Rumors and Promises (49 page)

Charles Warner pushed Sophie forward, the weapon pressed into the small of her back. “Keep going until I tell you to stop.” His breath grazed her ear with his menacing whisper.

Caira whined in Sophie’s arms.

“Give the child to me, so I can keep her quiet.”

Sophie held her daughter close. “I can take care of her.”

“We’ll see about that.” He pushed her along the narrow passage toward the back of the car. “Let’s find a quieter spot.”

How could she deter him and stay among the other passengers? “Dear me. I think I dropped … my handkerchief.” She stopped and bent down, pretending to search the floor.

“Just leave it.” Charles nudged Sophie again. A door flew open, banging against the wall.

Ian!
Sophie had never seen him looking so fierce, with nostrils flaring, like a stallion ready to trample the people in his way. She would blame herself if he was shot. “Be careful!”

People around them screamed as Charles reached in his pocket, but at that moment, the train began its swing around a sharp curve, and he pitched to the left. Instead of a gun flying from his hand as he brought it out to regain his balance, a pipe clattered to the floor and broke in two.

“What?” There never had been a weapon of any sort? With Sophie caught off guard, he pulled Caira from her arms and turned to run from them. Her first instinct was to get Caira back until she felt Ian’s firm hand on her shoulder.

“Let me take care of this.” He pushed ahead of Sophie.
Trust.
She knew Ian had greater hope of dealing with Charles because of his strength, but this was
her
daughter who needed rescuing. She followed, not far behind Ian, praying fervently for rescue.

Caira arched her back, looking toward her mother and Ian with terror in her eyes. “’Cowmick!” And then she let out a wail.

“Shut up!” Charles pulled the child closer, but she screamed all the louder.

He wobbled, and as the train veered around another sharp curve in the track, he tripped on a cane hanging on the armrest of a passenger seat. Caira’s sweater snagged on the back of the seat they were passing. Charles stumbled to the floor, catching himself on one knee.

Caira flailed her arms as Charles tried to loosen her sweater hood from the passenger seat. As he freed her, the door burst open behind Sophie. A large, burly man she’d never seen before stood before them with arms crossed and feet apart. “Need some help now?” He addressed Ian. “Thought you looked like you might be in some kind of trouble.”

“As a matter of fact, I could use some assistance right now!”

Charles hadn’t regained his balance before Ian grabbed a handful of his suitcoat and his right arm, yanking him backward. “Release the child!”

“Or I’ll shoot!” The large man clambered past Sophie.

Charles let go of Caira once he saw the threat. Taking advantage of the distraction, Ian took a firmer grasp on Charles’ arm, yanking it back and upward until the scoundrel yelped in pain. “You’re not going anywhere but to jail, Warner.”

Sophie reached out her arms as Caira squeezed past Charles and Ian and ran to her mother, sobbing. “Sh, sh. You’re going to be fine now, sweetheart.”

“Mama.” Caira tucked her head under Sophie’s chin after saying the word she most longed to hear from her baby’s lips. Her tears wet the curly mop beneath her.

The large man had come toward Ian and Charles, offering a hand. “What happened here?”

“Who are you?” Ian pulled Charles back farther.

“Detective Perkins, Detroit Police Department. Now what seems to be the problem?”

“This man kidnapped my future wife and daughter. We have witnesses.”

Several of the other passengers nodded or cried out in agreement, to Sophie’s relief.

“But you’re mistaken.” Charles seemed to recover as Ian released his arm and handed him to the detective. The oily tone and smirk returned.

Ian grasped Warner’s arm again. “Look, you’re a victim of God’s mercy and grace.” He swallowed down the fury that boiled up inside of him. “If it had been you and me alone out there, I’m not sure what I would have done. Don’t throw away your second chance, Warner. And don’t ever come near Sophie and Caira again.” He shoved him closer to the detective.

Any composure Charles had lost returned. He held his head high, averting any glance into his bloodshot eyes. “I’m sure it’s all been a terrible misunderstanding.”

Detective Perkins revealed handcuffs. “Save it for the sheriff in Northville. I’m sure he’d like to hear all about it.” His exaggerated grin punctuated his sarcasm as he clamped cuffs on Charles’ wrists and pushed him toward an empty seat.

“Come, let’s get Caira away from that cad.” Ian guided Sophie with a gentle touch to two open seats next to one another, away from the crowd.

While the feeling of melting jelly left her, Sophie shivered until settled in her seat with her daughter on her lap and Ian had placed his suit coat and his arm around her shoulders. They huddled together.

“That was a close one, but God didn’t forget us, did He?”

