-

Emmett rode like the wind. He expected to be ambushed by the sheriff’s men at any point.

Twice his intuition forced him to double back to avoid a likely ambush.

He raced down one more alley and came out on the western side of town.

I’ll head north and catch the train after the next stop.

-

“I love riding on trains. Always have.” Jonathan said between bites of cake.

“It’s poetry. The gentle rhythm of the rails. And the motion parallax effect is fascinating.” Lottie slurped on a strawberry milkshake as she watched the desert scene fly by out the window of their private cabin.

“I never would have guessed that a train out of Jamestown would have such a luxurious dining car.” Jonathan said.

Marie cut through a rare steak with a serrated knife. She hummed happily to herself as she chewed on the salty meat.

There was a polite knock at the cabin door. A moment later, the serving staff opened the door with a bowl of grapes.

“Anyone care for some fresh fruit and crepes?”

-

Emmett caught up with the train as it stopped at a way-station.

The station was surrounded by wheat and bean fields to the south, and a large vineyard to the north of the tracks.

This isn't a town, more of a couple farm houses and some warehouses.

He watched for his chance to sneak aboard while they restocked on water and an unusually large quantity crates marked as produce.

The station master brought out a large sack of parcels and mail, handing it over in exchange for a much smaller bag of mail.

“It’s a miracle anyone out here gets mail at all. As if they even have five families living out here in the middle of nowhere.”

Emmett grumbled to the horse as the train roared to life without giving him an opportunity to sneak on board.

Hawk gave him a friendly wave as the train left the station.

-

The train roared down the tracks and Emmett followed.

Come on old boy! Just a little further and then you can rest!

The heat of the open rolling flatlands baked him as he rode on.

The train came to a wide gradual curve and naturally had to slow down.

That’s my chance!

He spurred the horse on, gripping tightly to the beast’s flank with his entire being.

He finally was in reach of the caboose’s railing.

Can’t reach out yet! Need to gain a bit more!

He finally saw his chance and grasped the rail. He pulled himself across the gap and leapt off the beast’s flank.

His hand slipped but he was able to bring his other hand across his body and catch the rail again.

Dammit. I was almost grease. Too close.

Freed of its insane burden, the horse slowed to a trot and veered away from the tracks to find some shade.

Emmett dragged himself over the railing and sat in the porter’s chair catching his breath.

They better have whiskey on this train.

-

The caboose was a hoarders paradise. stacks of books and bundles of newspaper lined the floor in a makeshift hallway that rose to Emmett’s shoulder.

He watched everything sway with the train as it came out of the turn onto some straight track. There were trunks and suitcases, luggage lost by negligent passengers over the years.

Emmett wove his way through the hoard and stopped when he found what he was looking for. Grab the bottle of whiskey and a glass off the shelf.

Thank you.

He spotted two hooks in the ceiling. He found the hammock the porter used to sleep and strung it up.

He climbed it but didn’t stay more than a second.

Damn swaying is worse in here.

-

Emmett stepped across the gap between the cars. The long gap gave him a bit of pain.

I haven’t ridden that hard in years.

The door to the next car wasn’t locked so he let himself in.

A storage car. The next one should be our cattle car. I can hide out in the wagon.

Emmett marveled at the crates of produce on display.

Grapes? Cakes? Steaks on ice? Candy snakes? What kind of madman is working the dining car?

The train rocked suddenly, and a bundle of rakes hit Emmett in the head and scattered all over the floor.

Stolen novel; please report.

“God damn rakes on a train!?” He shouted.

He reached the door and stared at the gap between the cars again, grimacing in anticipation of the pain of this next leap.

He jumped and cleared the gap easily.

I don’t care how soft it’d be, I’m taking a salt bath next time we stop.

He tried the door to the cattle car but it was locked.

“Dammit!” He swore. ”I don’t know how, but this is Jonathan’s fault. He’s done this to me. That bastard.”

He crouched down to pick the lock. He had to hold the whiskey in the crook of his arm while he worked the lock with his knife and some flexible wire.

