Promise me tomorrow (9 page)

"I'm in room 15 if you need me."

"Thank you for everything, Mr. McCandles. Did you," Rusty hesitated, "that is, do I need to go down and pay for the room?"

"I took care of it," he assured her gently.

"I have money for travel expenses," she reminded him.

"I wanted to take care of it."

"You took care of the wagon in Kurth too."

"No, Doug came for us, and we didn't need to rent one."

"Oh, that's right."

"So, we're all set?" he asked, watching her carefully.

Rusty wasn't sure they were, but she let the matter drop with a small nod of her head. Her uncle had anticipated every need and sent a wise amount of cash so she could see to emergencies, but he must not have communicated that to her traveling companion.

Rusty saw Chase to the door and thanked him once again. She shut the portal, made sure it was locked, and leaned against it. A quick survey of the room told her it was neat and clean, but her mind wandered elsewhere as she wondered just how long they would be stranded. It was not her own inconvenience that worried her, but Mr. McCandles'. There could be another way to get to Colorado Springs, one that she hadn't thought of. She sat down on the edge of the bed with plans to do just that.

10

Rusty woke with a start. She hadn't remembered lying back on the bed, but she must have. She had no idea how much time had passed, but something had woken her. The whistle! She'd heard the train whistle.

Glad that she hadn't bothered to unpack her bag, Rusty grabbed it, picked up her key, and let herself out the door. She went straight to number 15 and knocked, but there was no answer. She knocked again, a little harder this time, and even called softly, but Mr. McCandles was not in. Figuring he'd gone on to the train station, Rusty moved down the stairs to the hotel desk.

"Is there a problem, ma'am?" the proprietor wished to know.

"No, sir. I'm one of the train passengers, and they said they would blow the whistle, so I won't be needing my room." Rusty placed the key in front of him on the counter.

"The whistle, ma'am?"

"Yes. I was asleep, so I don't know if it was the first one or the last. I'd better hurry," she added with a smile.

"Jared," the man called to another man at the counter, "did you hear the train whistle?"

"Not me."

The first man looked back at Rusty. "I didn't hear it either, ma' am. "

"Oh."

Rusty looked so perplexed that he offered a suggestion. "Maybe you should leave your bag with me and then check, or better yet, I'll send someone to check for you."

"Do you normally hear the whistle clearly?"

"Yes."

Rusty looked undecided for a moment; she'd been so certain of the sound. "I will leave my bag with you," she said at last, "and my key. If the train is ready I'll rush back and get the satchel."

"All right. I'll have it right here behind the counter for you."

"Has Mr. McCandles turned his key in? He's in number 15. "

The man checked the box. "No, ma'am, no key."

"All right. Thank you."

Much as Rusty wanted to believe the whistle hadn't sounded, she still felt her heart beat a little faster as she left the hotel and started toward the train station. Things looked calm enough. Maybe she had dreamed the sound of the whistle. With a stride as long as she could manage, Rusty covered the distance rather swiftly, only to see long before she reached the platform that things were just as she'd left them. The train was still being worked on, and the platform was nearly empty. Rusty nearly shook her head. She
had
dreamed that whistle. With a wry smile at her own antics, she turned and bumped into someone who must have been standing directly behind her.

"Excuse me," Rusty spoke, stepping back. She tipped her head to see a large, bearded man in front of her, his eyes fierce as they glowered out at her from under bushy brows. Rusty tried a small smile, but the man was so harsh-looking that she decided against speaking again. With subtle movements she scooted around him and back toward the hotel. It was a good reminder. She was a stranger in this town, not a local orphanage worker or the daughter of the school administrator. She had best get back to the hotel and stay there.

***

Chase finished the small errand he'd set out to do and headed back through the hotel lobby toward the stairs. If the train couldn't leave, he'd found a nice spot for him and Rusty to have dinner that night. It was a small place with simple decor and would make a nice change from the hotel.

"Mr. McCandles?" The desk manager's voice stopped him.

Chase turned and approached.

"Did the lady find you?"

"Miss Taggart?"

