Mary and Wyatt discovered Winnie and Johnson in the next car. Winnie’s face held a tinge of green, and her hair resembled a haystack that had been repeatedly stabbed by a pitchfork. Then again, Mary considered she might not look her best either, what with her ripped skirt. She hugged Winnie. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Had to bang up your man, too, I see, Johnson.” Wyatt glared at the man on the floor. “I left the other vermin in the car. We should see someone about getting them locked up.”
“Mary, your skirt.” Winnie’s lips trembled. “And me, a mess. How are we going to go back in our car? Everyone will stare.”
“We will march in there and sit by Aunt Cora and let her fuss over us. No one jumped up to save us from these men. Let them see what damage they wrought.”
Winnie’s eyes widened. “Johnson found me in time. Didn’t Wyatt?”
“In time for what?” Had Winnie’s attacker hit her on the head?
“To protect your virtue.”
Red-pepper heat blossomed across Mary’s face. “Shh.” She turned to see if Wyatt heard.
“Johnson, help me drag this one next door. I’ll keep them in there until you find out where we need to put them. I’m thinking the caboose would be the spot where someone could watch them until we reach Pueblo.”
“Why don’t we drag them there now, before they get their wits about them and start swinging?”
“Good idea. Ladies, can you make your way back to your car?”
“Yes, we can.” Winnie braided her hair. “As soon as we feel presentable.”
Wyatt touched Mary on the shoulder. “How about you? I should escort you back to your aunt.”
“No, I’d rather see those men contained somewhere as soon as possible.” Her heart skipped a beat. He cared about her.
Once the men left, Mary turned to Winnie and tucked a piece of her hair back into her bun. “That’s better. About what you asked. Wyatt did reach me in time.”
Winnie sighed. “We are fortunate to have been saved.”
“Yes, but if you thought what you did, will the others think that, too, because of my skirt?”
Winnie stepped back. “Let me see. Turn for me.”
Mary did a slow revolution. White fabric peeked out of the tear. “What am I going to do?”
“I can help.” Winnie pulled up the hem of her dress. “See, I pinned my petticoatbecause it was too long. We can use the pins on your skirt.”
“But then yours will drag below your hem.”
“I don’t care. The older women will think I’m sloppy, nothing more. But the tear in your garment will cause titters for sure and damage your reputation.”
“Thank you, Winnie.” Mary’s heart softened. She was sorry for judging Winnie as selfish and uncaring for eating her aunt’s cake.
“It’s okay. You would do the same for me.”
“Why didn’t your uncle help us?” Mary tried to remember. Was he in the car when they were taken?
“He’s not my uncle.” Winnie hiccupped a sob. “He said he was a friend of my father’s. He’s awful, Mary. What he wants me to do… I can’t, I just can’t. I won’t.”
“You won’t have to. Aunt Cora and I will find a way to save you.”
“Can you find me a husband before we get to Pueblo?”
Wyatt. Would he marry Winnie? He did make a dandy rescuer. But could Mary stand by and watch him wed another? It would be an act of kindness a missionary would do. Maybe she wasn’t strong enough to be one after all.
Mary explained to her aunt what happened in such a way so no one overheard the conversation. Winnie sat across from them, hugging the window.
“There is no way, Miss Periwinkle, that you are going to sit with that man or go anywhere with him once we reach Pueblo.” Cora’s voice rose.
“Shh, Aunt!”
Cora lowered her voice. “You will travel with us and then return to St. Louis.”
“He has my luggage tag. He said I wouldn’t get it back if I tried to run off. I don’t have money to replace my clothing.”
“Never you mind. If he refuses to give it to me and Mr. Cross, then I’ll provide you with a new wardrobe.”
Wyatt? Had she decided he would be a good match for Winnie? Mary squirmed in her seat. “Father will help her, I’m sure.”
Aunt Cora gave her a knowing look. “I am positive of that, but he won’t be in Pueblo when we arrive. Mr. Cross has proved himself useful in certain situations. It won’t hurt to ask him for assistance in this manner.”
Mary sat back. She couldn’t argue with her aunt because she was right. Wyatt was all that her aunt said and more.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the women’s lounge.” Winnie scooted to the edge of the seat.
“Would you like me to come with you?” Mary wasn’t sure her new friend should go anywhere alone.
“I’ll be fine.”
Winnie left the car, and Mary turned to her aunt. “Do you want her to marry Mr. Cross?”
“Would that bother you?”
“I don’t know. No. Yes. Aunt Cora, I’m conflicted. I want to be missionary, but I find myself desiring Wyatt’s company.”
“Again, tell me, why do you insist on being a missionary?”
“To help.”
“You can choose to help from anywhere. Missionaries need support from those of us who aren’t living in Africa and India. Even today, offering to help Winnie is a mission act. What kind of things could you do if you married Wyatt and lived in Topeka?”
“He hasn’t proposed, Aunt Cora. And then there is Father. He won’t approve.” She considered what her aunt said. She was right. Missionaries had come to her school to speak and raise money. Maybe she and Wyatt could visit one of the countries so they could speak with authorities and then raise money or even collect soap and send it back. That is, if he asked her to marry him.
Wyatt tested the rope that tied Griff’s wrist to the bunk in the caboose. Both men sobered and expressed regret, but that wasn’t enough for Wyatt to let them go.
“Why did you choose them in the first place?” He stepped back. They wouldn’t be going anywhere, especially since he and Johnson decided to take shifts watching them.
“The blonde’s uncle said we could have them. He said she would be available in Pueblo, that he wanted to start his business early.”
Wyatt clenched his hand into a tight fist, then forced it to relax. He couldn’t bring himself to hit a tied-up man no matter how much he wanted to.
“Those are respectable women. You were misinformed.”
“Tell them we’re sorry. Griff and I were playing cards and drinking with the girl’s uncle. When he lost, he offered them to us instead of money.”
“That will be the last time he does that.” Wyatt settled in with his notebook on a hard bench. “Tell me what you know about him.”