“Might as well shoot the damn knob off, for all the trouble it’s worth.” He grouched.

His wire snapped and he nearly drew and shot the knob but the door swung open.

“Huh?” Emmett said as he faced a firing squad of soldiers in blue.

“Think you can rob our train? Think again!” Their captain shouted.

-

Well that could not have gone worse.

Emmett’s wrists and ankles were tied and he was lashed to the wheel of his own wagon.

Jonathan’s horse whinnied at him and showed her teeth.

“Oh quiet you.” Emmett said.

They took his knife and his guns, belts and all. They took his hat and boots for good measure. Then they had interrogated him.

“Now tell me this story of yours again, I want to make sure we get all the facts straight.” The captain said.

“Like I told you. My friends are on the train already. They have my identification and ticket.” Emmett said dryly.

If I was him I wouldn’t believe me either.

“There’s three of them, a woman named Jacquline, and two siblings Jonathan the brother and Charolette the sister.”

“Uh huh, and which car are they on?” The captain said.

“I don’t know. One near the front. I didn’t see them board. Like I said I missed the train.”

“I heard ya.” The captain said. We sent a man up to ask around. They will find out the truth.”

Let’s hope they don’t have a stack of warrants. The truth would get me in more trouble than sneaking into a train and stealing whiskey.

“Captain.” One of the infantrymen said drawing the man away.

They spoke in hushed tones looking at his guns and belts.

They better not mess with my guns. I’ll have to break them down and clean and oil them.

“Serviceable iron you got here my friend.” The captain said. “Where did you come by them?”

“They are mine bought and paid for in my own blood and sweat.” Emmett said hotly. “I earned those guns Delving during the war.”

Here it comes.

He resumed discretely testing the ropes binding his wrists.

“Ha! A bean sprout like you? You would have been old enough to shine a real delver’s shoes. You may bandy the word around now that the war is over, but a real Delver would bloody you up for a lie like that.”

The soldiers behind him laughed. A man in the back of the group took offense.

“My father was a delver! Don’t you dare muddy the name.” He said.

Every damn time.

“Would you believe I signed up at 12 and through grit and determination worked my way up to captain of the Salamanders?” Emmett said but he already knew how this would play out.

“If you are going to lie then lie big.” The captain laughed.

“Permission to treat the captive as hostile Captain.” The man in the back barked.

“On what grounds?” The captain asked.

“I see he is still holding a weapon. He needs to be searched again.” The man said stepping forwards and unbuttoning his jacket.

If it’s a fight he wants then so be it.

Emmett strained against the ropes and they shifted a little.

“Permission granted private. Search him thoroughly.” The captain said with a smirk.

“Let’s see what tall tales he can spin after that.”

-

There was a different kind of knock on the cabin door.

Mari and Jonathan tensed and Mari flipped her steak knife and held it in her fist.

“Who is it?” Johnathan called.

“Privat Johnson.” A curt voice responded. “Might I take a minute of your time?”

“What do we do? Do you think he’s going to arrest us?” Jonathan whispered.

“It will be fine. We haven’t done anything wrong that the army knows about.” Mari whispered back.

“Come in.” She said and unlatched the door.

“Thank you.” He said stepping out of the cramped hallway. “Would you happen to be Jonathan Westchester?”

Jonathan laughed. “Oh no. I get that all the time. Must be an uncanny resemblance.”

“Jonathan. Really.” Lottie replied.

“I mean who is he? Some famous stage performer? A terribly handsome ex-Lover?” Jonathan rambled on.

“So you are Johnathan Westchester.” The soldier said. “Come with me at once.”

“It wasn’t me! I was framed.” Jonathan wailed.

“What’s going on?” Marie asked. She placed a hand on Johnathan’s shoulder to stop him from talking.

“Are you Charolette Westchester?” The soldier asked.

“No I’m Jacqueline Martin, Medic First class formerly of the Salamander garrison.” Mari said standing and squaring her shoulders. “Now tell me what’s going on private Johnson.”

