Free Breakfast with a Cowboy by Vanessa Devereaux

 
    BREAKFAST
WITH A COWBOY
     
    Love Cowboy Style, 2
     
    Vanessa Devereaux
     
    Copyright ©
2013
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    Josie glanced at the clock on the station wall,
watching the second hand speeding around its face. The train was due in four
minutes and twenty-four seconds. This would be her last chance to change her
mind, turn toward the exit, and never look back.
      However, she’d
never let anyone down before. Well, not intentionally. The bag with the item in
question stood at her feet. She ran her hands around her ticket, feeling its
sharp edges bite into her fingertips.
      She was about
to embark on a train journey that would take her through three time zones, and
cover 2,200 miles. The whole thing would take forty-seven hours. Pioneers had
crossed this same land in covered wagons and survived, so could she.
      Stomach acid
churned in her belly when a rumbling noise rocked the platform, signaling the
train’s arrival. She’d never traveled by rail before, neither had Jennifer.
Well, that was if you didn’t count the miniature electric one at the fair. Her
parents still had the photo of her and Jennifer riding on it. She closed her
eyes, trying to get the image out of her mind because they were happy times
they’d never share again.
    Who
knows what’s in store for us, so live like it’s your last day on earth.
    “Can I help you with your bags, miss?”
    Josie glanced up, realizing one of the train workers
was talking to her and that the train was ready to be boarded.
    “That would be great, thanks.”
    He grabbed the handle on her pull along case and was
about to reach for the smaller one when she put her hand on top of his,
preventing him from doing so.
    “If it’s okay, I’d like to take this one. There’s something
very valuable inside.”
    “Absolutely, and we have a lockup area at the rear
end of the train if you’d feel more comfortable storing it there.”
    She shook her head. She wasn’t letting it out of her
sight.
    “Are you going all the way to Seattle?” he asked
when they got onboard.
    The reality hit her. She was actually doing this.
She was going halfway across the country on a train.
    “Yes, yes, I am.”
    “First time on this train?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’ll love it. Can I see your ticket and I’ll
direct you to your seat?”
    Josie pulled it out of her coat pocket and handed it
to him.
    “Sleepers are this way. And I’ll show you where the
restrooms are, and also the restaurant car.”
    Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. A couple of days
of nothing to do but watch the scenery outside the window, taking in all the
sights Jennifer had missed. And then at the end of the journey…she couldn’t
think about what she had to do there.
    One
small step at a time.
    “Here you are. I’ll put your case by this seat. Have
a nice trip and be sure to ask one of the staff if you need something,” he
said.
    Courage, she wanted to reply but doubted they kept
it on board.
    ****
    Quinn knew he could have gotten to the station faster
if he got out of the taxi and walked. It wasn’t the driver’s fault. It was his
for oversleeping and jumping into a cab during rush hour. His head still ached
from last night’s party and drinking. He rested his temple on the side of the
cab’s window, its coolness helping to ease the drumming sensation there.
    He glanced ahead, seeing nothing but cars. Quinn
wondered what would happen if he missed the train. Would they allow him to
catch the next one? He looked at his ticket but didn’t see anything about that
written in the minute print.
    Still, he wouldn’t worry too much. A train wasn’t
his only means of getting home. He closed his eyes again. He’d only gotten
about two hours sleep and it was already catching up on him. Must be what turning
thirty-eight was all about. Mel had kindly booked a
sleeper compartment for him, so maybe he’d nap all the way home. That probably
wasn’t what his buddy had in mind when he’d gifted the