Please know you have my eternal love and gratitude and I will be watching over you.
Everlastingly yours,
Sonia
Tears streaming down her face, she tucked the pages neatly back in their envelope and picked up the scrap from Toby. On it was printed laboriously an address and his full name, Tobias Smith. She placed the slip carefully into the envelope, as well, and tucked it into her reticule.
Oh, Camellia, what are we to do?
But even had she spoken aloud, Camellia wouldn’t have answered. The rocking of the train had lulled her to sleep.
CHAPTER FOUR – “Auntie”
Paul had secured her a private compartment on the train so Megan was surprised when a portly woman carrying her own valise squeezed through the door panting, and plopped on the seat opposite her.
“How good of you to let me share your car,” she said brazenly, in a gruff falsetto.
And then, spotting Camellia, “Oh, what a precious bundle. May I hold him?”
The look and sly manner of the intruder had Megan on full alert. She was a city girl and knew a ruffian when she saw—and smelled!—one, and this person was not someone she wished to know.
“Madam, you are in a private carriage and I would ask that you remove yourself, please.”
“Well, that's mighty unfriendly! I’ll have you know I’m your Aunt Millie and will be accompanying you to your destination.”
“No,” she snapped back, “it was your behavior that was unfriendly, when you burst into my compartment. I have no Aunt Millie. I again request that you remove yourself before I call the porter and have you removed forcibly.”
Unpleasant sounding grumbling and growling issued from the figure and Megan stared at the woman more closely, noticing a sooty quality to the face under its copious and badly applied powder, as if not properly washed or, on closer inspection, not closely shaved!
“You're no woman!” she declared. “You’re a Willie, not a Millie!”
“I do not understand what you are talking about. Come, dearie, there is no need for such dramatics.”
The beady eyes staring across at her glared and yellowed teeth were revealed between snarling lips as the voice hissed out at her.
“When that conductor comes through I’m your Aunt Millie or your precious baby boy will be dead and so will you.” The hand that withdrew from beneath the shawl was large and knotted and not in the least bit feminine.
She watched aghast as the creature in front of her reached into its reticule and pulled out a small derringer, its evil eye staring back at her.
“You couldn’t possibly get away with harming us.” She shook her head in disgust, hoping to hide her quaking. “You are very unobservant, you know. You cannot even tell that the child is a girl despite the fact the basket is decorated in pink.”
Camellia began to whimper and Megan sniffed the air.
“Well if you are going to be traveling with me, ‘Aunt Willie,’ I suggest you make yourself useful.”
Turning toward Camellia she crooned, “Perhaps this stranger can assist in changing your diapers, my sweet.”
A disgusted look formed on the face across from her. “Don't play the fool, girl! You just remember I'm your Aunt Millie.”
“Well, Aunt Willie, you need to help me change the diaper. I’ve never done so,” she calmly lied, “and a ‘woman’ of your years surely has the experience.”
“Don’t be a fool, girl! Now give me that baby! The conductor is nearly upon us!”
He hefted himself up, unsteady against the swaying of the train, and reached out toward the basket as the train lurched side to side, slowing and seeming almost to stop before suddenly jerking forward. Crying out, he fell forward onto his knees, the gun flying out of his hands and sliding behind the basket as he landed with his face in her beruffled lap.
Shrieking, she kicked out hard, trying to dislodge him. He cried out in agony when the blow landed somewhat below his stomach. Rearing back, his arms reached down to cradle his injury. She grabbed his ears as he lifted his head and she slammed it into her knee, still screaming for help, which suddenly arrived.
The conductor flung open the door but it was the man behind him, dressed in a bowler and inexpensive suit, who came to her rescue and wrenched the villain away, pulling one arm behind his back as “Aunt Millie” struggled to protect himself with the other as he yelled out, “Get her away from me! Get that she devil away from me!”
Cacophony reigned as, her cries rising above the din, Camellia howled shrilly, forgotten in the clamor.
With Aunt Millie/Willie under restraint and removed from her compartment, Megan turned to the wailing infant and picked her up, keeping the swaddling thickly around her. She started crooning softly and rubbing Camellia’s back. Gradually, she quieted down to a whimper. Not only does her diaper need changing, but I imagine she’s probably quite hungry.
CHAPTER FIVE – Aftermath
The conductor cleared his throat.
Megan looked up, startled to see him still standing there.
“I thought you’d left with that attacker!”
“No, Madam, I was asked to wait with you to be sure you are all right.”
“Yes, I’m fine now that nasty thing is gone, but as you can see, poor Camellia is not. She is in need of a diaper and a bottle, not necessarily in that order. While I am sure Anna has left a bottle in that hamper, I haven’t had the opportunity to check for it nor the means to heat the milk. Might you be able to arrange that for me please?”
He bowed, slightly in awe of this young woman’s composure in light of what he’d just witnessed,
