“If you’re willing to take a chance, this additional information may not matter but I felt you had a right to know if you didn’t—which you clearly did not. My idea is why I’ve asked the Winstons to sit in on this talk. I’ve purchased a ranch in Texas Hill Country. The Rocking R is near a small town called Tierra del Verde. I am to leave for the Newark, New Jersey, train station in less than two hours. From there I am to go to Philadelphia where I will board the earl’s private car to travel from Philadelphia as far as San Antonio, Texas. You are welcome to join me.”
Patience stared at him—elation warring with fear. Alexander Reynolds, she knew from Amber’s letters, had lived most of his life in the pursuit of one thing—seeing to his cousin’s safety. But Alexander was also a man. Patience couldn’t ignore that basic fact. How could she travel from New York to Texas in a train car alone with a man? Any man? Even Alexander Reynolds?
Mr. Gorham had seemed all that was kind and gentle until their wedding night, when he’d been unable to perform and had blamed her. That night and all the nights after. He’d tortured her nightly, squeezing and pinching her breasts till they’d been bruised purple. Men, once alone with a woman, became animals.
Alexander cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “I know this idea is a shock, but I must urge you think on it. If you traveled alone, you would be at the mercy of any number of strangers.
Strangers you would know nothing about and there would be no one with you to assure your safety. Even if you were lucky enough to travel unmolested, you would be in plain view. You are a lovely young woman and will draw the eye of everyone you encounter. That would make you extremely easy to track.
“The Pinkertons are very good at what they do. You will never elude them on your own. And that your father is powerful enough to hire them is even more of a worry for your chances alone. The betrothal announcement speaks to his confidence in finding you and bringing you to heel.”
As her heart pounded with fear, Alexander looked toward the Winstons. “And I have a proposition for both of you. It may come to light eventually that we three have aided Mrs. Gorham in her flight. Lionel Wexler, Mrs. Gorham’s father, is a powerful man used to getting his own way—as is her betrothed. Neither man will be happy with anyone who has aided her. If Jamie decides not to return to New York from Adair, you will both be released from his employ. I fear you might have difficulty obtaining new employment here in the East.”
“The day I let something like that stop me from doing what’s right is the day I’ll cease to be a good Christian woman,” Heddie Winston blustered. “Isn’t that right, Jordie?” she said to her husband. Apparently a man of few words, Winston merely nodded. “San Francisco was good to us. We’ll just go on back there.”
Patience blinked back tears of gratitude to these three strangers. “Please know I am grateful for all your kindnesses to me. But at the same time I am so sorry to have brought this trouble to your doorstep.”
Alexander spoke again. “It may be of no consequence to any of us. I have an idea to avoid any and all backlash from this.” Still looking at the Winstons he said, “I wondered if you two would consider accompanying Mrs. Gorham and me to Texas to work for me there. We would all travel in the earl’s private train car. There is plenty of room. And I think Mrs. Gorham would feel more comfortable with chaperones along. I’m told the car has two staterooms, four berths, a comfortable sitting room and a small dining area. But it is some distance by coach from San Antonio. There is no Indian activity in the area so you needn’t fear attack on the way. Still, I will see that men from the ranch are there to act as outriders for us on the rest of trip.
“Before any of you answer, let me tell you what awaits you at journey’s end. Tierra del Verde is a small town by any standard we are used to but it is quaint with Spanish influences in its architecture. The people I met while there are amiable and honest. It is hoped the railroad will extend that far and beyond but there is no knowing how long that will take. A while, I think. Which will be good for our purposes.”
He looked toward her and Patience found herself riveted by the kindness in his eyes. “There is a need for a teacher there, Mrs. Gorham. I’m sure your education more than qualifies you to fill the position. You could earn a living and begin your life anew.”
Patience felt a great spurt of joy at the thought of being a teacher. Then Alexander went on.
“The ranch is called the Rocking R.” He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Winston. “I’ve built a very nice house and need a head housekeeper and, of course, a butler to keep everything running smoothly.”
He seemed to have it all figured out, though Patience was nearly sure he would have no real need of a butler and he knew it. Patience wished she could resent his cool head and quick thinking. But he’d solved her problem and might have just offered her a real life. She couldn’t turn him down nor could she wait to hear the Winstons’ answer. She was sick to death of being a coward. She wanted to be more than she’d become in the last five awful years.
Taking a deep breath, she fisted her hands at her sides beneath the cover of her skirts where no one else could see and said, “I’d be honored to accompany you, Mr. Reynolds. I would love to be a teacher.”
Winston spoke before Alexander could respond. “Heddie and I were talking about how much we envy you your adventure, sir. We’d be proud to be in the employ of so fine a man. And if the young lady is going to be with you then it is better that Heddie and I will be going along, as well. Propriety should be observed or she will never get that position as the teacher.”
Alexander looked a bit surprised at that last statement. He nodded, somewhat uncertainly. “It seems there were things I had not considered. If we are all in agreement, then, we have quite a bit to accomplish in very little time. I am all packed so I can easily aid you, Winston. Mrs. Gorham, if you would be so kind as to help Mrs. Winston with her things, we are sure to make the train to Philadelphia. We will stay there tonight and begin the trek south tomorrow.”
“Oh, my,” Heddie said. “Mrs. Gorham is only free to help me because she has no clothes of her own.”
Patience blushed. She wasn’t sure which was more embarrassing. To place herself further in charity to these good people or to admit how underhanded she had been forced to become in order to escape her own parent. And to further have to admit how weak she’d become for lack of nourishment by the time she’d neared Amber’s address.
Unable to look so brave a man in the eye, she cast her gaze at Alexander’s feet and said, “I may have some things of my own. I … um … I tore my sheets and knotted them to make a rope so I could lower my portmanteau to the ground. It grew too heavy to carry any farther as I came to the park near here. I hid it beneath a pine tree at the entrance. It could still be there, I suppose.”
Alexander moved toward her. She watched his feet grow closer until he sank onto his heels before her. She couldn’t help but be alarmed by his nearness but almost against her will, she looked up and stared into his clear blue eyes. In them she read nothing but sincerity. “I find myself awed by your bravery and determination,” he said. “You have no reason to hang your head in shame. The men charged with your safety have much of which to be ashamed, however. And more even to answer for. I give you my word. I will keep you safe. Even from myself.”
He pivoted a bit on the balls of his feet and stood before walking back to his perch on the edge of the desk. “I will try to retrieve your portmanteau before aiding Winston. But I think I will take a sack along to put it in. It wouldn’t do for a lurking Pinkerton to recognize the pattern of your bag and grow suspicious.”
Alexander clasped his hands together with a snappy little clap. “Shall we get to it, then? This will be a record in readying for so life-changing a trip.” His face brightened with a mischievous sort of grin and his eyes sparkled. It buoyed her heart for some odd reason