CHAPTER 6

(A few belated notes. I have been using asterisks to denote transitions in this story. Seems they get formatted out when I post so hopefully there are no issues in following the flow of the story. I also tried to do a little research around trains and travel times and I don't know that there was a station in Omaha at this time and it may have taken significantly longer to travel than I'm making it here. But ya know, it's fluff so, enjoy.)

Cara held the little slip of paper in her hand as she made her way home. She could hardly believe it, but the writing on the paper said it was true. Marshal Hunter was coming. When she read the telegram, she had felt immense relief. Her letter had made it into the right hands and help was coming.

She unlocked the door to the tiny room she rented in the boarding house and placed the paper on the small table next to her bed, beneath the rock she used as a paper weight. Help was coming for Louise but there was still the matter of the monster. She didn't know if guns would work against him? Or how they could even get close enough to kill him since he seemed to be able to bend anyone to his will.

"There must be a way," she told herself. The answer would be in the study, she knew. She had avoided that room ever since the day she read those journals. But there was no one else, only her.

January 1862

Over three weeks had passed since Louise last saw Jack. She waited for her blood to come, but it never did. Motherhood was suddenly on the horizon. Of course Alexander told her not to fret. She would have nursemaids and nannies and anything she needed to help her learn how to care for the baby. Women of her station did not raise their own children anyway. She found this fact sad. Why be a mother, if not to do the mothering?

There were so many things to think about, so many things a baby needs. There was the task of furnishing a nursery and acquiring clothes and things for the child and for Louise as her body would change and grow. Alex instructed her to have Cara collect catalogs from the appropriate shops so that she could order all they would need. She had argued that it was still too early for those plans but he insisted. He told her it was best to be prepared. Things would begin to move quickly.

Cara was surprised to find Louise dressed and sitting at the table drinking tea when she arrived. She rarely emerged from her room until well into the afternoon these days. As far as the maid could tell, she'd ceased her daytime outings entirely and kept night hours, same as Mr. Grayson.

"Cara, good morning," Louise greeted her as she came in. "I hope you don't mind, I have some extra work for you today." No other missus would tell her they hoped she didn't mind. She slid some lists across the table in Cara's direction. "I'm," she swallowed, "with child." A small and insincere smile spread across her face. Care detected more fear than joy. "It's early but Alexander likes to plan ahead, so…" She gestured to the many lists.

There were three papers in total: a list of supplies and items they would require, a list of certain stores where she was to collect the latest catalogs for their perusal, and finally, a list of meals she was to prepare for the rest of the month.

"Your husband really does like to plan ahead." A comment she would never make to any other lady of the house.

"Things will be moving quickly now," she murmured indistinctly. "But if you could start with breakfast, that would be great." Another forced smile.

After she had polished off the omelet Cara prepared, Louise asked her to sit and have tea with her. She peppered the girl with questions about her mother. What was she like? How did she treat her? Had they been close?

Cara gleaned that she was trying to understand what it meant to be a mother herself. And she realized that Alexander really had taken every memory, every experience she'd ever had away from her.

Jimmy stared out the open window at the passing landscape..The scenery blurred in his vision as they sped through. They would reach Boston in a few more days. And Lou. He closed his eyes and breathed in, imagining what it would be like to hold her again. Every second of this trip had been torture, knowing where Lou was but being so far away. If his guilt wasn't making him sick, then it was the nightmares. He felt trapped on this train, too much steel boxing him in. So he paced and he stared out the window and he paced some more.

"Not quite yet."

"What?"

"There's still some floor under your feet. You ain't worn it out quite yet."

"I'm workin' on it."

"Look Hickok, you ain't helping your girl by frettin' like one. Have you even slept through a night this whole trip? How you gonna rescue the damsel if you ain't had no sleep?"

Jimmy stopped his pacing and looked squarely at Jake. "It don't take too much effort to put a bullet through a man."

Jake smiled. "It's that easy?"

"That easy."

"I don't know if the marshal's gonna cotton to that approach."

"I'm not leaving Boston without two things - Lou and that man's dead body resting at my feet. Whatever it takes."

"Alright." Jake nodded. "I got your back Hickok."

By the end of that day Cara had collected six catalogs from the different stores as she'd been asked. She lugged the thick books around in an oversized canvas bag, planning to take them home and mark a few of the things she knew Louise would need before bringing them back to the house tomorrow.

Back in her room she grew restless, flipping through the catalogs. Here she was doing these tasks for Grayson when she should be looking for a way to get Louise out of there. All day, the missus had shadowed her while she worked. The woman was lonely, and scared. Cara sympathized but if this kept up, she'd never have a chance to look for answers in the study. As she placed another catalog in her lap she thought again of Jack Winchester. She couldn't be sure the baby was his but it was a definite possibility. If there was a way to make him remember… That would probably be in the study too. She fell back into her mattress and sighed. She had to get more time in there.