"Yes, the one in the other room you reserved. She thought she heard the whistle and went to check on the train."

"No, I haven't seen her. You say she's left the hotel and not returned?"

"That's right. Her key's still in the box."

"Thank you. Should she come back and miss me again, please ask her to wait here at the hotel."

"I'll do that, sir."

His heart pounding a bit harder in his chest, Chase went back through the elaborate double doors and onto the street. He made a beeline for the train station, wondering what had made Rusty think she heard the whistle. Makepeace wasn't that big. He was sure the train whistle could be heard all over town.

There was no sign of her at the station. Chase wandered around for a time and then started slowly back to the hotel, watching for her all the way. Makepeace was quiet and peaceful from all indications, but if that was the case, then why was Chase's heartrate increasing with nearly every step? He prayed, working to trust the Lord for Rusty's safety as well as use his head, and all the while hoping that she was already safely back at the hotel.

***

Rusty's intentions were good. She had started to go swiftly back to the hotel, but she hadn't reckoned with the interesting things she would see in town. Partway to the hotel she had got it into her head to see if Makepeace had an orphanage. It would be such fun to visit. She inquired at the reading room, and was disappointed to discover that the town did not have a place for orphans. But she quickly became fascinated by the lovely window displays of the shops. Before she knew it, she had dawdled almost an hour away. When she suddenly realized how long she'd been gone, she felt a twinge of guilt. She knew the hotel was a block over, so rather than go around, she opted to cut between the buildings. There was a small path between a shoe store and the hat shop, so Rusty took it. The hotel would be in sight as soon as she came around the corner. What she didn't plan on was a group of young men gathered at the rear of the building. Rusty spotted them and stopped short, but they had already seen her.

***

Chase gained his room, shut the door, and just stood in the middle of the rug. Rusty hadn't come back, and he certainly wasn't going to find her in here, but he had to gather his thoughts. He didn't know Rusty very well, but it wasn't hard to figure that she must have become sidetracked. She must have gone to check on the train but then decided to do something else. After all, they hadn't made any plans to meet; neither had they promised to stay in their rooms. She must have felt free to have a look around town if she wanted.

Chase asked himself why that was so little comfort. The likelihood of her being harmed was not great, but there was a chance, and for this reason he couldn't rest until he'd checked on her. Should he look around town or simply sit in the lobby and watch for her? Feeling restless and uncertain, he moved to the window. His heart jolted in his chest when he saw a bright red head. It didn't take long for him to identify the owner. Not even bothering to lock his door, Chase made for the hall, raced down the stairs, and gained the outside, his stride just short of a run.

***

"Well, hello," one of the young men greeted Rusty as they all turned in a group.

Knowing that just about anything would encourage them, Rusty nodded with a regal air and began to move past them, keeping her right shoulder close to the building. She didn't get far. One of them stepped in front of her, and she came to a stop.

"Excuse me." Rusty's voice was soft but determined. "I would like to pass."

"What's your hurry?"

Rusty's chin rose in the air. She made a move to step around him but suddenly found someone at her shoulder.

"We don't see hair like this too often." The man in front of her was speaking again.

Rusty felt someone else move in behind her and thought it the better part of valor to put her own back against the building. Rusty's gaze encompassed the group. She saw that there were four of them, all standing too close and staring down at her as if they'd never seen a woman. They were all young and well-dressed, probably Rusty's own age, but Rusty was too frightened to say much. Rusty's cheeks paled, causing her eyes to look huge and vulnerable.

"Please don't stand so close," she whispered. "You're scaring me. "

To her utter surprise they all backed up a few inches.

"I have to get back to the hotel."

"You don't live here?" one asked, moving close again.

Rusty only shook her head no and slid along the wall. Her heart sank with dread when they all moved with her.
They're not going to let me pass, Lord. What shall I say? What should I do?

"Here you are."

All five heads turned at the sound of a deep, male voice.

The men changed positions, and Rusty's eyes locked with those of Chase McCandles. She began to shake from head to toe.

