Page 25 of Mail-Order Bride Runaway
Men tramped along the street or rode a horse. More men than he would have expected to see in a town this size. Several nodded a greeting. A couple eyed Della. She shrank closer to his side.
“Why are they all so muddy?” she asked, her voice whispering past his ear.
“I can’t say for certain, but the smell of smoke is strong. I’d say they’ve been fighting a fire.” He continued on to the railway station at the end of the street and helped Della dismount. Together, they went inside.
“When is the next train going east?” he asked the man behind the counter. “I won’t leave until you’re safely on your way,” he whispered to Della.
“Fraid there won’t be one for some time. You smell the smoke?” He barely waited for Andy to nod. “It’s damaged the trestle down the way. Gonna take some time to repair it. You folks will have to wait.”
“I need to send a wire.” Della’s voice shook.
“They might’ve repaired the line. Lemme check.” He clicked the key a few times and waited. It clicked back a reply. “I ken send yer wire.”
She wrote her message and handed it to the man. “How much will it cost?”
The agent named a sum. The color seeped from her face. Della sighed and turned away.
“What’s the problem?” Andy asked.
“I left everything back at Gunders Crossing.”
She was penniless. He didn’t need to see her chew her bottom lip to know how upset she was. Her mother would be worried, and Della was powerless to inform her that she was safe.
“Della, I’ll pay for the telegram.” He saw she was about to refuse and hurried on. “If it was my ma, I’d want to set her mind at ease.”
Della slowly brought her gaze from the floor to his eyes and searched his eyes. With a tiny sigh, she nodded. “Thank you.” She studied the paper before her, the tip of her tongue peeked out of her mouth as she shortened the message.
Finally, she handed the paper to the agent. He read it aloud.
Arrived safely Stop Don’t come Stop Train not running
“That be it, miss?”
She glanced back at Andy. “I don’t know how to make it any shorter.”
“Send it.” He paid the man then he and Della stood shoulder to shoulder at the counter as the words were tapped out.
When it had been sent, they left the building and stood on the street.
“I can wait here until the train moves.” She looked around. “There must be a hotel.”
Andy looked down the street and to the right then left. “I don’t see one.”
Della gave a cry and ducked behind Andy. “It’s him. He’s here.” Her voice carried a thousand fears.
Andy did not need to ask who she referred to. Nor did he need her to point out the man she meant. He rode a big bay horse. A handsome animal. The man looked like he hadn’t seen a drop of bathwater since last Christmas. But it was his expression that Andy found repulsive. A scowl that gouged lines across his face. Eyes so hard that several men stepped out of his way and cast him a look that said they’d like to avoid any encounters with him.
Andy turned slowly, keeping himself between Mr. Hartman and Della. “Go back inside.”
“He’ll see me.”
“I’m right behind you.” He kept his hand at her waist as they moved back into the station. “Out to the platform.” Ignoring the agent, they hurried out the other door. He drew them against the wall. “I can’t believe he followed you here.” It spoke volumes about the man’s determination. Had he stopped at every town the train passed through to ask about a young woman boarding for the east?
Boots rang on the floor inside. A gruff voice asked if the agent had seen a ‘pretty young woman.’
Andy grabbed Della’s hand and they clattered down the outside steps and raced into the street. Running would attract attention so he slowed to a fast walk. There was one place he could hope to hide. “The church,” he said, and they hurried in that direction.
As they stepped inside the warm interior, he glanced back. Mr. Hartman came from the station house and looked up and down the street. He had to know they couldn’t have gone far.
