Chapter XX #2
Winona rushed to the end of the car, with Mae following closely.
As Winona flung open the door, Mae peered over her shoulder to see the man who had been watching the young girls the day before groping the hostess.
The young hostess’s face had blanched and her scrunched eyes flew open at the intrusion.
Winona pushed the man away from the young woman, who stumbled toward the door of the sleeper car and fell to her knees. “Get yer filthy hands off of ‘er!”
The stunned look on the man’s face quickly turned to disdain as he adjusted himself. He looked over to the hostess and sneered, “It ain’t my fault! The broad’s been askin’ for it!”
The young woman turned her face down, and her cheeks grew red as she tried to make herself smaller. “Doin’ yer job ain’t asking fer it!” Winona’s yell was deadened by the rattling train cars.
The man ignored her and walked back through to the observation car without looking back. Mae followed him with her eyes and scanned the people sitting in the car. No one moved. No one even looked up.
Winona bent to help the hostess from the floor.
“Are ye alright, Miss?” Tears flooded to the hostess’s eyes at the tender tone.
She nodded, her head jerking in shock. “Here, let’s git ye inside to the service compartment.
” The blonde bob swung back and forth as she nodded again.
Mae gazed through the window at the man.
He sat with his back to them with his legs crossed as if nothing had just occurred.
Indignation roiled in Mae's chest. She wanted to stalk up to him and smack his face. Hard. But she turned instead to the two women as Winona opened the door to the sleeper car. While she walked away, she silently vowed that she would make sure he paid.
Inside the service compartment, the austerity was even more pronounced.
The benches were stacked atop each other, with bedrolls tidily set at the head of each.
Mae had to squint to watch her step as the only light falling on this section of the car was from the doors at each end of the cramped space.
The hostess collapsed onto the bench, her delicate frame still trembling in the aftermath of the attack. Winona perched beside her and wrapped her arm around the thin, vibrating shoulders. “There now,” Winona cooed into the girl’s ear, rocking her gently as she would a baby. “It’s all over now.”
Mae folded herself down onto the adjacent bench, trying to draw her long legs into a ladylike position.
The hostess turned into Winona’s plump shoulder and whimpered like an injured pup.
Mae watched as Winona rubbed slow circles on her back.
The moment brought back the scene of Simon crying on his bed just days ago.
She remembered his stiffened shoulders as she had attempted to soothe him in the same fashion.
The soft whimper turned into heavy sobs as the girl melted into Winona’s embrace.
“What will I do?” The girl’s sobs continued through her guttural response. “He’ll just come back.” Her sobbing hitched as she strained for air. “And what if no one is there this time to help me?”
Winona tutted softly into the top of the shaking blonde head. “Don’t ye worry about that now…” Mae witnessed her grip tightened slightly on the girl’s arm as she spoke. “We’ll take care o’ that filthy scum.”
Mae's mind worked over the situation and the inevitable correctness of the young girl’s statement.
Of course he’d be back. He would wait for another opportunity when this young girl was alone.
Except next time, he would likely be more violent and determined to carry through.
Something must be done about this before the man returned to assault her with vigor.
Mae piped up, “We need to alert the train authorities. We are both witnesses. They will have no choice but to report him to the police at the next stop.”
“The authorities ain’t gonna do anythin’.” Winona’s eyebrows creased down.
“Winona,” Mae countered, “this can’t be the first time it’s happened. In the meantime, I’m sure that there is somewhere they must keep those accused of crimes like this.” Mae's short sermon ended with an alert gaze that fell on blank faces.
“It’s up to us to protect ‘er. We have to be her shadow until we reach Topeka. He can’t hurt ‘er if we are with ‘er.” Winona’s chest swelled as she decried the strategy.
“But we won’t be with her every second,” Mae pointed out. “What if he seeks her out at night while we are sleeping?”
“We need to make ‘im realize that we’re watchin’. I’ll follow ‘im around til he gets off if I have to.” Turning to the young lady, she asked, “Is there any man in service that will look out fer ye?”
The girl paused as she contemplated Winona’s question. “Maybe the Pullman porter? He seems like a decent sort.” Her hopeful glance lingered on Winona, as though she truly believed it.
Mae thought of the tired porter who had allowed the rules to be bent already.
Would he truly be willing to stand up and protect this young girl?
Mae's stomach twisted. “It would be far better to have the man removed altogether.” Her tone left no room for argument. “We should go to the conductor immediately and report him. We can watch him intently until the next stop if they don’t remand him to custody until then, but it is three to one. Surely this cannot be the first time such a thing has happened.”
Winona looked skeptically at Mae. “I don’t think much’ll be done.”
Mae reached out and placed a hand upon Winona’s fisted one. “We must do this the proper way. If nothing is done, we can still watch her closely until Topeka. At least they will be aware of the situation if matters worsen.” Mae looked to the hostess, “Would you agree with me?”
“I’ll lose my place…” she whispered shakily.
“There are proper channels for such matters.” Mae urged.
Large doe eyes looked up at Mae, and she mechanically nodded. “Okay. If you think that’s best.”
“Yes, yes, I do. Let’s go find the conductor then.” Mae stood, resolved that the issue would be handled. As they filed out of the service compartment, she held her head up and took a deep breath. This wasn’t the end—she looked forward to seeing the man turned out.
The women waited outside the curtained area of the conductor’s office. The conversation between two men could be heard faintly through the thick curtain. “…impeccable paperwork.” came a smooth, calm voice. It sounded familiar, but Mae couldn’t place it.
“It must be in manageable numbers.” An authoritative voice proclaimed.
“Everything is in order, Fred. My men will see the rest handled,” came the smooth voice again.
A gloved hand pulled back the curtain as the other shook hands with the conductor.
When he turned, Mae gasped. She recognized the smell—stale cigarettes.
He didn’t have on his felt hat, but she knew who he was—the man from the platform.
He spoke, “Ladies.” The smooth, calm voice resounded in her ears.
He bowed his head slightly as he passed, locking eyes with Mae.
It was the same voice. Her muscles tensed, and she felt Winona push her forward toward the conductor. She glanced back at the man and tried to commit his features to memory, her fingers finding the watch before turning to find the conductor’s gaze resting squarely on her.