Page 71 of Healing Hazel

“We have just bid her farewell.”

“You are just moments too late.”

It was all a jumble of words, but his mind somehow managed to make sense of it. “Which train?”

In a synchronized motion, the women pointed as a train let out a blast and started to move.

Jim dropped his traveling case and ran.

Now he was the one pushing through the crowds. He skirted around a pile of trunks and dodged a porter wheeling a crate, moving as fast as he was able. He ran alongside the train, ignoring the yells of conductors and police.

The train was picking up speed, windows moving past, and in one, he saw her.

“Hazel!” He called out her name, and she looked directly at him, her mouth forming ano. A burst of speed pushed him the last few feet to grab on to a railing, pulling himself up onto the landing, where he found himself face-to-face with an irate attendant.

“Stop!” The man grabbed Jim’s arm, pulling him away from the edge of the train landing. “Dangerous business, that.” He motioned with his eyes to where the earth sped past them. “I’ll need to see your ticket, please.”

“I’m sorry,” Jim said. “I don’t have one, but I’ll be happy to—”

The man’s grip tightened, and he frowned. “’Fraid I’ll have to detain you, sir. Report you to the officials in Ashford.” He shook his head as if he were very disappointed. “Train jumping is a punishable offense.” He pulled Jim inside the train car.

“Wait!” At the sound of Hazel’s voice, the men turned.

She hurried down the train’s passageway, followed by an old woman wearing a very fine gown and carrying a parasol in the same way a Viking might carry a battle-ax. In her other hand was a rope leading a very fat, very annoyed-looking pug.

“Jim, what are you doing here?” Hazel asked when she reached him.

“I came to find you,” he said. “I’d hoped to come sooner, but...” He held out his hands as if to say, “Here I am.”

“I was going to Spain to find you,” Hazel said. Her cheeks were pink, all traces of illness gone, and a charming smile lit her face.

Jim’s stomach flopped over. He couldn’t look away.

The old woman put a hand on her heart, smiling widely. “My, isn’t this a pleasant turn of events.” She glared at the attendant until he released Jim’s arm, then stepped back, pulling the dog to the side of the passageway, and pointed with her parasol. “Go on, now, you two. Into the compartment.” She scooted around them. “I’ll work things out with the attendant.”

The pair stepped into the compartment, and Jim closed the door, cutting off the sounds of arguing between the woman and the attendant in the passage-way, which had apparently caused the dog to begin yapping.

“Jim.” Hazel pointed out the window to where she’d seen him running beside the train only moments earlier. “I can’t believe you—”

He cut off her words when he kissed her, holding her tightly against him. Her soft lips, the smell of her skin, the way she sank into his arms all reaffirmed that coming to London was the right decision.Shewas the right decision.

Hazel kissed him back, her arms going around his waist. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his lips.

The sound of the door scraping and a throat clearing made him pull away.

The old woman was back with her dog. She looked between the two of them and moved around them, sitting on the compartment’s bench, and motioned for Jim and Hazel to sit on the bench facing her. The dog jumped to sit beside her.

Hazel and Jim sat as well.

“I haven’t introduced you,” Hazel said. “I apologize. I was...” A blush spread over her cheeks. “Yes, well, Dr. Jim Jackson, meet Lady Mather. She is my traveling companion. And, of course, Mimi, this is Dr. Jackson, my...” She blushed again.

“A pleasure, my lady,” Jim said, inclining his head.

“How do you do?” Lady Mather said.

Jim took Hazel’s hand, squeezing it.

“Well, you two, it appears our trip to Spain will not happen after all,” Lady Mather said. “Pity. I’d rather hoped to practice my Spanish.” She squinted, looking at them thoughtfully. “But it would be a waste of a perfectly good holiday if we were to just turn around and return to London, don’t you think?”

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