LOST AND FOUND - PART 10
THE FLITTING
CHAPTER 90
Everyone in the family who could was waiting impatiently at the depot for the train to arrive five days later, and as they waited more and more people joined the group until it seemed like half the town was there.
Rumors had been flying thick and fast from the little that had appeared in the papers. Only the basic facts were actually known, but of course since Adam's name had been mentioned in print, the wildest stories were circulating about the silent young woman who had been arrested, charged, and then mysteriously disappeared from the central jail.
Getting the young woman released into Ted's custody turned out to be even easier than Adam had thought. The judge at the arraignment had been quite impressed by the young doctor's credentials and his persuasive assertion that TJ had suffered a severe shock and only needed time and treatment to recover. Being a male who firmly believed in the fragility of the female, the judge had taken one look at the lovely young woman standing mute before him, her eyes full of deep anguish and he motioned for the bailiff to take her away.
The paperwork had been completed in record time and as soon as she was released they had quickly climbed into Adam's coach, driven by the loyal David, and had immediately gone to the private car and boarded, even though the train wasn't scheduled to leave for several hours.
Thea and Nate had gone to Doctor Charles' small house, packed what they could, and then joined the others at the train quickly and quietly before any reporters had gotten wind of the flitting.
Wes and Charlie had come along at Adam's request after arranging for more men to come to Virginia City as Adam expected the story to break in the near future and that the house would eventually be besieged by reporters.
Everyone except Adam and Thea, had fallen into an uneasy doze. She had spent her time sitting next to the long sofa where TJ lay, watching her and reaching out to comfort the young woman when she moved restlessly, obviously having bad dreams.
He had spent the time thinking deeply. The more he thought about the situation the more he came to see that the best approach would be to meet the reporter problem head on and to play offense instead of defense.
Smiling his sharp smile, he checked his pocket watch and rose to gently shake his fellow travelers awake. They would be pulling into the station soon.
When the train finally arrived the three deputies, and Adam's father and brothers had shouldered their way forward to the front, and waited for the passengers to appear.
However the crowd's disappointment was evident when only Adam, Thea, Wes, Charlie and Nate had come down the car steps. Most of the spectators had left by the time Stu had arrived with a small wagon and all the men hurried to load the luggage. When they were done, Adam had climbed up on the wagon seat next to Thea and took the reins as the rest climbed into the back, holding onto the two large trunks that had been loaded last to keep them steady.
Dora was waiting in the kitchen and as soon as the wagon pulled up with the oddly silent group, she hurried to open the inner back door and held the screen door open as Wes and Charlie hurried up the steps with the first trunk, followed closely by Hoss and Adam with the second.
Both lids were quickly thrown back as everyone crowded around the trunks and many hands reached to help David and TJ climb out.
The two stood there squinting in the brightly lit kitchen when the crowd parted and they saw Adam standing there smiling.
"My friends," Adam said, deep amusement coloring his tone, "Welcome to the asylum!"