Promise me tomorrow (3 page)

"You are Mr. McCandles, are you not?" Her now uncertain voice broke through the riot of his thoughts. "Mr. Chase McCandles?"

"Yes," Chase recovered himself and put out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Taggart."

She beamed at him and shook his hand.

"Children." She spoke formally to gain their attention. "Lizzy and Thomas Parks, please meet Mr. McCandles. He'll be escorting us to Kurth."

Chase looked at the children, realizing he had forgotten their presence. He watched now as Thomas' little hand came out, but Lizzy kept her head down.

"It's good to meet you, Thomas." lhank you, sir.

"And this is Lizzy?"

Thomas nodded, but Lizzy still didn't look up. Chase opened his mouth to say something more, but their train was called.

"Fountain, Makepeace,
         

Kurth, and Pueblo—now leaving on Track 14."

"Oh, that's us!" Rusty said to the children. "Hand me your bag now; there you go. Come this way."

She directed them proficiently, and Chase was reminded of what the letter said about her not having traveled far. Something wasn't right. She simply didn't seem to be in need of an escort. For an instant he thought his presence might be unnecessary. After all, she seemed capable and very comfortable on her own, but then he noticed something else. Although he was not given to watching people, he couldn't help but see that she was attracting attention. She wasn't doing anything to accomplish this; she was just walking gracefully with the children on either side of her, but male heads were turning from every direction.

Knowing you 're with her puts our hearts at rest.
Just one line from Paddy O'Brien's letter came leaping back to Chase's mind. This was what his friend was talking about.

"Was there a particular place you wanted to sit, Mr. Mc Candles?" Rusty had stopped outside the train and turned to her escort. She was used to taking care of things on her own. If she wasn't careful, she would forget he was there to help.

Hearing her voice, Chase forced his mind back to the task of the moment.

"Anywhere you and the children will be comfortable," he told her honestly, and then realized she was carrying two bags.

"Here, let me have those." Chase took them from her hand, holding all three handles, his own and both of hers, in one large hand.

"Thank you," she said simply and led the way on board. She walked down the aisle, the children just behind her, and chose two seats that faced each other.

"I think this will do," she said with that huge smile back in place. "You sit here, Thomas," she motioned, directing him to the window seat, "and Lizzy, you take this seat with me. Would you like the window?"

She nodded shyly, and Rusty stroked her hair when she passed in front of her to sit down.

Chase suddenly found Rusty's eyes centered on him. "I'm sorry, Mr. McCandles. I didn't check whether or not you wanted the window seat."

"The aisle is fine," he assured her and raised the bags to store overhead.

Rusty slipped into the seat next to Lizzy and leaned to look out the window with the children.

"What is that man doing?" Thomas wanted to know.

"Please don't point, Thomas. He's carrying trunks to go on the train."

"We don't have that much," Lizzy said smile back in place. "You sit here, Thomas," she motioned, directing him to the window seat, "and Lizzy, you take this seat with me. Would you like the window?"

She nodded shyly, and Rusty stroked her hair when she passed in front of her to sit down.

Chase suddenly found Rusty's eyes centered on him. "I'm sorry, Mr. McCandles. I didn't check whether or not you wanted the window seat."

"The aisle is fine," he assured her and raised the bags to store overhead.

Rusty slipped into the seat next to Lizzy and leaned to look out the window with the children.

"What is that man doing?" Thomas wanted to know.

"Please don't point, Thomas. He's carrying trunks to go on the train."

"We don't have that much," Lizzy said worriedly as she watched the wheeled cart filled with steamer trunks.

"No, we travel light." Rusty kept her voice light as well. It was a bit alarming how few possessions the children had. Well, if the Davidsons' presentation to Paddy could be trusted, the children would never go without. Mr. Davidson was a successful rancher and well-respected in the town of Kurth.

From her periphery Rusty caught Chase's movements as he sat down, and she turned to speak to him. However, her eyes drifted past him, and she started when she noticed several men turned in their seats, staring at her. Sitting together in three seats, they were all young, well-dressed and groomed, but they were staring as if they'd just come from the hills. Rusty was tempted to look behind her, but their seat was the last in the car.

