The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) (25 page)

“And who might this be?” Levi asked as he dropped
down to see the kid.

“Hello,” the boy said. “I’m Albert. Are you going
to be my brother too?” he asked innocently.

Levi stood up, his forehead crinkling, and a brow
raised.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you on the ride
home,” Will assured him. “But, Albert here is coming to Redbourne Ranch until
an appropriate family can be found.” Will placed a hand on the kid’s shoulder
and squeezed him close.

“I’ve purchased a wagon from the smithy,” Levi
said. “While Cade insists she can ride, I thought it more appropriate
considering her condition. It should be delivered any time now.”

“Condition?” Cade smacked him on the arm. “You
talk as if I have some disease. Women have babies every day, my love.”

“Not mine,” Levi said with a laugh as he placed a
light kiss on his wife’s lips. He turned to Will. “Have you had lunch?”

“As a matter of fact, we haven’t.”

“Would you care to join us?”

Will looked down at Albert, who nodded with
exaggeration.

“Sounds perfect.”

There was a small café at the edge of the station
that boasted,
‘Cities finest fried chicken.’
They walked inside and were
seated immediately at a small table in the corner. Will sat down in the chair next
to the window, admiring the vantage point of being able to see the train’s
platform from his seat. The savory scent from the man’s supper at the next
table wafted beneath Will’s nose and his mouth started to water, followed by
another low grumbling in his stomach.

Food.
He hadn’t realized just how hungry he was.

Will was grateful when their meals arrived a few
minutes later. Albert had just finished telling Levi and Cade about finding
‘the drooly lady’ in the stagecoach sleeping. The kid had no problem telling it
like he saw it, but he wasn’t sure he wanted his brother to know that Albert
saw that there was something unexplainable between him and Elizabeth.

The train whistle blew and Will looked up to see a
small throng of passengers gather together, waiting in line to board. He
scanned the dock for Elizabeth. It didn’t take long to find her brilliant fiery
curls amongst the growing crowd. He’d become fairly acquainted with the light
tugging on his heart, but this time, he found it difficult to subdue.

Then, an uneasy feeling settled over him and a
familiar nagging in his gut told him to be alert.

It can’t be regret
, he reasoned with
himself.
I’ve known her all of thirty-six hours.

They’d seen more than their fair share of
adventure today, and he couldn’t imagine there was more to be had. The bad guys
had been caught, the bankroll delivered, train tickets exchanged. He turned
back to the conversation and food at the table, pushing the nagging in his gut
away.

“So, then, the marshal kissed the back of Miss
Elizabeth’s hand and you should have seen the look on Will’s face.” Albert’s
eyes narrowed into slits, his eyebrows scrunched together and his lips pursed
into a pucker. He raised his hands and balled them into fists, then shot them
open again, repeating the gesture.

Levi and Cadence laughed. Albert joined them.

“Why didn’t you tell us about Elizabeth before,
Will?” Cadence asked with a growing smile on her face.

Will narrowed his eyes at the little traitor.
“Because there is nothing to tell. Despite what Albert says.”

“Miss Gailey said that Elizabeth even knows how
to shoot. Just the other day, they were under attack from a group of outlaws
trying to get the treasure they had on board and she had to kill one of them
before he killed her.”

“Will, is that true?” Levi asked, his amusement
turning to concern.

“Albert, how…?”

Will closed his eyes briefly and shook his head.
“We ran into a little trouble on the way into Kansas City and Elizabeth
was…quite brave. Almost got herself killed in the process, but yes, she shot
one of them.”

“That sounds like admiration in your voice,”
Cadence said.

“He’s a Redbourne,” Levi said. “We like strong
women.”

“I didn’t say I like her.”

“You didn’t have to, little brother. It’s
evident.”

“Well, it’s no use. She’s headed to Silver Falls
to marry a preacher as a mail-order-bride. Who does that?” He glanced out the
window again, just in time to see Elizabeth step up onto the train. He bit into
the warm and savory breast of fried chicken, grateful for the hot meal, then
took a sip of his lemonade while Levi regaled him with tales of life on the
rails. Albert’s eyes were glued to Will’s brother, who reveled in his little
audience.

It wouldn’t be long before Levi and Cadence would
have to find a place to settle. Will imagined it would be difficult to travel
with children in their lines of work. His sister-in-law was a Pinkerton—of the
spy sort—but wondered how that would work with a baby on the way. It wasn’t
like they needed the paycheck. Between Levi’s job and his inheritance, Cadence
could do whatever she chose to do and their little family would be more than
comfortable.

