But he became quite concerned when he realized she was still at risk from Willie’s accomplice, “Droopy Pete.”
“Well, I am expecting to hear from the Pinkerton Detective, Mr. Ned Brandt. He was going to ascertain whether Pete were on the train or still in Philadelphia. I had rather hoped he might have telegraphed the news by now.”
“Who else knows about all this?”
“Mr. Brandt was very careful to protect my identity, so although the passengers from Philadelphia were aware of the excitement, by the time the Pullman cars had been switched twice, most folks were unaware of the earlier incident. But of course all the maids and porters aboard were informed, as they were charged with my protection throughout the trip. If you don’t mind, I plan to meet the train on its return trip from San Francisco to visit with Johnson and Mr. Stevenson, especially.
“Do you mind if I go with you to thank them for protecting you so well? Although I must say, I am amazed with your fast thinking and actions!”
She blushed prettily under his praise. Really, she’d only done what the girls had been taught in class! Anyone would have done the same!
She must have spoken the thought aloud, as he murmured in her ear, “But they didn’t. You did.” And then he kissed her soundly.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN – “Droopy Pete”
Willie’s partner, “Droopy Pete” Gunder, so called because of his massive handlebar mustache, had seen Willie hauled out of the Pullman car and managed to figure out who’d turned him in. He shook his head. The woman was constantly surrounded and frequently had a baby in her arms. He would happily have pushed her off the train, but he had a weak spot for babies, having five of his own.
He hadn’t meant to kill that porter. The man’d just hit his head funny when Pete had slugged him. The eyes staring at him spooked him so hard he couldn’t finish the job and ended up dropping the poke of jewels as he scrambled out the door of the compartment.
He’d almost forgotten to remove his mustache when he slipped into the next car, that’s how spooked he was!
He’d stayed on the train after Harrisburg instead of hopping the return car, so he could follow the woman. If Willie actually done in Nettie, then he probably deserves to hang, he thought, but Pete didn’t intend to join him. And nobody knew him out here. He’d see to it that it stayed that way.
Having largely stayed in the lucrative Pennsylvania and New York corridors, he had never been beyond Ohio, so he was as fascinated by the countryside as the ladies, as the train moved ever south and west. He had managed to pick up enough of the gossip to understand that the women were debarking in Benson, so he made up his mind to enjoy the remainder of the journey. He laughed at the thought of the poor fellow whose ticket he had stolen, who had then been forced off the train in St. Louis. Looked as if he had been headed to the gold fields in California.
Too bad Pete wouldn't be able to use the rest of the ticket. Maybe he'd be able to cash it in for part of the return fare. Of course, if he were able to score it big, he might be able to ride first class going home. Wouldn't Maddie just love that!
He’d heard the rumors about Miss Maddux since he’d been in Benson. Baby wasn’t even hers! But no one seemed to know she’d been the one to get Willie put away. He knew it was her, ‘cuz he’d seen the Pinkerton guy, Brandt, talking with her as Pete walked by pretending to go to the next car. And then he’d been stuck there for what seemed like hours as her car had folks in and out like a beehive. It had been that way the whole trip. No chance to get her alone.
And she still had folks surrounding her all the time. When she wasn’t with her husband she had them Mex’s hanging around, especially that brat they called Miguel. Course his oldest was about that age. Nah, he wouldn’t mess with kids. Bad luck.
He knew she was looking for the baby’s father and was agitating to get to Tombstone to track him down. Maybe that’s where he’d head, see if he could get a bead on the guy. Maybe pick up some of that silver lying about. He grinned to himself. Yeah, maybe make a big enough score to retire and get home to Maddie and the kids. He’d write her today to find out if she’d heard anything. Be sure it was safe to come home. He missed his family!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – News
Megan strolled into Ted’s office.
“I’ve received a letter from Flora stating Moses has found the location of Tom’s mine and learned that it was Tom’s partner, Randy Evans, who had left town to retrieve his wife and sons. Randy has just returned to Tombstone and discovered there’s been a cave-in at the entrance.” Megan offered Flora’s letter to her husband of a week. “I’d like to ride to Tombstone to meet Mr. Evans. May I borrow the buggy, please?”
“You wish to go to Tombstone by yourself?”
“Well, I know how busy you are, and it is important to me that I locate Camellia’s father for her.”
“You must understand that gentlewomen in this country do not ride unaccompanied. For that matter, I doubt you went too many places by yourself even in Philadelphia.”
“Yes, but I was a single woman then. Now that I'm married, I thought I would have more freedom of movement.”
“It is not your freedom about which I'm concerned, but your safety. This is rough country and there are still Indians, renegades,
