Author's Note: To those readers who like clothes, Emily's outfit is an 1878 version of what Kate Winslet wore to board 'Titanic' in the 1997 version of the film.
Westward Ho
"Please sir, can you escort me on the train?" A cultured, soft English accented voice asked, as the pansy eyes regarded him appealingly. Zack felt like a school boy as he stood there gaping at the vision in front of him. The cream colored traveling outfit was highlighted with purple collar, cuffs, and piping on the skirt and elaborate bustle. The hat that sat at a jaunty angle on the beautiful auburn hair was the same purple, but decorated with a bow and streamers in a lilac color.
The only other lady he'd seen this lavishly dressed was Catherine Barkley, whose clothes he had always admired. While Lily Barkley had been the object of his crush, Catherine was a beauty who caught his attention. However, she had never been his type, and there was the issue of not wanting to get Nick riled up. As he regarded the well dressed figure next to him, he decided she was as beautiful in her own way, as Catherine was in hers. Zack liked the way the accent sounded, and he discerned too that the woman was in fact a young lady.
"Excuse me; I really need to get on that train!" The soft voice declared, with more firmness this time, as the pressure on his arm increased. That caused Zack's brain to start working again, and this time he heard what the young lady was saying.
"Miss, how can I help you? Do you need a ticket?" Zack asked cautiously, starting to wonder if he was being set up for something. He was savvy about the ways of the world, having spent too much time in wide open towns with minimal law enforcement. A pretty face could be very deceptive, and he decided to be on his guard.
"No, I have a ticket!" The large eyes flew wide open, as she added with a huff "You don't need to act like I'm a thief, for heaven's sake!" The young lady tossed her head, causing the streamers on her hat to flutter in his face. She came up to his chin, he noticed, as he went to brush the lilac ribbon from his eyes. It was soft against his hand as it caught between his fingers, before he was able to stop it.
"Miss, I don't mean to upset you, but can you understand my suspicion? A stranger, beautiful, but still someone I don't know approaches me. What would you think?" Zack inquired honestly, peering at her intently. She sighed, and removed her hand to fetch something from the purple reticule that hung by purple ribbons around her wrist.
"Here is my ticket if you don't believe." The young lady waved the ticket in Zack's face, and he was very surprised to see she was going to Stockton. "I guess I should have introduced myself, but there really isn't a great deal of time. My name is Emily Tisdale." She smiled at him, and he saw a dimple just to the side of the dainty chin. The English lady was the most ravishing female he'd ever met, and Zack decided to trust his instinct about her.
"Fine Miss Tisdale, you may board with me." Zack announced, and Emily was all set to say thank you, but he stopped her. "Once on board, you will tell me the whole story, and if you are lying about something I will turn you over to the porter." He stated in a no-nonsense tone, hoping his gut was right and she was a girl who needed help. Zack was aware of what a good looking couple they made, boarding the train. He guessed her luggage had already gone ahead, as his had. The porter showed them to his compartment, and let them in.
Zack hid the smile when Emily blushed as the porter wished him and Mrs. Morton a good trip. It confirmed his earlier observation, that in spite of the fancy clothes she was young. He wondered what she was doing on the train by herself, and why she had needed his help to get onboard. After the porter left Zack sat in one of the chairs, and indicated for Emily to take the other one.
The compartment had the two chairs by a window, with a table, and a small wash room. The bed, which was pulled up into the wall, was on the opposite side. There was space to move around some, as well as a small closet in the corner. Zack watched Emily take it all in, before she sat down in the chair opposite him. She clasped her hands in her lap, and bit her lip as she stared at him apprehension.
"I'm really not sure where to begin." Emily slightly stammered, as his blue eyes peered at her. She hoped that he was as nice as she had thought he was. Being in the small area with him was unsettling her; he seemed very large and masculine. There was also the comment he'd made on the platform, about her being beautiful.
"They do say the beginning is always a good place." Zack observed coolly, as he crossed his legs, sitting back in the chair. "I will introduce myself; I'm Zack Morton. You probably figured out my last name when the porter addressed you as Mrs. Morton." He added in an amused voice, and watched her blush again. Zack was admiring the way the pink flush spread across her creamy skin and neck. She was adorable, he decided, and had to resist the urge to take her in his arms.
"Zack, thank you for helping me out." Emily was still feeling flushed, after the Mrs. Morton reference. She was embarrassed that the porter had thought they were married, but could see why he would think that. Zack's blue eyes were still regarding her with curiosity, and she figured she'd better get on with the story.