The man dressed in a perfectly tailored,
pin-striped suit, sitting at the table near the door, stood up, tossed a few
coins on the table, and placed a dark fedora on top of his head. Will ignored
the nagging feeling that tugged again at his gut. Although, there was something
familiar about the bloke. Will moved to one side, hoping to catch a glimpse at
the man’s face to no avail.

Stop being so suspicious
, he rationalized, chastising
himself for his idiocy and took another sip of his drink.

He watched as the man from the café strode out
onto the train’s platform and without any luggage, stood in the line to board
the same train as Elizabeth. Will set down his drink, not taking his eyes off
the man, a pit forming around his still nagging gut. Then, the man turned just
enough that Will could see him clearly.

Asa Henchley, one of Sterling Archer’s men.

He stood suddenly and pulled some money from his
pocket, handing it to his brother. “I can’t explain right now, but I have to
go,” he said as he pushed himself away from the table. He took a large gulp of
his lemonade. “Will you take Albert with you to Redbourne Ranch? Mama is
expecting him. Also, Indy is tied up at the hitching post just outside.” He
spoke so fast he wasn’t sure they’d understood a word he was saying.

“Where are you going?” Levi asked as he stood up
from the table.

“He’s going after Elizabeth,” Albert said
knowingly, excitement written on his little features. “Her train is supposed to
leave at one-thirty o’clock.”

Will looked at Cadence, pleading.

“Albert, Independence, Redbourne Ranch. Got it,”
Cadence said. “Go!”

Will nodded, then turned to the boy.

“Listen, kiddo…”

“Go, Will! You’ll miss it.”

“Levi and Cadence are going to take you to Stone
Creek.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Do not run away, Albert. Do you understand me?”

“Go! Argggg.”

“Albert,” he said again, a warning in his voice.

“All right.”

“Let me see your hands.”

Albert raised his hands in the air. “I promise.”

Will nodded, brushed his hand across the boy’s
head, and turned to Levi.

The man had disappeared onto the train car.

He had to go.

Now.

He still needed to purchase a ticket and make the
train before it departed.

“I’m sorry,” he said, pulling his now standing
brother into his embrace. “And, thank you.” He bent down and kissed Cadence on
the cheek. “I’ll see you all very soon.”

“Good luck,” she said. “She’s quite beautiful.”

How did they always know? He didn’t have time to
get the details, he just smiled and headed for the door before he remembered
one last important detail. He skipped back to their table.

“Oh, and…uh, Caspar, Albert’s dog is waiting just
outside the door.” He patted Levi on the shoulder and headed out before his
brother could protest.

Will only stopped long enough to pull a small
travelling sack from his saddle bags and then darted to the train station’s
ticket office as quickly as his feet would carry him.

“I’m afraid the train is full,” the pinched-faced
man with the balding head told him from behind the counter.

“It can’t be that full,” he said sardonically.
“People are still being loaded.

“I’m sorry, the only place left would be in the luxury
sleeping car?”

“I’ll take that one.”

“You don’t understand, sir. It is quite expensive
and—”

Will put up a finger to stop the man from
speaking, pulled the cash from his bag, and laid it on the counter in a heap.
“Do you think this might cover it?” he asked, still breathing heavier than
normal.

The man pulled back, surprise lighting his face
beneath his white and red visor.

“What?” Will said, realizing he was acting like
an arrogant blowhard. “Haven’t you ever seen a rich man in denim before?”

“No, sir. I mean, yes, sir. I mean—”

“Just get me the ticket. Please,” he added in his
most kind voice, mostly to remind himself he wasn’t a total heathen.

He needed to watch his spending. He’d just spent
his wages on one sleeping car. If he wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t be able to
make his share of the ship. He couldn’t think about that now. He’d find a way
to make it work. For now, Elizabeth’s safety was all that mattered.

The train whistle blew two long horns.

The ticket clerk passed Will the thickly printed
paper. “You’d better hurry. It’s already moving.”

Will looked out the window, and sure enough, the
train had started to move.

“Thank you,” he called back to the man as he ran
out the door onto the platform. There were still several train cars before it
would leave the station completely. He draped his bag over his shoulder, his
ticket between his teeth, and he prayed—harder than he had in a while—as he
sprinted, nearly tripping over a sleeping man whose legs protruded from one of
the benches.

He recovered just as the last car reached the
edge of the platform.

Jump.

Holding his breath, Will caught onto one of the
ladder rungs on the back of the caboose. He pulled himself over the railing and
tumbled onto the metal surface at the ground level of the train. With a loud
exhale and a hand over his heart, he lay back against the flooring and laughed.
He’d made it. His satisfaction lasted only a moment, when he remembered why
he’d made the jump in the first place.

