Love's Sweet Surrender (2 page)

Indecision rippled through her for a moment as the terror of the last several minutes raced through her mind. Unable to sit in her seat a second longer, she shakily rose and approached the door.

Her hand on the steel handle, she was poised to open it when she heard the ping of more bullets over the screams and curses of the passengers. Not wanting to startle anyone, she peered through the glass and watched the cowboy hold two more men at gunpoint while another male passenger bound their hands.

Before she could slide the door, a strong arm snaked around her waist and pulled her tight against the solid chest behind her. Cutting off any chance of a scream, a hand clamped down hard over her mouth.

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10

Sandy Sullivan

As she struggled against the man behind her, a gravelly voice whispered in her ear, “Don’t fight me, or I'll break you in half. Open the door and we will join the party.”

While she did as she was told, the man holding her slowly walked her into the next car. She held her breath in anticipation of her rescuer finding her in this newest predicament.

“Drop the gun, mister, or this lady will meet her maker,” the man behind her growled.

Her heart thumped, and her throat went dry. She held her voice in check while the scene unfolded in front of her.

The cowboy slowly turned around but didn’t drop his gun. The gunman pushed the barrel of his firearm into her side even further, and she gasped.

“I said drop it.”

The eyes that now stared at her from the handsome man’s face were cold and clear as a glacier she once saw in a book. The deadly stare sent shivers down her spine as the robber behind her pulled her tighter against him.

“Do you really think I care what happens to her?”

He spoke to the armed man behind her, but his eyes said something else.

She knew instinctively he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

“Just put the gun down, cowboy, and we’ll all walk out of here with our lives.” The gunman holding her seemed to be trying to bargain with the cowboy. His grip on her waist tightened.

“I can’t do that.” The stranger addressed the gunman with a tolerant smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re trying to take what doesn’t belong to you, and I won’t allow it.”

With his last statement, the gun in his hand barked in response to the pressure of his finger on the trigger. Lily screamed when she was thrown to the floor. More shots rang out before she saw the robber disappear out the door behind him.

He rushed to her side, but instead of helping her to her feet like she thought he would, he stepped over her body and rushed to the door. She brushed the dirt from her skirts, after several other passengers helped her to her feet.

When he returned to her side, Lily lifted her chin to look into his face and realized her head only reached his shoulder. “Thank you.”

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Love’s Sweet Surrender

11

His gaze raked over her as if to ensure himself she wasn't hurt, before he tipped his hat without a word and moved toward the back of the train.

The trembling started at her toes and before long, her whole body shook, forcing her to take a seat. The thunder of horse's hooves echoed in her ears seconds ahead of a black streak zipping by the window. Her rescuer was riding hell-bent for leather in the same direction the robber had taken.

Within moments, the conductor moved down the aisle toward the group.

“All right, everyone, please take your seats, and we’ll be on our way to the next station.”

An older gentleman stood guarding the two robbers hogtied at his feet.

“What do you want to do with these two?”

“We’ll drop them in Parkville with the local sheriff when we get there.

We’ll be there in about an hour.” The conductor approached Lily where she sat in stunned silence. “Ma’am, are you all right?”

“Yes,” she answered absently. “I’ll be fine. How long before we reach Parkville?”

“About an hour, ma’am. Is that your final destination?”

“Actually, yes it is.”

“Nice little town, Parkville is. Are you visiting family?”

“No. I left my family in Boston.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I’m sure you’ll find it a right nice place to settle down.”

“Thank you,” she whispered as he disappeared through the door.

Parkville. What will I find when I get there? The conductor had called it a
nice little town. Well, obviously the town jail will be home to the two
robbers sharing our compartment.

In no time at all, her thoughts scattered when the train began to pull into the station. She was aghast at the large sign hanging over the center of town saying, “Welcome, Mrs. Backman.”

“Oh my,” she whispered, noticing the large crowd gathering to greet her when she stepped off the train.

The mayor stood on the platform looking around, apparently watching the passengers disembark. He appeared disappointed when he didn’t locate the person he sought.

“Ma’am, was there a middle-aged woman traveling alone on the train with you?”

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Sandy Sullivan

“No, sir. I’m sorry there wasn’t. May I ask who you are looking for?”

“Our new schoolteacher, actually. She was to be on that train.”

“Mr. Mayor, I am your schoolteacher.” Heat crawled up her neck and splashed across her cheeks.

“You?” he bellowed. “That’s impossible. The letter gave me the impression the woman was older. You, my dear, couldn’t be more than twenty.” He looked behind her.

“Actually, sir, I’m twenty-two, and yes, I am your new schoolteacher.”

She stuck out her hand in the hope that he would take it in greeting. “Lily Backman, at your service, Mr. Mayor.” He ignored her, turned on his heel and left her standing there alone hanging her head in rejection.

“This is going to be harder than I thought,” Lily sighed. When the weight of her situation became apparent, she trailed the grumbling crowd back toward town.

Feeling dejected, she walked to the center of town to look for somewhere to stay for the night. Not knowing if she could convince the mayor to allow her to stay, she needed to make plans. First things first. She needed a roof over her head, food in her stomach and her trunks out of the train station.

Noticing a young boy near the general store, she approached and asked if he would retrieve her trunks for her.

“Sure.” He squinted when he looked up. “Are you really the new schoolteacher?”

“Well, that depends on whether the mayor will allow me to be, but yes, that is my plan.” She smiled and bent down so she could look into his eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“Johnny, Johnny Sanford. My pop has a place outside town.” He pushed his chest out with pride. “I’ll be right back with that trunk, ma’am.”

