Train of Hope: Leo & Emily, #1

By Triss Solace

A stolen carriage, a shorn lock of hair, and a promise to escape to the West. Our freedom was a train ride away... until fate cut the line.

I had it all planned out: escape Georgia's high society, find peace in the West with Leo, my soulmate. A life of love, far from the suffocating grip of my past. But when Leo's old bandit life collides with our future, our dreams derail amidst the whispers of crime and a cruel snip that robs more than just my hair.

"In a lawless land, can love truly be our guide?"

Then there's Ada, the brave little soul with eyes too old for her years. Together, we're a patchwork family stitched by necessity, chased by shadows of a life we yearn to leave behind. On a steam engine chugging towards hope, we find a new ally in an unlikely protector, whose voice promises safety but whose eyes mirror secrets untold.

Sometimes, the wildest adventures begin with a single train whistle... and the end of the line is just another beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dodds Production, LLC
• Release date: Nov 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215741016

Book preview

Train of Hope

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Copyright © 2023 Triss Solace

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Rough Start

Chapter 2: Three Dollars and a Prayer

Chapter 3: Watchful Eyes

Chapter 4: Flower in the Mud

Chapter 5: Ghosts of The Past

Chapter 6: Bremen's Web

Chapter 7: The Trail to Emily

Chapter 8: A Bond Beyond Distance

Chapter 9: The Little Spy

Chapter 10: Ten Seconds of Hope

Chapter 11: Two Hearts, One Mission

Chapter 12: Seek and You Shall Find

Chapter 13: Who to Believe?

Chapter 14: A Place of Hope

Chapter 15: The Four Outcasts

Chapter 16: Unfinished Business

Chapter 17: Flickers in the Night

Chapter 18: Ruses at Dawn

Chapter 19: The Last Rose of Summer

Chapter 20: Down to the Wire

Chapter 21: Love and Lawlessness

Chapter 22: The Last Step Before the Plunge

Chapter 23: The Locked Door

Chapter 24: Locked In, Locked Out

Chapter 25: Schemes and Dreams

Chapter 26: A Dare And A Dream

Chapter 27: Human Beings In Need

Chapter 28: Hope

Chapter 29: All Aboard

Chapter 30: Worth Staying For

Chapter 31: On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 32: Wealth Beyond Gold

Chapter 33: A Fresh Leaf

Epilogue

Chapter 1

A Rough Start

Leo

Leo, watch out! Emily's yell yanks me outta my doze. I blink open my eyes. Hell, we're in trouble.

Our carriage is dancing a jig off the path, one of its wheels jammed deep in a hole. A right nasty surprise for a morning. The horses ain't too happy 'bout it either, going all wild-eyed and skittish, their whinnies loud enough to wake the dead. Dust's whirling everywhere, like a storm brewed up outta nowhere.

The carriage lurches, threatening to dump us into the road. Hold on, Em! I shout, fighting with the reins, trying to bring those damned horses back under control.

Can't you do something, Leo? Emily's voice is tight, her knuckles white where she clings to the side of the carriage. Never figured I'd see the day when a highborn lady like her would be stuck in a mess like this. Just my rotten luck.

Horse calmin' ain't my strong suit, but don't mean I can't try. My mind's racin', flippin' through a dusty book of tricks learned in a past life.

I've been through worse, a little voice in my head reminds me. True enough. Used to outrun bullets and lawmen back in the day, and a spooked horse ain't got nothin' on them. I let out a shaky laugh, ain't that a hoot.

With a grunt, I haul back on the reins, leanin' hard. The carriage groans, horses snortin', hooves scrabbling against the rocky path. Then, just like that, they settle, like some unseen force turned down their panic.

I release a breath I didn't realize I was holdin'. Emily's lookin' at me, eyes big and wide. She offers a small, shaky smile. Well, that was quite the adventure, she says, her voice back to its usual calmness.

Indeed, quite the mornin', ain't it? I return her smile, dusting off my trousers as I prepare to fix the wheel. Always on the move, that's me. Life ain’t gonna be the same without a little dust and sweat.

This old contraption doesn't appear to have much life left in it, does it? Emily observes, patting the carriage as if it’s an old horse ready for retirement.

Gotta admit, she's seen better days. I shrug, a corner of my mouth quirking up. But ain’t we all, Miss Em?

