Dark Journey Home (11 page)

“Yes, sir, I wish that for them also.”  Logan said.

“Well,” Claude began, “I had planned on waiting a few
more days, spending more time with Garth, but I will speak with Olivia.” 

Then turning to Ricardo, he said, “Do you think you
could get down to the rail station again and see to having our leased coach
readied for departure?  Tell them we’ve had another change in plans, and to
make sure the car is attached to the rear of the midnight train.  The one that
will be heading southwest, away from the coastline.”

“Certainly, Señor Claude.  I will leave now.”  But
Garth, walking into the room offered, “No, Uncle.  I’ll drive Ricardo to the
station in the carriage that I have leased.  He needn’t walk, as that would
take too long anyway.  I heard it all and I well know this Captain Devlin as
I’ve had a couple of run-ins with the chap myself.

“In time that rotten sea-captain will get his rear-end
kicked all the way to Timbuktu, by the British government.  As we speak, he is
under investigation, and some of the government men are working under cover. 
This information, however, is classified and is to go no further than this
room, as any leakage could put the total investigation at jeopardy as well as
men’s lives.” 

Garth spoke directly to his uncle then, “You see, Uncle,
I haven’t been completely idle and carefree all these years.”

“I’ve known that, lad.”  Claude returned seriously. 

Garth looked thoughtfully at his uncle.  He wished
fervently that he could confide in him.  It was true that he had given up his
shipping business.  But the reason was not just to assist his uncle.  For the
past three years he had been under the employ of the British government.  His expertise
in self-defense and marksmanship as well as his place in society made him the
perfect choice for undercover work.  What had begun as a part-time distraction
had turned into a full time career that gave him the sense of fulfillment that
the shipping business could not do.  Garth worked closely with the Metropolitan
Police Service in London and had played a key part in bringing many unsavory
characters to justice.  It was important to keep up the appearance, however, of
a successful businessman.  He would, therefore, be handling his uncle’s many
business affairs, and of course still would be the ‘devilish rogue’ of his
reputation, among society, as much as his current marital status would allow
him, that is. 

Garth was sorry that his sister and uncle would never
learn of his position with the British government, nor that Garth’s wife,
Bridgett, contrary to her vivacious, carefree appearance, was also on the
government intelligence payroll.  No, they never would, nor could learn the
truth.

Garth and Bridgett, apparently on a long honeymoon,
were actually on a dangerous assignment, along the U.S. coast, in cooperation
with the U.S. Secret Service, and as the assignment was moving along fast, it
should be wrapped up soon.  Later, for appearances and necessity, the
honeymooning couple would return back home to London. 

Olivia readily agreed with her uncle’s decision to
leave on their journey later that night.   Though she actually was looking
forward to traveling by rail for the first time, tearful goodbyes were made,
and Olivia promised Garth and Bridget that they would visit longer when they
returned.  She still had yet to hear the story of how they had met, and how
Bridgett had ‘tamed’ that ‘adventurous’ rogue brother of hers, long enough to
get him to the altar.  That should be a tale of adventure all in itself. 

<><><> 

As the iron steam locomotive sent a blast of heavy
black smoke billowing from the stack to spiral upward towards the dark cloudy
sky, the engineer pulled on the loud whistle.  Then the heavy train, wheels
grinding and screeching along the tracks, pulled out of the New York train
station, picked up speed, then, headed steadily towards the southwest. 

Olivia and her uncle had each settled in their own
compartments for the night, in the luxurious suite of rooms in the private
leased coach that had been attached to the rear of the long train. 

Ricardo and Maria had already taken their compartment
in the pullman car just ahead of the elegant coach, and Logan had his own
compartment also in the same pullman.  It had been a very long day, and each
and every traveler was tired, and resting peacefully in their own little
worlds, looking forward to the coming day, when they would be able to watch the
scenery go by from the train windows.  

As Olivia snuggled down inside the soft covers, she
thought of how nice it would be to invite Logan to their coach, to listen to
some poetry reading, maybe the next day.  Of course she would read to him
and
her uncle.  Claude always enjoyed her reading.  It would certainly pass some
time.  She smiled to herself at the idea, as she drifted off to sleep.

As the weary travelers rested peacefully in their
beds, no one would have had an inkling of the scene that had been unfolding
along the docks of the waterfront. 

It all had begun earlier in the afternoon, as Henry
Adams, alias Henry Birch, had been hanging around the taverns along the docks. 
He hadn’t found any serious card games early in the day so he’d had a few
drinks.  One mug of rum led to another, and before long he was literally
staggering.  That would never do, he told himself, so he had a sandwich at one
of the pubs and then headed back to the nearest tavern, ordering another drink.

A kindly voice at his elbow said, “Let me pay for that
drink, lad.”  Henry looked up into a kindly face, though weather-worn, and
said, “And I thank you kindly, matey.”

Henry noticed that his new friend hadn’t touched his
mug of rum that much, but then they’d been busy talking and getting acquainted,
and Henry wondered if this man could be of some ‘use’ to him.  The longer they
talked, the more sure he became.  The new friend was a rough appearing mate,
Jeremy Jones, he’d said his name was, and would do just about anything for a
few American coins.  He had another friend down the bar a ways, whom he waved
at.  The bloke waved back, and soon had joined the pair, then, after moving to
a table, they continued to visit and drink, telling stories of the sea, singing
loud bawdy songs, and laughing loudly. 

