Chapters (50)
- Cover
- Half Title Page
- Books by Elizabeth Camden
- Title Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Historical Note
- Questions for Discussion
- In 2021, look for Luke Delacroix’s story in
- About the Author
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- Back Cover
He embraced her, holding her close. The current of electricity, never far below the surface when she was near, flared to life. “You drive me to distraction,” he admitted, “and that’s dangerous. At the same time, I crave it more than my next breath of air.”
She pulled back to look at him, and her tear-stained face was radiant, more luminous than if a Renaissance master had tried to capture her spirit. They both knew pain, fear, and the gnawing sense of helplessness. They both struggled to find the resilience to stand up and fight another day. He leaned down to touch his forehead to hers, wanting to be her companion, her hero, her everything.
“I’ll be with you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I’ll guard your back and clear a path before you. When fear threatens to drown you, I’ll be there to haul you out. You can count on me.”
She held him tight as the sun sank beneath the horizon. Tonight there was no more reserve, no more barriers. Tomorrow they’d go back to their formal roles, but for now they clung to each other, knowing the months ahead would be a long and trying journey. At this perfect moment of calm, they grew stronger together.
Twenty-Three
Nathaniel made a final inspection of the train a few hours before their departure. With eight cars in the presidential entourage, the train was fitted out with everything the president would need to conduct business for the next twelve weeks. The dining car had been furnished to seat thirty people, for they’d frequently be joined by congressmen and prominent guests for segments of the trip. The parlor car featured enlarged windows for an expansive view as they traversed the nation. The president had his own sleeping car, while the staff had a male sleeping car and another for the cooks, the wives of congressmen, and of course, Caroline.
Most impressive was the system set up for communication. The traveling presidency would have a stenographer, two telegraph operators, a cable technician, and an officer from the railroad to handle any difficulties along the way. Rembrandt and members of the press would accompany them, and an entire railway car was set up for communication purposes.
Alfred Medina was the technician who would keep the system operating. A wiry man with thick glasses and a surplus of nervous energy, he was part electrician and part telephone operator, and nervous about working for the president. He blotted the perspiration from his bald head as he showed Nathaniel how the system worked.
“While the train is moving, we’ll be out of telegraph contact, but once we pull into a station, I can patch us into their wire and telephone systems in short order.”