Chapter 4

Rick heard the door to the carriage open up and the loud staccato clickety-clack sound of the wheels on the rails. The sound ceased when the door closed. He looked up from writing in his note book to see who had entered the car. He found a tall light brown haired kid walking slowly up the aisle. He had the kind of assured swagger of a kid who was a leader of a gang and not to be messed with. Rick could not help but think that with that square jaw and hard look he had all the makings of a G-man in the future or some super villain in a James Bond movie.

Rick tried to return to the story he had been writing but he could not help but notice the kid was approaching, his eyes sweeping from side to side looking at the kids sitting there, and considering whose lunch money he was going to steal no doubt. He came to a halt by the seat in front of the brunette girl.

"Hey Katie." the kid said.

"Hey, Will."

Rick forgot all about his story as he cast a glance across the aisle. The kid named Will, the future G-man or super villain had a proprietary look about him as he lounged against the back of a seat.

"What ya doing in here with all the losers?" Will said. "Why don't you come and join us in the other car?"

Katie shook her head.

"Ah, come on, Katie."

"I'm fine here, Will."

"I ain't asking, Katie." Will said ominously. "I'm telling."

Rick saw the girl Katie lift up her chin and a hard, dark look settle on her face as she stared up at Will.

"And I'm telling you I'm fine here." She announced tersely.

"Don't make me have to drag you, Katie." Will warned, a confident smirk on his face. "You don't want everyone laughing at you as I drag you out of here."

"Go away, Will and leave me alone."

"Can't do that, Katie." Will shook his head, the smug look still on his face.

Rick set aside his journal and pen and rose to his feet. He did not know what made him rise to his feet really, perhaps it might have been because of all those stories about knights in shinning armour rescuing damsels in distress that had been reading lately at the library or something else. What he did know was that he did not like the way things had turned between Katie and Will and he knew he could not sit back and do nothing.

"I think you'd better leave." Rick said as he stepped into the aisle.

Will swung round and looked at the kid who had intruded. Rick saw a brief flicker of surprise on Will's face as he was confronted by someone who was the same size and shape as him. The swagger and smirk returned slowly after taking Rick's measure.

"This doesn't concern you, so go back to your seat, sport." Will said.

"I think it does." Rick returned. "The lady has asked you to leave, I think you should."

"Lady?" Will laughed. "Lady, eh?"

"Yes." Rick replied. His eyes flickered over to where Katie was sitting and the look on her face was unreadable. He looked back to Will.

"Go back to your seat." Will said.

"After you leave."

Will took a step towards Rick. Rick was starting to feel a little nervous which he tried hard not to let it show on his face. He had no doubt the future G-man or super villain could handle himself in a fight and from the looks of things he was spoiling for a fight right now.

"Will, leave now or I'll call the conductor." Katie said angrily.

"I'll leave after I deal with this guy here."

Rick was not much of a fighter, he would be the first to admit that. Usually he had relied on his quick wits and tongue to get himself out of tricky situations just like this one. It also helped that when quick wit and sharp tongue did not work the last weapon in his armoury was turning tail and running as fast as his legs could carry him. Well that last weapon in his armoury was not going to work this time, he realised.

Well there was last trick that he had up his sleeve. In this moment he silently thanked his mother for having dragged him to countless stage show rehearsals and performances. He had learned a few tricks of the acting trade. To be a good actor or actress one had to believe totally in the role one was performing. Right now he believed totally he was a knight in shinning armour.

Rick took a step towards Will staring at him. He wanted Will to know that he was not going to back down. He wanted Will to believe he would not back down. Will's eyes widened a little but the confidence returned and he took another step towards Rick.

Well, so much believing in the role, Rick thought to himself as he continued to stare at Will. The other kid wanted to fight him there was no doubt of that. Rick could see it in his eyes.

"Mr Sorensen." Boomed the voice of Conductor Montgomery.

Will's eyes left Rick's and turned to look at where the conductor was standing.

"Is there a problem here?" Montgomery inquired.

"No problem, sir."

"Then I suggest you return to your carriage, Mr Sorensen."

Will slowly turned his head and looked at Rick. He flashed a confident grin.

"We'll finish this later, sport." Will said in a low voice that only Rick heard.

Rick watched silently as Will moved off down the aisle and disappear through the door into the next car. Rick let out the breath he had been holding. Rick looked over to Montgomery and gave him a small nod of the head. Montgomery flashed a small smile before he left.

"I think you'd better watch your back." Kate said.

Rick turned and saw that Kate was smiling gently up at him.

"I think you might be right." Rick replied, as the enormity of what he had done began to sink in. "So who was he?"

"Someone who thinks I'm still his girlfriend." Kate huffed.

Rick nodded his head slowly. "I get the impression you are a little more discerning about that."

Kate's smile deepened a little as she shrugged her shoulders.

Rick glanced in the direction of where Will had disappeared before he turned back to look at Kate.

"Well, I think I know who's going to get a lump of coal for Christmas." Rick grinned.

Kate laughed at that remark. Rick liked the sound of her laughter. He smiled. Unbidden he sat down next to her and held out his hand. If Rick had spared a moment to think about it, he would have been more than a little surprised by his sudden and impulsive action. Katie was surprised at his action and stared at his extended hand. She bit on her lip nervously.

"Hi my name's Rick."

"K...Katie...Kate." Katie stammered. She shook Rick's hand.

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Katie Kate."

"It's just Kate."

"Well, It's just Kate..." Rick smiled.

"Kate!"

"Well, whatever your name is Kate, I'm very pleased to meet you."

Kate returned Rick's smile and now with him sitting next to her she saw the warmth of his blue eyes. Suddenly she realised that she was still holding his hand. Quickly she took back her hand and tried hard not to blush. Rick continued to smile at her. Kate had to look away to stop herself from a blushing under his gaze.

She did not want to admit it but her friend Lanie might have been right. She kind of liked him. He had stood up to Will, coming to her rescue, not that she really needed it, but he did it anyway without even knowing her. And then there were those blue eyes of his that had sent a flutter through her stomach. Despite her best efforts Kate could feel her cheeks heating up.

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Thoughts on this effort?

Con