Free Wings by Cynthia Lee Cartier

they took me to the station… they stood there at the train car door patronizing me with their eyes , Isn’t she amusing? When is she going to stop acting like a child and give up this silliness? You know I even chose to take the train instead of fly because it meant I would have to leave sooner. I couldn’t stand the scrutiny.”
    “So, you’re running away from home are ya’?”
    “I like to think I’m running to something, although I don’t know what that might be.” Bet pressed her forehead against the window with her eyes shut tight. “What have I done?”
    Liddy slipped her arm around Bet’s and squeezed her hand. “You want to know what you’re running to, Bet Bailey?” She waited for Bet to lift her head and search for the answer. “Wings, girl, pretty silver wings.”
    The rail to Texas rolled on, and restlessness set in. With each stop the train made, the hope of someone interesting climbing aboard filled Liddy and Bet with anticipation. From the seating car they watched out the window as the passengers said their goodbyes and boarded the train, while others disembarked to be greeted by their loved ones.
    An older man left the train and looked lost. He stared up and down the emptying platform until the whistle blew for departure. Then, without an apparent greeting or word, a young lady approached him and took his suitcase, and the man followed her as they walked away. He got Liddy and Bet making up stories about the strangers.
    “Ooh, that man right there.” Bet tapped the glass and pointed. “You start.” Three porters were loading five large trunks into a luggage car, while a smartly dressed man instructed them.
    “Okay,” Liddy squinted with concentration. “His name is Neville Brink and those trunks are filled with jewels and priceless masterpieces.” Liddy flipped her palm over and gave Bet her cue.
    “Okay, okay I’ve got it.” Bet studied the scene out the window. “He stole them.”
    “Is that all?”
    “No. Patience!” Bet held her hand up. “He stole them from his employer, Carlisle Worthington the III, a cruel and ruthless man.” Bet flipped her hand back at Liddy.
    “Very nice, Bailey.” Liddy gave Bet a nod and drummed her fingers on the glass. “Neville had worked for Carlisle Worthington for many years and had given up everything for his job, even love—”
    “Oh, oh, I got, I got it. Let me go.”
    Liddy shook her head and grinned at Bet. “Okay, but it better be good.”
    “It is,” Bet promised. “But he did love and her name was Vanessa. Vanessa was the daughter of...” she searched for her next line.
    “The town’s shopkeeper,” Liddy offered.
    “Okay, good... Vanessa was the daughter of the town’s shopkeeper, but Neville knew his job was to be in total service to his employer. So he had to smother the flames until the day he would have enough money to take Vanessa for his bride.”
    “But,” Liddy cut in, “Worthington found out about Neville’s plans—”
    “How?”
    “He read his diary, okay?”
    “Okay.” Bet nodded with satisfaction.
    “He didn’t want his servant to leave him. It wasn’t that he was fond of Neville, but he believed he owned him and it infuriated him that this man thought he could choose to leave. So…” Liddy waved a hand-off to Bet.
    “So, Carlisle Worthington crafted an evil scheme.” Bet shifted her eyes. “He set out to woo Vanessa and make her fall in love with him and succeeded.”
    “Wow, Bailey, you’re scary.”
    “Thank you.” Bet raised her eyebrows. “When Neville found out, he was devastated.” She pointed at Liddy.
    “He knew he had to get away, so he told Carlisle Worthington he was leaving. Worthington was maddened that his plan had failed. So he used his influence to drain Neville’s bank account, and he went through his room and found what cash he had hidden. Neville knew he had no recourse because he was only a servant and he felt trapped like a caged animal. And then