The other man was named Charlie Smith, and Henry
immediately took to them.  These were men after his own heart, scum bags, and
dishonest to the end.  He couldn’t believe his good fortune in having met up
with them.  So he told them a little of his life, making up the fact that
Olivia had certainly wanted him, but that her brother and uncle had stood in
the way of their romance. 

The two new friends definitely needed a few coins, and
would assist Henry in getting Olivia out from under her uncle’s ‘clutches’, or
see to it that her uncle was ‘out of the way’.  Henry was happy, and drank mug
after mug of the strong and hearty ale.  Though when he felt he’d drunk enough,
he decided he’d had enough, and then, his speech slurred, he made plans to meet
with his friends the next morning along the dock.  He’d probably better return
to his hotel, after all it was two-o’clock in the morning, and he had more
spying to do when the sun came up again, before meeting with Jeremy and
Charlie.      

They all left the tavern together, and Henry drunkenly
staggering, wondered absentmindedly why his two friends were following him.  Henry
Adams, alias Henry Birch, woke up twenty-four hours later, in the belly of a
moving cargo ship, sporting a ‘bad headache’.  Jeremy and Charlie made much
more money this way, than the measly coins that Henry had offered them. 

<><><> 

In the small community of Freeman, tucked somewhere
among the hills of Wyoming, around twenty miles north and west of Buffalo, the
aging, though agile, Seth Wakefield walked out of the telegraph office, then,
pausing outside the doorway, leaned against the rough-hewn logs of the outer
wall of the building and he read over the telegram he had just received from
his long lost son, Logan, for the third time.

PA,

I WILL BE HOME SOON.  HAVE TO MAKE A STOP ALONG THE
WAY SO EXPECT ME WHEN YOU SEE ME. WILL DO MY BEST TO HURRY.  LOTS TO TELL. 
GIVE MY LOVE TO MOM.

YOUR LOVING SON,

LOGAN

Seth
carefully wiped away a tear that threatened to trickle down his cheek, and then
read the cable yet another time. 

The wire had been sent from New York City, clear
across the country.  Seth carefully folded the paper and stuffed it into his
shirt pocket.  He had to hurry home and relay the news to Cassandra.  Tell her
that their son would be coming home.  He always knew he would be.  All was well
with the world.

<><><> 

Logan
was glad when
the long train trip was finally coming to an end.  He’d enjoyed watching the
scenery change from green grassy hills of Missouri west from St. Louis to Kansas City, then gradually south through the grassy plains of Kansas.  Southwest through Oklahoma was nothing but desolate red dirt, but he knew that once they hit the Texas border, he’d be in God’s country. 

Logan
had a
friend in Texas, though he didn’t know if he was still a ranger or not, as that
had been many years ago.  The ranger had been stationed in Austin, but that was
far to the southeast from where they would be, however, the man could have left
the territory by now, as he had known him many years ago.  Logan liked Texas, and had been through there many a time.  It reminded him of home.  However, it was
still quite a ways from his beloved home in the Wyoming territory. 

Texas
covered a vast
area, and the land looked the same to him as it had those many years ago, as
the train rolled across the border, and Logan knew that land never changed
anyway, just people change, though folks can change the land too. 

Texas
had good
rangeland and cattle did well here. 

Logan
had listened
intently to Olivia’s poetry reading several times, during the long train ride,
and her melodious voice had been soothing to the soul.  She was very poised and
learned, though he wished just for once that she would loosen up, and stop
being so prim and proper.  Oh well, as he’d told himself more often than not,
she was definitely not for him.  So why should he care?  He didn’t know why,
but he did care. 

They would be leaving the comfort of the train soon,
and then traveling part of the way by stagecoach.  The tracks only ran so far. 

Back in the luxurious coach at the far end of the long
train, Olivia sat on a soft divan, gazing out of the window at the desolate and
dreary land.  There had been nothing but miles of red dirt, but now the
conductor had told her uncle that they had entered the territory of Texas, and the scenery would change for the better.  She didn’t see anything better.  She just
saw nothing but dry grasses from where she sat, but she wouldn’t complain. 
Never. 

Olivia carefully pulled down the shade.  All the way
across the eastern states she’d enjoyed the lush greenery of the countryside,
and even the rolling green hills of Kansas.  She hoped that when they got
further into Texas things would look better.

Olivia decided to read for awhile, just to herself. 
The last time she’d read aloud to the two men, she’d caught Logan’s deep green-eyed
gaze upon her once too often.  Well, of course he did have to look at her, as
she was reading to him.  But did he have to look so…..so…..Well, that intent
expression in his eyes was enough to make anyone nervous.  She had
mispronounced a word or two then, in that last rendition, but didn’t think the
lout noticed, as his expression hadn’t changed a bit, when she’d glanced his
way. 

Maria and Ricardo had been enjoying themselves very
much on the long trip, however mostly they had stayed in their pullman
compartment.  Often though, they’d bring breakfast to the coach for Olivia and
her uncle from the diner, though they always ate supper in the diner car in the
evening, and then, usually, Maria, Ricardo and Logan joined them at that time. 

Maria hadn’t any chores to do on the train, as the
porters took care of the cleaning, and bed making.  Claude had told Olivia that
Logan spent most of his time in the lounge, which was several cars to the
front, and that he sometimes played cards with some cowboys who were on the
train heading back to their Texas ranch.  Olivia wasn’t interested in where Logan spent his time.  Or was she?