Sophie shook her head, barely able to speak. “I apologize, Ian. I forgot all that I’d learned. I’m sorry for trying to leave instead of going to you first thing.” She explained how the situation had come about.

“Sophie, I hope you know I forgive you. I’m thankful you and Caira are safe, and we can have that blackguard put away once and for all. I’ve done my own running from plenty of situations I didn’t like.”

Content to ride the rest of the way contemplating her thankfulness and the joy of having Ian with them, Sophie grew quiet again. The dust and steam billowed up outside the passenger car, leaving her in a dreamlike state. The sweet, cloying smell
of tobacco lost its power to frighten her. She had a wedding to get ready for even though she’d narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt. Caira relaxed against her, falling asleep to the click-clack of the wheels pounding out a rhythm on the track.

God had protected them, given them a means of escape. She’d seen now that He’d allowed her to face her worst fear and the specter had no more hold on her. She actually pitied the sorry man. She could begin to forgive.

The brakes squeaked to a stop at the Northville railway station, and they disembarked to find the local sheriff waiting for them. He took Charles Warner into custody and welcomed them into his cozy office, offering strong coffee to them and stale butter cookies to Caira, who was happy to nibble the treats. Sophie gave her statement while Ian occupied her daughter.

“You’re one brave woman, Sophie Bidershem.” Ian took one of Caira’s hands and Sophie the other as she walked between them along the boardwalk outside the station afterward.

“You’re not too bad yourself, Reverend.” Sophie giggled, feeling as free as a schoolgirl, but more in love than she ever thought possible for a grown woman.

Sheriff Baxter arrived to take them home in his buggy after he caught up with Detective Perkins and the local sheriff.

They arrived back in Stone Creek to a chorus of cheers. Ian turned to her. “News must have traveled fast.”

Maggie waited at the front of the crowd, wringing her hands. She opened her arms to Sophie and Caira as they alighted from the buggy. “My dears, are you all right?” Her eyes glowed with tears of joy as she hugged them.

“And I am well too.” Ian crossed his arms.

“You silly little brother of mine. Of course I worried for your safety as well.” Maggie stepped forward engulfed her brother in a hug. Nothing could please Sophie more than to see this expression of family love, the family she would soon be married into.

The Myleses, the good Dr. Moore, Nora, James, Chet, Albert, Esther, and several others came forward proclaiming how they had prayed for them and were relieved that they were safe in Stone Creek. Joy welled up in Sophie as she realized she and Caira had arrived
home.
No more running for them. Ever.

CHAPTER 28

A
week later, Sophie fingered the satin sleeve down to the cuff, trimmed with organza. Her mother had specially made the gown from a rich, deep ivory fabric, with a rose cast to it. Yes, Sophie had lost her purity. She didn’t feel right wearing white, but it was such a lovely dress. Her heart quickened at the thought of donning it soon, for her wedding. Mother wanted to make sure she had time to alter the gown if need be.

Esther had been patient the few previous days when Sophie dropped a dish or when she forgot to stir the stew and allowed it to stick to the bottom of the pan. The older woman had thrown her hands into the air. “You young people, preoccupied with love.” Sophie smiled at the thought.

Esther appeared in the doorway. “Ian is here to speak with you.”

“Thank you.” She gave her employer a hug and a smile.

“I’m so relieved to find you happy, child.” Esther squeezed her hand. “You often looked so forlorn when you first came to Stone Creek.”

Sophie nodded. “It was a trying time, but now I have so much to be thankful for.”

“You always had a lot to be thankful for. God was always watching over you. You just didn’t realize it.”

Sophie smiled at the older woman’s wisdom and followed her into the hallway. She closed the door as if to hide the dress from Ian, even though he was downstairs. While she didn’t believe in any silly superstitions about the groom not seeing the dress before the wedding, Sophie wanted him to be surprised on their special day as she walked down the aisle toward him, to be as delighted as she was by the beauty of the garment.

She nearly ran down but stopped short when she saw Ian holding Caira on his lap. The soon-to-be father and daughter were playing a private game, smiling into one another’s eyes, as though Ian had always been her daughter’s father. She was doubly relieved that she no longer had to worry about Charles’ hurting either Caira or herself. James had given her the news in person.

After she served Ian a glass of lemonade on the porch, where Esther allowed them a bit of privacy, they conversed easily. The chains that held the porch swing creaked with each back and forth movement.

“Sophie, did anyone tell you what happened to Caira’s father?” Ian placed an arm around her shoulders. The very mention of Charles had caused a chill to slither down Sophie’s spine.

She closed her eyes for a moment. Never again would she worry that some stranger may be Charles, seeking her out or looking for their child. Caira and she were safe.

“It can’t be good. You look distressed.” Ian rubbed her shoulder.