Carl was feeling more and more at ease. The train was moving quicker with the lighter load and Jigger was not only keeping the fire banked to the limit, he was keeping a weather eye on the catwalk alongside the tender in case Devlin tried anything. The rain had abated and the wind shifted around to give them even more headway. He gave the whistle a long and short toot, the signal he and Ryan had arranged for their 'all's well' sign.

Back in the lounge car Cybil was comforting Hannah and studying a quickly recovering Harriet with a jaundiced suspicion.

"She's never had much to do with men," Jean offered softly. "You was always on me about my wild behaviour and I acted even wilder on purpose just to be mean. If I'd ever..."

"Nobody can live their lives covering all contingencies, Jean. We just gave to shoulder the consequences and enjoy the benefits when we can." Hannah sounded quite calm and confident in spite of her ordeal. Cybil patted her hand and sat back, leaving the sisters alone, her eyes wandering over to where Ryan was conversing with the Judge and Abner Wentworth. She concentrated on Ryan's mouth, trying to guess the words he was speaking and gain some information for what was going to be the biggest story her paper ever published.

James Howden made his way over beside Harriet and sat down, offering his sincere condolences and began a lecture on the steps she should take against the railroad for her husband's death and how it could all be tied into a larger case for compensation since it wouldn't have happened if they weren't traveling to Judgement for the execution.

Harriet studied his face. "You really think that, Mister Howden?" These were the words she ached to hear, words that confirmed her entitlement. She placed tentative fingers on the cut on his lips.

"James, Harriet, please. I feel we've become quite close during this horrendous ordeal and yes, I do believe what I said." He reached for her hand and relaxed slightly when she didn't remove it from his.

"I am all alone now, Mi- James... Seth was all the family I had left after- after..." She dabbed at her eyes with a hanky and James slid closer on the seat.

Cybil's eyes narrowed as she saw the byplay between the new widow and the advocate; both playing the other, she concluded. Her attention was interrupted when she heard Ryan speaking to her.

"Pardon? I'm sorry I didn't hear..."

"I was asking if I could have that gun you showed me earlier."

"Why?"

"I'd like to give it to the Judge, he's familiar with firearms and is less likely to attract any attention from- from- in case ..." Ryan began blushing and scrubbed his forehead with his fingers. "You're a smart lady, you know what I'm talkin' about."

"Do you think that's a possibility? I mean he has no weapon and he's trapped in—"

"I don't want to leave anythin' to chance, Miss Marsh. I saw a lot of what that animal was capable of when I tracked him. Better safe than sorry."

"Can I quote you, Marshal?" Cybil regretted her sarcasm immediately and covered the embarrassment by rooting through her bag and handing him the gun. "Hang on, I've got another small box of shells here."

He thanked her and returned to the table with Abner and the Judge.

Penny found herself sitting by Peter and she chewed at her lip, struggling for a way to broach the subject and explain the circumstances of her addiction. She wasn't sure why but he seemed to be quite understanding when she had overdosed and he'd treated her and she was desperate to have his opinion remain respectful; it wouldn't do to have someone in the Ministry of Justice and a doctor to boot, holding a negative view of someone of her notoriety.

"Are- are you feeling better, Doctor Soughton?"

He glanced up and blinked resignedly. "Not doctor, just Peter. Peter Soughton."

"Oh, I thought-"

"Pathologist if you find the need for accuracy." Penny made a face and then giggled unintentionally. "Something funny, Miss Hatcher?"

"I'm sorry I just- I- the name Peter Pathologist just slipped into my head and it sounded funny. I am sorry, it was rude."

He looked at her and thought back to her naked form in the compartment and how supple she was in his arms as he examined her and gave her some medicine to ease her recovery. Penny Marsh was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and he'd seen all of her. The vision that slipped into his head would send her screaming from his sight if she knew.

"I suppose it does sound funny," he admitted, relaxing. They sat quietly for a minute and then he asked, "Are you- have you found it necessary to uhm, to..." Penny coloured magnificently and looked down at her lap; Peter caught his breath.

"No." She responded quietly.

"A small amount occasionally can be quite beneficial actually." He spoke faster and edged toward her. "You shouldn't feel that what happened in any way brands you as- as– as an habitual user of the medicine. Because medicine is what it is really—"

Her hand came up and silenced his anxious speech. "Thank you... Peter. I felt if anyone could understand it would be you." She touched his hand and smothered him with her beauteous smile. "The truth is," she began timidly, "this whole situation has given me great upset and I feel I require— oh dear, this sounds so- so grubby..."

"Nonsense. I understand completely and as a member—actually the only medical person on board—I advise you to take whatever steps necessary to maintain your well-being."

"I knew you would understand, Peter." Her grip on his hand increased and he forgot his own discomfort, basking in the warmth of her compliment. His attention strayed to Jean who was watching with a wry smile; a flash of their encounter at the start of the trip reminded him of his sore back and with a tightening of his mouth, he decided that a dose of the same medicine he prescribed for Penny might do him very well right then. She was saying something and he had to apologize and ask her to repeat.

"I said, unfortunately it was in my compartment and is now at the bottom of that gorge."

Peter closed his eyes and bit his lip then turned toward her his face inches away. "I have to confess, Penny, I uh- I kept some of your medicine for my back." She stared and he swallowed hard. "You must think dreadful thoughts of me... being a professional and all..."

"What I think, Peter, is that you just made me a very happy woman." She squeezed his hand tighter.

Stanley broke the moment with a goofy smile and a tray with small drinks for everyone. "A drink to celebrate the fact that we are under way and will soon be in Judgement, compliments of the Great Mountain and River Railway." His bravura was a performance even Penny could admire.

"Do they know about this, Stanley?" Cybil teased, accepting a glass, and complimenting him on his determination.

"Nope, and it won't hurt them neither." Since Deke wasn't around he wouldn't miss his secret stash— he always thought it was secret anyway. "Maybe we could toast Deke, this was his contribution to the trip." He passed the drinks around and for a few moments the terror was set aside.