Page 56 of The Heart’s Charge

Mark chanced a glance at Kate. She looked a tad ill, but she made no protest.

“I’ll be in town later today, chewing the fat at the saloon to see if I can learn anything new,” Mark said, for Kate’s benefit as well as Rawley’s. “If you run up against any trouble, you can find me there.”

However, it wasn’t Rawley or one of the boys who came to fetch Mark from the card table later that afternoon. It was Kate. Flushed. Out of breath. And far too beautiful for a room smelling of stale beer, sweat, and tobacco spit.

Mark dropped the full house he’d been holding as if it were no more valuable than a pair of twos and pushed to his feet. “Kate?”

Every head in the room turned to stare, but she ignored them all and ran straight to him, not stopping until her hands pressed against his chest.

“It’s Alice. She’s gone.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Katherine grabbed the lapels of Mark’s coat, ready to drag him out of the saloon if need be, but he required no urging. Without a backward glance, he abandoned his cards and his winnings, clasped her hand, and headed for the door. She trotted to keep pace with his long quick strides, the strength of his hand calming her panic.

Mark would find Alice. He was a Horseman, after all. The fact that he hadn’t yet found Wart nipped at her confidence, but she shook off her doubts. Mark would find her. He would.

He ushered her around the corner of the building and halted, giving her a chance to catch her breath before asking the inevitable question. “What happened?”

“After Rawley and the others left, I asked Alice and Ruby to help me finish hanging the laundry on the line. I worried how she might react to the boys leaving and wanted to keep her close. She was so quiet and withdrawn. Her gaze constantly drifted to the road. I tried to reassure her that they would be safe, thinking she must be afraid for them. I never guessed she wanted to join them.”

Foolish error, assuming Alice’s thoughts would mirror Katherine’s own. The girl had grown accustomed to traipsing around like a boy, making her own decisions, forging her own destiny. Her brother had been gone for over a week. She’d want to be part of the hunt.

“How long has she been gone?” Mark cut through her rambling, disordered thoughts, searching for the pertinent facts.

Katherine straightened as if she were a trooper under his command. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “The last time I saw her was around four this afternoon. She told me she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to lie down. I went to fetch her for dinner around six and found the room empty. Her dress was on the bed, and her trousers were missing. I questioned Ruby, but she didn’t know anything. Somehow Alice snuck out of the house without anyone noticing.”

“She probably went looking for Rawley.” Mark grabbed her hand and took off for the street. “Come on. Let’s check at the depot.”

Katherine took nearly two steps for every one of his, but she didn’t mind. Every moment that ticked past was another moment Alice was in danger. If she had rejoined Rawley’s gang, things might not be so dire, but Katherine remembered how firm Rawley had been about Al staying at Harmony House. He’d probably send her back. And if she was too stubborn to obey, she’d be off searching for her brother on her own. Vulnerable. The easy pickin’s the snatchers were looking for. Katherine started jogging, moving ahead of Mark and dragging him along.

Once they reached the train station, she slowed her pace, happy to let Mark take the lead. He was the one who knew how to siphon information out of people. All she knew right now was how to fret over the child she’d lost.

They circled around to the rear of the depot, both of their gazes scouring every shadowy nook they passed for any sign of the boys. Suddenly, Mark jerked to a halt.

“Look.” He pointed to a uniformed man setting out a pair of luggage carts on the platform near the tracks.

Her heart thudded. Mr. Lopez. God could not have sent them a better source of information.

Katherine nodded agreement to Mark’s unspoken suggestion and hurried with him to the platform steps. Mark released her hand so she could precede him up the stairs. Without a speck of hesitation, she dashed onto the platform and made a beeline for the porter.

“Mr. Lopez!” Katherine waved her arm in the air to draw his attention as she hustled to intercept him before he could duck back inside the baggage room. “Might we speak with you a moment?”

The porter grinned at her and lifted his own hand in greeting. “Señorita Palmer. How nice to see you. And Señor Wallace.” His smile brightened as he saw Mark come alongside her. “Mi amigo. Did you bring me another batch of those oatmeal cookies I like so much?” His eyes twinkled as he turned to Katherine and confessed, “I have a terrible sweet tooth.”

She smiled. She couldn’t help it. “Well, at least I know my missing cookies went to someone who would appreciate them.”

Mr. Lopez thumped a hand over his heart. “Ah, mi ángel. No one could love your cookies more than Fernando Lopez.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to bring you some the next time I bake.”

If cookies encouraged him to talk, she’d promise him a baker’s dozen.

“Fernando,” Mark began, “we need your help. Do you remember the youngest of Rawley’s boys?”

“You mean little Al? Sí.”