True, Leo, but even old things require a modicum of care. Do you believe it will carry us much further?

Long as it goes, Em, it goes. I retort, leaning against the weathered wood. Won’t be throwin' in the towel yet.

She chuckles, a soft, airy sound that warms me from inside out. You do have a way with words, don't you, Leo?

Only when it comes to makin’ ya smile, Em. I wink, and her face reddens just a touch. Worth it.

That you do, Leo, she replies, That you certainly do.

Ain't never been one for the fancy stuff, ya know? Fancy stuff's for the fancy folk. But there she was, the fanciest lady I'd ever seen, her nose stuck in some book or other while she was supposed to be supervisin' the farm.

Couldn't help myself, could I? Always did have a thing for books, even though I can barely string two sentences together without sounding like a damned fool. But Emily...she talked pretty. All those words and ideas, dancing around in her head. Hell, made me wish I was a better man, so I could understand 'em all.

Now look at me. Once a rough, dirty farmhand, now riding beside the most beautiful woman in the world, heading off to who knows where. We're gonna find a new life, she says. Something better than the farm, the dirt, the grueling work. Emily’s got hope in her eyes, a spark I ain't seen in a long while. But me? Can't help but worry.

Got this new book, 'The Orphan's Journey', she chirps, pulling me from my thoughts. Her eyes are all lit up like stars, and I can't help but smile. Oh, listen to this, Leo! A girl, lost and alone, wandering through the wilderness. Reminds me a bit of us, don't it?

She always finds a way to link things back to us.

Us, lost? Nah, we know where we're goin'. I reply, tryin' to sound sure.

Right, to 'no specific destination'. Real precise, Leo.

She's got that teasing tone in her voice, and I can't help but laugh. Hey, it's about the journey, not the destination.

Mmm, that's what the girl in the story realizes too, Emily retorts.

See? Already learned that, don't need no book. I say, puffing my chest out a bit.

She giggles at that, continuing on. But there's a twist! She finds a family in the end. A good one. Not the one she was born into, but the one she was meant to be with.

I nod, interested despite myself. That so?

Yes, they even hint at a blossoming romance between her and the farmer's son.

That makes me smirk. What? Is he a lowlife horse thief like me?

Leo! No, he's a hardworking lad, just... misunderstood.

Hmm, sounds boring, I tease, getting a playful smack from her for my efforts.

Oh, you! She huffs, but there's a laugh hidden in there too.

Alright, alright, I'm jestin'. So they get a happily ever after, huh? I ask, honestly intrigued by this book story now.

Maybe... They're leaning towards it. It's like us, Leo, we could have that too.

I turn to look at her. Really look at her. We could, huh? Maybe we could even add a couple of runts to our adventure.

Runt? Leo, they're called children. And yes, I'd like that. There's no jest in her voice now. She's serious, and I feel something like joy blooming in my chest.

Kids, huh? Long as they got your brains, Em.

And your... charm. She says it like it's a dirty word, and I can't help but laugh.

Charm, huh? Thought you'd say my rugged good looks.

She blushes again, damn, I love that. Well, that too... And maybe if they have brown eyes like yours.

Browned-eyed, huh? Thought you'd want 'em to have those blue gems you got.

And why not both? Mix of us, Leo.

That thought, our own little people, mix of us... I like it. Ain't that a nice thought, Em... our own little mixed bag of chaos.

I can't help but imagine a future, our future, filled with chaos and charm, blue eyes and brown, and the kind of love that only exists in books... until now.

So here we are, riding west, a couple of dreamers in a rickety old carriage. Emily, full of hope and me, full of dread. Hoping I can make a better life for us without resorting to my old ways. Hoping I can be the man she deserves.

Only time will tell, I guess. Just gotta keep on going, as long as this old carriage goes.

Feels like the carriage's bouncing all odd-like. Don't take a genius to figure somethin' ain't right.

Is everythin' alright? Emily pipes up.

Just gotta check on somethin', I mutter, pulling on the reins to slow down the horses.

Emily's got this big ole sun hat on, tied under her chin with a pink ribbon. She's squinting up at me, trying to make out my face under the brim of my own hat. Can't tell if she's worried about the carriage or me. Maybe both.

Can't help but smile, even though the carriage's all busted. She's just so damn pretty. Like one of them paintings in the fancy city galleries. Only better. Cause she's real. And she's mine.

