Chapter 25

Jack listened intently as Rose explained what had happened that day. He couldn't believe their luck. They had moved to a new state, on the other side of the country and yet he still couldn't escape these people.

"We can't stay here Jack. She'll find me again. Even if I don't go back to work, she knows I'm here. She'll arrange for Cal's men to come here and find me." Rose pleaded. "She doesn't know he's dead but its only a matter of time."

Jack nodded and took her back in his arms, holding her tight against him so her head was pressed against his chest. She could feel his heart beating through his shirt and it comforted her. His good heart. He kissed her forehead and ran his fingers gently through her hair which had now come loose from the pins she had in. He thought hard about their next move.

"We could go back to New York." He suggested.

She looked up at him, trying to understand.

"Think about it. Cal obviously thought you were there, that's why he was there. Ruth now thinks you're here. They wouldn't expect you to go back to New York. Not where she thinks he currently is. You said she told you that's where he was but we know he's dead. I think we should go back there and then plan our next move from there." Jack explained.

Rose thought it over. It did make sense. Ruth wouldn't ever expect her to head in Cal's direction. "Where would we stay though Jack? We can't go back to the boarding house."

"I'm sure William would let us stay. It would only be for a few days, then we can head somewhere else." Jack pulled her to him again.

"I did always say I wanted to be like you. Heading out into the horizon whenever I feel like it." Rose smiled. "Visiting three states in the space of three months. I'd have never been able to do that before."

"Like a tumbleweed blowing in the wind I told you." He laughed. "Come on, lets get things together. I'll go down the street and explain to Mr Windsor that we're having to leave. I'll pay him this weeks rent up to Sunday."

Rose nodded and vanished through to the bedroom where she picked up an envelope. She opened it up and lifted some notes from it, handing them to Jack.

"Thank you Mr Hockley." He smirked, still not quite believing that Cal had left the coat on Rose. She had done well to save some of the money that he had put into the coat pocket, choosing to only use it where she had to.

He kissed Rose on the cheek and disappeared back out the door, locking it behind him and leaving Rose to pack up their things.

….

After a couple of days travelling, Jack and Rose finally arrived back in New York. Rose shivered as she stepped off the train with Jack quickly behind her. The air was a lot cooler than it had been the last time they were there and she could feel Winter starting to descend on them. She suddenly missed the warm sea breeze she had experienced in California and she started to question whether they had made the right decision in leaving. Perhaps she's been too hasty and Ruth would have changed her mind, realising that Rose was better off where she was. She had purposely left Jack out of the conversation, she didn't want her knowing that he was still alive. She couldn't stand that condescending look she would have given at the mere mention of his name.

"You alright?" Jack wrapped his arm around her.

She nodded. "Mm hmm." Pulling her shawl tight around her shoulders and gripping onto her bag.

Jack gathered together the rest of their bags. Given their frequent travelling, they had become quite effective at packing light. They had learned which possessions they needed to keep with them and which they could leave behind.

"Come on then." He motioned for her to follow him and they started the short walk towards Williams house.

It was late and it was starting to get dark when they finally reached the house. Jack looked up at it, suitably impressed with the building that housed William and his family. He started to consider how he could possibly afford it but then remembered the type of money he had pulled in doing one of Costello's "special" jobs. Being aware that William carried these jobs out regularly made the situation make a lot more sense. Rose stood behind Jack as he knocked on the door, hoping that someone was home.

After what felt like a lifetime, the door was finally flung open and a woman stood in the door way.

"Yeah? What do you want?" she asked abruptly.

"I'm looking for William Hudson?" Jack cleared his throat.

"Oh yeah, what you want with our William?" She clearly wasn't letting on where he was without a fight.

"I'm an old friend of his, we used to work together." Jack explained.

"William!" she shouted, taking Jack and Rose by surprise. "Someone here for you."

Jack heard the clatter of footsteps coming towards the door and looked behind the woman as a shadow appeared against the wall.

"Who is it Sarah?" The voice said. "Jack?! Is that you?"

William pushed past the woman and right up to Jack, pulling him into a hug. "I thought you wouldn't be back? Its good to see you!"

Jack willingly let the man grip onto him, laughing at his show of affection.

"And young Rosie!" William let go of Jack and moved to Rose, doing the exact same to her. "God I can't believe you guys are here! Come in, come in." He grabbed two of their bags and ushered them inside and into the living room. He placed the bags down and offered them a seat on the well worn out brown sofa. "Would you like a drink?"

"Water is fine." Jack said.

"Nonsense. You coming back is cause for celebration!" William cheered. "Sarah, get the brandy!"

Sarah obliged and disappeared into the next room.

"So what are you doing back here?" William asked.

Jack sighed. "It's a long story."

"I've got time." He took the brandy bottle from Sarah who had arrived back in the room. She handed glasses to Rose and Jack before sitting down beside William on the other sofa.

Over several more glasses, Jack and Rose explained what had happened and why they had to return to New York.

"We couldn't risk staying there any longer." Rose took a swig of the brandy, her cheeks tightening at the sensation of it sliding down her throat.

"Jesus Christ." William topped up the glasses. "How long are you going to stay in town?"

"Probably just a few days. We need to find somewhere else to go from here. I'm sure Cal's henchmen are still around." Rose sighed.

"There had been some prowling around after that night." William confirmed. "But I haven't seen them for a few weeks now. They still don't seem to know that anything has happened to him. I heard folk talking about it. They think that he's moved to a different city but they're expecting him to come back as he hadn't checked out of the Astoria yet. I wonder how long it will take before they realise they're looking for a body."

Jack chuckled at the thought. Rose shot him a look, angry with him for showing such flippancy at the situation.

"So where are you staying?" William asked.

"Well to be honest, that's why we came. I know its asking a lot. I just wondered if we'd possibly be able to stay with you for a few days?" Jack asked, cautiously.

"Of course. Sarah, go and make up the spare room." He instructed the now quiet woman. "That room hasn't seen a soul in it since Sarah's mother was here 3 years ago." He laughed.

"Thank you. This really means a lot." Jack said, clinking their glasses together.

...

"So where do we go from here Jack?" Rose asked, lying beside him in bed. The room had been incredibly cold due to its limited occupancy so she wrapped the duvet tightly around her and hooked her leg over his.

"I was thinking, why don't we head to Wisconsin? He suggested. "Your mother never knew I was from there did she?"

Rose shook her head. "I never mentioned it."

"Well then she won't have any reason to go there."

Rose smiled. It made sense. Plus she was intrigued to see where Jack grew up. She felt it might give her a sense of his childhood, and would possibly help her to understand why he was the way that he was.

"Ok Jack. Wisconsin it is."