Mei went limp. Completely powerless, she folded into Violet’s breast, and wept. Unable to do anything else, Violet held her. As they waited for Hearst’s men to arrive, Violet watched the flames devour what was left of that little steamer locomotive.
* * * *
“How’s the arm?”
Violet looked at her wounded limb, which was bandaged from shoulder to wrist, and hung in a sling. She shrugged. “I’ve been worse.”
“Can you move your fingers?”
“Some.”
Hearst nodded. He himself didn’t exactly look at his best, either, to be honest. He had quite a few bandages to go around, including one around his forehead and neck, two on his wrists, not to mention the cane he now had to use to walk. But considering what they’d all gone through, the three of them were lucky to be breathing.
It was about five o’