“Yes ma’am. We apprehended a stow away who claims to know you. He asked for Johnathan to come prove his identity as he didn’t have a ticket or identification on him.”

“Emmett made it aboard. That’s great news!” Lottie said jumping up in her excitement.

The train nicked a turn and they all stumbled a little to stay on their feet.

“Where is he now?” Mari asked. “Take me to him.”

The soldier looked embarrassed for a moment. But Mari’s stern gaze forced him to speak.

“He’s tied up in the cattle car.” He said.

“Oh that’s good.” Jonathan laughed.

“That’s not good.” Mari said quickly. “Take me to him immediately. Your men are in danger.”

-

Emmett was the boxing champion of the Salamanders. It’s one of the reasons he was made captain. It’s a lot harder to disobey orders when the commanding officer is able to take you apart with his bare hands.

Emmett hit the floor for the fifth time. The soldiers around him cheered.

I forgot how much it sucked to get punched when you can’t block. Small graces that they untied my feet.

The soldier shook blood off his hand and flexed his fingers.

“His face sure is damn hard.” He winced.

Emmett rolled onto his back and worked on the rope binding his wrists some more.

“That all you got kid?” Emmet spat.

Oh you bastards are going to find out what hard is once I’m out of these ropes.

A couple soldiers pulled Emmett to his feet and he kept his gaze on his opponent.

“Let me know when you have had enough.” Emmett said feigning disinterest. “I can do this all day.”

The train nicked a turn throwing the soldier’s next swing off course. Many of the other soldiers stumbled to keep their feet. Emmett freed his hands in time to grab hold of his opponent and steadied himself.

“My turn.” He said.

-

Mari and the soldier burst through the door to the cattle car to find soldiers scattered across the floor.

There was a group with their backs to the door watching in amazement as Emmett took on three men.

“Emmett! Stand down!” Mari shouted.

He grabbed one man by the hair and hit him in the gut a few times. He ducked a punch that came from behind as another soldier tried to join the fight.

“Captain Emmett Miller! Stand down!” Mari shouted.

Emmett stopped. He was holding one soldier by the collar and standing on the throat of another. His clothes were torn and bloody, his eye swollen and his lip split in two places.

“Dammit Mari, I told them to get Jonathan.” Emmett said.

“I don’t mind the view. Mari said moving through the crowd to start triaging the soldiers scattered around in the straw and cow mud of the cattle car.

“He less likely to enjoy the show.” Emmett said as he dropped the man he was holding.

“What’s the meaning of this?” The captain shouted from his spot on the ground.

That guy was smart enough to duck out after I got in a couple hits. Too bad I didn’t really get my hands on him.

“You the officer in charge of this mud show?” Mari demanded.

She tossed a leather purse at the captain’s feet.

“This man you have detained is Emmett James Miller, discharged with honors. He was the captain of the platoon of Delvers in the thick of the fighting. You may have heard of us, the Salamanders.” She said hotly.

She pulled out her small field kit and sanitized a thread and needle with alcohol.

“Lay still soldier. I’m a medic.” She said sweetly.

“But-but.” The captain stammered as he opened the purse to see Emmett’s credentials.

A soldier tentatively brought Emmett his belts and guns. He strapped them on and his hands ran over each of them. Checking their action, and ensuring they were loaded.

The captain finally turned to look at Emmett dumbfounded. “Why didn’t you say so?”

Emmett ripped his shirt the rest of the way apart and used it to mop up the blood from his split brow.

“Why indeed not captain? This always happens.” Mari said. “And I have to clean it up.”

“Where’s my bag?” Emmett asked.

“It’s in our cabin. Three cars up, cabin number 5.” She said.

She finished stitching up the soldier’s lip and turned to give Emmett a quick appraisal, but he was gone.

“Can someone catch up to him and lend him a coat? Hes going to walk through the dining car shirtless, covered in dung, and blood.” She said.