Amelia and Ethan took seats on the train that would take them to San Francisco by the next day. They had traveled by stagecoach and arrived in time to buy tickets to get aboard the train.
It hadn't been easy to get to this point in their journey. Ethan had done as Amelia suggested and asked Stella and Edwina to stay at his house and look after the children while they were gone. He agreed that it'd help them get a taste of what life would be like in the household when he wasn't there.
Stella hadn't been too thrilled in the beginning. She'd asked him why he had to leave town in the first place…and why he had to leave with her.
"We got information that Miranda might be out that way and got to check it out."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"But why Ethan…we're so busy getting to know each other right now," she said, "Why interrupt that by doing a job that plenty of marshals could do in that city?"
"I promised Amelia I'd help her find her friend."
Stella made a face.
"You might be helping a criminal. How do you know Carlton's not right? That she's aiding and abetting a kidnapping?"
"I know Amelia and she'd never do that. I don't know Carlton and why he's sending out men killing people around his wife…like her brother."
"You don't know that for sure do you?"
"No…but I'm pretty sure he's up to something," he said, "and I'm not letting Amelia face what's out there by herself. I'd not be doing my sworn duties as a marshal if I let her go alone."
She sighed.
"I don't get it. She can find help elsewhere…hire a gunslinger to protect her while she goes out West. She doesn't need a lawman."
"Miranda and her baby need a lawman," he said, "and I'm going out there to find them. But I need you and Edwina to look after the children why I'm gone."
Stella hedged.
"I don't know…I never looked after children. What if they don't like me?"
"They'll do as I tell them…and I'll make sure they know I left you in charge."
She still looked uneasy.
"Beside Edwina will be there to help you," he said, "and I can tell John Taylor to keep an eye on the house too…give you a hand if you need one."
She didn't look convinced.
Edwina looked happier.
"Oh Ethan of course I'll look after them," she said, "I love children…and I can handle all ages."
He felt some relief that she seemed to handle it better than Stella.
"Claire will help you if you need it…and John Taylor…"
She smiled at him.
"Oh we'll be fine," she said, "Stella and me…we can handle four children for a while. How long will you be gone?"
He hedged.
"I'm not sure…depends on what we find in San Francisco but it might be at least a week. I'll leave the account open at the stores in town in case you need anything."
That part of the news had perked Stella up a bit but Edwina just shrugged.
"We'll be fine," she said, "I might get some sewing done."
He nodded and then he left to begin getting ready. When he'd actually left the household, Claire had told him not to worry in her no-nonsense manner and the boys had told him they'd do their chores and would John Taylor be there to take them fishing and tell them stories.
Amelia and he had left the following day to begin the journey. The stage coach ride had been bumpy but they'd packed lightly and the driver assured them they'd reach the train station in time.
A wheel had nearly fallen off up in the foothills so Ethan had helped the man put it back on while Amelia had talked to another passenger, Edith who was going to take a train to Chicago to meet her grandchild. They'd walked to the creek and sat on the grassy banks talking while the men got the stagecoach back working.
They'd made up most of the time and when they got to the train station, they purchased tickets in what was called a Pullman car. Amelia knew someone in charge of the railroad who'd gotten them the car without further cost…to pay her back on a bank loan when she'd been in Reno.
"It's like a small room," he said, "about the size of the shed."
"Some of the railroad bigwigs have slept here," Amelia said, "It's converted into a sleeping area at night."
He helped her put her luggage up and then they sat on the seats. They'd bought some food from the dining car and it proved delicious.
"You think this man will help us or is it a trap?"
Ethan sighed.
"Not sure yet…we might want to hire some help when we get there or at least ask around about this Butler guy."
She frowned.
"I don't know if I heard the name before…unless he's from Pierce's crowd perhaps. Or how Miranda would know him. She didn't mention him to me."
"We'll find out. If it's someone trying to hurt her, they might have her and be trying to get a ransom."
She shivered.
"I hope not…Ethan she's been through so much already and if it's ransom…then this Butler person might contact Carlton too. He might be on his way there…he could have men on this train."
Ethan nodded. He'd thought of that and he'd cased the train car that they were in and the dining car. But he didn't see anything obviously suspicious. He guessed any trouble would be waiting for them when they arrived in the city.
"I'm glad you're here Ethan."
He smiled at her.
"Me too…whatever happens Amelia…I'm going to be here helping you."
She rubbed his shoulder.
"Thank you…I told Miranda all about you," She said, "I can't wait for you two to meet."
"Seems like a very nice lady…"
"She is Ethan and I owe her so much…I owe her in ways I could never repay her."
He fell silent then. She knew she'd left him with unanswered questions about her past but she didn't want to go back there.
The train kept moving and Amelia just closed her eyes…hoping they'd get to San Francisco on time.
