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“Don’t make this any more difficult than it already is,” Rex growled. “Ned is looking for any excuse to fire his gun.”
I glanced at the newly identified cowboy and noticed his revolver was the cleanest thing about him. I couldn’t help observing the jarring contrast. While I stared in anger and fear, a train whistle sounded from the tracks.
“You have no right,” I started, but Rex’s narrowed gaze immediately quieted the words on my lips.
“I came after you because you belong with the circus, Bindi,” he said in a soft voice. “You belong with us.”
“No,” I insisted, shaking my head. And even though I had already made the decision on my own to return to the circus in order to understand what was going on there, I didn’t appreciate the fact that Rex had come after me.
“Please,” Rex said and this time, his eyes were soft, yearning. “This is your fate, Bindi, and you can’t escape it.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, because there was something inside me that immediately accepted it as the truth. As much as I hated that thought.
Ned looked over at Rex before tilting his head in the direction of the whistle.
“Yeah, we need to go now,” Rex said with a nod. “That train won’t wait for us.” Relegated once more to his iron grip, he discreetly dragged me down the aisle, Ned flanking my left side so he could jab his gun into my side.
Chapter Two
After buying three tickets, Rex didn’t say a single word to me before we all boarded the train.
He gave me the sourest look I’d ever seen him give to anyone. Since he was the most dour, glum, and violent man I’d ever known, that was really saying something. Even Ned seemed intimidated by his aura of menace. The cowboy remained silent, but always close enough to shoot me without hesitation. Why Rex had bothered to bring this guy with him, I didn’t know. After all, there was nothing scarier than Rex in a bad mood.
Both men escorted me until we entered the train compartment. Then, once Rex shut the door behind us, Ned openly brandished his firearm in my face while sitting in the seat opposite me. Could he possibly think I might try to escape? I was now stuck on a train with the two of them, for crying out loud.
The final cries of “All aboard!” echoed from the front before the train lurched forward, signaling our departure. It gradually picked up speed as we left Dubuque behind us. As the world outside our window sped past in a blur, Rex leaned forward and asked, “What were you thinking?”
“Nothing you’ll care about,” I snapped reflexively. I was seething with rage, and far too furious to listen to my sensible side which was warning me not to upset Rex more than he already was. Instead, leaning forward, I snarled, “Tell me about Brandeis Winston.”
Rex’s eyes flashed with surprise. “I never told you her last name,” he muttered. I perceived suspicion as well as respect in his tone.
“No, and neither did the poster in The Dark Room,” I agreed.
“Then how?” he started.
“The library in Dubuque had a picture of her from the newspaper, captioned with her last name.” I paused before adding, “You know, I have to admit the resemblance between us is uncanny...” I glared at him as I dramatically ran my fingers over my scar, adding, “In more ways than one.”
Rex blinked hard at my demonstration. Despite his brusque demeanor, it would have been a huge mistake to characterize him as stupid. He was anything but and I could plainly see the wheels turning in his head. The picture that was forming, however, seemed to disturb him. As was his habitual custom, he disguised his discomfort with another growl and a sneer.
“I told Laurent you heard too much for your own good.”
Ned flicked his beady eyes at Rex. I didn’t fail to notice how he tightened the grip on his gun and briefly wondered if this was how my story ended. Rex just shook his head before aiming his index finger at the compartment door. Ned squinted in disbelief, as if to say, “Are you sure?” Rex answered with a glare and another insistent shake of his finger. The cowboy shrugged, holstering his revolver as he stood up and walked outside the compartment door. Ned looked as vicious as a rabid dog, so I doubted anyone would dare disturb our conversation.
Once the door closed, Rex finally spoke again. “Back in Olathe, when Laurent and I were having a conversation with Mr. Grey…”
“I recall,” I admitted, figuring he knew I knew something.
He nodded. “Don’t know how much you heard, but I expect it was more than enough.”
“Or not enough,” I retorted. “Who is Mr. Grey anyway?”
“An investor in the show,” Rex replied as if he were reading the label on a jar.
“Don’t give me that,” I snapped, leaning forward as I narrowed my eyes at him. “Anyone who could intimidate you—which he obviously did—has to be more than just ‘an investor’.”
“Think whatever you like,” Rex replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Here’s all you need to know about Mr. Grey: be very grateful that I found you beforehedid.”
His answer confused me. “Why would he be looking for me?”
