Come Away My Love by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson [Peterson, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adult, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781557489241
Publisher: Heartsong Presents
Published: 1995-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Joelle had no means to escape Columbus and so, in desperation, she snuck aboard a freight car when the opportunity presented itself. The train moved out of Columbus leaving behind scores of national newspapermen and an ever-growing command of soldiers. Joelle had heard it rumored, while waiting for the train, that President Wilson was sending troops out after Pancho Villa and his men. She silently hoped the army would slaughter all of them.

It was easy to slip onto the train. No one paid her any attention and, without regard to her own safety, Joelle threw herself into the back of a halfway empty car and settled down for the ride. She fell asleep and in such complete exhaustion found the first peace she had known in days. She was still bruised and aching from her ordeal, but her real pain was emotional. The never-ending bombardment of nightmares usually allowed her little escape from her memories. Gratefully, she succumbed to the rocking motion of the train car, finally realizing that she no longer cared if she lived or died.

When she woke up, Joelle adjusted her eyes to the darkness. Somewhere along the way, someone had closed the freight car door, leaving it pitch black inside. At first it frightened her, then, feeling that nothing else could hurt her more than she had already been hurt, Joelle eased her body into a sitting position and waited for the train to reach its unknown destination.

She thought of John. She could not help it. Somehow she knew that no matter where she went, she would always think of John. She remembered with fondest memories his laughing eyes and quick wit. She even smiled at the memory of their arguments. John was so good and loving. She could only hope that the woman he one day married would be worthy of him.

“Let him marry and be happy, God,” she whispered the prayer, then started at the thought of talking to God. Had she not concluded that God no longer listened to her?

I’m listening, Joelle.

It was not an audible voice, but Joelle heard it, nevertheless.

“But You left me alone!” Joelle declared.

Never, My child.

Joelle felt the train slowing, and whether it was due to a planned stop or merely the obligation of an upcoming town, Joelle prepared herself to exit the car.

The train groaned to a stop, and although Joelle had no idea where she had arrived, she thrust her full weight against the door and managed to open it enough to jump to the ground.

It was dark outside and cold. Colder than she had remembered in Columbus. But then, in Columbus she had never before ventured outside in the dead of night.

There was a small train depot and a smattering of people milling around the train engine. Joelle crept silently to the side of the depot and down the sandy roadway. She passed by several darkened adobe buildings. They seemed oblivious to her plight in their orange-brown silence.

The moonlight overhead did little to

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