NOBODY SAID LOVE WAS GONNA BE EASY
Chapter Ten
Jack, Christina, and Robert looked around at
their surroundings as they stepped off the train. Rich people, young and old
alike, filed out of the station, on their way home or to business meetings to close
a deal that would make them richer than they already were. Trying to look as
inconspicuous as possible, Jack and his friends headed for the exit, one
destination in mind—the Hockley estate, in search of one Rose Dawson. She just
had to be there, probably awaiting their rescue. Jack took a deep breath as
they walked, knowing that he had a lot of apologizing to do. He had gone over
that day a thousand and one times and couldn't come up with the reason they had
fought. It seemed so silly now, to fight over the house being a mess. What had
ever gotten into him?
"Jack, do you know where we're
heading?" Robert asked, clutching Christina's hand tightly in his, an
overnight bag in the other.
"Yes. To Caledon Hockley's place. We're
going there to rescue Rose." Jack looked at his friend.
"Yes, we know that. What we mean is, do
you know where this Caledon Hockley lives?" Christina asked, her heart
going out to her friend. Rose had made Jack happier than she'd ever seen him.
She prayed that they would be able to rescue the beautiful redhead.
"Not exactly. But I'll find out. Trust
me. I know what I'm doing." Jack headed for the exit, wanting to get
started on his search for Rose. "We'll stop by the Hockley Steel Works
first. Someone's bound to know where Hockley lives."
Looking at each other, Christina and Robert
followed Jack, trusting that he knew what he was doing and that their new
friend would be back with them once again.
*****
The search for the Hockley mansion didn't
take long. The trio of friends went to the Hockley Steel Mill and asked the
lunching employees if they knew where Nathan Hockley lived. It was the cute
blonde secretary who became smitten with Jack who answered and wrote down the
address. Now Jack, Robert, and Christina stood in front of the towering
mansion, just knowing that Rose was somewhere within. It was just getting to
her that was the problem.
"So, what now?" Christina asked.
"We'll need transportation. I think it'd
be wise if you go find it," Jack replied. "Things could get
dangerous, and both Robert and I will feel better if you're not in the line of
fire. It's bad enough that Rose will be."
Christina snorted as she rolled her eyes in
disbelief. "Come on, Jack. This is a wealthy neighborhood, and this
Hockley fellow is supposed to be a gentleman. How dangerous can he be?"
Jack didn't even smile as he looked at his
friend. He had to get through to her just how serious the situation was. Cal
would have no reservations about killing them…so long as it meant that he got
to keep Rose. "Caledon Hockley is not to be underestimated, Christina. He
chased both Rose and I deep into the sinking Titanic, all the while shooting at
us. He's extremely dangerous, and there's no telling what he's done to
Rose."
"I think Jack's right, sweetie. It's
best if you go get some transportation. I don't want you anywhere near here
until we have Rose and are able to make a fast getaway." Robert squeezed
his wife's hand.
"But…what if…what if something happens
and you need me?"
"If we're not out in an hour, go for
help." Jack nodded.
Christina bit her lip, not wanting to go, but
knowing that Robert would never forgive her if they messed up getting Rose back
just because she was being stubborn. "Okay. Fine. But if you're not out in
an hour, I'm getting the police."
"Fine. Now go." Robert gently
pushed her away from the mansion. "Make sure we all can fit."
"Fine." Christina waved,
disappearing down around the corner.
"Now that the woman is gone, let's go
in." Robert nodded, ringing the bell.
As soon as the door was opened, Jack's fist
slammed into the face of Nathan Hockley, knocking the man out instantly.
"Come on." Jack stepped into the
dimly lit foyer, trying to think of where Cal would keep Rose. The two young
men walked through the rooms on the first floor, searching for any clues. It
was when they heard a deep laugh from the basement that they suddenly knew
where Rose was. Quickly, the two young men ran down to the basement to see Cal
on top of a pale Rose, who seemed to just be laying there, looking at nothing.
"Rose! Get off her!" Jack yelled,
anger darkening his usually bright blue eyes.
Surprise and anger were in Cal's eyes as he
looked away from his would-be victim. "Dawson. I should have known you'd
show up. You never did know how to mind your own business."
"That's the thing, Cal. She is my
business," Jack growled, glad that he had brought Robert along. Cal was
going to jail. There was no way he could get out of it now. Not now that there
was a witness.
"Is that so, Dawson?" Cal climbed
off Rose and approached Jack, picking up a gun from the otherwise bare table
next to the bed. "Well, this gun here says otherwise."
"Jack…maybe we should go for the police,
and then…" Robert grew nervous. This Hockley fellow was indeed dangerous,
and was getting moreso with each passing minute.
"I'm not afraid of you, Cal. Listen, I
don't want anymore trouble from you. Just let Rose go and we won't press
charges." Jack moved deeper into the room, ignoring the gun pointing him.
Of course, he was lying. There was no way he was going to let Cal get away with
what he had done to Rose.
"Let Rose go? You have got to be
kidding. I'm not letting Rose go. She's mine, Dawson. Now and forever! What?
Did you think just because you implanted her with your brat I was going to let
you have her?" Cal laughed. "Not very likely. I got rid of your brat,
and now, I'm going to get rid of you, too."
Just as Cal was about to pull the trigger,
Robert ran out from behind Jack and punched Cal, causing him to drop the gun. Robert
punched him again, this time knocking him out.
"I knew those boxing lessons would come
in handy," he mumbled. "Hurry. Let's get Rose and get out."
Robert stepped away from Cal.
Jack quickly scooped Rose up into his arms
and followed Robert up the stairs and towards the exit. They thought that they
were home free, when shots were suddenly fired. Robert gasped in surprise when
he saw Cal in the doorway shooting at them, his dark eyes full of rage and
hatred.
Remembering his time as Chippewa Falls’ baseball
team’s best pitcher, Robert picked up a large rock and hurled it at the madman.
A strangled yell was heard from Cal as the rock smashed into his face, knocking
him out instantly.
"Jack! Robert! Let's go!" Christina
waved from a carriage parked across from the mansion.
"Jack, come on!" Robert yelled at
his friend, who seemed to have suddenly slowed down. So far it seemed like
their rescue mission was a success. No car was following the carriage, and Jack
silently held an even more silent Rose in his arms, stroking her hair and
whispering that it was all right. Everything was going to be all right.
*****
It was on the train back to Chippewa Falls
that Robert and Christina found that everything was not as happy as it seemed.
Jack seemed to be running a fever, and despite his protests that he was okay,
he was pale and seemed to have trouble staying awake. It was Christina who
spotted the blood and gasped.
"Robert, he's bleeding!"
"Good Lord!" Robert went to check
on his friend, knowing what had happened and why Jack had seemed to slow down
as they fled the Hockley mansion. "He's been hit! That bastard Hockley
shot him! We need to get him to a hospital!"