they found him.
Daniel gave a sigh of relief as they entered the silent car. A few men in the corner playing cards looked up with interest at Evie's appearance, but they went back to their game when Daniel entered with her. Almost everyone else was asleep. Evie sent him a questioning look.
"She's in a private car. I didn't see it at this end. They probably hooked it on last. We'll wait for Tyler, then the two of you can have a seat while I find it."
She nodded. The engine gave a mighty belch and heaved forward. Evie grabbed the nearest seat and glanced worriedly toward the door.
Tyler sauntered from the next car just as the train rolled from the station. He took Evie's arm and led her down the aisle, not even bothering to glower at the poor benighted souls who could only look at Evie and drool. Even after their mad ride she was a picture of radiant loveliness.
"They're carrying a private car at the rear. It was designed by Pullman, so there's an emergency hatch in the roof. There aren't any more stops between here and Indianapolis. How far do you want to go?"
Tyler's whispered asides to Daniel took them through one car and into the next, steadily progressing toward the rear of the train.
"Not any farther than I have to. We'll need to find out how many people are in the car. Most of them should be sleeping at this hour, though."
Tyler nodded in understanding, found a seat for Evie, and set her in it. Then he took off his dusty coat, folded it over a seat, and started for the nearest card game. "Come on, we'll get what we need and break."
Evie made a vile face at them as they left her, but since Tyler had dumped her satchel on the floor, she began rummaging in it and didn't make any other protest.
There was room for only one more player, and Daniel stayed out of it, standing to the rear and listening as Tyler began his spiel. He had made his fortune at card tables and kept his hand in for practice upon occasion still. But it wasn't his talent with cards that he was employing now. Daniel listened with admiration as Tyler wished aloud that he had thought to bring his own private car as someone else evidently had, complaining the journey was taking much too long for his tastes. Tyler Monteigne dressed with the elegance of the wealthiest robber barons, and spoke with the authority of power. The men around him listened without a trace of doubt to his lies.
It didn't take long or much persuasion to pump them for every bit of information they had. Daniel was edging for the far door before Tyler could unravel himself from the game.
"You're not walking in there and carrying her out, you know," Tyler murmured as he caught up with Daniel. He made no comment on the name of the man who owned the private car they were heading toward. The problem between Daniel and the Mulloneys was an old one.
"I trust you two didn't think you were doing this alone." Evie swished up behind them, carrying her satchel and Tyler's coat. "I might just make this easy for you if you'll tell me what's going on."
Daniel had to smile at that. Evie was his elder by two years and had always been the one to march forward into the fray first in their younger days. Having children of her own now apparently hadn't changed her any. He wondered if Georgie would be like that after they'd been married ten years. Daniel couldn't believe he was thinking like that.
He hugged Evie briefly as they came to the darkened dining car. He had always been taller than she, but now she actually felt small beside him. Not as small as Georgie, but small enough to protect. "I don't know how you'll lie us out of this one, Evie. I just wish I'd brought my guns."
Evie slanted a warning gaze at her husband. Tyler always carried his weapons, but she wouldn't want him using them. Daniel understood it took something from the former soldier every time Tyler had to use violence. Besides, it probably wouldn't do to shoot Daniel's new family.
"Tell me the story, and then I'll decide what we can do," she announced.
Chapter 21
"If there's only her parents and two guards in there, we shouldn't have any problem," Evie decided after Daniel and Tyler told her what