Sarah's Surrender (5 page)

Jack offered Sarah his hand as she moved down the train steps to the El Reno depot platform and into the noisy crowd. He took her satchel, placing it in the same hand as he carried his own bag, and offered his free arm. “You'd better stay close to me,” he hollered over the din.

“There sure are a lot of people here. I guess it's good you left Cody with Lara.”

Jack nodded. “C'mon. Let's get away from this crowd.”

He tugged her through the people waiting to board to the outer edge of the depot.

Sarah sucked in a gasp as she surveyed the busy town. Everywhere she looked, she saw people. “I never expected there would be so many folks here since registration doesn't start for two more days.”

“Me neither.” Jack pursued his lips. “Let's find our hotel and make sure they haven't given away our rooms. I telegraphed them last week to make a reservation, but I didn't realize so many folks would come early like this.”

“What will we do if they don't have a room?”

Jack shrugged. “I don't know. Buy a tent, I reckon.”

Sarah glanced at him to see if he was teasing, but his serious expression remained. She'd never camped out in a tent and would hate to do so among all these strangers.

Jack helped her down the steps. “If we should get separated, meet me at the Hotel El Reno. I'm sure there are plenty of folks who could point the way, but let's try hard to stay together.”

Sarah smiled. “That sounds like a good plan.”

As she allowed Jack to pull her through the crowds lining the front of the various stores and places of business, she wondered how she had thought she could have managed this on her own. There were some females among the horde of men but not many. And most of the men they passed turned her way, some with cheerful nods but others with lewd stares that made her want to hide behind Jack.

Someone bumped her, and she lost hold of Jack's arm and was knocked along with the people heading away from him. She stumbled but managed to grab hold of a post and held on. She thought she heard Jack calling her and looked back the way she'd come.

Suddenly Jack's head appeared above the others'. His frantic gaze searched one way and then the other. She raised one hand and waved, willing him to see her—and then he did. He held up his palm, indicating for her to stay where she was, so she took time to study the town. It wasn't much different than Guthrie. Mostly made up of one- and two-story wood, stone, or brick buildings. The wide streets allowed wagons to travel both directions easily.

“Well, howdy, ma'am. You're about the prettiest thing I've seen in ages.”

Sarah spun around to find a gap-toothed old man two feet away. Standing at the very edge of the boardwalk, there was no place for her to go other than to step into the street. But a wagon pulled by two massive horses headed her way.

The man tipped his hat. “M'name's Elmer Doolittle, ma'am.”

Sarah offered a smile, unsure what the man wanted. Was he just being friendly?

“Hey there, move along.” Jack pushed his way past two tall men who frowned at him.

The old man's smile dipped. “You know this purty lady?”

Jack shot a worried look at her. “You all right?”

“I'm fine. This nice man was keeping me company.”

“Then I'm in your debt, sir.” Jack offered his hand. “I'm Jack Jensen, and this is Sarah Worley, my sister.”

Mr. Doolittle smiled and shook it. “You oughtn't go off an leave a gal so purty all by herself.”

“He didn't leave me. We got separated by accident.”

“Easy enough to do with so many folks around.” Elmer bounced his head, his pale blue eyes gleaming.

“You ready?” Jack asked her.

“Yes. Have a nice day, Mr. Doolittle.”

He waved and shuffled off. Sarah watched him weave into the flow of people, hoping he didn't get knocked down. Then she turned her attention to Jack. “I'm sorry. One moment I had hold of you, and the next, I didn't.”

“That's all right. I imagine once people get registered, most of them will leave town like we plan on doing and return the first day of the lottery.”

Sarah latched onto Jack's arm again. “Why did you tell him I'm your sister?”

“Because in my mind you are. It doesn't matter that we have different parents.” Jack's blue eyes held a smile.

“That's good, because I look up to you like I would a brother, if I had one.”

“Just consider me yours.” His ears turned red as he quickly looked away. “I mean, your brother.”

Sarah bit back a smile. She knew what he meant. Jack was forty—almost double her age. While she loved him for the kind, caring man he was, she didn't love him in a romantic way and knew he felt the same. Jack had loved his wife dearly, and it had been such a sad time when Cora died this past winter. She'd prayed that Jack would one day find another woman to love—a woman who'd be a caring mother for Cody. She and Lara had mothered the quiet boy, but it wasn't the same as having a real ma.

Jack pulled her into an open door, and she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting. It was quieter in here, although several people sat in the lobby chairs, chatting or reading the newspaper. On the back wall of the lobby was a registration counter, which Jack led her to. She studied the room as they waited their turn to check in. To her left, a pair of closed double doors with windows led to a large dining room. Through the glass, she saw two women setting tables in preparation for the noon meal. On the right side of the counter was a wide stairway leading up to the sleeping rooms. A burgundy carpet with a gold pattern covered the lobby floor, and a chandelier with dangling prisms decorated the walls with dancing lights. While it wasn't as fancy as some hotels she'd stayed in while on shopping trips with Jo and Lara, it looked to be a decent place to stay.

Jack moved forward. “Jack Jensen. I wired you a week ago requesting two rooms for three days.”

The man frowned and flipped the page in the registration book. “Oh yes, I see you now, but I'm afraid we were only able to hold one room. But it does have two beds. We've been abnormally busy, as I'm sure you can see.”

“What?” Jack rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at her. “I suppose that's better than nothing.”

