“No.” She rubbed her healing shoulder. “I don’t like those things very much.” She shrugged. “Besides, I’m better with a knife than I am with a pistol.”
He opened his mouth to ask her about that, but then decided this was not the time to know about her experience with deadly weapons. He reached in the bag and grabbed the second pistol and placed it in the pocket of his coat.
He gave her a wink. “Come, my darling Nicole. Let’s go catch us a thief!”
Chapter Eighteen
Nicole shoved her hair back into the large boy’s cap as she ran through the passenger car. The train was nearly to a stop, and she couldn’t allow the thief to escape. She knew Ashton was behind her because his heavy footsteps resounded on the floor, and his quick breaths were nearly as laborious as hers, but she didn’t turn her head to look at him. Her focus was directed on the passengers...and trying to find the man who fit the description Ashton had given her.
A movement from out the window captured her attention. The bulky man wearing a long, black overcoat and trousers, ran away from the railway. In his arms was a handbag. Nicole sucked in a quick breath. The man must have jumped off the car, which meant...she and Ashton would have to do it, as well.
“Ashton, look!” She pointed to the window.
He grumbled and grasped her hand. “We cannot wait until the train comes to a complete stop. You stay here, since you’re still recovering from your injury. I’ll run after him.”
Although his thoughtfulness made her heart flutter, she wouldn’t let him leave without her. As he turned to leave, she took hold of his hand again. “No, Ashton. We’ll go together.”
“Are you certain?” His forehead creased as he narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want to set back your recovery.”
“We’re wasting time arguing,” she snapped and ran past him, toward the door. As soon as they left the car and stepped onto the gated ledge, a wind blew against her face. It wasn’t as strong as it had been earlier, which meant the railway was much slower now.
Ashton moved in front of her, holding the pistol. He aimed at the man running in the distance and fired. The man stumbled and clutched his right arm, but he continued to get away as he darted for a nearby building.
“You shot him,” Nicole gasped.
“That will slow him down slightly.” He looked at her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Ashton shoved the pistol in his coat pocket and leapt off the gated ledge first, landing firmly on his feet. He turned and held out his arm. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”
It was impossible to stop her heartbeat from skipping again, but she’d think about his thoughtfulness later. Right now, they needed to catch them a thief!
She jumped and landed on her feet but stumbled slightly. He grabbed hold of her arms, keeping her upright. Once she was steady, she took off in a run. Ashton was by her side.
Nicole scanned the area, searching for the bulky man in black with brown hair, holding a handbag, but so far, she couldn’t see him. He must have disappeared behind that large building.
“Do you see him,” she shouted to Ashton.
“No, but he went this way.” He pointed toward the building.
As they ran toward the large structure, more and more people gathered around Meol’s depot as the train ground to a stop, making it impossible to find the thief. Helplessness washed over Nicole, making her angrier. They were so close to catching him. They couldn’t possibly lose him now.
Yet, the more she looked from one person to another, the more her hopes dropped. By now, the man could have hidden somewhere and changed his clothes, which was probably what happened.
They reached the other side of the building, only to find more people coming to board the railway. Nicole slowed her steps, as did Ashton. His expression reflected the same defeat she felt. “I think we’ve lost him,” she said.
“No. We’ll just switch our search a little. We’ll look for a man who is holding his injured right arm, has brown hair, and clasping a handbag.”
“Yes, good plan, and—” she dropped her gaze to the ground, “let’s also look for spatters of blood. I’m sure he’s bleeding, so we should find something on the ground.”
Although she kept their pace fast, she watched the ground for any signs of blood. Ashton appeared to be doing the same, but after they walked around the building twice and hadn’t seen a thing, Nicole was ready to give up.
Ashton cursed—something she hadn’t heard him do. She stopped and met his angry eyes. His hands were bunched by his side.
“I won’t accept this. We were so close! He has to be here somewhere.”
Her chest burned from exertion, and she tried to regulate her breathing. She touched his arm. “Indeed, this is very disheartening, but we have learned a few things from today’s venture.”
