Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2) (2 page)

BOOK: Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2)
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Chapter 3

"… who thought that she found the love of her life. When I think back to the naïve woman who sat across from you at Henley's, three men to pick from and she picked the worst of the bunch. You know those weeks on the paddle steamer were the happiest of my life. Every day I woke up with excitement thinking that it was one day less until I met Walter. God, if I'd known what was ahead of me, I would have thrown myself overboard and taken a chance with the currents-"

"Alice, you don't have to say anything more-"

"You ever been hit Elizabet?"

Elizabet stiffened at the words, "No—never."

"It's funny that, being hit, I mean. First time it happened, I thought I imagined it. Before I had a chance to react, he was all over me with apologies and promises that he didn't mean it. It was an accident, it was the drink,' he said. I don't know who he fooled more, me or him. But I forgave him. You know the craziest thing, I thought it was my fault. Can you imagine that?"

Not knowing whether she was given a question to answer, Elizabet found Alice carry on before she had a chance to answer.

"If I'd been walking down the street and someone else had done it, I wouldn't have stood for it. But—when it's someone who says they love you, you accept it…"

Elizabet turned her head as best as she could and caught a tear run down Alice's face. "Oh Alice, I'm so sorry. You should have told me, or even Martha."

"What good would that do? You were both on the other side of the country. And anyway it's not something I wanted to share with anyone. That's another thing that I find funny. I found myself lying for him. Why in God's name would I do that, covering up for a man that wasn't even a man?"

"I don't know, Alice-"

"Pride, Elizabet, that's what it was. Too proud to say that I'd made a mistake. Worried what you and the others would think. Blabbing my mouth off saying that I'd found the love of my life. How could I turn around and say I'd made the biggest mistake of my life? When I think back to the day when I had a go at you about your pride."

Elizabet shook her head, "Forget it. At least you had the sense to leave him."

"Took my time doing that. Probably my biggest mistake…"

Elizabet sensed her friend's tone change as she left the sentence hanging. "It's OK-"

"He raped me, Elizabet…"

Elizabet found Alice's hand stretch back to take hold of hers.

Squeezing it, Alice added. "After that, well there was no going back…"

Filled with anger and sadness for what her friend had gone through, Elizabet struggled to find a response. Saying the words, I'm sorry, just didn't seem enough, but she said them anyway. "Alice, I'm so sorry."

Alice cleared her throat and sniffed her nose. "That's the gist of it. I could go into greater detail of his drinking, how it changed him, how many times he slapped me, but what's the point? After that, I packed away the little dignity I had left and ran. I tried to find accommodation with the little money I'd left-"

"Didn't you report it?"

"To who, who would believe me, Elizabet? No lawman wants to get mixed up in what goes on between a man and a woman. You know whose side of the story they'll take. No, I just knew I had to get out of there. The only place I could afford was that rat infested place you found me in. Guess you were the answer to my prayers."

Elizabet felt her hand being squeezed hard once more before Alice continued.

"I'd prayed to God for a little help and well…"

Feeling a tear run down her own face, Elizabet rubbed Alice's hand. "I'm glad I was there for you. What are friends for?" Hearing Alice break out in a chuckle, Elizabet wondered what was going on. "What's so funny?"

"You," Alice replied.

"What about me?"

"You, being a good friend I mean. Look around. You save me and then you put me in harm's way again."

Elizabet looked around the room and ridiculous situation they were in and smiled. "Suppose so."

"I don't know about you, but that's taken my mind off my bladder." Alice said.

"Who knew a few tears could do that," Elizabet added. "So any idea how we get out of this?" Feeling her chair move a little, she turned her head back over her shoulder and found Alice wriggling in her seat. Wondering what she was doing she found the woman call out in delight.

"Yes! Guess that chair wasn't up to the job."

"What are you talking about?" Elizabet asked. Hearing nothing but her friend exerting herself, she heard a crack behind her and asked. "What did you do?"

"Let's just say, the guy who made this thing wasn't a good carpenter," Alice said and held out one free hand with a piece of wood in it. "That fall popped out one of the spindles at the back."

"Oh, Alice, you're amazing," Elizabet said. Watching Alice as best she could with her limited view, Elizabet rested her head on the floor and looked behind her. Watching Alice bend at the waist, she heard her work on the restraints at her ankles. Throwing the rope to the far corner of the room and turning with a wide smile on her face, Alice pulled Elizabet and their chairs upright once more.

"Good job it's me lifting you and not the other way around," Alice smiled.

Watching Alice work on the ropes at her ankles, Elizabet lifted her head on hearing a noise. Looking to the door, there was no mistaking the shuffle of boots on the other side. Looking to Alice, she found the woman had heard the noise as well. Picking up the broken spindle, Alice put her finger to her lips and then ran to her chair. Looking toward the door and watching it open, Elizabet held her breath and wondered what would happen next. 

Chapter 4

Not taking her eyes off the door, Elizabet felt her heart pulse wildly in her chest. Wondering who would enter, she was surprised to see only one of their captors come in.

Looking at the scene in front of him the younger man said. "Well, well, well. I thought Robert told you to stay put. How the hell did you drag her all the way over here?"

Not knowing what Alice had planned, Elizabet thought it best to keep him distracted. Still tied to her chair, she knew the only thing she could do was to keep him in conversation. "Please, whatever Charles has promised you, I'll double it." Taking up a position in front of her, she watched him smile and repeat it.

"You'll double it."

"Yes, whatever it was. Just let us go."

"Nice idea and all, but we've other plans for the two of you if this doesn't work out."

"Like what?"