Chase, who had been watching Rusty himself, knew in a moment that something had startled her. He watched as she turned her head to the window, but her eyes moved over the children with alarm. Chase turned slowly. He was larger and older than the young men looking their direction, and when they saw him turn, they shifted in their seats to face forward. One took another chance peek, but Chase was still looking at him and he turned back swiftly. When Chase looked back to Rusty, he could see that she'd witnessed the whole scene.

"Thank you for escorting us, Mr. McCandles," she said softly, her eyes on his for just a moment. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to the children."

Chase nodded, but his mind drifted back to the letter once again.
Knowing you're with her puts our hearts at rest.
She had thought the men might harm the children; her fear had been for them. Chase's heart sighed. This one was definitely in need of protection.

***

"Are we nearly there?" Thomas asked excitedly, his eyes rarely leaving the train window.

Rusty nodded her head and smiled at his delight, but as she did so, Lizzy's hand went to her stomach. The little girl had grown more fearful with every mile.

"I think we need the slate," Rusty announced.

"Where is it?" Lizzy asked, having just remembered it and hoping that they hadn't left it in Manitou.

"I think it's in my bag."

"I'll get it for you," Chase offered in the deep, quiet voice to which she was becoming accustomed. Rusty watched him. His care of and kindness for them could not be faulted, but it was as Paddy had said, he was not talkative.

"This bag?" Chase held a satchel out for Rustys inspection.

"It's that other one."

He retrieved the needed bag without comment or show of impatience and even remained standing, his feet spread slightly for balance, waiting for her to find the slate so he could return the case to the overhead rack.

"Thank you, Mr. McCandles," she told him with a smile and got his usual nod of the head. Even though she knew he was quiet, Rusty hoped she had not done anything to upset their escort, but until these children were comfortably settled in the Davidson home, she did not have time to find out.

"Okay," she said lightly, turning to the children, "I'm going to draw a picture, and you must guess what it is. I want you to be specific."

"What's specific?" Lizzy wanted to know, the familiar look of concern lowering her brow.

"It means you must be exact. If I draw a bird, you must say what type of bird, not just a bird."

"Like a robin?" Thomas clarified.

"Exactly," she replied, smiling at him.

Watching her, Chase felt amazed for at least the dozenth time. She was wonderful with the children. With a moment's notice she had a game or a story for them, and they looked at her as if their every dream had come true. She touched them often and always looked them in the eye when she spoke to them. For the first time in his life, Chase wondered if he looked Quintin in the eye when he talked to him.

"I know what it is," Thomas cried. "It's the clock in the hall from the orphanage."

"Very good," she praised him. "Shall I do another, or do you want to try one?"

"I want to." Thomas didn't need to think twice. Rusty passed him the slate and chalk and waited with Lizzy. Thomas' little lip was tucked between his teeth as he concentrated on the slate. At last he presented a picture. Now it was time for Rusty and Lizzy to bite their own lips in concentration.

"An eagle?" Rusty ventured.

"Nope," he said smugly, and Rusty looked again. Lizzy's face was just as uncertain, so Thomas turned it for Chase.

"Do you know?"

Chase now saw why the ladies had been in the dark, but he thought he might have it.

"Is it a horse?" Chase guessed.

"What kind of horse?" Aunt Rusty had said to be specific, and he was taking her at her word.

"A wild stallion?"

Thomas looked at him in admiration. "That's right"

"Let me see." Lizzy reached for the slate. "Oh, yeah. I see it now."

"Oh, yes," Rusty agreed as she looked on. "I see it too." Her gaze swung to their escort, and she gave him a big smile. "I'm impressed, Mr. McCandles," she complimented him.

Chase didn't comment, but his eyes lit with amusement and the corners of his mouth turned up a tad. For the first time since meeting him, Rusty thought him quite good-looking. With his dark hair and eyes, something she always found attractive, he took on a whole new look when he smiled, and a handsome one at that.

