Loco Motive (11 page)

“I'll go check the other side of the train,” Judith murmured.

“Fine. Bye.”

When Judith opened the door, she heard voices in the corridor beyond the stairwell. She recognized one of the speakers as Jim Downey. A quick glance through the window on the opposite side of the train revealed nothing of interest. Judith walked past the stairwell and saw the Downeys talking to a young Asian couple she hadn't yet seen.

“Anyone know why we stopped?” she asked the foursome.

“Hi, Judith,” Sharon said. “These folks think we're waiting for a freight to go by. They're old hands at train travel.”

“My cousin wasn't concerned,” Judith said.

The younger woman nodded. “Freight trains still have right-of-way. Frankly, they should change that. Passengers have connections to make and people meeting them. A brief delay won't spoil food or create panic if new cars are an hour late getting to the dealership.”

Jim nodded. “Judith, meet Matt and Laurie Chan from St. Paul.”

Judith shook hands with the Chans. “I haven't ridden on a train in ages,” she confessed. “I forgot how much fun it is to meet new people when you're traveling. On an airplane you can't mingle with anyone other than your seatmates.” Judith turned to Sharon. “Are Matt and Laurie cardplayers? Maybe they could join us tonight after dinner.”

The Chans shook their heads. “Matt's obsessed with video games,” Laurie said. “The only card game I ever played was Old Maid. Is it still called that? Or did they change it to SWF to be politically correct?”

“Hey,” Matt said, “what's with the
W
? How about us?”

Laurie playfully punched her husband's upper arm. “You're right. How about an update called Dysfunctional Families?”

“Speaking of functioning,” Jim said, “has anybody seen Roy in the past half hour? Our sound system's not working. We turned the call light on, but he hasn't responded.”

Judith and the Chans shook their heads. “Maybe he's on a break after putting the beds away,” Laurie said.

“He's very conscientious,” Sharon said. “He'll show up.” Judith murmured an excuse and headed back to her own compartment. She realized that she still hadn't seen the Kloppenburgs or the passengers in the adjacent roomette who'd boarded after midnight.

“We're probably waiting for a freight train,” she informed Renie upon entering their compartment.

“So I figured.” Renie put her book aside. “We'll be late getting to Shelby.”

Ten minutes later, the freight rumbled along. Judith gazed at what seemed like an endless passage of every color and type of flatcars, refrigerator cars, ore cars, and closed freight cars. As the train disappeared, she heard voices in the corridor. She got up and moved to the door she'd left open.

“What now?” Renie asked.

“Why aren't we moving?”

“It takes a while,” Renie replied. “Maybe the crew went out for cigarettes.”

The flippant response didn't satisfy Judith. She went into the corridor, where the conductor was talking to a couple in Western outfits. The woman had curly blond hair under her ten-gallon hat; the man was also fair-haired, judging from the long sideburns Judith could see under his matching hat. “I'll see to it,” Mr. Peterson said. “We've had some electrical problems in this car today.”

“Thanks,” the man responded as the train began to move again. The couple turned around and nodded at Judith as they moved past her to the end of the car. “Excuse me,” she called to the conductor.

He looked up from a small handheld electronic device. “Yes?”

“Are they the Johnsons? Or is it Johnston?” Judith asked, noting that the Western-clad couple had gone into the last compartment.

“Johnston,” Mr. Peterson replied. “Is your sound system working?”

“We haven't checked,” Judith said. “Should we?”

He smiled. “Only if you want to hear announcements or a spiel about the points of interest along this route. Oh—music, too.”

Judith smiled back. “My cousin has taken this train several times, so she knows about the territory. The last time I traveled
on the Empire Builder was on our way to New York almost forty years ago. We wanted to spend a few days there before we sailed to Europe.”

Mr. Peterson nodded. “You have your own travel guide. Excuse me, Mrs. Flynn, but I have to see what we can do about our electrical problem. Apparently it's only in this car.”

“Of course.” Judith entered the compartment.

“Well?” Renie said, looking up from her book. “How many people just became your new best friends?”

“Test the sound system,” Judith said. “It may not be working.”

