A LOVE REBORN IN THE STREETS
Chapter Ten
Jack stood by the rails, seeing
Rose and his daughter pass by on the eight o'clock train. He waved good-bye to
them, and a tear fell from his eye. He knew what he had to do. After seeing the
train go as far as he could watch, he left the station and went to get ready
for what he knew had to be done. Upon leaving the train station, Jack ran into
Caledon.
He smiled happily. "So,
Jack. Tonight, then. Right?"
"It all depends Caledon. How
soon do you want to die?" Jack took out a cigarette.
"I won't be the one dying.
You’re lucky, you know. Rose will never know what became of you." He
laughed.
"We shall see when my blade
is in your gut and you’re begging for mercy. You know, ever since our little
run-in on the ship, you’ve turned from being a rich sap into a disgusting sick
cunt." Jack blew out the smoke he had inhaled from his cigarette.
"You’re dead, Dawson. By
nightfall, you'll be gone, like you should have been years ago!" Caledon
called after Jack.
Jack continued walking, not
turning. He knew that if his father had taught him anything, Caledon would not
shoot him in the back. It was honor with the Cuttings, not just murder.
Caledon was frustrated by their
confrontation. He wanted to kill Jack right then and there. He didn't want to
wait, but his father had told him that it would all come to an end soon, and if
not soon, he would just do it when he had the opportunity.
Jack went on his way toward his
gang's hideout. He did a few handshakes upon getting to the room where his
weapons and knives were for the big battle. He sat down, took the medallion
from around his neck, and prayed. This might be the last day he would be alive.
Images of Rose and Jenny passed
through his mind. He could see Rose staring at him with those loving eyes, and
the curve of her hips as he made love to her. Out of everything, she was the
one thing that he would never be able to get out of his mind. He closed his
eyes and looked up.
"God, if this is my time,
thank you for letting me share it with Rose. Take care of her if anything
should happen to me. They are my life." He kissed his medallion and then
said, "Amen."
Meanwhile, on the train...
Rose held Jenny, feeling guilty
for leaving Jack. She couldn't let him fight this battle alone. He needed her.
She looked down at Jenny.
"Jenny, I must leave you
with Aunt Molly. I need to help your daddy." Rose got up from her seat and
went to Molly. "Molly, I must go. Jack needs me," Rose said, giving
Molly the baby.
"I ain't gonna stop you. I
will take care of Jenny. Here's my address. When I get to Philly, I will send
you a wire." Molly handed her a small piece of paper with the address.
Rose pulled the cord to stop the train.
Molly held on tight to the small
infant. She rocked her back and forth. When the train stopped, Rose hopped off.
She ran, hoping she wasn't too far from town. There was only one thing she
cared about, and that was to get to Jack. She would not lose him again.