“You can’t see this dress,” she whispered.
“Of course.” He stepped over to the glass to study the train. “I would never, ever try to sneak a peek at my bride-to-be’s wedding dress. No sir, not me.”
The old man chuckled as Rebekah pulled out her creation. “Collar and cuffs,” she whispered. “Thank you again.”
“Well done, young lady.” He patted her hurt shoulder with awkward thumps. Rebekah grimaced, but forced a smile to try and hide the sparks of pain that came with each thump. “You kids have a wonderful trip. We will look for you on your way back.”
He paused. “I hope you find your friend. I sincerely do.”
“Thank you,” Peter whispered.
“Your return tickets, you’ll find them in your vittles bag. My wife and I bought them for you. It’s the least we could do.”
The all-important words came from the other side of the glass. “All aboard for New York City!”
Peter stood as Rebekah closed her quilting bag. “That’s our cue. Ready?”
Rebekah nodded. “Ready.”
Joseph turned back as Rebekah finished her biscuit as quickly as she could. “You two go on ahead. I need to speak to our friend here a moment.”
Rebekah strained to hear their conversation, but Joseph seemed to take care to make sure she couldn’t. At least the old man was nodding.
Rebekah and Peter strode onto the train. “Ever been on a train before?”
Rebekah shook her head. “You know I haven’t. Have you?”
Peter motioned to a set of four seats, two facing forward and the other two facing backward. “Looks like the old man gave us the best seats in the house.”
“Looks like a parlor setup, with all the seats facing each other.” Rebekah slid into one of the seats. “And look! A little table pulls down from the wall!”
She giggled. “This is really something.”
The conductor’s booming voice sounded again. “Last call!”
Rebekah’s face went stoic. “Peter, is Joseph acting strangely to you?” She peered down the aisle toward the front of the train. “I’m not entirely sure if he’s going to make this train or not.” She dropped her voice. “Or if he wants to.”
The train car jerked and shuddered as it sprang to life. Black billows of steam puffed out of the chimney and turned the world around them inky black. Her eyes widened and she stood.
Peter chuckled. “What are you going to do, Little Sister? Run off the train and grab your fiancé and force him to come with us?”
She tried to ignore Peter’s smirk.
“Right about now,” he continued, “you would tell me to just have a little faith.”
Rebekah sank back down into her seat and returned his smile. “Just a little faith. That does sound like something I’d say.”
Through the thick blackness, Joseph appeared. He grabbed the handrail and swung neatly up onto the step just as the train started to inch forward.
Rebekah exhaled.
With his hat clutched in his hand and a glimmer of sweat dotting his forehead, Joseph strode down the aisle toward them. “Phew,” he exclaimed, sinking into the seat next to Rebekah. “Adventure already.”
***
They rode along in silence for a fair clip. However, Peter’s jovial mood soon gave him an excuse to break the quiet. All of his worry from the day before seemed to have morphed into sass overnight. “So Joseph. You had Rebekah pretty worried with your late arrival here.”
Rebekah stared into her hands and willed the fire to cool in her cheeks.
Peter continued. “I had to remind my dear, sweet sister that she had to keep the faith.” He reached across their little parlor seats and tapped her with his toe. “Isn’t that right, Rebekah?”
She looked up and smiled. “Yes, Peter. That’s correct.” She shifted her gaze to Joseph. “I was worried about you.”
“Why is that?” Peter continued. “Why did you falter in your faith...you mentioned it earlier too, though you didn’t think I heard you.”
Both men focused their attention on her. Her heart quickened to a gallop within her chest. “You’re right. I didn’t realize.”
“You don’t have to doubt me, Rebekah.” Joseph’s voice was low. “I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me.”
Rebekah shrugged. “My head knows that, but something seems to be niggling at my heart.” She tried to look over toward Joseph, but the catch in her neck caught her off guard. She winced.
Slowly, she turned in her seat to face Joseph. He had turned to face her too. “It’s not you that I doubt.”
Joseph’s dark brows furrowed over his clear, blue eyes. Silently, he nodded her on.
Rebekah drew in a breath. “I didn’t want to say anything, really. Because it’s so silly...”
Joseph reached across the seat and laid his hand over hers. Heat immediately fired to life beneath it. “Anything that gives you pause, Rebekah, we should discuss.”
“Well...” Rebekah shifted her gaze from Joseph to Peter. “I’m not sure Peter should hear this.”
Peter leaned forward on his elbows, his smile replaced by a look of consternation. “Peter shouldn’t hear this because, why?”
“Because it involves the woman you love.” Rebekah fidgeted until Joseph moved his hand. “And not in a positive way.”
Peter sat back with a sigh and looked out the window. “I know there was some bad blood between the two of you; I probably know more than I should.” He sighed again. “I never wanted to say anything to you about it.”
Joseph wrung his hands in his lap. “I think it’s all the more important we talk about it, then. If we are all going to be family, there can’t be any secrets.”
Rebekah thought briefly about her happy home in Gasthof Village. Samuel and Elnora, her parents, always seemed so in love. There was nothing they couldn’t talk about, nothing they couldn’t discuss. And love permeated every inch of their farmhouse, and every child knew exactly how loved they were.
Will my and Joseph’s home be as happy? Rebekah ran her tongue over her teeth and tried to will the tremble in her hands to still. If we are going to have a happy home, we need to be able to talk to each other. May as well start now.
“I have faith in you, Joseph. And I trust you.” Her voice began to shake. She hoped she wouldn’t cry, though her throat burned. “But there’s just something about the way Katie looks at you.”
The truth leaving her lips was freeing, like when she emptied her apron after gathering eggs. Careful, heavy, fragile. And who knew the mess that would ensue if things went wrong.
“I don’t trust her, Joseph. I don’t trust Katie.” Rebekah licked her lips. They were dry as sandpaper. “And I think she would stop at nothing to win your affections—”
