A Question 0f Faith (Historical Christian Romance)

murmurs and rubs her eyes. “Is it safe now?”
 “Almost, Abbs. Sleep while you can.”
She nods and lays down on the velvet bench. “I’m so tired, Tucker.” Her eyes are closed within a few breaths. Tucker walks over and covers Abbie with his jacket and sits to watch over her as she sleeps.

Chapter 21
Clint and his two companions split up and check the depot as the train departs. “They can’t have gotten very far,” he snaps when they return empty handed.
“The station clerk said no one checked in with the name Gilbert. Maybe they are using another name,” he suggests.
“His name is Tucker Manning, go see if they have any information for him,” Clint says and steps to the edge of the platform to watch the train disappear from sight.
Turning with a hiss of frustration, he rushes to meet his companions. After an hour of searching and talking to the only hotel, it becomes clear that they were tricked.
“Smart bastard,” he murmurs. “Let’s go. We need to be on the next train, and I have to send a message. That train will make two more scheduled stops before Sacramento. If we are lucky, we can catch up to them.”
“The Boss won’t be happy,” Arthur, his companion snaps.
“I know that! We can still get the job done. I couldn’t take her out with so many witnesses around. I need to get her away from him and find out where the adoption papers are!” Clint hisses.
“Or take them both out and be done with it,” Arthur suggests.
“I like the way your mind works, Art,” Clint laughs, “except that we can’t touch the money without the paperwork.”
“True. I’d think it’d be simpler to grab the woman and force her to tell us what we need to know,” Phil suggests.
“That’s the plan. I’ll send a message for them to get the woman at any cost. Good idea, Phil.”
“Great minds think alike, Doctor Hayden,” he grins.
“I’ll be back, I need to send a message.” Dr. Hayden walks away, leaving the two men waiting for the next train.
“What exactly is he a Doctor of?” Phil demands as they walk to a bench to wait for the next train.
“Mostly death,” Art quips and they laugh, ignoring the strange looks.


Chapter 22
The very next stop for passengers, Tucker insists they switch trains. Before they exit, he turns to Abbie with an embarrassed smile.
“Abbie, I think you should change your dress.”
“What?” she glances down at her black dress and frowns. “Is it ripped?”
“No, but they will be looking for a widow in black. It makes you stand out. It would be easier if you could blend in more.” Like that’s possible, he thinks. She tends to stand out, even when she doesn’t try.
“I didn’t bring anything that isn’t black, Tucker,” she frowns, looking down at her dress.
“We can fix that when we change trains,” he nods and guides Abbie off the train.
“I need a private cabin,” Tucker tells the clerk at the station, and Abbie slips cash into his hand, feeling how he stiffens at her touch.
“The train leaves in an hour. You’re lucky. It’s almost full. I have one first-class cabin available. Enjoy your trip, Mr. and Mrs. Daygle,” the clerk says with a smile.
“Thank you, where can I send a telegram?” he asks, ignoring a shocked Abbie.
“I can send it for you,” she offers with a pretty smile.
 “I bet she can,” Abbie murmurs and Tucker struggles not to smile. Just to irritate her, he drags her to his side and presses a kiss to her forehead.
He writes the message and slides it to the clerk, paying her to send it. Abbie watches as he collects his change, and she frowns. She will have to give him some more cash. He shouldn’t be paying for anything.
With the message sent, he guides an irritable Abbie away from the train station. Tucker pauses and stuffs the cash back into her hand.
“Abbilene, I don’t need your money.”
“Tucker,” she hisses, and he hides a smile as he guides her towards the general store.
“Not now, dear.”
Abbie elbows him in the side, and he laughs softly.
“You said you trust me,” his deep voice whispers in her ear, sending chills over her body.
She looks up at him, and her mind goes blank. He’s so good looking, and it’s been so long since a man has paid attention to her. His wife was a fool, she thinks as he smiles down at her and tucks her into his side.
His eyes are constantly scanning for threats or attack. He knows they won’t be able to arrive in San Francisco unnoticed. If he’s right, someone will be watching for them.
“I’m just tired,” she sighs, this has been a much more eventful trip than she expected. The closer they get to the city, the more the landscape changes. People from many different cultures flow in an out of the stations.
As they pass a glass window of a store, Abbie catches her reflection and frowns. “Fine. I’ll get a dress,” she snaps.
“I thought most women loved to get new clothes,” he teases.
“I could care less what I look like. It’s not a priority right now.”
“I understand that Abbie, but you should also think about a child meeting you for the first time,” he suggests gently.
She stops in her tracks and looks at him with tears in her eyes. “I can do better than this,” she murmurs. Her emotions are battering her. Guilt, fear, anger, frustration, all rolled into one big fist.
Tucker puts an arm around her shoulder and guides her to the store. “Think about it as injecting color into both of your lives. His first meeting with his new mother should be memorable. Let’s make