Promise me tomorrow (8 page)

***

Chase thought she might cry, but it didn't happen. She was quiet while they found their seats and stowed their bags, but she did not cry. Even after the train pulled away and she waved to the children from the window, her eyes were dry. She had not exhibited signs of being the weepy type, but for some reason Chase still expected tears.

Even having seen otherwise, he still asked, "Are you all right?"

"Yes." Her voice was soft, her eyes focused straight ahead. "It helped that the children were so pleased and Lizzy only bit her lip once. It also helped to see that glow in Jessie Davidson's eyes. "

"They did look happy."

It was the last thing either of them said for several minutes. The past days were starting to blur. So much had been seen and talked about; it was almost too much to take in. Rusty decided that she didn't want to try. She turned to her seat companion and found him sitting quietly.

"Would you think me rude if I read for a time?"

"Not at all," he told her kindly. "I have some papers I should go over. Is your book in your bag?"

"Yes."

He fetched her handbag, which she decided to keep at her feet, as well as his own portfolio of papers, and both settled down to read. Almost 45 minutes passed in silence, whereupon Rusty's stomach growled. She started a little and looked at Chase. The man was smiling.

"I think I forgot to eat breakfast," she told him.

Chase only nodded. He had noticed how centered she was on the children at the breakfast table, leaving her own plate untouched, but remembered his resolve not to treat her as a child.

"Didn't Jessie send some food?"

"Oh, yes," Rusty brightened. "I'd forgotten." Digging in her bag, she found the parcel of food and offered some to Chase. He declined. In the process Rusty noticed that he had put the papers away.

"All done with your work?" she asked before biting into a roll that Jessie had stuffed with beef and cheese.

"Yes. It's nothing too urgent."

"I've never asked you, Mr. McCandles—what type of business are you involved in?"

"Mostly land investments and developments."

"Anything in particular?"

"It's a wide range," he told her, wondering if she knew he was a benefactor to the orphanage. "I own property in several cities in the state, but most are in Colorado Springs."

"And do you always carry papers with you?"

"No, but I have a meeting coming up and thought I might need to go over them."

"Whom will you meet with?"

"A rancher in Pueblo."

"Pueblo?" Rusty's face showed her distress. "Why, we were almost there. You could have gone right to your meeting."

Chase felt himself blink. In his opinion she was not safe on her own, but he couldn't tell her that. Indeed, when they arrived at Springs he would have to send her on alone—something that made him very uncomfortable.

"I hope my staying until today didn't completely mess things up."

"Not at all." He stared down at her, finding her profile suddenly very distracting.

"Are you certain you don't care for something to eat? Jessie sent plenty."

"I'm certain. Thank you."

"I thought you were staring at my sandwich," she told him with a small shrug and smile.

Chase was again reminded of her innocence. "No, I ate plenty of breakfast. Jessie's a good cook," Chase said to take his mind off leaving her on her own in Colorado Springs. Still, it bothered him.

"Yes she is," Rusty agreed with him. But Chase barely heard her.

"You're taking the train to Boulder when we arrive, is that right?" He couldn't let the matter drop.

"Yes. I'll be home tonight."

"Your parents' home?"

"Yes." Her smile was soft. "I haven't seen them since Christmas."

"Do you have siblings?"

"Three. Two sisters and a brother."

"Let me guess—you're the baby?"

Rusty smiled. "No, I'm the oldest. How about you?

"I'm an only child."

Rusty turned to him. "Are your parents still living?"

"My mother is. She used to live in Springs, but she moved to Texas about six years ago when she remarried."

Although listening, Rusty put the lunch away, her movements all very proper and neat. They reminded Chase of her way with the children. The thought made him smile. Rusty chose that moment to look back at him.

For the space of several heartbeats, Rusty was taken with his face. He was smiling at her, his eyes kind, and Rusty couldn't look away. Chase looked right back but didn't comment. Still she studied him.

"Did I miss something?" he asked, his voice kind so she didn't feel ashamed to be gawking at him.

