Page 23 of Her Honorable Hero

“Thank you.”

Miranda still wasn’t sure which way Susan and Scarlett were, based on how the train was now situated.

“Scarlett? Susan? Jeremy?”

No answer.

She’d try for a Mom voice.

“Jeremy! Young Man! You answer me right this minute!”

“I’m here.”

Miranda slumped in relief. She saw a flash of green and realized it was his shirt. He was waving. She climbed over two seats, scrunching her toes so her shoes stayed on.

He was looking down. Oh God, it was a dead body. She picked him up.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s sleeping, Honey.”

Please God, let his mom and sister be all right. “Susan!” she yelled out. “Scarlett!”

“Over here.” She heard a weak voice. It was Scarlett’s.

The voice came from in front of her. She could have sworn Scarlett would have been behind her and closer to where she had been sitting. Her sense of direction was all off. Miranda took a step in the direction of the voice, doing her best to keep hold of Jeremy. At least he was doing a monkey hold, with his legs wrapped around her waist and his arms around her neck.

The train lurched and she slipped and landed hard. She hit her hip on one of the overturned seats. The pain reverberated up her leg, but Jeremy hung on tight. Neither of them hit the floor. She heard more screams.

“We’re going to die!” It was a woman’s voice.

Did Miranda hear a siren?

Sea grass peeked through some broken glass. Instead of darkness from the window below her, she could see a sliver of light. Miranda fought back a wave of nausea because when she squinted, she could see the sandy beach at least a hundred feet below.

The train car was literally perched on the edge of the cliff. They would die if the train plummeted over the side of the cliff.

“Jeremy? Hope?” It was Susan’s voice.

Stop focusing on the beach.

She clutched Jeremy tighter as he tried to squirm out of her arms.

“Mommy! I’m here.” He hit her shoulder. “Let me down, Mira.”

“Hold on, Honey. Let me take you to your mother. It’s not safe for you to be walking around in the dark. There’s glass everywhere.” Miranda struggled to stand upright, but she finally managed to get her feet under her.

Dammit, she was missing a shoe again. She felt around with her toe, while still dealing with a stubborn little boy who was determined to get away from her.

“Please Jeremy, hold still. I need you to hang on like the little monkey I know you can be. Your mommy might be stuck like we were, and we have to get to her together.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” she choked out as he all but strangled her.

Eureka, she found her shoe. Why in the hell had she worn heels? But at least she hadn’t cut her feet…yet. Glass crunched under her feet as she moved.

“Susan? Call out. We’re coming.”