“Captain Rick Perry, Mrs. Rivers. A U.S. Marshall ya say? What in the world is he thinking letting you come ahead of him?” He blusters.
Bronnah ducks her head in shame. "He doesn't know, Captain Perry. I must get to the railroad. My sisters are due to arrive on the train, and I didn't want to worry them with the delay. Look at all those ships, it could take hours."
"It will take no less than an hour," he grumbles, puffing on his pipe and looking at her.
"I can dash over ta pick them up and be waiting here with all five of them when he returns," she answers with a smirk.
“Right, well he certainly has his hands full if there’s more of you. God bless him, go on then.”
Bronnah kisses his whiskered cheek, "Thank you, Captain Perry. You remind me of home," she whispered wistfully. Just as Bronnah reaches the end of the dock, he calls back to her.
"No God-fearing Irishman would allow you to do this alone." He marches to her, and she tucks her arm into the crook of his. "I'll lend you me wagon and horse to pick them up." He whistles and a young sailor runs over, "Drive Mrs. Rivers to the rail station and wait for her."
“Thank you, Captain.”
"Don't thank me, I'd hate ta miss the look on your husband's face when he finally arrives," he chuckles. "I'm a wee bit interested ta see what poor sod, got saddled with ya."
“Ta be fair, he was acting the maggot,” Bronnah said with a lift of her stubborn chin.
“The poor boy doesn’t know the way it tis yet, break him in gently, lass.”
“I’ll try.”
His laughter follows her from the yard.
Chapter 21
Captain Perry watches the schooner move close to the dock. He grins as he watches a massive cowboy pace on the deck like a big panther. “Yep, that’ll be the one, then.”
“Wait here and be ready to shove off. I’ll be back.” Chase leaps to the dock, past the dock hands and races up the creaking planks under his boots. “You’d be Marshall Rivers,” Captain Perry said stepping in front of the giant.
Narrowed silver eyes look down into a wrinkled, smiling face. "Where is she?" He growls.
“Don’t go fretting, Mr. Rivers. I sent one of me dock hands with your wife to the rail station to pick up her sisters. They should be back soon.” If Chase is shocked by the term wife, he doesn’t show it.
"Captain, I appreciate the information, but I'll need a horse," he says stepping around him and onto the dusty road.
"Didn't you hear me? She’ll be back…”
Chase whirls on him with a desperate, sick feeling, "She'll be back alright, and on her heels, will be the very winds of hell. Do you have weapons?"
Captain Perry stared at him with his mouth gaping open. “Aye, I do.”
“You’re gonna need them. Now take me to a horse for God’s sake!”
"Right this way," Captain Perry limped as quickly as he can and snaps out orders. "So, the lass doesn't have sisters?" He asked while they wait. Feeling like a fool, he glances at Chase.
"Not quite. Bronnah thinks she's gonna rescue some young women from a terrible situation, Captain Perry, and in doing so, she's risking her own life." Chase mounts his horse.
"I see. Just follow this down the road, its only about two miles to the railhead."
Chase knows what Bronnah doesn’t. She thinks she can just waltz in and pluck them from these people, but it won’t be that easy. They will have guards traveling with them and meeting them to make the exchange. That makes the odds of her getting away with this highly unlikely. He rides hard and prays he will make it to her in time.
Bronnah rides beside Mason, the dock hand and nods politely as he chats about the weather and the city of New Jersey. She knows that she will need a significant distraction and some serious luck if she hopes to rescue the girls this time. Glancing behind her at the port fading from view an idea begins to form.
The ledger said the girls were on the New Jersey Rail Road, being delivered and switched to the Pennsylvania Railroad. “So, Mason, tell me about the Ports. Are there any waterways that run from the railroad station to the shipyards?”
“Yes, Mrs. Rivers. There are multiple ports up and down the coast. They transport goods, like lumber, grain, supplies, and passengers. Why do you ask?”
"Call me Bronnah. I'm just curious. With the railroad and the shipyard being in such close proximity it made me wonder." The sun is setting quickly now and with it the temperature. Bronnah tucks her bag close and glanced at the young man who is close to her age. He is a handsome longshoreman, but he seems so young compared to Chase. There is such life in Chase's silver eyes … she shakes herself, get it together girl. "My sisters are coming in on the New Jersey Railroad line at eight pm."
“Are you sure about that. That line is usually reserved for cargo.”
Bronnah flinches and retrieves a slip of paper from her bag, "Yes it says, NNJR 126, six p.m. What do you suppose that means?"
"That sounds right, the initials stand for the line, and the number is the car," he frowns as they enter the town.
“Excellent. I just need to pick up a few things on the way to the station.” Bronnah smiles sweetly and touches his arm. He grins at her and sits up taller.
"Of course, Bronnah." She smiles and counts her cash. As they drive through the center of town, Bronnah spots what she needs. Jersey City
