Winnie Griggs - A Family for Christmas

Eve planted her fists on her hips. “You can’t treat a child like a stray dog and dump him at your first opportunity.”

She glanced around, looking for help of some sort, and her gaze snagged on that of a gentleman standing across the platform. Her eyes widened as she realized he was watching her. There was a note of curiosity and sympathy in his smoky blue eyes. And something else, something warm and compelling that made it impossible for her to look away, that made her certain she could trust him with her problems.

An older couple dressed for travel crossed between them, breaking the connection, and Eve abruptly came to her senses. She lifted her chin and turned back to Mr. McIvers. What in the world was she thinking? Such fanciful notions led to nothing but trouble. And asking a strange gentleman for assistance was not something a proper young lady did unless the circumstances were indeed dire.

Still feeling the impact of those eyes, she did her best to push that aside and deal with the more important issue at hand. “Where exactly are we?”

“Turnabout, Texas.” The conductor didn’t seem the least bit cowed by her earlier chastisements. “And it’s a far piece from Tyler, which is where you were headed if I recollect rightly.” He dug out his pocket watch and flipped it open. “I suggest you climb right back on the train unless you want to be left behind.”

If he only knew how little desire she had to continue on to Tyler. It was for her a place of banishment, not a place for a pleasant visit. But that was neither here nor there. “You can’t—”

The conductor didn’t allow her to finish. “I can, and I will. Like I said, nobody rides for free on my train. He’s lucky I waited for us to pull into the station and didn’t throw him off as soon as I discovered him.” He stared pointedly at her. “And if I were you, I’d check my belongings to make certain he hasn’t pinched anything.”

“I’d never take anything from her.” The indignant declaration was the first thing Leo had said in his own defense since the conductor had grabbed him a few minutes earlier.

She gave the boy a reassuring smile. “I know you wouldn’t, Leo.”

The conductor shook his head in disgust. “I don’t have any more time to waste on this.” He finally released his hold, causing Leo to stumble a bit at the suddenness of it.

Then Mr. McIvers gave the bottom of his vest a sharp tug as he shot Leo a narrow-eyed look of contempt. “If I catch you stowing away on one of my trains again, I’ll march you straight to the sheriff’s office, even if I have to delay our departure to do it.”

He glanced Eve’s way and touched the bill of his cap in a perfunctory gesture. “We’ll be leaving shortly. You’d be well advised to get back on board before this one sweet-talks you into doing something foolish.” With that he turned and marched into the depot office without a backward glance.

She took the opportunity to look again at the blue-eyed stranger. But he was no longer there. Nor did a quick look around show him to be anywhere on the platform. So much for his being her white knight. She shook off that fanciful thought. They’d shared only a brief glance after all. Still, it was strange how she felt as though she had lost a friend.

She turned back to Leo, who was still glowering at the retreating form of his erstwhile captor. Then he glanced her way and his expression softened. “I appreciate you taking up for me, miss. You’ve been real nice.” He puffed his chest out. “But don’t you worry none. I’ll get on fine. This town is as good a place as any for me to step off in.”

Eve heard both the bravado and the underlying uncertainty in his voice. What was his story? Where were his parents? Was someone searching for him, worrying about him?

And what in the world was she going to do to fix this? She couldn’t manage her own problems. Besides, even if her limited funds would cover his train fare, he didn’t seem to have a particular destination in mind. Which meant he was running from something, not to something. The question was did he have good reason to do so?

She couldn’t walk away until she learned more about his situation or found someone who could help him better than she could—and was willing to do so. Abandoning a child in need was the worst kind of callous betrayal.

Unfortunately, she didn’t know a soul in this place. On the heel of that thought, her mind turned again to the man she’d exchanged glances with earlier. Had the sympathy in his eyes been real? Would he have helped if she hadn’t turned away?

Well, no point dwelling on that now. Eve placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder, mentally wincing at the thinness of it. “That’s a very brave thing to say, Leo, but don’t you worry, we’ll figure something out.”

She only hoped she could keep that promise. Thank the Good Lord she wouldn’t have to do it on her own.

Heavenly Father, You must have let my and Leo’s paths cross so I could help him. I’m not sure what good I’ll be to him, but I won’t abandon him and I know You won’t abandon either of us. Just please, show me what it is I should do. I’ve never had anyone depending on me this way before and I couldn’t bear it if I failed him.

One thing was for certain, neither she nor Leo would be on that train when it left the station today. Which meant she’d better retrieve her bag before it went on to Tyler without her.

She gave Leo an encouraging smile. “Give me a minute to collect my things, then you and I can decide what to do next. Okay?”

“You mean you’re staying?”

If she hadn’t already decided to stay, the flare of hope in his eyes would have cinched the deal. “Of course I’m staying. I told you we’d work things out, didn’t I?” At his nod, she smiled. “Well, we can hardly do that if I’m on the train and you’re still here.”

Instructing Leo one last time to wait right where he was, she hurried back on board and made her way to her seat.

Everything had happened so quickly she’d barely had time to think of the ramifications of her actions, something her grandmother would say was typical of her. Her impulse to act first and think later was what had caused her current disgrace. Which had ultimately resulted in her being banished to Tyler.

And speaking of Tyler, what would her grandmother’s friend, Mrs. O’Connell, think when Eve didn’t get off the train at her appointed stop today as planned? Would she change her mind about taking Eve on as an apprentice?

And if so, would that actually be such a terrible thing? After all, working in the back room of a millinery shop was not something she had ever aspired to.

Eve immediately took herself to task for that disrespectful and ungrateful thought. Her grandmother had gone to a lot of trouble to secure this position for her. It might not be what Eve wanted for herself, but she knew she should be thankful for the opportunity to make a fresh start. Of course, it would be easier to feel appreciative if her grandmother hadn’t also made certain that the story of Eve’s past followed her there.

What would it be like to truly have a fresh start, to go somewhere where no one knew her past, where no one was constantly watching her, waiting for her to stumble?

Well, at least now she had a short reprieve. No one here had any idea who she was or what her past was like. And what a freeing thought that was. Perhaps she’d even run into her blue-eyed knight again.

She gathered up her bag and shawl and hurried back out onto the platform with lighter steps than when she’d first started on this journey.

* * *

Chance Dawson stood inside the depot, leaning casually against the counter. He was here to check on a part he’d ordered for his current project. Hopefully it had arrived on the morning train.