The next day was much like the one before. Louise was up and dressed before Cara arrived to do her work. They spent the morning pouring over the items in the catalogs with Louise making notes on things to bring to Alex's attention. After lunch, Louise had retired to her room but Cara dared not search the study with her home. What she needed was a way to get Louise out of the house during the day.

This time when Cara went to the hotel, she knew just where to wait for Jack. She waited in the alley until he came out, cigarette in hand.

"Miss Kelly? You here to talk to me about Louise again?"

"So you remember that?"

"Sure. But apparently there's a lot I don't remember." He pulled a crumpled note from his pocket. "I found this in my place. It's my script, but I can't recall writing it." She took the note from him. Don't forget Louise. You love her. Remember. Grayson is… And then it trailed off and became illegible. "What does it mean?"

She handed back the note. "It's a lot to explain. When is your shift over?"

Louise and Alexander sat in front of the fireplace, open catalogs spread out around them. "Tomorrow you can have Cara put these orders in for you," he told her as he stroked her bare shoulders. Her nightgown had been discarded earlier when he had made surprisingly gentle love to her before the fire. "You may accompany her, if you wish." He pushed her hair behind her ears and studied her features. "Take some money for lunch. Enjoy yourself."

"You are feeling generous?"

"You need the fresh air, sunshine. I want you healthy and our child healthy." Gently he pushed her onto her back to lie in the plush blankets he had put down for them. "Wait till you start to glow." He followed her down. "You will be a beautiful mother. Young. Strong," he told her as his hands traversed her naked body.

Her skin, warm from the fire, grew goosebumps and her nipples hardened. His fingertips traveled from her breasts down her stomach and then between her legs where he found her exceptionally wet and hot. He stared into her deep brown eyes as he began to touch her.

Alexander's clear blue eyes filled her vision and she felt his intent holding her focus in her body, forcing her to feel each sensation with an intensity that caused her flesh to vibrate. His fingers circled her entrance.

"Please," she moaned. "Alex."

"I like the way you say that," he told her before plunging into her. He felt her body pulsing around his fingers. "Is this what you want?"

"No," she answered, reaching for his erection. "You."

"Take it." He lied back and let her straddle him, helping her to ease herself onto his cock. She whimpered as she sunk onto him and felt herself stretch around him. He was so hard. So deep within her.

Biting her lip, she looked down at her lover with a sultry, teasing smile as she began to rock her hips slowly. He smiled back. This was how he liked her best. He adored her really. What luck he had found such a sweet prize in this wretched country.

She moved faster. He squeezed her hips encouragingly. She braced herself on his chest and slid effortlessly over his cock again and again. Alex never closed his eyes. He wanted to see her. Her rosy cheeks. Her bouncing breasts. Her taut stomach slightly damp with sweat. He stared at her body while she rode him. This was his. All of her, his possession, for always.

"What the fuck!"

"Jimmy!" Rachel scolded.

"Sorry Rachel. But, delayed?"

"There was a storm. Too much snow to pass. We'll have to stay here till they can clear the tracks."

"Where is here?"

"Hartford."

Jimmy rubbed his temples. He felt a stabbing headache coming on. They were so close.

"Come on." Teaspoon put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Might as well go stretch our legs."

The city wasn't nearly as crowded as Jimmy imagined it would be, but then there was the storm to thank for that. What he knew about Hartford could fit in a thimble. There were abolitionists here and Connecticut was home to many arms and munitions companies that supplied the Union. He knew he didn't want to be here, where the war felt more tangible. It made him think of Cody and of Kid.

As they walked, he glanced around and took in the scenery. Everything was built so close together and so much higher than he was used to. It stretched on for miles, not like sleepy little Sweetwater at all. Under different circumstances, it may have been fun to explore.

The group walked quietly for a while. Weeks in the close quarters of the train had driven them all a little stir crazy. They craved fresh air, open space, and a bit of solitude. Jimmy was of a mind to split from the group for a bit, maybe visit one of these Eastern bars. Teaspoon was not of the opinion that splitting up in a strange city was a bright idea. A compromise was reached and Jimmy, Jake, and Buck made for the pub while Teaspoon and Rachel would try one of the many restaurants lining the street. They would meet back at the train and spend the night in their sleeping cars as usual.

The three men stepped into the bar and gave their eyes a minute to adjust to the dim light before taking their seats.