I clamber off the carriage, feeling the dirt crunch under my boots. Ground's dry as a bone. Ain't seen rain in weeks. That's the desert for you, I suppose.

The wheel's looking mighty wobbly. Know it won't last the rest of the journey. Hell, might not even last another mile. We're in a pickle, no doubt about it.

Emily’s peering at me from under her sun hat, biting her bottom lip. She does that when she's worried. Makes her look all cute and vulnerable. Like a rabbit caught in a snare.

I lift my hat off, running a hand through my hair. Sweat's trickling down my face, my eyes. It's hot, real hot. But we gotta keep moving. Ain't got much choice.

Wheel's all wonky, I call out to her, trying to keep my voice steady. Don't want her worrying more than she already is. Gonna see if I can fix it.

She nods, biting her lip even harder. Makes me want to go over there and kiss it better. But the wheel ain't gonna fix itself.

I go about looking for the tools. They're somewhere in the carriage, tucked away under the seats. It's a mess in there, all of our belongings jumbled together. But I find them, eventually.

Set about fixing the wheel, I do. Don't know much about carriages, but I've been around them enough to pick up a thing or two. Emily watches me, all quiet-like. Trusting. I don't deserve her, I know that. But I'll be damned if I don't do everything I can to keep her safe, to give her the life she deserves.

Carriage ain’t lookin’ too hot, I tell ya. Wheel’s nearly off its axle, could go flyin’ any second. Can't take us west, not like this.

We gotta get it looked at, I say, scratching the back of my head. Find a smith or something.

Where could we find such a place?

I dunno, Em, I say, honest as day. You're the one knows her way around towns and such.

Emily's quiet a moment, her eyebrows scrunching up. I'm not familiar with around here, Leo. I've never been this far from home.

Home. That word hits me like a slap to the face. This ain't her home no more. Cause of me.

I slide off the driver's bench, boots crunching into the dry ground. Can't let her see the worry in my eyes. Gotta be strong for her. So I plaster on a smile and walk over to her. She's sitting all proper like, hands folded in her lap, still wearing that damn sun hat.

Well, now, I say, crouching down to her level. We're in a bit of a pickle, ain't we?

She nods, biting down on her lip. I reach out and gently touch her cheek. Her skin's smooth as a river stone, warm from the sun.

We're gonna figure it out, Em, I say, looking her straight in the eyes. I promise ya. We'll find a town, get the carriage fixed. And we'll keep going west.

She nods again, her eyes welling up with tears. But she's smiling. Trusting me. Trusting us.

Don't you worry, I say, brushing a stray hair from her face.

Yeah, we're stuck. Middle of goddamn nowhere. Just a busted carriage, two horses, and miles of desert stretched out like a dried-up river bed. No map, no nothing. Just gotta rely on good ol' instincts, which right about now, ain’t feelin’ too reliable.

Coulda sworn there was a town ‘round here, I squint out at the horizon. But all I see is the shimmering heat, playing tricks with my eyes.

The carriage creaks and groans like a grumpy old man, and I give the busted wheel a solid kick. Dammit. I shoulda known better. I shoulda come prepared. A gun woulda been smart. Got rid of mine years ago, didn't want that life no more. But now? Feels like that life's catchin' up.

Memories flood in then, like a damn river breaking its banks. Dark alleyways, cold steel in my hands, the sharp smell of gunpowder in the air. I shake my head, hard, tryna shake those ghosts off.

You alright, Leo? I turn around to look at her, at that pale face and those worried eyes.

I straighten up, force a smile on my face. Just thinkin', darlin', I tell her, keepin' my voice steady. Ain't gonna let her see my fears, my doubts. That ain't for her to worry 'bout.

We're movin' slow now, slower than a one-legged turtle in molasses. The busted wheel’s whimpering with every turn, beggin' for mercy.

Ain't nothin' but trees and shadows 'round us. Not a peep of civilization, no signs of life. Just us and the godforsaken wilderness. It's a whole lot of nothin', stretchin' out as far as the eye can see. Now, normally, that wouldn’t bother me one bit. I'm used to bein' on my own, used to the quiet and the calm.

But this ain't about me no more. I got Emily with me, and the thought of her stuck out here, in this desolate, godforsaken place, churns my stomach like bad milk.