"I'm from England, Devonshire actually, and my father was an army officer. He was stationed in India, and I lived there along with my mother. Just about eight months ago I lost both my parents in a fever epidemic." Emily paused, and Zack saw sadness in her eyes. He found himself reaching over and holding her clasped hands in his. She still had her gloves on, but even through the leather could feel the warmth. His eyes were now full of kindness and sympathy, like he knew what she was feeling.
"Emily, I'm sorry for your loss." Zack told her simply, not being able to imagine the pain of losing both parents. He still remembered how ghastly it was when his mother passed away. The English girl gave him a grateful smile, letting him see the dimple again. She then looked away, lowering her eyes as she did so. The dark, thick lashes of her eyes were very apparent against her skin. Zack was reminded of what a fetching thing she really was, and it concerned him that she was travelling by herself.
"Thank you Zack, I do think you understand." Emily gave him an inquiring look, and he nodded his head in confirmation. When their eyes met, she felt like time had stopped moving, while Zack was sure that she could see into his mind.
"Oh, yes, why I needed to get on the train." Emily forced herself to look away, before she lost herself in the blue pools. "After my parents passed I went back to England, to live with my father's sister, my aunt Helen. Well her, and as it turns out her husband too." She shuddered slightly as she thought about the first time she'd seen the man she was supposed to call Uncle Arthur.
"So you were sent to live with your aunt and uncle, right?" Zack was trying to get the story straight, and was puzzled by the words she was using.
"He is not my uncle!" Emily declared vehemently, before going on with her story. "My aunt had just married him, and they were coming to America where he supposedly had business interests. That is why I was in Denver, because we were supposed to go up to the Wyoming Territory. I used the crowd at the station to buy a ticket, get my luggage, and escape." She was aware that she was leaving lots out, but really didn't want to go into all the details with a man she didn't know.
"Emily, please don't think I'm dense, but I still don't understand why you are on the train, going to California." Zack tilted his head as he regarded her, looking very young with her hands clasped tightly together in her lap.
"The man that my aunt married is not a good person – I mean he was a a – it was an uncomfortable situation." The English girl faltered, trying to say what she needed to say in a discrete way. Zack saw the fear and distaste on her face, and noticed how she clasped her hands even tighter together. Looking at the beautiful girl, it came to him exactly what the problem with the 'uncle' had been. Zack's mouth tightened at the thought of some nasty man forcing immoral attentions on her. It was unfair, he mused, for her to be alone and defenseless.
"I understand now, and why you don't want to rehash it. However, won't they be looking for you?" Zack asked, wanting to know what he was getting himself in for. He had no qualms about taking the so called uncle on, but he liked to be prepared. His city gun, as he referred to the small pistol, was in the carryon bag that never left his side.
"Yes, they will, soon. The train to Wyoming leaves in an hour, and they went to get something to eat. I pleaded a headache, and told them I was going to rest in the ladies' lounge. When they start looking for me, they will be asking about an unaccompanied girl, so I thought that by boarding with someone, it would distract them. This is not the only train leaving, so it will take them a while to ask around." Emily laid out her thought process, hoping she'd thought of everything.
"Can I ask what you are going to do in California, Emily?" He was very curious as to why she was going to Stockton.
"Considering that you've been nice enough to help me Zack, I think that is a fair request." Emily replied, smiling at him. It seemed like he wasn't going to turn her over to the porter, which lifted her sprits. "I'm going to a place called Stockton first, but eventually San Francisco. A friend of mine from India is now married and living on a ranch, as she calls it. We have corresponded since she left for America, over a year and a half ago."
Zack heard what she was saying, and thinking about the English accent, he had a very good idea who her friend was. He nodded his head, and indicated for Emily to continue her story, to see if he was right. The way she referenced the word ranch was intriguing, and Zack guessed that the word was not known in England.
"Anyway, Catherine, my friend, invited me to come visit her when she found out I was going to be in America. My plan is to spend some time with her, and then find a governess job in San Francisco. I know that wealthy Americans always like to have English governesses for their children. I'm very well read, and know German and French fluently." Emily knew that if she found a job she could take care of herself, and not have to live with Aunt Helen.
"I will believe you if you say that you are well read, but how do you know German?" Zack in fact was wondering just how realistic her plan to get a governess job was. Not only was she very young looking, but he had to wonder how many women would hire someone so beautiful to live in their house. He felt bad for the girl, who should be courted and protected for her beauty, not cursed because of it. The mention of the German language surprised him; he knew most young ladies were taught smattering of French.
