A Wreath of Snow Read Online Free PDF

nothing?
    Gordon labored in stony silence, unwilling to acknowledge the storm that raged within him. Once the engine was freed from its snowy prison, he would be southbound—incentive enough to keep shoveling.
    After two long hours McGregor met briefly with his engineer, then called a halt to their efforts. “You’ve done your best, men,” the conductor informed his weary volunteers. “Alas, I’ve just learned the piston rod did not withstand the impact. We cannot move forward or backward.”
    All their shoveling had been for naught.
    Gordon steeled himself. He knew what was coming next.
    “Carry what bags you can, and leave the others,” the conductor told them. “One of my men is staying behind to guard the train. The rest of us will head for Stirling on foot.”
    Gordon started toward second class, tamping down his fears. He could walk back with some of the men and avoid Miss Campbell altogether. Once he reached Stirling, lodging might be found at the Coffee House at the head of Baker Street. He would manage there for the night, then slip out of town the moment the railway was back in service—
    No
. Gordon slowed his steps.
That’s not how it’s going to be, Shaw. Not this time
.
    He kept walking, though the voice continued to prod him.
    You’ve carried this burden long enough. What are you waiting for?
    He was waiting for the right time. And that time was not tonight.
    Gordon pulled himself up to the carriage entrance with a grunt, then flung open the door harder than he meant to. It banged against the exterior of the carriage, scaring little Tam, who began to wail.
    Gordon quickly closed the door behind him, sorry he’d been so thoughtless. “I didn’t mean to frighten the boy.”
    “Of course you didn’t.” Miss Campbell looked up with a faint smile on her face, then smoothed her hand across Tam’s downy head, settling him at once. “You must be exhausted from shoveling snow.”
    He shrugged, not wanting to admit it.
    It seemed she had things well in hand. Their various traveling bags were tucked back under their seats, and Mrs. Reid was wrapped in one of the blankets from the storage compartment, her heels propped on a foot warmer filled with fresh coals. “Compliments of Dr. Johnstone,” Miss Campbell explained. “Are we leaving, then?”
    “Aye, but not aboard the train.” Gordon hesitated, gauging her reaction. “We’ll be walking back to Stirling.”
    “Oh dear.” Her blue eyes shone with concern. “Mrs. Reid’s injury will not allow it. And her son cannot walk such a distance.”
    “Then I’ll carry him,” Gordon said without a moment’s thought. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked after a child. Surely it wouldn’t be too difficult. “As for you, Mrs. Reid, a large blanket will suffice for a hammock. I daresay the men will vie for the honor of bearing you home.”
    “I’m not so light a burden as my son,” the woman protested.
    He noted her petite frame. “Light enough, madam.”
    Within minutes Gordon had joined the twenty-odd passengers convened on the tracks and had found two able men to carry Mrs. Reid. She tolerated their less-than-gentle handling and seemed comfortable enough cocooned inside her blanket. With his traveling bag and Miss Campbell’s satchel in one hand and a sleepy lad wrapped in his own small blanket and draped over his shoulder, Gordon waited impatiently for the conductor’s signal to start back.
    At least the northerly wind had lost its cruel bite. The dense snow was merely falling rather than blowing in their faces. Though they had perhaps three miles to cover, if they followed the rails, they’d not get lost.
    Miss Campbell seemed fretful about leaving her trunk until McGregor assured her it would be delivered to her door once the train returned to Stirling station. “Your family lives on Albert Place, aye?”
    “They do, but”—she bit her lip—“it might be best to store my trunk at the station. I plan to take the first