As it turned out Pip didn't need Hazel to wake her, the conductor did that job quite nicely as he walked through the train calling out every stop. When they reached Bloomington it was close to dusk. Pip gathered up her things and turned to Hazel, "Well I'm sure I'll see you around town eventually."

"It was nice to meet you Penelope." Hazel said gathering her own things.

Pip looked a bit shocked, "Oh you can call me Pip, everyone does."

"Pip what is that short for?" Cora asked as they stepped off the train.

"Pipsqueak, I happen to be shorter than all of my brothers, even the younger ones. The older ones have been calling me pipsqueak since I was a kid. It was picked up around the neighborhood and I've been answering it ever since. Even after I started getting taller then most of the girls and a few of the guys." Pip explained as she began looking around the train platform. "Is anyone going to be picking you up?"

Hazel looked a bit ashamed, "No actually after writing Aaron that I had accepted his offer, I never told him when I was coming. I just got on the train after my boss's son made a pass at me. I think I might have made it here before my letter. But I figure it can't be that hard to find the Parker farm. I was just going to ask at the ticket office for directions. Either that or I have some money I might just get a room at a hotel and ask around tomorrow."

Pip nodded as she looked around the deserted train platform before stomping her foot hard. "Well I am going to have to join you in asking directions out to a farm. My loving brother has decided to stand me up." She placed both her hatbox and carpetbag in her left hand.

"Well that looks like a general store there, should we try there?" Hazel asked pointing to a store with a light still on.

Pip shrugged and began walking toward the store. Hazel shook her head and followed after the other girl. As they entered the general store the proprietor looked up from his books. "Hello ladies how can I help you?"

"I'm sorry of disturbing you so late, but we just arrived on the train and the people who were to meet us must have forgotten which train we would be on. Could you give us directions to where Ben Conlon lives." Pip asked innocently.

"Yeah I could give you directions but Sam here could walk you out." The proprietor motioned to a young man who had just come in.

"What are you volunteering me for now Jackson." The young man asked humor in his voice.

"These young fillies are looking to go out to where Conlon and the rest of the guys are hold up. I figured you're going out that way anyway." Jackson said with a shrug.

"Ladies, I'm Sam Davis." Sam said holding out a hand to the girls.

"Penelope Conlon Donelly, it seems my brother forgot about me." Pip said shaking the offered hand, "And this is Hazel, she's Parker's fiancée."

"Nice to meet you both, well I guess I can take you by there. Though I passed Conlon on the way in." Sam said as he motioned for the girls to follow him.

"Oh he was in town? I wonder what's going on then."

"I don't know but I'll tell you this much if I had know my sister was in town on her own I wouldn't leave her on her lonesome. There are some unsavory guys around here." Sam said taking the girls' luggage and strapping it to his horse's saddle.

"I can imagine, but Spot knows I can take care of myself." Pip said with assurance.

"Penelope can I talk to you in private?" Hazel asked suddenly.

Pip nodded and motioned for Sam to keep going. "Is something wrong?"

"Why did you say we needed to go to the same farm?" Hazel asked, "Do you know Aaron?"

"Well not personally, but I have a feeling that your fiancée lives with my brother." Pip said uncomfortably.

"But how can that be?" Hazel seemed confused.

"My brother and his friends put ads in the New York City papers for wives. My brother asked me to come out early to help clean up their house." Pip was really uncomfortable now.

Before Hazel could respond Sam yelled back to the girls. "This is you ladies turn off. The house is just up the road a bit. I live about a mile that way so I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other. Give Conlon my regards, tell him I ain't to happy about him leaving two ladies on their own." Sam said as the girls came to gather their belongings.

"I'll be sure to pass on your feelings Mr. Davis, along with a few of my own. Thank you for escorting us out here." Pip said shaking hands with Sam again.

"Yes thank-you Mr. Davis." Hazel said quickly taking her things and moving away.

"Have a good evening ladies." Sam said with a final tip of his hat before he jumped onto his horse and began to ride off.

"Well shall we go on?" Pip asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I guess, but I think you are wrong." Hazel said with some conviction.

"I hope so." Pip said with out any conviction as they approached the house.