"My mother was from Austria! Actually, that is how I met Catherine, is because of my mother." Emily laughed, as her eyes lit up at the memory. "We were in the local bazaar – that is what they call the native shopping area – and my mother was haggling with a merchant. She couldn't get the price she wanted, and made a frustrated comment in German. Catherine was there, and recognized what my mother had said. She giggled, which caught our attention."
The deep auburn of her hair was explained now, Zack thought, as well as her eyes. Emily had not looked like how he envisioned English girls. Her coloring was striking, and he was reminded of a colored picture he'd seen in a magazine of the Austrian Empress. The woman's hair was pictured just as this girl's hair was. Zack realized she was talking again, and he stopped thinking about how Emily's hair would look if it was loose instead of pinned up.
"My friend Catherine is actually Russian. Well, her mother was English and she was visiting her grandparents in India. She was fluent in German, and had visited Austria too. My mother liked talking to someone about her native country, so we all became friends." Emily sighed, as she thought about those happy times. Zack saw that she was thinking about her mother, so he decided to change the subject.
"Emily, I'm from Stockton myself." He announced, and she sat up even straighter as she looked at him in surprise. "I also know your friend Catherine! She is married to a fellow rancher, a friend of mine, named Nick Barkley. Do they know you are coming?" Zack was now glad that he and Nick had stopped the rivalry, and he could call the man a friend. Emily was the most beautiful girl Zack had ever met, and he wanted to see more of her he realized.
"What a small world! Yes, they do know I'm coming, I sent a telegram from the station. I can hardly wait to see her, and new arrival should be there by now." Emily replied quickly, still shocked that Zack was from Stockton. Another thought came into her mind "Zack, you said you had a ranch? What is a ranch? Catherine said it was like an estate with cattle?" It all seemed rather strange, a land holding devoted to one kind of livestock.
Zack spent the next half hour telling Emily about Stockton, and ranch life in general. He liked the questions she asked, and was able to pick up that she knew something about country life. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice that the train had left the station. It wasn't until the ticket taker came knocking on the door that they became aware of how long it had been.
"I guess I need to go to my seat Zack. Thank you so much!" Emily was sorry the conversation had to end, but she didn't want to monopolize his time. He had been so kind to her, but was probably ready to be done with it. She took her ticket out of her reticule, to show it to the ticket taker, and find out where her seat was.
Emily had spent months saving her meager allowance, and had managed to get a small advance on the money her parents had left her, before the trip to America. She had not had enough for a sleeping compartment, but had purchased a seat in the first class coach. It meant sleeping sitting up, but she was prepared to put up with the inconvenience if it meant getting away from her aunt and her husband.
"Miss, there is a problem with your ticket." The older gentleman, wearing the uniform of the Union Pacific railroad announced, going on "This ticket is for tomorrow's train, not today's." He handed the ticket back to Emily, who now noticed the date.
"Well no, it should be for today! There must have been a mistake!" Emily was panicked now, but then she had an idea. "Can I just trade it for the correct ticket?" She was already on the train, and couldn't believe they would throw her off. Zack was watching her, and could tell that she was really frightened. It took a great deal of self control not to put his arms around her, and tell her he would take care of it. However, he didn't want to scare her, and he had already seen that she was very resourceful and proud.
"Normally I could Miss, but the train is full on this trip. I'm sorry, but you will have to get off at the next stop." The ticket taker felt bad for the pretty well dressed girl, but he couldn't pull a seat out of thin air. Zack saw Emily's face almost crumple, and he figured to hell with her pride; she needed help and he was there. Plus, he didn't relish the idea of her being alone in some strange place.
"Sir, could we pay the difference, so my cousin could stay with me? It was a last minute decision that she joined me on the trip." Zack offered, coming up with the cousin relationship to protect Emily's reputation. He remembered how she had blushed at being referred to as Mrs. Morton. For her part, Emily was looking at him horrified, with what he was suggesting.
The uniformed man regarded the couple in front of him, and rather doubted the cousin story. He didn't blame the young man though for what he was doing, to help the young lady. "Of course, you can do that sir. Let me calculate the fare." He did the math and told Zack how much. Emily watched as her new friend took his wallet out and paid the difference. She wanted to say something, but kept quiet, knowing the man would expect her male cousin to pay the fare. Once the ticket taker left, Emily and Zack faced each other in the compartment they would be sharing for four days.