Page 64 of A Wanderer's Redemption
When I hear the oxen stirring outside, I know Deven and Colby are getting ready to leave. Making myself lay his shirt back down, I peek out the bedroom door, glad to see the hallway is still empty. Sneaking back out of the house as easily as I came in, I quickly scramble up into the back of Deven’s wagon, where I’d hidden my bag earlier. I climb under one of the tarps inside, sothat at a glance, I would blend in with the few crates left in the back.
A few minutes later, I feel him climbing into the front seat, and the wagon pulls off. It will take a little over an hour for the wagons to return to the livery. I must put my hand over my mouth to keep from sobbing as I try my best not to fall apart, as crying does no one any good and usually just makes me sick afterward, but dreams die hard.
Thankfully, by the time the wagon is slowing down, I’ve gained control of my emotions enough that I know I need to stay still and quiet until they lock up the barn for the night. I can hear Zeus and Coco moving around in the stall, and I almost call out to him when he kicks at the door.
What feels like forever, but is probably less than an hour later, I hear the squeak of the doors moving, and the barn gets dark. Sliding out from under the heavy tarp, I take a deep breath only to shiver as the cool air hits me. Now that I know everyone is gone, I stand up in the back and take off the new dress I’d worn out there today, changing into the shirt and skirt I’d bought at Violet’s to travel in. When I finally climb out of the back, I reach back in and grab one of the extra blankets to take with me, along with my bag. Zeus whinnies playfully when he sees me coming his way.
“Hello, handsome. Can I stay with you two tonight?”
I swear this horse understands me because he steps back away from the gate for me to walk through. Piling some of the extra hay up in the corner, I settle in for the evening. Zeus stands before me every now and then, he even reaches down, sniffing or nuzzling my head to make sure I’m still there. I have no ideahow I manage to, but I fall into a dreamless sleep only to wake up when I hear a rooster outside the barn.
Gathering what few things I have up, I pull a stray piece of straw out of my hair and shake my skirts out, hoping I’m somewhat presentable when I walk out of here. Leaning against Zeus, I am once again trying not to cry, as I’m sick of being an emotional basket case. I pet him lovingly before doing the same to Coco and then walk out of the stall and through the door on the side. I don’t say goodbye because he really does seem to sense my moods. Although I’m uncertain about the stagecoach’s arrival time and ticket purchasing locations, I suspect the mercantile will have the information.
Just about the time I am getting ready to cross the street, I see Deven and Colby step out of the inn. I duck into the closest alley, hoping neither of them notices me. I know I could ride back with either of them, but that simply puts me right back in the same situation I was in coming out here, and I don’t have the energy to fight off Colby’s advances. Peeking around the corner, I see the coast is clear, so I quickly head over to the mercantile. A small bell rings when I open the door. The place is clean, well-organized, and stocked with a few things I have never seen before. Walking up to the counter, I glance around, wondering where everyone is.
“Hello?”
“Coming, I thought I heard the bell.” The older gentleman I had met when we first arrived comes around the corner. “Good morning, Miss. How may I help you?”
“I need to inquire as to where I can buy a ticket for the next stagecoach and when it’s supposed to be back this way?”
“You’re in luck, as I sell the tickets and it will be here in about forty minutes. JD is rarely ever late.”
He tilts his head, looking at me closer, and I turn my head. He only met me for a short while, and I look nothing like I did before in these plain clothes. I hold the envelope Reggie gave me with the banknotes I didn’t even count inside.
“Is there room for another on the coach?”
“I’ve not been notified that there isn’t. How far are you going?”
“Promontory.”
“I can sell you a ticket to Fillmore, but you will have to rebook from that point on.”
“I’ll take it, thank you. Will I have time to get something to eat before he arrives?”
“Maggie always has box lunches and simple breakfasts fixed on the days the coach comes through. You should have adequate time to grab a few things. It gets cold at night; you’ll need more than that light blanket to get you through. JD’s coach has no luxuries.”
I take the envelope out of my pocket and open it for the first time, slightly shocked by how thick it is. Glancing through it quickly, I pull out the fare for the stagecoach and tuck it back in my inner skirt pocket to look at more closely later.
I glance around, knowing he is right, but I don’t want to part with the money I need for a jacket. The heavy one that Reggie bought me was in Marcus’ wagon, and I simply forgot to grab it. I am so deep in thought that when he reaches out, touching my arm gently, I jerk.
“Miss, I have a few used men’s coats in the back; they’ll be too big on you, but they’re better than nothing. Or you can walk next door and see if Beatrice has anything more suitable.”
“Thank you, Sir. I’ll take one of the used ones, but could you hold it here for me until I return from the diner?”
“I’ll pull them out so that you can pick the one you want. What’s the name for the ticket, miss?”
“Renee Welch and thank you for all your help. I’ll return shortly.”
Thankfully, I don’t pass anyone on the way to the diner, and even though I get several looks from the young woman who served us last night, she doesn’t say anything, and I am grateful. When I walk back into the mercantile, the older man is with another customer, but true to his word, he has several coats out on the counter. I pick the heaviest one even though it’s way too long for me. I am standing in line waiting for him to get through when I hear the stagecoach coming our way.
“Whoa!” The coach rocks back and forth as it comes to a stop in front of the mercantile. “Ladies and gentlemen, we will be here for ten minutes, not eleven or twelve …ten… be back, or I’ll leave you. I have a tight schedule to keep.”
The driver climbs down as several men from the livery start changing out the horses, walking straight into the mercantile. “Old man Harvey, who are we picking up this morning?”
“Just this little filly, JD.”
He looks down at me and at the small bag sitting next to me on the floor. “This all you have with you?”