"The train is slowing," Lizzy said, moving closer to Rusty to take her hand.

"So it is." Rusty put an arm around the girl. "I think we must be very close."

"It didn't take very long," she returned, sounding slightly betrayed.

It had actually taken quite a while, but Rusty still said, "Well, we still have to get to their ranch, Lizzy. That could take a little time."

"Do you have the directions with you?" Chase asked.

"Yes. Would you like to see them?"

"Please."

Rusty started to stand but, as before, Chase detained her and stood himself. They went through the process of choosing the right bag again, but the train was coming into the station, so after the map was in his hand, Chase simply left the bag at their feet.

"Does it look clear to you?" Rusty watched as he studied the paper.

"Yes. I think we're going to want a wagon, not just horses."

Rusty nodded. "My uncle anticipated that possibility and sent money for it."

"I'll rent the wagon," Chase said almost absently.

"It could be several days," Rusty began, but cut off when Chase's eyes came up to meet hers.

"I'll take care of it," he said. His voice was as quiet and mild as ever, but Rusty didn't argue; he was looking at her too intently.

Talks very little, good-looking
—
especially when he smiles
—
and likes to have his own way
Rusty ticked these attributes off in her head. Her uncle said she had nothing to worry about where this man was concerned, but clearly there was more to Chase McCandles than a nicely dressed escort.

Rusty found herself wishing that Paddy had been a little more informative.

4

Kurth

The station at Kurth was much smaller than the one at Colorado Springs, but several people disembarked—Chase, Rusty, and the children among them. The children stayed very close to Rusty once they were outside the train, and Rusty, feeling as though she was embarking on a new adventure, looked around for only a moment and then began to stride down the boardwalk into town.

Chase stayed with her, the bags in his hands, but he knew a moment of amusement. The petite Miss Taggart looked as if a challenge had been thrown at her feet, and she was not going to let it get away.

They had been walking for just a few minutes when she came to a sudden halt. The children looked up at her as she stared down the street. "We forgot Mr. McCandles."

"He's behind us," Thomas told her.

Rusty turned and found him stopped just a few feet to the rear. There was not just amusement in those eyes now; his smile was huge.

"I forgot you," she said. Her eyes had grown with her oversight, especially when she saw the way he'd taken care of their bags.

"I'm right here," he assured her kindly.

"I didn't mean to do that."

"It's all right. I'm glad you know where the livery is.

"Actually, I don't," she admitted.

Chase blinked. "Where were you headed?"

Rusty shrugged. "Kurth is not that large. I was certain that if I just started out I'd come across it."

The thought of her doing this on her own gave him pause, but as long as he was dogging her heels, he thought this was probably the best method.

"How would you find it?" she asked, remembering that Paddy said he was there to help.

"Probably the same way."

Rusty smiled as if she'd been given a compliment, turned back around and continued down the street. Chase had all he could do not to laugh. With only a brief glance at him, the children followed right behind. He had the impression that they would be willing to follow her off a cliff.

Rusty led the way into the business area of town, her head moving from side to side. The children's heads were moving as well, but their interest was in the town itself. Kurth was a pleasant town with seemingly all the amenities.

"Can we go in there?" Lizzy surprised both adults by asking. Rusty looked to see that the little girl had spotted some wares in a dry goods store. Hanging on a small mannequin was a little girl's dress.

"I don't think we have time, Lizzy, but isn't it pretty?"

"Yes." Her voice was dreamy, and Chase was surprised when he found himself wishing it would have been appropriate to buy the dress for her.

"I don't like dresses," Thomas commented, looking disgruntled that they had stopped at all.

"Well, we won't make you wear one," Rusty told him simply and started off down the street. Just 20 steps later they spotted the livery. It was across the street, and this time Rusty remembered to look for Chase before she barreled her way over. He was silently bringing up the rear, bags still in hand. Rusty looked to be in complete control of things until they discovered the livery was empty. The doors were open, but no one was in attendance. It didn't take as long to remember Chase this time. She turned to him immediately, but he was looking at a sign posted high on the door.