Ada took the stack of plates from Hannah and carried them to the table. “I’m so happy you came by. I put some soup on. This will go perfectly with it,” she said as she took the towels off the plates Hannah had brought.
A shout came from the saloon across the road, and Ada wrapped her arms around herself. “The thought of listening to that all night makes me not want to fall asleep at all. I’ve gotten so used to having Bart here. No one would give me trouble with him around.”
Hannah understood. “My house is off the main road. Do you want to come stay with me tonight?”
Ada’s shoulders relaxed. “Yes, that would be wonderful! We can keep one another company. It feels so much safer with more than one of us, doesn’t it?”
Hannah nodded. She didn’t know how intimidating two women such as herself and Ada could possibly be, but it certainly made her feel better having another person with her.
Ada dished the soup as Hannah hung her coat on a peg by the door. “You’ve certainly added some cheer to this room,” she said as she walked back to the table. The last time she’d come inside, the windows were bare, the bed had only a plain woolen blanket, and everysingle item in the room existed only to serve a purpose. Ada had added curtains, a quilt, a handful of knick-knacks, and vases of flowers.
“Thank you.” Ada beamed. “There’s more to do, but at least it feels more like home now.”
“Will you hang some watercolors?” Hannah asked as she took her seat. Ada was talented at replicating color onto canvas. Hannah had lost track of how many times her friend had missed meals or forgotten to do chores because she was lost in creating her own version of the world. The walls of the room she’d shared at the orphanage had been covered in her work.
“Soon.” Ada layered a slice of ham onto the bread. “Bart ordered more colors for me since I couldn’t fit most of what I had in New York in my bag.”
“He seems like a good man,” Hannah replied.
“He is. He’s very quiet about his past though. I don’t think he likes to reflect on it.”
Hannah swallowed a spoonful of chicken soup and wondered what Mr. Jackson had seen in his life. The rain and thunder continued outside, drowning out any noise from across the street. Hannah didn’t want to think about the state of the road they’d need to walk on to make it back to her house. At least her shoes were sturdy and practical.
After they polished off the slices of cake Hannah had brought, Ada packed what she would need for the night while Hannah washed the dishes. It was nearing nine o’clock when they were finally ready to leave.
Ada peeked out the door. It was still raining, though at least the thunder had passed. “I suppose it wouldn’t do us any good to wait for this to let up. The longer we wait, the rowdier it will get out there.” She chewed on her thumbnail as she watched a few men outside the saloon who were apparently oblivious to the downpour.
“A little rain won’t hurt us,” Hannah said as she did up the last button on her coat.
Ada nodded in agreement. She paused before opening the door again. “Wait, I have an idea.” She ran to the bed and took off the quilt and blanket. “So we don’t ruin our hats.” She handed the quilt to Hannah.
Hannah draped it over her hat. It hung down over her shoulders, and she was sure she looked entirely silly. She and Ada took one look at each other and burst into laughter.
“We won’t be pretty, but we’ll be dry!” Ada slung the handles of her carpetbag over her shoulder, hiding it under the blanket, while Hannah grabbed the plates she’d brought over. “Ready?”
The rain was cold against Hannah’s face. She was grateful for the extra layer of the quilt as she waited for Ada to lock the door. The second the lock clicked, they darted as quickly as possible through the dark down the main road. If the men across the street noticed them or said a word, Hannah was oblivious. Slipping and sliding against the mud, it took longer to get to the little road where Hannah lived than it would have on a dry day.
Checking to make sure Ada was behind her, Hannah turned, grateful to see the shadowy outline of her home. Keeping as much as possible to the flattened vegetation that lined the side of the road, she moved as fast as she could. She was out of breath by the time they reached the door.
Hannah fumbled for the key in her pocket as Ada breathed heavily behind her. “Almost—”
An arm wrapped itself around her midsection as a hand clamped itself over her mouth.
“Hannah!” Ada shouted.
The plates fell to the ground. Hannah fought against the man’s hold, her screams muffled and her feet slipping as he began to drag her backward. She clawed against his arm.
It did nothing but make him grab onto her even tighter.
Through the rain, she could see Ada drop her carpetbag and come running after her. But the man was stronger and faster.
It wasn’t long before Hannah couldn’t see Ada—or Perseverance—at all.
Chapter Seventeen
Rafehuddledunderthedismal sheet of canvas they’d strung up in a hurry the night before. The rain still drizzled, turning the early morning into a haze of browns and golds and greens.
“So much for following any tracks they left,” Jackson said, appearing out of nowhere beside their makeshift tent.