"Whiskey," Jimmy ordered. Colter raised his eyebrows at Buck as if to ask if this was a regular occurrence. The Kiowa just shook his head.

Buck ordered a sarsaparilla and waited to see if they would serve him or not. The bartender didn't seem to care one way or another that there was an Indian at the bar. He just popped the cap off and placed the bottle in front of Buck. Colter ordered a beer, emptying half the glass in one big gulp. Placing the glass back on the counter, he took a look around the room. It was midday and there were only a few others at the bar, a couple more sitting in the booths. All men. Turning back to his companions, he mentioned, "this place don't have much in the way of diversion."

"It ain't a whorehouse," Jimmy told him.

"I meant like cards or something."

Jimmy ignored him and sipped his whiskey.

The doorbell drew Louise out of her morning bath. She pulled on her robe and went downstairs to let Cara in. She was a bit early today. Louise swung open the door and found herself face to face with Jack.

Jack stared back at the woman in front of him. Her brown hair was pulled into a high bun. A thin white robe clung to wet skin, becoming damp and see through. Pulling his attention back to her face, he saw she was staring back at him with big brown eyes.

"Jack, what are you doing here? How did you-"

"What? Find you? Or remember you?" Her eyes darted back into the house. "Let me in and I'll tell you."

"No. You shouldn't be here." She looked scared.

"Come out with me then."

"No Jack. Please go."

He took a step forward. "I'm going to stand on this porch until you come out with me, or your husband removes me himself."

"Fine," she exhaled, after a brief hesitation. "Give me a chance to get dressed. Just, wait outside." She closed the door and he heard the deadbolt click.

She knows me, he thought to himself as he stood there waiting. Cara said she would. The girl had said a lot of things, most of them hard to believe. She'd been right about the address, the woman. She was young, pretty, and had a fine body from what he'd seen. Louise was just the kind of bored, aristocratic housewife he would have shared a romp with, but fallen in love… Then there was the note, the message he wrote to himself. That couldn't be ignored.

Hearing the door open, he looked up and saw Louise exit the house. She wore a thick gray wool cloak over a deep blue dress. Worn leather boots covered her feet. She closed the door behind her, locking it, and pulled on shiny black leather gloves. She took a deep breath and released it before turning her attention to him. "Let's go," she told him before walking briskly away from the house. He caught up and they walked side by side for a bit before she finally spoke. "You shouldn't remember. How is it possible?"

Pulling the note from his breast pocket he held it in front of her so she could see. She stopped walking and reached her hand to take it, but he snatched it away. "Can't give up my only bit of evidence," he said, shoving it back into his coat.

She remained standing there with him, her eyes narrowed as she studied his face. "If you don't remember, how did you find me?"

"I remember some things."

"You lie," she stated calmly. "Did Alex send you here to test me?" she asked. "If I fail, you will be the one to pay. You know that don't you?"

The fear he'd seen in her eyes earlier. He'd been mistaken. It was not for herself, but for him.

"Cara," he spoke without thinking. Her face fell.

"Let's find a place to sit."

A short while later they sat across from one another at a small cafe not too far from the house. Louise ordered breakfast for herself and Jack asked for coffee. After their waiter had excused himself, she focused her attention on the man in front of her. "Tell me what Cara told you. All of it."

Normally being bossed around really raised his hackles. But he sensed Louise, tough as she appeared on the outside, was actually quite vulnerable at the moment. So he started at the beginning.

While Louise ate, Jack talked. All Cara really knew was that Louise visited Jack on his boat almost everyday. She strongly suspected their relationship, but never had proof until she delivered Alexander's dinner invitation. To her knowledge, that night was the last time they were together. Louise finished her plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. She waited for Jack to mention the baby, but he never did. A fact Cara omitted apparently. Louise felt it best to do the same.

"But this note. I only found it a few weeks ago. So I assume we saw each other after that?"

She nodded. "It was supposed to be the last time we saw each other. A chance to say goodbye." That was all she said. Her eyes bore into the man across from her. "What did she say about Alexander?"

Jack relayed what Cara had told him, that she believed Grayson was evil, had kidnapped Louise and somehow manipulated her memory. Per her instructions, he omitted the part about him being a vampire.

"I'm trapped. But you and Cara, you should leave the city. Just go. As far as you can, Jack. I'm afraid for the both of you."

"And you?"

"My place is with him."

"Then this love," he gestured between them, "was never real."

Louise felt a pain in her chest. It stabbed deep and emanated outward. "It's the closest I'll ever come." She looked him square in the eye. "Tear up the note, Jack. Throw it away. Let yourself forget." She stood. "Keep this up and you might as well dig your own grave. He let you go. So go." She left Jack to sit with her last words to him.

