept her mouth shut when I told her to, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Billy grumbled as he raked a hand through his hair. And her aunt wouldn’t be worried to death at the moment He glared at Fredrick. It didn’t help that Fredrick had painted the woman a real picture. “I’m going to go after them.”

  “How?” Willie asked from the floor. “Do you want Floppy to track her? He has a real keen sense of smell.”

  Billy would have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so serious. He’d be lucky to get Floppy off the train under his own steam, much less give chase. “Thank you, Willie, but Floppy doesn’t move fast enough. I have to get going so I won’t lose the trail.”

  Billy looked at all the concerned faces and kept his next thought to himself. I hope I can find where they have taken Claire.

  “I want you and Floppy to stay with Aunt Ute and continue on to Denver without me. I’ll meet you there,” Billy instructed.

  Willie got to his feet “But how will you find us?”

  Billy turned to Fredrick “You go to Mr. Holladay’s office once you reach Denver, and explain what happened.” He just hoped the hell that Ben wouldn’t kill him when he got back. “He can arrange a place for Aunt Ute, Willie, and Floppy to stay until I get there.”

  Willie looked down. “He’ll put me in some orphanage,” he said dully.

  Aunt Ute touched Willie on the shoulder, and he looked up at her. “Nein, ” she said. “I will not leave you until Mr. Billy arrives. You will be safe.”

  Willie glanced back at Billy with a crestfallen look before staring down at his boots again.

  Billy grabbed his hat “I will find you; you’ll not be alone anymore. Do you understand? You’re never going to be alone again,” Billy said over his shoulder as he headed for the door. Once there he stopped and looked at the child.