foolish.” With that he turned and marched into the depot office without a backward glance.
She took the opportunity to look again at the blue-eyed stranger. But he was no longer there. Nor did a quick look around show him to be anywhere on the platform. So much for his being her white knight. She shook off that fanciful thought. They’d shared only a brief glance after all. Still, it was strange how she felt as though she had lost a friend.
She turned back to Leo, who was still glowering at the retreating form of his erstwhile captor. Then he glanced her way and his expression softened. “I appreciate you taking up for me, miss. You’ve been real nice.” He puffed his chest out. “But don’t you worry none. I’ll get on fine. This town is as good a place as any for me to step off in.”
Eve heard both the bravado and the underlying uncertainty in his voice. What was his story? Where were his parents? Was someone searching for him, worrying about him?
And what in the world was she going to do to fix this? She couldn’t manage her own problems. Besides, even if her limited funds would cover his train fare, he didn’t seem to have a particular destination in mind. Which meant he was running from something, not to something. The question was did he have good reason to do so?
She couldn’t walk away until she learned more about his situation or found someone who could help him better than she could—and was willing to do so. Abandoning a child in need was the worst kind of callous betrayal.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know a soul in this place. On the heel of that thought, her mind turned again to the man she’d exchanged glances with earlier. Had the sympathy in his eyes been real? Would he have helped if she hadn’t turned away?
Well, no point dwelling on that now. Eve placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder, mentally wincing at the thinness of it. “That’s a very brave thing to say, Leo, but don’t you worry, we’ll figure something out.”
She only hoped she could keep that promise. Thank the Good Lord she wouldn’t have to do it on her own.
Heavenly Father, You must have let my and Leo’s paths cross so I could help him. I’m not sure what good I’ll be to him, but I won’t abandon him and I know You won’t abandon either of us. Just please, show me what it is I should do. I’ve never had anyone depending on me this way before and I couldn’t bear it if I failed him.
One thing was for certain, neither she nor Leo would be on that train when it left the station today. Which meant she’d better retrieve her bag before it went on to Tyler without her.
She gave Leo an encouraging smile. “Give me a minute to collect my things, then you and I can decide what to do next. Okay?”
“You mean you’re staying?”
If she hadn’t already decided to stay, the flare of hope in his eyes would have cinched the deal. “Of course I’m staying. I told you we’d work things out, didn’t I?” At his nod, she smiled. “Well, we can hardly do that if I’m on the train and you’re still here.”
Instructing Leo one last time to wait right where he was, she hurried back on board and made her way to her seat.
Everything had happened so quickly she’d barely had time to think of the ramifications of her actions, something her grandmother would say was typical of her. Her impulse to act first and think later was what had caused her current disgrace. Which had ultimately resulted in her being banished to Tyler.
And speaking of Tyler, what would her grandmother’s friend, Mrs. O’Connell, think when Eve didn’t get off the train at her appointed stop today as planned? Would she change her mind about taking Eve on as an apprentice?
And if so, would that actually be such a terrible thing? After all, working in the back room of a millinery shop was not something she had ever aspired to.
Eve immediately took herself to task for that disrespectful and ungrateful thought. Her grandmother had gone to a lot of trouble to secure this position for her. It might not be what Eve wanted for herself, but she knew she should be thankful for the opportunity to make a fresh start. Of course, it would be easier to feel appreciative if her grandmother hadn’t also made certain that the story of Eve’s past followed her there.
What would it be like to truly have a fresh start, to go somewhere where no one knew her past, where no one was constantly watching her, waiting for her to stumble?
Well, at least now she had a short reprieve. No one here had any idea who she was or what her past was like. And what a freeing thought that was. Perhaps she’d even run into her blue-eyed knight again.
She gathered up her bag and shawl and hurried back out onto the platform with lighter steps than when she’d first started on this journey.
* * *
Chance Dawson stood inside the depot, leaning casually against the counter. He was here to check on a part he’d ordered for his current project. Hopefully it had arrived on the morning train.
From the looks of things, though, it was going to take Todd a while to sort through the mountain of mail and packages that had just come in. Not that Chance minded the wait. He wasn’t in much of a hurry and besides, watching the folks around him was a hobby of his.
And there were plenty of folks to watch in here. Besides Lionel, the stationmaster, and Todd his helper, a number of others were in the depot office, waiting either to board the train or, like him, to check on arriving cargo.
But none was as interesting as the woman he’d seen out on the platform a few moments ago. The way that petite protector had faced down the conductor despite her obvious timidity had been impressive to watch. But when her gaze had locked with his, the overwhelming urge to come to her defense had rocked him. It was probably just as well she’d turned away from him.
Dotty Epps walked in just then, interrupting his thoughts. He and the elderly widow had formed an unlikely friendship this past year. She was one of the very few people who knew his secret and she not only kept it but didn’t let it affect how she treated him.
“Not planning on leaving town on that train are you?” he said by way of greeting. “Turnabout just wouldn’t be the same without you.”
She gave him one of her cheery smiles. “You’re not going to get rid of me so easily, Chance Dawson.” She lifted the small parcel she was holding. “I’m just posting a package for my grandson. He has a birthday next week.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” He turned serious. “How are things?” The recent loss of her home and most of her possessions to a fire had taken a toll, but it hadn’t seemed to diminish her positive outlook on life.
Her smile acquired a wistful tone. “I miss my home, but the boardinghouse is comfortable. There’s a whole lot less housework to be done, and more company, as well. My daughter keeps asking me to move to Jefferson to live with her and her family, but this is where my friends are.”
“Well, you know if you need anything, you have only to ask.”
She patted his hand. “Thank you, but I’m doing fine.”
As she moved on to the counter, Chance returned to eavesdropping on the conductor. The man was energetically recounting a rather embellished version of how he’d expertly identified and dealt with the sly stowaway.
His
