He flew to her side and quickly undid the knots that were biting into her wrists and ankles.
Once her hands were free she yanked the gag from her mouth and fell to her husband's side in frantic sobs. “Ezrah can you hear me?” she cried while shaking him gently and cradling his head in her lap.
Ezrah groaned but didn't open his eyes.
Thomas hunkered down beside Buena. “Are you hurt Buena?” He asked gently.
"I'm not hurt Thomas,” she sniffed. Her hair was completely disarrayed and her dress was torn at the sleeves. She looked like she had put up a fierce fight. “Thomas,” she repeated his name as she tried to calm herself. “Those horrid men burst in here and took us by surprise, they...they,” she began to cry hysterically once more.
Thomas placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. “Who came in here Buena? Where is Rosaline? I need to know. Was it Higgs and Diederick?”
The blood in Thomas's veins turned to ice as she nodded. “Did they say where they were taking her?” he asked more hurriedly and shook her a little harder when she began to cry again.
“I can't Thomas, they said they will hurt her if anyone goes after them.”
“Buena please, I have to go after her,” he said as angry tears rolled down his cheeks. “I can't just let her go like this.”
Buena reached over and wiped the tears from his cheeks, something she hadn't done since he was a little boy. “They didn't say, but once they had tied me up I heard that horrid man Diederick out in the hall ask the Marshal if he had the tickets.”
Thomas frowned in confusion. “The Marshal was with Diederick?”
“Yes, they were here on official business to discuss the charges. Oh Thomas I was taken so off guard. The federal marshal was the one who knocked poor Ezrah out. It was such a surprise I didn't know what to do.”
Gripping her shoulders tightly, Thomas sprang into action. “This is what we are going to do now Buena. You are going to stay here with Ezrah and see to him,” he reached up and gently patted her cheek when she began to cry again. “Before I go I'm going to send someone to fetch the doctor for you and Ezrah.”
Buena gripped his hand and held it to her cheek as he stood to leave. “Please be safe Thomas,” she attempted a halfhearted smile. “And bring back our Rosaline.”
Thomas bent down and kissed her cheek, something else he had not done in many years, before sprinting out the door. He quickly his pocket watch as he stepped out the door. It was almost five o’clock, which meant that the evening train would be leaving the station any minute. He had no time to waste.
He ran all the way to the Three-Guns saloon and burst through the doors. His usual poker group were already assembled at the giant table in the center of the room. They looked up in surprise. “There's been an accident at the sheriff's house,” he shouted to the room in general. “I need someone to fetch the doctor and make sure that Buena and Gideon get help.”
The old man with the wide-brimmed cowboy hat hastily stood. “What's happened?”
“There is no time to explain!” Thomas shouted, already halfway out the door. “Just help them!”
Running breathlessly to his horse, Thomas prayed as he jumped into the saddle.Delay the train Lord, let me be in time to save her. Don't let her slip through my fingers now that I love her.
He flung himself up into the saddle and dug his heels into the horse’s sides.
***
Thomas’ heart grew cold as he reached the station and saw the train disappearing into the horizon against the setting sun. The anger was quickly growing in his chest. He had prayed fiercely to God all the way to the station.Was God once again going to take away the woman he loved despite his pleading and trusting?
He bit down hard on his teeth until it hurt as his jaw clenched. “I trusted you!” he shouted to the evening sky.
The horse neighed and shifted under his weight. Thomas shut his eyes as visions of Rosaline sitting on the porch reading to them swam in his vision.
“In(Daniel 9:1-19)We see Daniel struggling with his delayed answer from God. It took some time for Daniel to realize that God had actually answered his prayer the very same day. Daniel was just not expecting the delay and opposition.”
He remembered vividly how she had looked up at him and smiled. “Sometimes God is answering our prayers, it's just not happening how we expected it to. Don't give up before God is even done answering.”
Feeling the hope rise in his chest, Thomas looked at the train in the distance.Lord, I’m going to trust you with this.He dug his heels into the horse's flanks and galloped off towards the quickly vanishing train.
***
Thomas finally pulled up behind the train, thankful that it was still gathering speed as it left the station. He had ridden his horse hard and the poor creature was struggling to keep up. Leaning forward he whispered in the horse's ear as the train sped over the tracks.
“You've been doing great girl, I'm sorry I'm pushing you so hard, we're almost there. Just a little further,” he leant back and flicked the reins.