“Can you take it to the boarding house over there?” She pointed to a building on the corner.

“Yes, ma’am.” He broke into a run toward the train station, his small legs churning quickly as he disappeared around the bend.

Walking in the direction of the neat house with a sign on the front advertising rooms available, she smiled while she surveyed the little town around her.
I think I'm going to like it here.

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Love’s Sweet Surrender

13

When she finally reached the boarding house, she opened the front door, and the little bell tinkled in response.

“May I help you?” An older woman looked over her wire-rimmed glasses from behind a small desk with ledgers piled so high that Lily almost couldn’t see her.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m looking for a room for a few days. My name is Lily Backman.”

“Ah! The new schoolteacher.” The woman stood, held out her hand and grasped Lily's. “Welcome, my dear. I’m sure I have a nice room available I could rent you for a few days, but I thought the town was giving you the old widow Allen’s house?”

“I’m not sure as of yet, ma’am, and I want to make sure I have a place to lay my head tonight.”

“Of course, my dear. You can have the room at the top of the stairs to the right. I’ll even have my nephew bring up some water for a bath. I’m sure you are exhausted after traveling clear from Boston.”

“Yes, ma’am. I sure could do with a bath right now. Thank you. I’m sorry, what was your name again?”

“I’m Madge Roberts, but you can just call me Madge.”

“Thank you, Madge. You’ve been a godsend.” Lily smiled in return for Madge's kindness. She wearily took the stairs to the room the woman had referred to, anticipating the warm bath that would soothe her tired muscles.

* * * *

Listening closely while the two women talked, Daniel Roberts stood outside the door.
It couldn’t be her. Damn! If she realizes who I am, there
will be hell to pay.

He needed to make sure she didn’t recognize him from the train. He didn’t think that she had gotten a good enough look at him, but he wasn’t sure. The jail would find him a permanent resident if it became known he was involved in the robberies that had taken place. He didn’t want to eliminate her if he didn’t have to.

After all, she was a pretty little thing, with her big green eyes and dark brown hair. She was rather tall for a female he'd noticed, when he held her against his chest. She was about four inches shorter than he, and he stood Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Sandy Sullivan

almost six feet in height. His body began to react to his thoughts as he remembered her tight little butt pressed against him. He wondered for a second what it would be like to have her beneath him.

Shaking his head at his amorous thoughts, he waited until the young woman disappeared up the stairs before he made his presence known. His Aunt Madge had been such a loving influence in his life since his parents had died, but he needed—no wanted—money, lots of money, and she was only able to support them with the boarding house.

“Aunt Madge?”

“In here,” she called. He entered the kitchen to find her standing near the counter. “I’m just making our newest guest something to eat. I’m sure she’s starving. I need you to take the tub to her room so she can have a nice bath.”

Son of a bitch! If she sees me, she might recognize me.
“You want me to do what?"

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Love’s Sweet Surrender

15

Johnny arrived with her trunks, struggling to haul them up to the second floor, and Lily had to smile when she heard him banging up the stairs. She opened the door when he reached the landing and stopped to catch his breath.

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, placing the promised nickel into his hand after he had pulled the heavy trunks into her room.

“Thank you so much, Johnny. You’ve been so sweet.”

Color splashed across his cheeks, and he ducked his head. “Yes, ma’am.

Thank you, ma’am.” He turned on his heel and almost ran down the stairs again.

She moved the trunk to a spot near the end of the bed, so she could get some clean clothing, eagerly waiting for the hot water for her bath. Sorting through her things looking for some undergarments, she dropped the clothing on the bed when she heard a loud knock. The sound came again, shortly after the first, and she ground her teeth together in annoyance.

“I’m coming,” she insisted, a little exasperated at the insistent rapping.

She pulled the door open to find a man standing with what appeared to be a large tub behind him. “Yes?”

“I brought the tub, miss,” he mumbled, looking at the young woman before him with a startled expression.

“Oh, yes, please come in. You can put it over there near the bureau.”

She stepped aside to allow the man to enter.

The man struggled with the large tub, pushing and pulling, until it was where she had shown him. “I’ll be right back with the water, miss.”

“Thank you.” She frowned when he quickly left the room.
Strange.

After the man made several trips back with buckets of steaming liquid, the edge of the water rode precariously close to the top rim of the tub.

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16

Sandy Sullivan

“That should do it. Just let my aunt know when you are finished, and I’ll come up to empty it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course. Thank you so much.” Once the door closed behind him, she quickly stripped her clothes and stepped into the steaming water with a heavy sigh.

Lily thoroughly washed her hair, leaving bubbles floating in the water around her. Once she'd finished washing up, she reclined against the edge of the tub and attempted to relax. It had been a long trip from Boston, but it made her happy to be finally here. Now she had to figure out how to convince the mayor and the rest of the town that she was capable of teaching their children. She had always loved tutoring some of the local aristocrats’

boys and girls during her teenage years. She hoped this love of teaching would help her win the battle to keep her job.

Edward, the man she had known as her father, hated it when she taught.

He always felt it beneath her and made sure she knew it. “You needn’t do that type of menial labor, Lily,” he would tell her. As the daughter of a wealthy Boston family, she should have been "knitting and doing needlepoint with the other young ladies, rather than helping children with mathematics and English." Nevertheless it was something she had a talent for, so she continued, much to his chagrin.