"I was just thinking about your father."

"My father?" His brows rose. Rusty nodded. "I think he must have been very nice-looking," she told him, her eyes young and honest.

It took a moment for Chase to understand that he'd been complimented, but such things were so foreign to him that he had no idea what to say.

"Would it bother you if I went back to my book now, Mr. McCandles?" she asked softly.

"Not at all." Chase's voice was equally soft.

Rusty picked it up and immediately turned to the correct page. Chase watched her for a minute and then shifted his attention to the others in the train car. His mind, however, was still wholly centered on the woman beside him.

9

Makepeace

The train pulled into the station at Makepeace just a short time later. Since Chase and Rusty had been riding for little more than an hour, neither one felt compelled to stand and stretch their legs. As the train moved to get back underway, their thoughts went to the homes to which each was heading. However, they didn't reckon with mechanical trouble. Seconds after a loud metallic pop ricocheted off the depot, the train shuddered to a stop. The conductor came through announcing that there would be a delay and asking all passengers to disembark and take their carry-on baggage with them. Chase and Rusty naturally complied, gathering their bags and heading for the door. It was a small station and platform, and they were joined by two dozen other passengers, a few with children, others alone, and all carrying their baggage.

"Shouldn't be long folks, but feel free to mill around town," the conductor stuck his head off the train and called to them. "We'll blow the whistle several times to let you know."

"Shall we walk into town?" Chase asked, after having taken Rusty's bag from her hand.

"I think I'd like that. I've never been to Makepeace."

The two started off. Rusty tipped her head back slightly, loving the feel of the sun on her face and thinking she should probably find her poke bonnet. Before she could decide if she should fish it out of her satchel, they were at the edge of the boardwalk in town and often in the shade.

"It's a little like Kurth, isn't it?" commented Rusty.

"I think you're right. The layout is similar. I always find you can learn a lot about a town by looking at its general store. Shall we give it a try?" Chase had gestured with his head, and Rusty looked up to see
Gamers Emporium.
It was just two doors down, so Rusty nodded and they continued, passing a coffin-maker and a land office before stopping at
Ganzers
front door.

Chase held the door, and as soon as Rusty stepped in, she smiled. Mr. McCandles had been right. Not only was it a unique store with everything very orderly and clean, it was huge.

"Shall we split up, Mr. McCandles, and compare notes in, say, 30 minutes?"

Chase made no attempt to stop his smile. He should have known she would find this an adventure to be explored and conquered.

"I think that's a fine idea. Thirty minutes, back here by the door?"

Rusty nodded, turned, and began to move away, but her companions voice stopped her.

"Miss Taggart?"

Rusty turned.

"If you hear the train whistle and can't find me, go ahead to the station, but don't board without me."

"What if we miss the train?"

"We'll try to catch a later one."

Already knowing what the answer must be, she said, "You still have the schedule, don't you?"

Chase tapped his coat pocket, and Rusty smiled hugely. She turned and started toward the back of the store with the intention of working her way out to the front. She didn't get far. The first things she discovered were the toys. They captured her attention at once. A clown on a stick, a box that played music when the crank was turned, skates with wheels and also with blades for ice, books, stuffed animals, little toy trucks and trains. She handled nearly every toy, imagining the fun the children would have at the orphanage, and in the process, completely forgot about the time. Chase found her more than 30 minutes later, working the funny clown on the stick, her face intent, and to his eyes, very young.

"That looks fun," he said kindly.

"Yes. I think the children would love it," Rusty replied, replacing it with reluctance, "but I would need at least 20 of them to make it fair, so I don't think I'll even try." She finally looked at him. "I take it there wasn't much to interest you.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you're early."

"It's been almost 40 minutes." His voice was very soft and gentle, but Rusty blinked at him.

"Has it really?"

Chase nodded, just barely holding his smile. "Did you even get out of this aisle?"

"No." Her look was so comical that her companion chuckled.