He needed to get to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth felt like she was nearly sitting on the
woman’s lap next to her. Thank heaven it wasn’t a man sitting there.

It might have been nice if it had been Will.

She bit her lip.

Elizabeth Archer, watch your thoughts.

She’d been one of the lucky ones and had gotten a
seat next to the window. She stared outside the glass, hoping to catch one last
glimpse of the man who’d instigated her new venture. While several men and
women hustled about on the platform and around the station, there was no
Redbourne to be seen. Even as the train left the station completely, she still
scanned.

Her heart dropped. She yanked the curtain closed
and stared straight ahead. He was gone. And any hope of getting to know the
real him, and not just the idea of the boxer she’d admired, vanished with the
station. She lifted a hand and awkwardly swiped at the lone tear she didn’t
care to admit had fallen down her cheek.

It had been a long day and the trip to Denver
promised to be a long one. Elizabeth pulled a book from her satchel. She’d
already read it several times, but it was one of her favorites. The heroine was
strong and smart and the hero demonstrated his undying love for her over and
over throughout the pages, not to mention the adventures they took together.
She seemed to get caught up in the story every time she read it. It would be
nice to lose herself again in that world where dreams came true and
happily-ever-afters were real.

A baby started to cry. The man in the seat across
from her sneezed. The child the row behind her kept popping his chewing gum.
What she wouldn’t give to have a room of her own in the sleeping car right now,
but those days were long since passed. She slammed the book shut. The hero was
about to save the heroine from a fate worse than death, but she found that she
could not concentrate enough to enjoy the passage.

Opal and Gertrude had been seated together a few
rows behind her, but their voices carried enough that Elizabeth could hear them
busy in conversation about the letters they had received from their soon-to-be
husbands. She thought now might be a good idea to learn a little about the
preacher she was travelling west to marry. She patted her satchel, where the
pastor’s letter had been tucked away, then stood up from her seat and made her
way to the back of the car. Maybe out on the back platform, she would be able
to hear herself think.

“Excuse me,” she said to a gentleman who had his
legs sprawled across the aisle, his black fedora resting over his face.

He pulled his feet in enough for her to pass, but
made no other gesture to accommodate. He certainly was no gentleman.

Elizabeth squeezed between his knees and the
bench across from him. When she finally reached the compartment door, she swung
it open and was greeted by a wash of fresh air swirling around her hair and
face, and found it a refreshing change from the otherwise stuffed
accommodations.

She stepped out onto the miniature platform,
resting her back against the newly closed door. After a few deep breaths, she retrieved
the pastor’s letter from her pocket. It had been intended for Winnie and was
supposed to contain details about the town and about the man.

Elizabeth felt silly, like she was intruding on
someone else’s private conversation, but she had to know something about him.
She was the one he was going to marry after all.

The sky shone with its brilliant blue hues,
scattered with several shades of feather-like clouds. Elizabeth moved to the
balcony where she could get a better view of the countryside and thought how
grateful she was that she didn’t have to make the entire trip by stagecoach.

She leaned against the railing and unfolded the
letter.

Dear Winifred,

I thought you might want to learn a little bit
about your new home. Silver Falls is a beautiful place with a sense of
community that would rival any other. I purchased a parcel of land right
outside of town with access to the stream, a beautiful view of our
mountainside, and green as far as the eye can see. I have already begun
construction on our home. All that is missing is a woman’s touch. Your touch.

I am a man of average height and build, but I am
a loyal friend and love God. I enjoy reading, and…

A short burst of wind came unexpectedly and blew
the letter from Elizabeth’s hands.

“No!” she screamed against the breeze as it
floated just out of reach. “No,” her voice descended to a pleading whisper.
“Please, God.”

A large hand reached out from the platform on the
car opposite her and snatched her letter from the air.

Elizabeth closed her eyes in gratitude.

“Thank you,” she started, opening her eyes to see
who had saved the only connection she had with her new life.

Will?

She blinked a few more times. It was him.

“Mr. Redbourne?” she said aloud. “What…? What are
you
doing here?” She hated that she had to yell to be heard.

He stepped down onto the small staircase of his
train car, reached over to the railing on hers.

Elizabeth’s heart raced.

Will made the jump between the two with ease.

Once he was safe on the platform with her and no
longer in danger of falling, she hit him on the chest.

“Worried?” he asked.

She caught her breath. “Of course, not.”

He raised a brow as if calling her bluff.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were
headed back with Albert to Stone Creek. Wait,” she asked, looking around him
into the other car. “Where’s Albert? And Caspar?”

“They are just fine and on their way to Stone
Creek.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he
raised a finger and placed it on her lips. Her heart beat faster and a wave of
gooseflesh travelled down her arms at his touch.