“Just sign here.” The man fished a key off a board with a dozen hooks then handed one to Jack after he'd signed the book.

He took the key then backed away from the counter, blowing out a loud breath. “Let's go have a look.”

They walked up the stairs to the second floor and down the hall to room 204. Jack opened the door then stepped back to allow her to enter first. Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked in and surveyed the room she'd be sleeping in for the next few days. As the clerk had said, there were two beds on either side of the small room. A wide dressing table with a mirror sat on the far wall between the headboards. Two windows on the western wall allowed in a good amount of light. In one corner, backing up to the hallway, was a dressing screen and a table with a bowl and pitcher of water. In the opposite corner sat a burgundy and gold wingback chair.

Jack placed her satchel on the bed to her left then walked to a window and lifted it. He cleared his throat and faced her. “You should be comfortable here.”

“What about you?” She spun around, glancing at the two beds.

He shrugged. “I'll be fine. I can check the stores and see if one of them has an inexpensive tent.”

“But you don't have any bedding.”

“It won't be the first time I've slept on the ground.”

She knew that his life hadn't been easy when he first left his sisters after their parents and then their grandmother had died. But he rarely talked about those days. She stared at the beds. Dare she voice her thought? It was quite improper, but she trusted Jack as much as she did Gabe or Luke. “That's silly, Jack. Why don't you stay here?”

His eyes widened. “That wouldn't be proper.”

“I realize it's a bit unconventional, but I trust you with my life. I know you'll be a perfect gentleman.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose we could place that screen so it creates a divider. But I don't know. It still doesn't seem right.”

“If you were my real brother, would you have a problem with it?”

He stared at his boots. “I don't guess I would. But although I look at you as my little sister, in truth you're not. I have to consider your reputation.”

“Well, we don't have to decide right now.”

“That's true. I probably should find out where we need to register.”

“All right. I'll use the time to unpack and rest a bit. Fighting that crowd is tiring.” Not to mention they'd risen early that morning in order to drive to Guthrie to catch the morning train.

“Keep the door locked while I'm gone.”

She nodded and followed him to the door.

“I shouldn't be gone long. When I return, let's grab some lunch somewhere. I'll inquire as to what time the dining room opens and look for a café while I'm out.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

She locked the door then walked to the window and stared out. The people moving in all directions reminded her of the time she'd picnicked with Gabe, Lara, and the children, and their quilt had been overrun with busy ants.

Did she have a chance at getting land when competing against so many others?

Peace filled her worried heart. If it was God's will, she would win a lot.

And if not, then He would show her what to do.

Jack blew out a frustrated breath and dropped down onto the bench outside of the fifth general store he'd visited. After more than an hour of searching, he hadn't located one that had a tent available. Sold out. Every single one of them.

He'd also checked the other hotels in town but none had a vacancy. He didn't like sharing a room with Sarah—it didn't seem right—but he sure didn't care to spend the night on the ground without a tent, especially when there was lightning flashing on the horizon. Yeah, he'd done it before, but that was over half his lifetime ago. Back then he'd been a young buck, and it had been an adventure. Now, just the thought of it brought a twinge of pain to the small of his back.

Would it be wrong to share a room with Sarah when he knew he was an honest man?

“Well, there's a face I recognize.”

Jack jerked his head up at the sound of Luke's voice. “I thought you'd decided not to come.”

“Hardly. I left in the middle of the night and rode cross-country.”

“Why didn't you take the train?” Jack slid over and Luke dropped down beside him.

“Wanted to save the money.”

Lightning flashed, and a few seconds later, thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Looks like we're in for a storm. You got a room somewhere?”

Luke shook his head. “I figured I could get one once I got here. Didn't count on there bein' so many' people though.” He yawned. “Where's Sarah?”

“In her room.”

Luke cocked up one eyebrow. “How'd you manage to get rooms?”

“I wired ahead a week ago and made arrangements.”

“Smart man.” Luke flashed a grin and bumped Jack's shoulder. “How about you letting me share your room?”

“Can't. Because I only got one, and it's Sarah's.”

“Oh.” Luke leaned back and crossed his legs. “What are you gonna do?”

He wrestled with telling Luke about Sarah's suggestion to share the room, but he didn't see a way around it. “There are two beds in her room, and she offered the other one to me—”

Luke shot to his feet, bumping a man and nearly knocking him off the boardwalk. “Sorry,” he grumbled. He turned his flashing blue eyes on Jack. “You can't share a room with Sarah.”

“I didn't like the idea either, but she mentioned dividing the room with the dressing screen.”

Luke turned down the heat of his fiery expression. “Still don't seem right, but I reckon she'd be safe with you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jack said with a thick dose of sarcasm. He couldn't begrudge Luke for wanting to protect Sarah. He knew the younger man had deep feelings for her. “As much as I don't like the idea of sharing her room, I also don't relish sleeping outside with a storm coming.”

Luke plopped down beside him again. “Me neither. I brought a tent we can share, but if it hails, we'll be in a world of hurt.”

Jack sat beside his friend for several minutes, watching the people pass by. A scraggly brown-and-white hound dog moseyed up to him and sniffed his boots. He nudged Jack's hand for a scratch and wagged his tail when Jack complied. Then the mutt sniffed Luke's pants and moved on. “Sure are a lot of folks here.”

“Just like the land runs. Everyone is hopin' they'll get free property, but most will be disappointed.” Luke scratched his belly. “I'm hungry. You wanna grab some grub?”