"I hate to interrupt, but maybe we should check on the train situation."

"Of course," Rusty agreed, but inside she squirmed with embarrassment.
He's a busy man, Rusty. He doesn't have all day to waste getting you home.
That the whole reason they were stranded in Makepeace was not her fault did not occur to her until she silently accompanied Mr. McCandles from the store and back to the train station. Nothing had changed; their train was still having trouble. Still, the thought of wasting Mr. McCandles' time made Rusty feel even worse. Chase chose that moment to look down at her and mistook her rather strained expression for fatigue. She didn't seem the type to tire easily, but leaving the children had been emotional for her, he was sure, and could easily explain why she might be tired.

"I have an idea. Why don't we take our bags to the hotel, ask the desk manager to hold them, and have a little lunch?" Chase suggested.

It was on the tip of Rusty's tongue to say she'd already eaten, but she remembered at the last moment that her companion had not.

"That sounds fine," she agreed warmly and gladly fell into step as Chase started off. Just 15 minutes later they were comfortably seated at a table, hot coffee in thick mugs before them. Menus had been handed to them, and Rusty decided she could do with a piece of berry pie. She told Mr. McCandles when he asked her.

"No lunch?" her companion confirmed.

"No. I ate one of the sandwiches Jessie sent."

"That's right."

"What will you have?"

"The beef sounds good."

And indeed it was. Because it was still a little early, the hotel dining room was not yet busy, so their order came quickly. They talked about a variety of things, Chase asking Rusty many questions about the orphanage. She loved her work, so it was easy to share with him. The meal passed swiftly.

Chase declined dessert himself. After he'd finished his last cup of coffee, he paid for the food and said to Rusty, "I think I'll walk back and check on the train. Do you want to wait here?"

"I don't mind waiting here, but if they're ready for us, you'll have to come all the way back for me."

Chase shook his head. "They haven't blown the whistle at all, and even if they are ready, the walk will do me good. Would you like your bag so you can read?"

"Yes, please."

He walked to the hotel desk to get it for her, and Rusty thought, not for the first time, that he really was remarkably kind. Chase delivered her bag back to her just minutes later and took his leave. Rusty retrieved
The Red Badge of Courage
from her bag, and was immersed just paragraphs later.

***

"I'm not sure I can promise you we'll move things out today at all," the man told Chase, whose brows rose in surprise.

"What happened?"

"One of the drive arms broke. Sheared clean through. Still trying to track down the smith. He's out on one of the ranches."

"But what of other trains?"

"What other trains?"

"The ones on the schedule."

"We're the schedule, twice a day, if we don't break down." The man shrugged.

Chase thanked the man cordially, but swiftly left the platform and went directly back to the hotel desk. He booked two rooms for the night before joining Rusty.

"What did they say?" she asked as soon as he took the chair across from her.

"That we might not get out today."

"Oh, Mr. McCandles, I'm so sorry. What does this do to your business plans?"

Chase shook his head. "It's not me I'm worried about. You had hoped to be with your family tonight."

Rusty shrugged. "It's not that urgent. As soon as the children were placed, my time off started. My family wasn't sure what day I would arrive. It's really no trouble."

But neither one was convinced. Chase thought Rusty wanted to get home more than she was letting on, and Rusty thought Mr. McCandles was only being polite concerning the urgency of his business dealings.

"I've booked two rooms for us here at the hotel," Chase continued.

"But what if the train is able to leave?"

"We'll still hear the whistle, but the conductor did not sound hopeful. This way, we won't be stuck sitting up all night if they can't get the repairs done." Chase explained what the conductor had said and then asked Rusty if she wanted to go to her room for a time.

"I guess maybe I will," Rusty replied, thankful that at the orphanage, where things could change with each movement of the clock, she was learning to take what came. She stood, and Chase picked up her bag. With the manners she so enjoyed from him, he escorted her up the stairs, opened the door for her, set her bag down, checked the lock on the window, looked into the closet, and handed her the key.