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"She's my mother," Prudence said, before realizing the information was best kept to herself.
Sadie looked shocked, very shocked. Her eyes were wide, her mouth dropped open, and she leaned back in her chair. "You sure about that?"
"Well, I think she is. I mean, I am looking for my mother, and the woman you spoke of could be her. I'll just have to track her down and find out for myself. How would I get to Plattsmouth?"
Sadie swallowed half the whiskey in her glass before answering. "That's a tricky one. You need to get to Alexandria, Nebraska first, and from there you can get a train that will take you to Hastings and then to Plattsmouth."
Prudence nodded, repeating the directions over and over in her mind for later reference. "How do I get to Alexandria?"
"I suppose you're in a hurry?"
"Yes, I am," Prudence admitted. "And I prefer to travel without a certain male companion, who I suspect will be waking soon."
"I understand, but what I don't get is why Zac is trailing you?"
Prudence decided honesty would be best under the circumstances. "My father hired him to return me to Boston and I imagine offered him a price too tempting to refuse."
"Then you better get your tail moving, girl, 'cause once Zac wakes up and finds you gone, he's going to blow his top. He doesn't like not finishing a job. When he's hired to do something, he sees that it gets done."
"I realize that. So where do I get my tail going?"
"That could prove a problem unless . . ."
"Unless what?" Prudence asked. "I'm willing to try anything."
"Anything?" Sadie asked, a questioning rise of her brow expressing doubt about the extent of Prudence's willingness.
"Almost," Prudence amended.
"How about telling a tall tale? Would that go against your convictions?"
"Not if it would get me out of here this morning."
"Then luck might just be with you," Sadie nodded slowly. "Yup, you might just pull it off."
"What do I have to do?"
Sadie leaned forward and lowered her voice. "There's a preacher, his wife, and six children leaving by wagon for Alexandria this morning. He might be persuaded to take you along if he felt it was urgent enough."
"I could pay him," Prudence offered.
Sadie shook her head. "Not a preacher. Better if he thinks he's helping one of God's lost flock."
"How do I convince him I'm lost?" Prudence asked not certain what Sadie was getting at.
"The one thing that makes a man of the cloth want to help a lone woman is to discover she's been led astray into temptress ways and wishes to repent. Do you wish to repent, Miss Winthrop?"
Prudence smiled before changing her expression to one of soulful repentance. "Yes, Miss Sadie, I surely do wish to mend my sinful thoughts and ways."
Sadie stood. "Then you best hurry, child, 'cause that wagon is due to leave within the hour."
Prudence stood and reached into her purse, taking out a few bills. "Sadie, it is important that Zac doesn't learn my destination or about my mother."
Sadie pushed the offered money back to Prudence. “This one's on me. It will be well worth it to see Zac's face when he finds out you left Wells City."
“I suppose he’ll be mad?"
"Mad ain't the word. And I warn you, he'll probably find out where you're headed, though not from me, but he has ways. Don't ask me what they are; I don't want to know. But when he wants something, believe me he gets it."
"Yes, he does seem determined to have his way," Prudence agreed, recalling that his tenacity seemed to match hers. "But then I have a determined nature myself."
"What a mixture . . . pure explosive," Sadie said with a wide smile, then added in a more serious tone. "Be careful."
"I will, and thank you for your help," Prudence said, picking up her traveling case.
"Say hello to Lee if you find her, and if she turns out to be your mama, remember one thing: You're a lucky girl to have such a wonderful person for a mother."
It didn't take Prudence long to locate the preacher's wagon. She stood quiet and somber before Preacher Jacob Hyatt, an easy task. His six foot height and heavy yet solid bulk was intimidating, not to mention the long gray beard that grew down into a point and rested upon his chest. Prudence was certain he preached his sermons with a fire and brimstone flair, frightening his congregation into obedience.
"So you fell into evil ways," his deep voice boomed in condemnation.
"I was led astray," she offered meekly. "I thought . . ." She paused to add a sigh for dramatic affect and then continued. "I thought he loved me. He told me he loved me and would marry me."
Preacher Jacob shook his head. His large eyes displayed his disappointment. "Women must be strong and resist temptation. What other temptations did you fall prey to?"
