“Miss Johnson,” Mrs. August snapped. “Come with me. We have much to do.”
Hester put a little skip in her step as she followed the staunch woman across the coach and out a door at the back.
“Nice digs,” Hyke grinned as he carried the last few travel bags into the coach. “We should be very comfortable on this trip.”
Cecil couldn’t help himself, throwing his head back and laughing at the comment. “I think you might be right,” he added slapping the other man on the back as he started to feel more like himself than he had in months.
A whistle blew and steam hissed as the porter called ‘all-aboard’. A mad rush of travelers moving to their seats entailed and the slow grind of steel on steel put the train in motion.
Cecil knew he was taking a risk with this move, but if it paid off, it would do more good than he could truly comprehend. Change was hard, but sometimes that change was exactly what you needed to find your destiny.
Chapter 10
“Where’s Jonas?” Hester asked as she tidied the coach on their second day of travel. “He was just here a minute ago.”
“I think he went up there,” Beverly said. “He followed Uncle Cecil.”
Hester looked toward the front of the car and the platform leading to the dining car. If the boy had gone with his uncle, she wouldn’t worry, but if he had set out on his own, there was no telling what could happen.
Dropping the fringed pillow on the settee Hester hurried to the exit in search of the boy with too much curiosity and not enough common sense.
Not finding Jonas in the dining car, Hester hurried forward into the other coaches where individuals and families sat on hard benches staring out the windows at the passing landscape. She spotted Jonas sitting next to a portly woman with two children of her own, and sighed with relief.
“Jonas,” Hester sighed marching toward him, just as the portly woman screamed jumping onto the bench and pulling her daughter tight.
“Hebbie,” Jonas shouted diving under a bench before Hester could reach him.
The boy scrabbled under one bench as boots, and shoes lifted amidst an uproar of shouts and screams.
“Snake!” A thin woman screamed falling into a dead faint in her companion’s arms.
“He’s harmless,” Hester raised her voice as more scrambling and screaming ensued. “He’s harmless,” she shouted again looking for the little black snake, as Jonas wriggled under another seat.
The flash of a strong hand shot out just as the little black racer shot across the aisle. “Don’t hurt it…” Hester cried reaching for the snake and coming face to face with Mr. Payton. “Oh, thank goodness,” she sighed, patting her chest where her heart pounded. “Jonas, what have we told you about keeping Hebbie in your pocket? It isn’t good for either of you.” She snapped, pulling the boy off of the floor and dusting his coat.
Cecil slipped the beleaguered snake into his pocket, hoping it would stay there as he grasped his nephew by the arm. “I think we’d better return to our car.”
Hard eyes turned to follow the little trio out the back of the coach, making the hair on the back of Hester’s neck prickle. She hoped the event wouldn’t cause any real problems and was simply thankful that no one, even Hebbie was hurt. Jonas needed to learn to listen and to understand that he couldn’t go anywhere or do whatever he wanted. There were other people that needed consideration.
“What has he done now?” Beverly asked as Cecil entered the car with Jonas.
“Hebbie got out again,” the boy replied. “It wasn’t my fault.” His light eyes flashed at his uncle who still held his arm in a firm grip.
“Jonas,” Hester chided. “Hebbie is your responsibility. What if he had been hurt, or worse killed when someone tried to stomp on him?”
Jonas looked up his face twisting as realization set in. “I didn’t think,” the boy said. “It won’t happen again,” he choked looking at his uncle. “I’ll keep him in his jar from now on I promise.”
Cecil reached out ruffling the boy’s hair. “You have to start thinking of others Jonas. Ever person you meet, no matter how different, is just as important as you are. We’re starting a new life, and you need to realize what it means to be a man. If I find you’ve taken your little pet out of his jar again, I’ll turn him loose. It isn’t fair to the little critter to let it be frightened so.”
“Yes, Uncle,” the boy hung his head, but took the snake from his uncle and hurried toward the sleeping car.
“If you had been keeping a better eye on the boy, this wouldn’t have happened.” Mrs. August hissed at Hester, a stern look on her face. “I told you when Mr. Payton first made you their governess that it was a mistake, and this proves it.”
Hester folded her hands in front of her, but said nothing. Ever since Mr. Payton had charged her with the care of the children, Mrs. August had been against her. There was no point in arguing with the woman though. Without a word, the younger woman followed the boy to the sleeping car to see that he was all right. Everything the boy had ever known was changing, and though he was full of excitement now, it would all catch up with him soon.
A small hand slipped into hers and Hester looked down at Beverly, who winked at her and grinned. “Everything will be fine,” the girl smiled. “You’ll see.”
Hester felt the smile tug at her lips, as she prayed that what the little girl said was right. There were many obstacles ahead, and only time would tell how this would end.
***
It was almost dark when the train rolled to a stop in the tiny town called Biders Clump and Hester felt every mile to her bones. She didn’t know what she
