“Okay,” she murmurs. Abbie keeps her head down and the baby close to her face. Dressed in high heeled boots, with a blonde wig, she is sure to escape attention.
“Shep will take care of the rest,” Tucker grins and waves his tickets at the ticket agent, waiting at the door of the train.
“Good Morning,” the young man says and glances down at the tickets, “Mr. and Mrs. Wickham.” He barely makes eye contact as he punches their tickets and hands them back. Coralie starts to cry in earnest, and the ticket agent nods to a second porter.
“Show the Wickham’s to their cabin. Enjoy your trip,” he says loudly over the baby’s wailing. He glances past them and notices a tall cowboy and petite brunette hurrying through the station. Tucker allows Abbie to go first and follows slowly watching through the window of the train.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this on my only day off,” Maggie Rose says with a sniff of irritation.
Shep showed up the next morning with her bag and asked for her help. She couldn’t resist the idea of spending more time with him. Now she’s questioning her sanity.
“I promise to make it up to you, Sugar.” Shep’s eyes travel over her and grins. “You look amazing,” he teases. Dressed in a dark pink travel dress, with her blonde hair tucked inside a dark wig, he has to admire the view.
“You look ridiculous,” she snaps back.
Shep has to keep himself from laughing out loud. “What’ve you got against cowboys?”
His eyes narrow suspiciously as two men fall in behind them. When his arm drops possessively to her waist she tenses.
“What are you getting me involved in?” she says.
“It’s for a good cause.” They step up to the ticket counter and Maggie keeps her blue eyes averted as instructed. She fans herself and waits as he buys two train tickets.
“Two tickets, please. First class, private cabin to Mesa, Arizona,” Shep says. Maggie’s mouth falls open and she stops fanning herself.
“Yes, Sir. Can I get a name for the tickets?” the ticket agent asks.
“Mr. and Mrs. Rose,” he says without blinking.
“Give me a moment, please,” the agent says. Maggie’s hand slips into his and she squeezes it to get his attention.
Shep watches the agent move away and speak to two men in the back office. He turns to look at Maggie and tugs her close to his large body before leaning down and pressing a kiss close to her ear.
“We have company. Two behind us and more watching,” his deep voice causes chills to erupt and she smiles softly, closing her eyes as if enjoying his attention.
Before he can straighten up, she reaches up and grabs the back of his head and tugs him down a hair’s breadth from her mouth. “I’m not going to Arizona,” she hisses.
Shep grins and unable to resist, he kisses her softly. The moment his mouth touches her, Maggie realizes she’s in trouble. It’s only a quick press of his lips to hers but the promise of more has her trembling.
“Here we are then. Two tickets on train 452. It’s leaving in thirty minutes,” the ticket agent says, and he tries to get a look at Maggie, but she has turned away to speak to a little boy who is offering to sell her some sweets.
“Excellent,” Shep turns quickly and tosses some money at the boy. Maggie squeaks when he guides her quickly through the train station towards the lot where their train waits.
“What’s the hurry?” she huffs. “I mean, we’re not really getting on the train.”
Shep doesn’t respond as he counts four more men shadowing them. He is relieved when Cooper steps out of the shadows with a dark-haired female and walks the opposite direction.
Dressed as a sheriff, Cooper is certain that wearing the uniform Tucker gave him he will draw attention and buy them some more time. At another ticket counter, Wyatt is buying tickets with his own date.
“I realize I’m asking a great deal of you to trust a man you don’t know,” Shep says softly, “But I promise no harm will come to you and I will have you home by tonight.” Shep says softly against her ear.
“Tonight?” she squeaks. “You can’t be serious!”
“Aren’t you up for an adventure, Miss Rose?” he teases softly as he spots the train they need.
“Always, but this is asking too much…” she stops speaking when the ticket agent greets them at the door of the train.
“Mr. and Mrs. Rose,” he says as he punches the tickets and eyes the couple. Maggie turns away to avoid looking at him. “Your porter will show you to your cabin. Enjoy your trip on board the Central Pacific Railroad.”
“Thank you. We will.” Shep tugs Maggie along behind him and follows the porter towards a private cabin as he checks his pocket watch. He grins in relief. One thirty. Tucker is gone. Now to get Maggie out of here.
Chapter 33
“How the hell are there so many couples with the same description?” Clint grumbles as the ticket agent comes up to him to report another couple buying tickets that fit the bill.
“Show me!” After looking at eight couples he is frustrated and worried. “What name are they using?”
“Rose,” the porter says and leads them to the train that is still boarding.
“Well, we know her companion used different names each time. It is possible that they will travel separately. I’ll follow this one you start searching the trains and bring in more men.”
Inside the private train cabin Maggie is struggling not to panic.
“How in the world did I end up on a train bound for Arizona with a handsome cowboy?” she hisses and paces back and forth.
Shep
