The Train Ride Home-Part Two
The fierce wind was still blowing across the plain, but
the rain had some what subsided. Almost everyone had eventually fallen
asleep from pure exhaustion, even though most were fearful to even turn
their back.
But Colleen couldn't fall asleep, and it wasn't from fear. The
minute Andrew had been hurt, she realized that these people weren't going
to hurt them. She had learned quite a lot from Sully and Michaela, and if
they hadn't killed Andrew before, they weren't ever going to kill him.
Colleen looked to her right. After the rain had stopped, they had
built a fire, and Andrew had begun to feel better. She had insisted he
get some rest, and when he declined, she insisted as his "doctor." He
finally relented, but vowed to himself to stay awake. Yet sleep overcame
him and he soon found himself a willing victim.
Now Colleen gently reached over and pushed some hair out of his
face. She had been a little crazy before, but then, once she realized that
they weren't going to hurt her, or anyone else for that matter, she had
felt a little better. And with Andrew here...well, if she had to be here,
who better to be here with?
Suddenly, she heard whistling. At first, it sounded vaguely
familiar, but Colleen thought it only to be a bird. Then, with a sudden
shock, she realized she knew that whistle, and the person slowly creeping
towards her. She looked around hurriedly and, seeing the guards on the
other side of camp, headed towards the figure. They met half way, in a
cluster of bushes.
"Ma! What are you doing here?" Colleen whispered. Michaela
grabbed Colleen tightly, and closed her eyes. "Colleen! Are you alright
?" Michaela pulled Colleen back and started examining her. "I'm
fine Ma, are you here all alone?" Colleen looked around. There was no
hope of saving everyone if it was just Ma.
"Well Sully was here, but he went to get help. Listen Colleen,
I want you to come with me now and" "Wait a minute! What about these people?
What about Andrew?" Colleen exclaimed a bit too loud.
Colleen clamped a hand over her mouth and looked in the direction
of the guards. Had they heard her? It appeared that they had heard
something, they were now casually searching and checking the camp.
"Colleen! Come with me now!" Michaela said, pulling on
Colleen's arm. Colleen hesitated for a moment. Her freedom. She thought
they wouldn't harm anyone, but what if she was wrong? Then she saw Andrew,
peacefully sleeping by the fire, unaware of what was going on around him.
"No Ma," Colleen said, a trace of tears in her eyes, "I'm not
leavin'" She quickly dashed back to her place beside Andrew and closed
her eyes, pretending to be asleep, and trying to prevent the tears from
coming.
She had just turned down her freedom, but that wasn't what she was
upset about. Had she actually considered leaving Andrew? He would never
leave her! But the look on Ma's face scared her. Were they in more danger
than they thought?
I can't think about this right now, thought Colleen, I'll think
about it tomorrow. She let herself fall into sleep, and its promise to
take her away from all that was happening. Just before she fell asleep,
she felt someone move beside her. Without even opening her eyes she knew
it was Andrew. He draped another blanket over her and sat up beside her.
And so her last thought before she slept was that she had made the right
decision.
As morning dawned on the horizon, Colleen forced herself to come
out of sleep as someone gently shook her shoulder. Andrew felt that they
had to speak before everyone else got up and they began moving again. He
had not realized until this very second how much he actually cared for
Colleen. He had known before that he would do almost anything for her,
but he now knew that he would also give his life for her, if necessary.
And although this realization him a touch of fear it also brought him the
most wonderful sensation of love that he had never felt before.
He felt he had to tell Colleen this...before it might be too late.
The men didn't seem the type to kill, but one could never know. Andrew
also wanted to tell Colleen to take the first chance he got to escape.
More than his own freedom, Andrew wanted Colleen too be safe. Although he
would still fear for himself, he would at least have some comfort knowing
Colleen was safe.
"Andrew?" Colleen said in a sleepy voice, pulling him away
from his thoughts. "Colleen, are you up, are you listening,"
Andrew said, feeling the urgent need to tell her everything right away.
"Yes, Andrew, I'm listening," Colleen said, becoming more awake.
"Colleen, I want you to try to get away from here the first chance you
get. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. All that's important is that
you're safe," Andrew said quickly.
"Andrew, wait," Andrew took Colleen's hand, "No, wait,
there's more. Colleen, I've never quite felt about anyone the way I feel
about you. And I would never forgive myself if anything ever happened to
you. Colleen, what I'm trying to say is...never mind." Andrew had
suddenly realized that if he told Colleen he loved her, she might not want
to go. And perhaps if she got away and he didn't...well she might be
better off not knowing.
"Andrew, are you finished?" Colleen asked. Andrew nodded.
"Okay, well, promise you won't get mad okay? Last night, when you were
asleep, Ma came," Colleen began. "Michaela!? Was here?!"
Andrew exclaimed. "Um, yeah, let me finish. Well, she wanted me to
go with her, but, well, I um said no," Colleen said, wincing a little.
She saw how important it was to Andrew that she get away.
Andrew was stunned. Colleen had the chance to get away. She could
have gone home and left this horror behind. But she didn't, because of
Andrew. This is all your fault, Andrew told himself. He thought of
a million things to say to her; "thank you", "why", "I love you". But all
he said was, "You...said no?"