Bending down, he grinned at her. "Listen, that's nothing you need worry your pretty head over. If this Charles of yours doesn't meet our new arrangement, well, there's plenty of brothels we could sell you to-"

"But that's slavery-"

"Call it what you want, but it's all money. Going from past experience—a couple of girls like yourselves will earn a tidy sum…"

Elizabet watched him stare at her chest and was brought back to her moment on the train with Frank. "You're sick, you know that?"

Ignoring her statement he pulled the bandanna back over her mouth and rubbed her cheek. "Might even take first go on you myself?"

Pulling away from his touch, Elizabet heard Alice moan softly.

"Looks like your friends coming to."

Still tied to the chair, Elizabet hoped that Alice knew what she was doing. Unable to help her, everything depended on what Alice did next. If she got taken or overpowered, any chance of escape would be over for them. She needn't have worried. Turning to see what happened next, Elizabet watched Alice spring from her seat just as her captor realized she was untied. Bringing the wooden spindle out from under her dress, she lashed out and stabbed wildly at his face. Taken by surprise and caught off balance, Elizabet watched as he tried to defend his face with one hand and reach for his gun with the other. He never got a chance. Attacking him like a wild animal, Alice never gave him a chance to recover. Lashing out with the spindle she slapped the gun from his hand and then picked it off the floor. Pointing it at him, Elizabet jumped as the gun went off. Her ears ringing with the first gun shot, she watched dumbfounded as Alice repeatedly pulled the trigger and the man fell dead to the floor. Emptying the gun of all its bullets, Elizabet watched her continue to pull the trigger. Now without the noise of the gun shots, the only noise in the room was Alice's ramblings and the hammer of the gun clicking repeatedly.

"Think it's funny raping a woman?"-Click-"Who's laughing now?"-Click-"No man will ever rape me again."-Click-"You piece of scum-"

"Alice!"

Elizabet watched as Alice turned to her. Still lost in a moment of madness, her friend looked at her as if she was a complete stranger.

"Alice. He's dead, Alice. You can put the gun down. It's me, Elizabet."

Alice looked at the gun as if seeing it for the first time and then dropped it. Coming over to untie her, Elizabet watched as Alice's hands shook. "I couldn't go through that ever again. The way he joked about it—it-"

"I know," Elizabet said and nodded her head. Helping her untie the last restraint and once free, she threw her arms around her. “Thank you, Alice-"

"I just couldn't see that happening to-"

Elizabet looked to the door and took her hand. "I know, I know. But we better get out of here. Those gunshots might be normal around this part of town, but someone's bound to come snooping around. I don't know about you, but I want to be far from here by then. I bet Tom and John are pulling this city apart looking for us." Hearing the names, Elizabet saw a weak smile come on Alice's face. "And don't forget, Missy, you still have to give me away at my wedding."

"Yeah, your wedding. That's right…"

Checking the hallway outside, Elizabet was relieved to find it empty. Not knowing how long it would stay that way, she ran back inside and headed to where the gun was. Picking it up and avoiding the corpse beside it, she met Alice at the door and took her hand. "I know it's unloaded, but it might come in handy in case we meet someone." Giving her hand a squeeze, Alice took the lead, and the pair took off running.

 

*****

 

Running through what she presumed was China town, Elizabet felt Alice tug on her arm.

"Stop."

Slowing her run, she turned and watched her friend double over at the waist. Holding her hand out as if waiting to make a statement, Alice fought to get her breath back.

"Are you alright?"

"Listen—running—through the city—might be a walk—in the park for you—but-"

"We're not far, if you like we can stop a passing carriage and-"

"No—I've already had my fill of crazy people for one day. The last thing I'm doing is getting into a carriage with a complete stranger. Just give me a minute."

Seeing a nearby shop with sacks of vegetables stacked outside its door, Elizabet led her friend there and sat her down on them. Looking around she said, "Take your time and get your breath back. I doubt anyone will try anything in the open-"

"You have heard of crimping, haven't you?"

"What's that?"

"You know taken and put on a ship against your will."

Elizabet looked around to see if they were being watched. "You think anyone would do that?"

"This isn't the best neighborhood we're in. And the way our day's been going, who knows," Alice replied and patted a spot near her. "Sit down for a moment."

Elizabet sat down and turned to her. "What's up?"

"We haven't talked about my moment back there."

"What's to talk about, you saw an opportunity and you took it. Heck if you didn't, we'd still be tied up or maybe even worse."

"I'd rather you didn't say anything," Alice said. "You still got the gun?"

Elizabet felt the heavyweight and nodded.

"We've got to get rid of it. Whatever way you paint it, I murdered that man back there. Having that gun on us isn't doing us any favors."

Elizabet nodded her head. Running around with a murder weapon probably wasn't the cleverest thing she'd ever done.  Seeing a nearby storm drain, she walked to it and bent over pretending to fix her shoe. Checking that no one was looking and getting a thumbs up from Alice, she flicked it inside. Going back to her shoe, she stayed there working at it for another few moments before re-joining Alice.

"Well?"

"Nice work, didn't know you had it in you."

Looking around her nervously, Elizabet said, "We better get moving. I feel worse now not having it for protection."

"Wouldn't have mattered much anyway. It was empty."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

"One more thing—and you've got to promise me something."

Impatient to get going Elizabet asked. "What, what is it?"

"Neither of us speaks a word of what happened back there. If anyone asks, we were tied up somewhere around here and broke free before our captors came back. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Elizabet said, pulling her friend to her feet. "Now lets the hell out of here."

BOOK: Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2)
4.21Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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