“I ran into my brother and his wife at the
station,” he said, dropping his hand to his side. “They will make sure that
Albert and your pup are safe.”

She unwittingly brought her fingers to her mouth
at the loss of his touch. “I…um…”

Spit it out, Elizabeth.

“You…uh, still haven’t answered my question, Mr.
Redbourne.”

“Why I am here.”

“Yes.”

“Well, I thought you might want this.” He held up
the letter from the preacher.

“Oh,” she clasped the button just below the neck
on her dress, “thank you,” she said, reaching for it.

He pulled it just out of her grasp.

“A love letter?”

“Just a…” What was she supposed to say? In a way,
it was a love letter of sorts, but it didn’t belong to her.

The truth.

“It’s a letter. But it does not profess love. The
preacher is expecting Winnie and he’s going to get me instead.”

“He’s getting the better end of the deal, if you
ask me,” Will said playfully. He handed her the paper, his fingertips grazing
her hand.

Why did his touch have such an effect on her?

“Thank you, but I’m not so sure.” The thought
occurred to her that she probably should have sent a telegram letting the good
preacher know that things had changed and she would be taking Winnie’s place,
but it was too late now. Maybe she could wire him from Denver. At least he
would have a little bit of time to prepare himself.

Elizabeth refolded the note and placed it into
the pocket of her skirt. She would have plenty of time to read it later.

“Mr. Redbourne, what are you really doing here?”

“I’m taking you to Silver Falls,” he said as if
that ended the matter. “And the name is Will.”

“I thought you had a precious boat to buy. Won’t
you miss out on the
opportunity of a lifetime
? I think that’s how you
put it.”

“There will be other
boats
,” he emphasized
the word, copying her, “but I would not be able to forgive myself if something
happened to you…or Opal or Gertrude, of course.”

“Of course.” She eyed him warily. Then, she
remembered the conversation that she’d overheard between him and Mr. Danvers at
the land office.

There was a big fight coming up in Denver and Mr.
Danvers had been trying to recruit him. He must have changed his mind and was
headed to Denver to fight. That was the only thing that made sense.

The air suddenly deflated from her sails.

This is not one of your fanciful romance novels,
Elizabeth.

“Well, maybe we should go back to our seats,” she
said, reaching for the door.

Will held it open as she traipsed inside.

“I don’t need an escort,” she quipped at him.

“My seat is also this direction,” he informed
her, unaffected by her newly cool demeanor.

This time, the man with the long legs was not taking
up half the aisle, in fact, he wasn’t in his seat at all. When she arrived at
her bench, she groaned inwardly at the woman, two rambunctious children, and an
infant who must have exchanged places with the woman who had sat there
previously. She turned back to look at Will with a smile.

“Well, this is my seat.” She moved to sit down.

“Are you sure you would not rather join me at the
front of the train?”

“The front?” she asked longingly. The luxury cars
were in the front. She cleared her throat. “I think I will be just fine back
here, but thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Redbourne.”

“It’s your choice ma’am, but it is my
understanding that they are serving roast and sautéed potatoes for supper. With
a French crème brûlée,” he added to really taunt her.

Her mouth watered at the thought. But she
couldn’t. She couldn’t risk losing any more of her heart to someone who wanted
to fight for money. She’d seen all too often the pain and suffering that kind
of life had on a person and she did not want to be one of those women who lived
in constant fear that her husband wouldn’t make it back home, or if he did,
that he would be a broken man.

Husband.
The thought was outrageous. She was no more
going to marry Will Redbourne than the man with the long legs who’d slept with
a fedora on his face. Her future was laid out for her now and those plans
included one preacher from Silver Falls.

Elizabeth looked at the little brown-haired girl
with the braided hair. The pretty youngster climbed up onto the bench and stuck
her tongue out at Elizabeth.

“Ahhh,” Elizabeth gasped.
How rude!

Then, the girl pulled an icky face as she started
to jump up and down on the padded cushions of Elizabeth’s seat.

“Sara Marie, that is not nice. Stop jumping on
the seat. Sit down right now and read to your brother,” the frazzled woman
said, bouncing a crying infant in her arms.

Elizabeth turned back to Will. His nearness
startled her and she steadied herself by placing a hand on his chest. “Maybe,”
she cleared her throat, “just for a minute,” she said, glancing up into his
face.

His head bent down toward her—his mouth so close
to hers.

“After you,” he whispered with a hand over hers.
He took a step back and swept the air in front of him, indicating the way.

She had a feeling that Will would be difficult to
avoid on this trip—especially, if he provided some peace and quiet.