Sun’s lowerin' itself down, sinkin' behind the trees, and I can't help but feel a little uneasy. But then Emily starts chattin'.

Do you suppose, she starts, her voice a bit shaky, that I might find a position as a schoolmistress in the West, Leo?

I glance at her, her eyes all hopeful like. Sure as hell, Em, I say, a grin crackin' my face. You'd make them kids fall head over boots for learnin'. They'd all be scramblin' to sit in your class.

I feel the silence settle in again, a comfortable quiet this time, before I add, And, y'know, you'd be a good mom, too.

She don't say nothin' for a second, then there's that telltale hitch in her breath. Ain't gotta look to know she's blushin', as sure as the sky is blue.

Murmurin' something under her breath, she turns to me, her cheeks a rosy pink against the fading light. Oh, Leo, she says, the blush deepenin'. Ain't nothin' I love more than makin' Em blush.

Maybe we're in the middle of nowhere with a busted carriage, but with Emily by my side, it ain't too bad. Hell, it might even be kinda nice.

We finally stop at a place lookin' as lonely as a crow in a snowstorm. Not much light around, just the stars doin' their best. Good enough, I reckon. We clamber onto the back of the carriage, settlin' down for a few hours of rest. Em's head finds my shoulder, warm and soft.

Leo, she murmurs, breakin' the silence like a dropped glass, you think my ma and sisters are okay?

More than okay, I reply, my words drownin' in the rustle of the leaves. They're safe and warm. Ain't no debt gonna pull 'em under now.

She settles more against me, her hand findin' mine in the dark. But she don't know the whole story. That house ain't just any old house, but the one my old master gave me when he passed. My master... felt more like a father, really.

Used all the savings he left me to clear Em's family debts. So now, here we are. No roof over our heads but the sky, and only a little coin between us. But it's enough, gotta be enough, for us to chase that 40 acres dream.

We're quiet again, just listenin' to the night, the wheel of the carriage creakin' every now and then like an old man sighin'. I can feel Em's breath slow down, her body relaxin' against mine. Despite it all, it ain't a bad end to a crazy day.

Sun's just peekin' over the horizon, rays stretchin' out like a cat wakin' up from a good long nap. I rub the sleep outta my eyes, realisin' somethin' ain't quite right. The carriage feels a mite lighter. Ain't no luggage weighin' it down no more.

I sit up, turnin' to Em. Her eyes are wide, mirrorin' the 'oh shit' feelin' I got in my gut. That old, worn-out suitcase of hers, the one she stuffed with all her precious books? Gone. And my satchel of coin, every last penny we had? Poof. Vanished.

Suddenly, it's like the sun ain't so warm no more. Like the world's pulled one over on us, a cruel prank that's left us empty-handed and hollow. We got nothin', not a damn thing. I feel the pit of my stomach drop, like I've been kicked by a mule. But I ain't about to let Em see that.

I hope she don't see the worry in my eyes. Lord knows, we're in for one hell of a ride.

Chapter 2

Three Dollars and a Prayer

Emily

Our mess is heavier than a sack of stones, pressing down hard. It's a waking nightmare, isn't it? Stranded in the middle of nowhere, without a single coin to our name. Our dreams of a new life in the west now seem as tangible as smoke. It's hard to fathom that someone could have crept up on us without us hearing a thing.

Take a deep breath, Emily, Leo's voice cuts through my confusion. His tone is steady, a lighthouse amid the storm in my mind. We'll sort this out.

Of course. Of course, we will. I meet his gaze, and in the depths of those brown eyes, I find an anchor. I nod, firming my resolve.

He plants a soft kiss on my forehead. Let's get moving, he says, already taking the reins of the horses.

We were meant to catch a train, to zip across this wild land in the relative comfort of a locomotive car. But now, our pockets devoid of cash, that is nothing more than a pipe dream.

As the carriage lurches forward, the sun continues its ascent in the sky. We're not done. Not by a long shot. I may have lost my books, and we may have lost our money, but we haven't lost our determination.

I watch the lines of stress etch themselves deeper on Leo's face. Beads of sweat trickle down his brow, leaving tracks in the dust on his skin. I untie the handkerchief from around my neck, which I've been using as a makeshift shield against the relentless sun, and reach over to dab at his forehead.

Our