Chapter 7: Planning Ahead

"Good morning, James," Artemus said, walking into the dimly lit stable car. He was carrying an empty wooden bucket and speaking softly, "I thought I heard you walk past my door. Up early?" His horse whinnied to him as he spoke, as the other horses watched Jim.

Jim let out a long sigh, hooking a feed bag over Blackjack's face. "Since I don't have a bed," he said tiredly, "I was awake most of the night." He sighed again, "The couch is getting old." He picked up a horse brush and began stroking it down the animal's back.

Artie chuckled, slapping his friend on the back as he passed in the small space, "I told you to sleep in my room. If I had known you were awake, I would have traded accommodations earlier. I needed to work at the desk but didn't want to wake you."

"Thanks, I may just take you up on that later," Jim said. He brushed the black's dark mane, working the hairs until they were perfectly aligned, the movement more of a relaxation for himself than improving the horse's already perfect appearance. "I admit that it was probably this crazy job more than the couch keeping me awake. I just can't figure out what to do and we only have today and tomorrow left to decide. We should be in the city by tomorrow night."

"There isn't much we can decide, partner," Artie said. He rested the bucket on the edge of a large wooden box and began moving small pieces of kindling into it. "We can only react to what the girls decide to do. We can't control them or, apparently, even influence them in what they plan. I suspect they have something planned too. We just have to go along with it."

Jim grumbled something, turning to look at his partner, "you can't be serious, Artie," he hissed. "We have to convince them to do what's right, stay on board the train and let us find this guy, and not go into the city alone." Artie shrugged as he shoved more pieces into the bucket, slamming a few pieces down with an angry punch. "How did Colonel Richmond think this was a good idea? It's crazy. He should have talked to us about this first."

"Colonel Richmond doesn't care about our opinions," Artie said, turning to face Jim. "He told us very clearly what he wanted us to do. Protect them. I don't remember him asking if we thought it was a good plan or not. And Grant wouldn't care about our opinions either. He loves it when we agree with him, but not so much when we disagree." He took a slow breath, thinking, "Christian said she and Lori have been doing this work for almost two years. I think they are going to do what they want when we get to San Francisco. We need to make sure it doesn't turn into a disaster."

"I could keep them on the train by tying them to something," Jim said, grinning. "Though I might need help. I have to admit, they seem pretty tough, for girls, that is." He held his right arm out, twisting his wrist and shoulder, testing his muscles and joints.

Artie laughed quietly, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "I was surprised at how much trouble you were having yesterday. Lori seems very strong. She really tossed you around."

Jim grimaced, turning to remove the feed bag from his horse, "it's not like I could punch her in the head, like I would have if I was fighting a man. I'd break her face."

Artie laughed again, "I would give you a dollar to try." He picked up the bucket and turned to leave, pausing, "I think I will have an outfit handy, put it on as they are leaving so they don't see me becoming someone else. Then I can follow them without their knowledge. Maybe you can distract them for a minute or two, get them away from my room, start an argument. That shouldn't be too difficult."

"I'll be with them," Jim growled, moving the refilled feed sack to Artie's horse. "They don't leave this train without me; you can follow in the shadows out of sight. And if they split up, we each follow one." He took a deep breath and stretched his shoulders, "but this would still be easier if we knew what they were thinking of doing. Every time I try to get details Lori clams up and Christian turns into a worst smooth talker than you."

Artie grinned, "I was going to suggest you do something besides drill them with questions. It just makes them even more defensive. Where are your smooth manners, your whispering sweet nothings into a delicate ear?"

Jim laughed, "I guess I should change tactics, treat them like a beautiful yet dangerous criminal of the weaker sex." He paused, thinking, "we should get them separated. Then maybe we could convince them to be more friendly and trusting of us. Ideas?"

"I am full of ideas, James, my boy," Artie laughed, smacking Jim on the shoulder. "I'll take the gentler one, you get the crazy blond."

"Gentler? You better watch your fingers, partner, and keep your hands to yourself," Jim said, watching his partner move to the doorway of the stable car. "God, Richmond owes us a vacation after this one. Worse mess ever."

Jim turned back to the horses as Artie walked back into the varnish car. He finished brushing them and making sure they were all fed and watered, his mind turning over different ideas and possibilities as he worked. Eventually he also walked back into their living quarters. He paused in the bathroom to wash and heard the voices of the two women, awake and moving around in his room. He moved back to the hall and knocked on the bedroom door.

Lori opened the door, smiling, her blond hair spilling over her shoulders and her pale eyes looking out from a flushed face. "Good morning." Christian was sitting, cross-legged, on the floor behind her, her usual pale skin was also red and sweaty. "Can we help you?"

Jim paused, looking from one woman to the other. "I just wanted to say I fed your horses already," he paused again, "what are you two doing in here anyway?"

"Exercising," Christian moaned, "or trying to. I am not good at this. I just need to stretch." She leaned her upper body so it was touching an outstretched leg, her fingers grasping her toes. She held the stretch as Jim watched, curiously.

Lori turned to her, "no, try again, five more." She dropped to the floor, face down, on her hands and toes. "Come on, let's go," she urged, starting to do push ups. Christian moved to imitate her but could barely force her body to move up and down. She finally collapsed to the carpet, moaning again.