"Look Andrew," Colleen took one of his hands in hers,
"I'm not goin' to lie to you. You're more than a friend to me too. Maybe
more than I had thought before. Andrew, when Ma told me to come with her,
I gave it a second's thought before sayin' no. Andrew, I know it's
important to you that I get away, but I ain't leavin' you. Andrew, I don't
know what's gonna happen to us, I don't even know if you feel the same
way about me, but I think you know I love you. And Andrew, I would also
do anything for you too, but don't ask me to leave you behind. That's just
something I can't do."
Andrew was speechless. She'd said everything he'd wanted to say,
and more. He looked at her, and thought her even more beautiful. He was
in awe that this wonderful woman would love him, after he was the reason
she was here. "Colleen, I love you too, so much," Andrew said,
leaning closer.
A thousand thoughts raced through Colleen's mind as they drew
closer. But all came to a stand-still when she looked into Andrew's eyes,
and saw the love within. Colleen put a hand on Andrew's cheek, but then
something caught her eye. One of the men was watching them, grinning.
What a sick man, she thought. She gently pushed Andrew away, nodding
her head towards the man. "No Andrew, not here, not this way,"
Colleen said, a sad smile on her face. Andrew looked down, then quickly
up. He sought Colleen's eyes, and held her gaze."Colleen, I promise
that when we get back, I'll take you on a long picnic. And eventually
you'll go back to college, but you'll come home again, you always do. Just
as we'll get back home this time," Andrew said firmly.
Colleen offered a smile, but was gripping his hand tightly. Suddenly there
was a commotion. Everyone was being gathered together. "What could be
goin' on?" Colleen asked. Suddenly, a rough looking man came their
way, his gun pointed at them. "Git with the others!" he commanded.
Colleen and Andrew obeyed. Colleen looked around for clues as to what was
happening. She saw guns being handed out and the men lining up. But it
wasn't until she heard the words, "Smith is gone, he'll be back soon so
hurry up!" that she began to get worried. When the men were rough and
mean to them, Smith had always stood up for them, saying they weren't to
be treated as animals; it wasn't their fault they were here. But now,
Smith was gone. What would the men do to them. If they ever let them go,
everyone would describe how the men looked. That meant the only option was
...Colleen looked up, into Andrew's eyes.
He appeared to be thinking the same. Colleen gazed at Andrew,
hoping he could see the all the love she had for him, in her eyes. Andrew
did the same. Then he put an arm around her and looked back to what the
men were doing. Suddenly there were shots in the air and Colleen squeezed
her eyes shut tight. Were those the shots meant for them? Was she still
alive? She opened her eyes and looked over to Andrew. But he was staring
in the opposite direction. Colleen slowly turned her head, to see Sully,
Dr.Mike, and half of the town behind them, along with the law enforcers
from Denver.
Colleen almost collapsed in relief. Tears filled her eyes. She was
going home! The men were taken away, and the groups split apart. People
from the train were searching for their loved ones who had come to their
rescue. Andrew and Colleen walked over to Sully and Dr.Mike."Colleen!"
exclaimed Michaela, hugging Colleen. "Thanks Ma," Colleen said
softly. "Now we can go home, the wagon's over there. Andrew are you
alright?" Michaela asked. Andrew nodded, and he and Colleen headed
towards the wagon, his arm around her. Michaela and Sully followed from a
distance. "Know what?" Michaela asked as Sully put his arm around
her. "What?" Sully asked. "I think I can understand why Colleen
wouldn't leave Andrew," Michaela said. "Oh, and why is that?"
Sully asked. "Well, if it were us, I wouldn't leave. In fact, they
wouldn't be able to drag me away," Michaela joked.
"So, Dr.Cook," Colleen said, a playful smile on her face,
"When are we goin' on that picnic you promised?" Just seeing a
smile back on Colleen's face made Andrew smile himself. "Well how about
tomorrow?" Andrew asked. Colleen was a little surprised. She had thought
that maybe Andrew had said the things he said because he wanted to make
her feel better. "That would be perfect," she said softly, looking
into Andrew's eyes to let him know she really meant it.
The sun was shining, all traces of the dismal days that had just
passed had been erased. Near the hotel, Colleen and Andrew walked, hand in
hand, along a small path. Colleen held a blanket and Andrew held a picnic
basket. They walked a bit farther before finally stopping. Colleen spread
out the blanket and sat down. "So," Andrew said, helping her unpack
the picnic basket,"Would you do it again?" "Do what?" Colleen
asked.
"Well, would you goo to Denver with me if you had known what
would have happened on the train?" Andrew asked. "Of course!"
Colleen automatically answered. "Why?" asked Andrew in
astonishment. "Well, someone had too clean you up after you had gotten
into a fight," Colleen said thoughtfully. "Well I wouldn't have
gotten into a fight if you hadn't been there," Andrew pointed out.
"Are you saying it was my fault?" Colleen asked, a smile on her face.
"No Colleen," Andrew said seriously, "That could never be your
fault." "Andrew," Colleen said, "It will always mean more to me to
know where you are than to wonder. Andrew, if anything ever happened to
you..." Colleen trailed off.
Andrew placed a hand over her's. "Well nothing ever will,"
he said simply. "You're right it won't," Colleen said, her smile
returning, "Because if it ever did, I'd be pretty upset." "Not more
upset than I," Andrew said. Colleen looked down, then back up into
Andrew's eyes, and she truly knew she was home.
