A Question 0f Faith (Historical Christian Romance)

He walks swiftly to the door, “I’ll ask around and see if there are any witnesses. You may want to consider putting whatever they were after in the porters safe. It’s the best place to keep your valuables.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Tucker waits until the doctor leaves to glance at her. Abbie is laying back with her dark hair spread around her, and her lips are pinched with pain.
“Your bag is here, Abbie,” Tucker says, sitting beside her to take her hand. “I’m sorry, I’ll do a better job of protecting you from here on.”
She squeezes his hand and opens her eyes to look at him. “Why would someone attack me, Tucker?”
“Check your bag, Abbie, and see what’s missing,” he urges.
“It got dumped in the tussle,” she murmurs and runs a hand over her shoulder.
“Where are the adoption papers?” he asks softly.
“They’re safe,” she blushes and sits up, running a hand through her hair.
“Really? I think I’ll be the judge of that. Are they in your boots?”
“No,” she sits up and smiles, “You need to trust me, they are on my person. Mother said to travel with my money and important papers close to me. They are very close.”
Tucker grins, “Your mother is a wise woman.”
“Yes, she is. Now, I want to know why someone attacked me!” Abbie snaps.
“I don’t know, Abbie. It could be just a random robbery attempt. For now, we will be more vigilant and stick together.”
“He was furious Tucker. I don’t think he was going to stop hitting me.” Abbie’s eyes drift shut. “I’m gonna sleep now,” she murmurs.
“No, Dr. Hayden, said for me to keep you awake for a few hours to be safe.”
“He’s a terrible doctor,” she hisses and leans her head back on the ice pack.
“Have you ever played poker, Abbs?” Tucker asks with a smile.
Chocolate eyes snap open, and she glares at him, “Of course not,” she states.
“No time like the present,” he teases and pulls out his cards.
“Gambling is a sin, Tucker,” she quips wondering what else she doesn’t know about him.
“Yes, it is, but this is just a game between friends. I won’t take all your money,” he promises.
“I don’t know Tucker, if you play card games like you play tug of war, I might have to shoot you for cheating.”
His mouth falls open, and he barks with outrage while she holds her ribs and laughs.
“You are a sore loser, Mrs. Gilbert,” he says and shuffles the cards.

Chapter 19
Tucker studies the train tickets after a few card games with Abbie. “Do you trust me, Abbs?” he asks.
“Of course,” she murmurs with her head back against the seat. Propped up with ice on her shoulder and head, Tucker is concerned. Her pain is growing worse by the minute.
“We need to consider that whoever attacked you may try again.”
Fully awake now, she opens her eyes and looks over at him. “What do we do?” she asks.
“I want to switch up our plan.” Tucker moves over to sit beside her and shows her the tickets. “Originally, we were going to stop in Salt Lake City, and jump to another train bound for San Francisco. I suggest we change to another railroad,”
“I need to get to San Francisco, Tucker. I don’t want to let someone scare me away.” Abbie stands, waiting for the pounding to settle and moves to her bag. When she moves her arm, pain radiates down its length, she hisses out and supports it.
“Abbie, sit down and tell me what you need!” he fusses.
“I’m okay,” she breathes through the pain. It strikes her that she isn’t used to someone caring for her. Burton was rarely home, and she’d grown used to the silence.
“We’ll have you checked over in San Francisco, until then I can make a sling for your arm.” Abbie lets him guide her back to the bench and makes a sling to support her arm.
Abbie cocks a brow in surprise. “Thank you,” she murmurs and watches as he gently supports her arm with a large handkerchief. Chills erupt when he lifts her hair to move it out of his way.
“So soft,” he murmurs as he works. “Okay, just slip your arm inside, and it let the sling support it.”
“Oh,” The relief is instant. “Yes. Thank you,” she smiles.
“It’s the least I can do, Abbs. I understand that you need to get to San Francisco, but what good will it do if you are hurt in the process? I promise to get you there, just not using the original tickets.”
Abbie nods and lays back, closing her eyes she murmurs, “I’m definitely not in a hurry to be attacked again, Tucker. I’m willing to do whatever you think is best.”
Relieved, he smiles. “Good. At the next train stop, we will slip quietly off the train.”
He quickly cleans up, and he hands Abbie her bag, “Double check to make sure nothing is missing.”
Tucker watches her carefully while he checks his pistols to make sure they are loaded and ready should he need them. She won’t get hurt on his watch again.
Guilt ripples through his mind when he thinks about seeing her on the ground with a crowd around her. All the color had drained from her face, and she was almost grey in appearance. It shot terror through his heart.
“Stop it, Tucker. It’s not your fault,” she snaps and stands up to set her bag by the door.
Tucker flinches and looks up at her. “Yes, it is.”
“You certainly can’t be with me every second, Tucker. I do have to bathe, sleep, and change clothes at some point.”
Tucker stares up at her, and his mouth goes dry. Images of her in different stages of dress has him forgetting to think for a