Truth Comes Home

Audra home/talk to Family

Ch. 2

Audra wasn't concerned about any coded letter she'd written -one she knew would easily be deciphered by any member of her family even if it made no sense to anyone else should they happen to get a hold of it. No, she had other things on her mind; like praying with every ounce in her being the trip would be met with success.

Dwelling on them was easy as the other passengers left her alone…due to the fact that she was dressed in black and sported a black hat and veil as well. It was obvious to them that the woman was in mourning. Victoria's only daughter, underneath her long black veil, bit her lip as her last conversation with Duke played itself in mind. It was not one which needed repeating out loud. Doing so would serve no useful purpose, and to speak of it would risk her cover being blown. Exposure was the last thing that was needed at the moment.

"Take our child and get on that train! Don't tell anyone my blood runs through their veins until you can get to your family and explain why and how we got together, and do not wear anything other than the dress you have on until you get back to your brother's ranch." Duke was not yelling, but there was no 'please' about it either. He wanted her and their child on the train...like yesterday.

"But what about you? If you go alone, those men doing their best to track us could shoot you!" Audra hated the idea, and it made her sick.

"Those papers in your possessions are more important. Mine will convict – maybe- yours will seal the deal no matter what.." McColl softened his voice. "We need to split up. Sydney and his men have to be exposed. If we go two different ways, our odds go up such an event will happen." His eyes said more, and Audra sighed.

"Okay. We'll do it your way." Audra had relented, but not before giving him what every inch of her shouted would be their last kiss. "We may not have planned this; however, you are the best husband I could have asked for."

"I love you too. Now, get yourselves on that blasted train." Duke pushed her away doing his best to hide how much it hurt to do so; he succeeded with the young child- Audra however; saw it. Nonetheless she'd kept that fact to herself/

"I'm hungry, Mother. How long do I have to wear this stupid dress? This crazy wig glued to this insane hat." Audra's 'daughter' was in fact her seven-year old son. It had been McColl's idea he be dressed up as girl, and for his wife to put on mourning clothes. His voice was low, but still Audra hushed her son saying...hopefully...not much longer.

"They'll be looking for my wife and son, not a widow with a young daughter." McColl had then knelt by his son. "Please, listen to your mother. I promise she won't make you wear that clothing longer than absolutely necessary."

Audra had been keeping a sharp eye out for any of Grover's hired hands and had, so far, only had two close calls. One was back at the last station – two rugged men would have stopped her had they realized it was a young boy with her, not a girl. The other close call came at their last stop when a man who had dark hair and was sporting a poorly kept beard had stopped a few feet from them. Fortunately, her son's manner of dress as her own – had, as Duke had hoped, threw him off. Instead of bothering them, he'd sat down at the back end of the train. So, technically, she felt as if the last close call wasn't over yet. She looked out the window with mixed emotions as she saw Jarrod and Heath standing at the station, but no Duke. It was a fact that, on one hand, she had not expected -it would have alerted Grover to the fact she was on the train. However; it was another feeling that had never really let go of her which propelled her next thought into being silently spoken.

"I felt you being shot, Duke. I saw hands with black gloves holding onto you as you held onto an off white shirt. They got to you didn't they? I really am a widow now." Tears fell down her cheek and didn't bother hiding them.

"We'll be all right, Mother." Thomas whispered low. Audra would have spoken only the train had come to a stop. Therefore, she wasted no time in getting her son and herself off the train and over to Jarrod and Heath. Though, she acted the part Duke had ordered her to. A grieving widow of an old Barkley friend coming to go over his will. Alas, all but the last was now true. However; sensing more than seeing, the ill-kept man staring at them through the train window any words spoken at a normal range was in strict according to her husband's instructions… any words in regards to being watched were kept low.

"Follow me; we'll go over your paperwork in my office." Jarrod said loud enough to the stranger sitting near the open window of the train to hear. "This is Heath; my brother. He had errands to do here in town, and I suggested we all get a bite to eat before those were attended to. If that is, okay with you?" Jarrod, having already scanned Audra's letter before turning it over to his mother had easily deciphered who Thomas really was, but showed no sign of it until they were around the corner.

"Okay, so who was watching us?" Jarrod glanced back relieved to see the train leaving...with the stranger still on board.

"We'll talk about that later." Audra, who just wanted to get back to her childhood home, answered.