The glass windows rattled as the eight o’clock to New York City rolled into the station. The old man shuffled across the floor before taking his place behind the counter. “Hey, my spectacles!”
Rebekah studied her breakfast biscuit.
“They’re, they’re perfectly mended!” He shuffled from around the counter to Rebekah. “Thank you, little lady. Thank you.”
Rebekah smiled and swallowed her bite. “You’re welcome. It was the least I could do.” She shifted her gaze to her rumpled quilting bag. “I mend some things better than I do others.”
They shared a smile.
“How did that fabric work out for you?”
“Would you like to see?”
Joseph dashed in and stashed something behind the counter as Rebekah dug in her quilting bag. “I’m here folks, no need to worry!”
Rebekah cast a glance in his direction. Of course, he was staring at her. Emotion flamed in her neck. “Good morning, Joseph.”
“Good morning, indeed.” He came out from behind the counter. “Today we start our journey into the heart of the English world. Are you ready?”
“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.