Jim burst out laughing as he watched the dark haired girl, "you are terrible. These exercises are for men though so you shouldn't be…," he paused, turning to watch Lori. The blond was easily rising and lowering herself with her arms. "You can actually do push ups," he said, leaning over to watch her more closely, obviously impressed. He looked at her toes, up her legs and back, and then to her arms again, "I have never heard of a woman doing exercises."

Lori paused, to look back at him, "you obviously hang with lazy women. Why don't you join us instead of watching and show us how a real man does it." Her smile deflated the taunt.

Jim grinned and dropped quickly to the hallway floor, his head in the doorway of the small room. "A real man only needs one arm," he bragged, starting to do the push ups with his right arm. His left arm was curled around his back and his body twisted slightly as he moved his chest down to the floor. His white shirt hung open, only a few buttons attached, showing glimpses of his chest muscles flexing as he moved. At the same time his arm and shoulder muscles bulged where the cloth fit tighter around his upper arms. "Maybe you can build up to this eventually." He switched arms and continued.

"You have me beat," Christian laughed, returning to sitting on the floor. Lori watched Jim closely and then started to imitate him. "I'm impressed, Lori! All that haying must make you strong!"

Jim stopped to look at Lori, "haying?" He watched her move up and down, nodding encouragement, and started doing the movement with her.

"It's summer," Lori growled, as she pushed herself up on her right arm, her left arm wrapped around her back as Jim had done. "My family has a farm. I help hay occasionally."

"Never did that," Jim said, pausing again to watch her. "You certainly are strong, for a girl." He smiled as the blond collapsed to the floor and glared up at him. Artie stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel, curious.

"What's going on out here," Artie asked, walking to the doorway to peek in. "Are you showing Jim how to do it? You'll never beat him; he does this constantly."

"You should join us, partner," Jim said, returning to his one handed push ups. "Good for you. Just start two handed and …"

"I can do it just fine," Artie said, interrupting. "I am just too busy doing everything else."

Jim paused, laughing, "Really? You can do a push up? I bet!" He switched hands and started again.

Artie crossed his arms and watched for a second. "What do you want to bet?"

"What?" Jim stopped and moved to his knees, looking up at his friend. "Bet if you can do a push up?" He chuckled, as Artie continued to stare at him. "You want to bet that you can do a push up? How many? One handed? Two handed?" He laughed, obviously surprised.

Artie thought for a minute, "I will bet you dish washing today that I can do five with each hand."

"What?" Jim said, his voice rising in surprise. "You? Fine, if you can't, you take care of the horses today." The two men stared at each other for a second, then Jim added, "and this is five per arm right now. Not one push up every hour today."

Artie tossed the towel at Jim's face and lowered himself down to his knees. "No, right now." He paused, looking at Jim. "Bet?" Jim nodded and chuckled again. The girls peeked out from the bedroom doorway, watching closely. Artie leaned over, holding himself up with his right arm, curling his left around his back, and began slowly doing push ups, counting loudly. When he reached five, he switched arms, and began again. His form wasn't nearly as perfect as his partner's and he moved with agonizing slowness, but he was still accomplishing the task. Jim watched in silence, his mouth hanging open.

Finally Artie reached five again and moved back to his knees to stare at Jim, "There! You lost another one," he said, grinning, "and enjoy washing dishes today."

Jim groaned, shaking his head. "ok, you got me. Again. Have you been practicing in secret? I am really impressed."

"I might have," Artie said, climbing to his feet and walked to the kitchen, "I think I will cook lasagna for dinner." He disappeared into the galley's doorway but a cheerful whistling drifted into the hallway.

"Oh, great," Jim moaned, "I know what I'll be doing all afternoon. Why do I bet with him?" He turned to see the two girls staring at him. "You two better do more push ups. That lasagna will fatten you right up." He stood and walked into his room, brushing past Lori to move to his closet. He reached inside and began moving items, searching, "Unless you two are interested in more entertaining forms of exercise?" His voice was muffled as his head and arms were in the closet.

"Don't you think it's a little early for comments like that?" Lori said, glaring at him. "I haven't even had breakfast and you are already making suggestions of…"

Jim straightened and tossed a pair of shoes at her. They landed between the girls and bounced across the floor. He stood, looking down at her, hands balled into fists on his hips. "I was suggesting we go for a run this morning as exercise." He grinned as her face flushed again, "what were you thinking of?" Lori looked away to study the shoes, turning them over curiously. "Those are baseball running shoes. I had a guy make me a couple pairs. They should fit you but wear a good pair of socks."

Christian picked up the other shoe, "I have never seen anything like these? Leather? And they look like they tie on with strings? Nice and light though," she said, tossing the shoe up in the air. "Where are you running? Just behind the train?"

"Yes," Jim said, turning back to the closet. "There is a five mile stretch of flat ground I always run on. Then we climb steeply into the mountains through a pass." He stood up again, holding the second pair, "so you have to be able to get back onto the train. Think you can do it?" He stared at Lori as she stood, holding the shoes. She took a step closer to him in the small room, staring back.

"If you can do it, big shot," she smiled, "so can I." She poked him in the chest with a shoe. "Maybe we should make a bet?"

"Oh, no," Jim said, moving around her to exit the room, saying over his shoulder, "I'm in enough trouble already."

tbc