"I lost track of you," Chase said congenially as he approached, looking for all the world as if he were on a Sunday stroll. "Hello, gentlemen," Chase nodded to the group and received nods in return. Even the tallest one had to look up at him. Chases eyes met theirs before he looked back to Rusty.

"I had to run an errand. You must have had one too."

"I was checking on the train," Rusty got out in a small voice.

The men had moved to face Chase, but they were still at Rusty's sides.

Chase nodded. "What did you learn?"

"It's not going yet."

Chase nodded, his eyes more watchful than they appeared. "We'd better head back to the hotel then."

Rusty nodded but couldn't move. She felt frozen in place, her heart beating like that of a snared bird. In truth, Mr. Mc Candles' voice was sterner then she'd ever heard it, and right now he scared her a little too. Rusty's legs were trembling so badly that she didn't know if they would hold her.

"Come to me, Katherine." His voice held a note of command. It was just enough to propel Rusty away from the wall. As she approached, Chase held out his arm, and Rusty put her hand in the crook of his elbow.

"Good day, gentlemen," he spoke over the top of her head as he started back the way he had come.

Rusty couldn't have told anyone when they left the dirt of the alley and stepped onto the boardwalk. She kept her hand firmly tucked into Mr. McCandles' arm and tried not to cry. She looked straight ahead and told herself that if she could just get to her room, she could let down.

It was with near panic that she realized her escort was not taking her to her room. Chase walked into the hotel and started toward the lobby. Rusty's low voice came to him in a panic.

"Oh, please, Mr. McCandles. Please let me go to my room. I beg of you. Please allow me to go to my room."

The hand that had been on his arm was suddenly taken in Chase's right hand. His left hand went to her back as he bent low to speak with her but continued to walk.

"I can't talk with you if I take you to your room. There's a small parlor at the back of the lobby. We'll talk in there."

To Chase's disappointment there was a man in the parlor, but that didn't stop him. He put Rusty in a chair that would allow her to have her back to the room. He took a chair that would let him see her face. As the other man stood to leave, Chase glanced up long enough to give him a grateful glance. When the door was shut again, Chase turned back to Rusty. Her eyes were on the wall, wide and staring.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, just a little scared." Rusty's hand came to her mouth. She was trembling violently.

"What did they say to you?"

"Just that they liked my hair." Rusty looked at him. "They stood so close, and they wouldn't let me pass. I thought I heard the whistle, and you weren't in your room. I thought I would make us miss the train. I'm sorry, Mr. McCandles. I'm so very sorry. "

"It's all right." Her tears were too much for Chase. Without permission he took her hand. "Don't worry about it anymore, Katherine. It's all over."

Rusty didn't even hear him. "I must have fallen asleep. I was trying to figure out a way to get you home, and I was so sure I heard the whistle. It was so loud that it woke me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. "

"It's all right," he repeated. "I should have told you I was leaving the hotel. Don't worry about it anymore."

Rusty took a deep breath and tried to do just that. Her gaze traveled to the wall again. There was so much to be thankful for. She'd been frightened and not hurt. Mr. McCandles had come when she needed him most. If she could only concentrate on these things, the Lord would comfort her.

"I think I'll go to my room now," she said, but then looked at Chase. "In all of this, have we missed the train whistle?"

"No, and with as late in the day as it is now, I would want us to stay and take a train tomorrow anyway. Will you be comfortable and feel safe in your room tonight?"

"Yes."

"Good. I think we should eat in about an hour. Does that work for you?"

"I'm not sure I'll be too hungry."

"Would you rather have something in your room?"

Rusty thought about it, but shook her head. "No. That might give me too much time to think. Does that make sense to you?"

"Completely."

Rusty stood and Chase with her. She started toward the door but stopped.

"I didn't thank you. You came just when I needed you, and I forgot to say thank you." Tears that she could no longer stem flooded her eyes. Again Chase was very moved but thought it was best if he stayed quiet. He was right. Rusty composed herself and moved out the door. Chase retrieved her key and bag and saw her to her room, telling her he would be in his room if she needed him and that he would call for her in one hour's time.