Promise me tomorrow by Unknown Page A

rear of the building. Rusty spotted them and stopped short, but they had already seen her.
    ***
    Chase gained his room, shut the door, and just stood in the middle of the rug. Rusty hadn't come back, and he certainly wasn't going to find her in here, but he had to gather his thoughts. He didn't know Rusty very well, but it wasn't hard to figure that she must have become sidetracked. She must have gone to check on the train but then decided to do something else. After all, they hadn't made any plans to meet; neither had they promised to stay in their rooms. She must have felt free to have a look around town if she wanted.
    Chase asked himself why that was so little comfort. The likelihood of her being harmed was not great, but there was a chance, and for this reason he couldn't rest until he'd checked on her. Should he look around town or simply sit in the lobby and watch for her? Feeling restless and uncertain, he moved to the window. His heart jolted in his chest when he saw a bright red head. It didn't take long for him to identify the owner. Not even bothering to lock his door, Chase made for the hall, raced down the stairs, and gained the outside, his stride just short of a run.
    ***
    "Well, hello," one of the young men greeted Rusty as they all turned in a group.
    Knowing that just about anything would encourage them, Rusty nodded with a regal air and began to move past them, keeping her right shoulder close to the building. She didn't get far. One of them stepped in front of her, and she came to a stop.
    "Excuse me." Rusty's voice was soft but determined. "I would like to pass."
    "What's your hurry?"
    Rusty's chin rose in the air. She made a move to step around him but suddenly found someone at her shoulder.
    "We don't see hair like this too often." The man in front of her was speaking again.
    Rusty felt someone else move in behind her and thought it the better part of valor to put her own back against the building. Rusty's gaze encompassed the group. She saw that there were four of them, all standing too close and staring down at her as if they'd never seen a woman. They were all young and well-dressed, probably Rusty's own age, but Rusty was too frightened to say much. Rusty's cheeks paled, causing her eyes to look huge and vulnerable.
    "Please don't stand so close," she whispered. "You're scaring me. "
    To her utter surprise they all backed up a few inches.
    "I have to get back to the hotel."
    "You don't live here?" one asked, moving close again.
    Rusty only shook her head no and slid along the wall. Her heart sank with dread when they all moved with her. They're not going to let me pass, Lord. What shall I say? What should I do?
    "Here you are."
    All five heads turned at the sound of a deep, male voice.
    The men changed positions, and Rusty's eyes locked with those of Chase McCandles. She began to shake from head to toe.
    "I lost track of you," Chase said congenially as he approached, looking for all the world as if he were on a Sunday stroll. "Hello, gentlemen," Chase nodded to the group and received nods in return. Even the tallest one had to look up at him. Chases eyes met theirs before he looked back to Rusty.
    "I had to run an errand. You must have had one too."
    "I was checking on the train," Rusty got out in a small voice.
    The men had moved to face Chase, but they were still at Rusty's sides.
    Chase nodded. "What did you learn?"
    "It's not going yet."
    Chase nodded, his eyes more watchful than they appeared. "We'd better head back to the hotel then."
    Rusty nodded but couldn't move. She felt frozen in place, her heart beating like that of a snared bird. In truth, Mr. Mc Candles' voice was sterner then she'd ever heard it, and right now he scared her a little too. Rusty's legs were trembling so badly that she didn't know if they would hold her.
    "Come to me, Katherine." His voice held a note of command. It was just enough to propel Rusty away from the wall. As she approached, Chase held out his arm, and Rusty