"He always like this?" Colter asked before slinging a dart in the general direction of the board. He'd already been beaten handily by Buck a few times and had pretty much given up on the game. But it gave him something to do.

"Jimmy's always been kinda broody," he said, throwing another bullseye. "When Lou disappeared, I think he died a little. He was starting to live again, taking the deputy job, moving back into the bunkhouse. Now, I worry he won't ever forgive himself for it."

"You close to the girl?"

Buck nodded. "All of us were. Like family."

"And her and Hickok?"

"That's a complicated story." Jake continued to look at him expectantly. "And I ain't sure it's any of your business." He ended the conversation and walked back to the bar to check on his friend.

Cara couldn't be sure how much time Jack would be able to buy her. She tried to work quickly. There were a dozen journals in Grayson's desk but she started with the first, the oldest, the bloodiest. He had been insatiable after he was first turned. Hunting and feasting seemed to be all he ever did. The thing in the cave taught him how.

She skimmed the pages. Death and power, that's all it was. Until… "Yes," she whispered. Grayson's maker didn't just teach him how to kill. He taught him how to survive. "No more time for playing it safe," she told herself, ripping the page right out of the book and stuffing it into her bodice. She stacked the journals just as she'd found them, wiping each one down before proceeding to clean the desk. She was almost finished when she heard the front door open downstairs. That would have to do. She quietly exited the study and slipped into Louise's room.

That's where Louise found her, putting fresh linens onto the bed. "Cara, let's go out." She told her to leave everything as it was, the bed half made, dirty dishes soaking in the kitchen sink.

A short time later they sat in the very same cafe where she and Jack had their final conversation. Louise ordered tea for herself and, before it was served, she pulled a paper and pen from her purse. "I need your resignation," she stated, pushing the paper in Cara's direction.

"Ma'am?" Apparently things with Jack hadn't gone too well.

"Say you've taken a job full time with another family. Something believable."

"Ma'am I know I overstepped but-"

"It's not about overstepping Cara. Well, maybe it is. Whatever you think you know about Alex, you don't understand. You can't be in the house anymore." She tapped the paper in front of them.

She'd told Jack too much, put them all in danger. "With all due respect, I can handle myself." She slid the paper back to Louise. "I'm not resigning."

Louise tilted her head, trying to read the young woman across from her. "Why did you tell Jack about us? Tell me the truth."

"I might not understand everything, but I can tell a trapped woman when I see one. You want a way out, don't you? I thought maybe Jack could help."

"So you sought him out?"

"You're with child. Is it really Alexander Grayson's? Or is it Jack's? Do you really want that man raising your child?" Cara was feeling bolder. She had nothing to lose now.

"You didn't tell him?"

"Jack? No." She shook her head. "No."

"Because it's not safe. And you know that." She finished her tea and began gathering her things. "You can't trust me either Cara. If he asks me questions, I will answer." She took back her paper and pen. "Come then. We have shopping to do."

Louise insisted they get through every last shop and check off everything on her list in this one outing. By the time she returned home, the sun had already set. As expected, Alexander was awake and waiting for her. She hung her bag on the coat rack in the hallway and focused on controlling her anxiety. Slowly she removed her cloak and gloves before kicking off her boots.

"There you are," he greeted her without looking up. In the parlor there was a roaring fire and he sat, sipping brandy and staring into the flames. "Come sit with me." She joined him, taking a seat on his lap. One arm came around her possessively. "How was your day with the maid?"

"I was eager to get started. I pulled her away from her other duties. I hope you don't mind."

"You mean the stench of dirty dishes and unwashed laundry? Or of your gentleman caller?"

She froze. Jack hadn't touched her, not that she could recall. She'd been in and out of stores all day. How could he possibly distinguish his scent among all the others? "I sent him away," she said when she'd finally found her voice. "He won't bother us again."

"No. He will not." He rested his glass on the table and stood, lifting Louise with him. He grasped her upper arm and led her into the adjacent sitting room. "See for yourself." His grip on her arm tightened to the point of being painful. The candles in the room flared. And she saw him.

She shut her eyes tight, but he was still there when she opened them again. "What happened?"

"He came back. With this." He threw an empty revolver on the floor, next to where Jack's body lay. "And this," he added, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and tossing it next to the gun. "Who knew your bond was so strong." He released Louise's arm and she fell onto her knees.

She could not look away from Jack's face, drained of life. She crawled to him and cradled his head in her lap. "I'm sorry," she whispered over and over.

"Enough," Alex told her. "I will take care of this. Go finish Cara's chores. Now," he yelled when she didn't immediately follow his command.

"What will you do with him?"

"I will bury him. Now go."