“Neither am I.” Renie resumed reading.

“I'll check it,” Judith said. She braced herself on the chair arm, leaning to reach the controls. “Nothing. I should let Mr. Peterson know.”

Renie glanced up from her book. “Mr. Peterson?”

“The conductor.” She sat down hastily as the train began moving at a much faster clip. “We must be trying to make up time.”

“It can be done.” Renie looked at her watch.

“I saw the Johnstons,” Judith said. “They're next to the Kloppenburgs.”

“Good for them. Excuse me, Pearl Harbor just got bombed.” Renie continued reading.

Judith sighed. It was a relief not to have to cope with everyday crises and problems. She needed a break from routine. She was seeing parts of the country that she'd either never seen before or couldn't remember. No one—except Renie, of course—could make demands, criticize, argue, or otherwise ruffle her feathers. It was so peaceful on the train. So quiet. So…

Judith grimaced.
Am I nuts?
she wondered.
Do I need chaos? Am I missing the often stressful ebb and flow of an ordinary day at the B&B?

Renie again looked up from her book. “Now what?”

Judith feigned ignorance. “What do you mean?”

“I know that look.” Renie closed her book. “I've seen it since
you were five. It's the I-don't-want-to-be-here-but-I-have-to-pretend-I-do look. The first time I saw it was during Mass when we were kids. You couldn't sit still, you climbed up on the kneelers, you kept bugging me, and once you literally flew out of the pew and ended up in the center aisle while Father O'Reilly was giving his sermon. You still haven't outgrown it.”

Judith was indignant. “That's unfair. I like going to Mass. It restores me. I need the peace and the grace of the sacraments. I haven't fidgeted in church since I was ten.”

“Try sixteen.” Renie's was bemused. “You thrive on activity. After your hip surgery, Joe told me he might have to handcuff you to the sofa.”

“I don't like being waited on,” Judith asserted. “I feel helpless, and it makes me feel guilty when—”

A tap on the door interrupted her. Renie held up a hand. “Sit and stay,” she said. “I'll get it.”

Judith saw Mr. Peterson in the corridor. “Mrs. Jones?” he said warily.

“Yes?” Renie sounded benign.

Apparently overcoming his fear that Renie might be still be in a combative mood, he smiled in Judith's direction. “Have either of you seen your attendant, Roy, in the past hour or two?”

“Not since before breakfast,” Judith said.

“Oh.” Mr. Peterson's voice was faint. “Is your sound system working?”

“No,” Judith replied. “I meant to tell you,” she added, with a reproachful glance at Renie, “but I was delayed.”

The conductor nodded. “We're looking into it. If you see Roy, would you ask him to contact me?”

“Sure,” Renie said, looking as if she was about to close the door.

Judith got to her feet. “Sir?”

“Yes?” Mr. Peterson's smile was forced.

“When do we get to Shelby? I need to use my cell.”

“Ten minutes,” he replied. “We've made up time. It's a fairly brief stop, so stay by the train.”

“I will,” Judith said. “Thanks.”

Renie slid the door closed. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really.” Judith was still standing, bracing herself on the sink. “It seems like we just finished breakfast.”

“We did. I'd rather wait for lunch.”

“Me, too.” She paused. “Should we head for the other sleeper now? We're slowing down. I don't want to get stranded in Shelby.”

“Okay,” Renie agreed, her amiable mood restored. “I'll join you. After your call, I'll go to the club car to get some soda or juice.”

It took several minutes for the cousins to maneuver through the sleeping cars and reach the lower level. A young female attendant was already positioned by the door. Her name tag identified her as Jax Wells. “Fresh-air fiends or smokers?” she asked with a cheerful smile.

“Neither,” Judith said before introducing herself and Renie. “I have to make a phone call.”

“Stay close,” Jax said. Her voice was soft yet clear. “We're taking on one new passenger and letting two off from the coach section.”

The train slowed to a crawl. “Shelby looks small,” Judith noted. “It is,” Jax replied, “but it's the seat of Toole County.” The sleeper car stopped just short of the station. She opened the door and placed the movable step on the platform. “Be careful. I'm not going anywhere except to have a cigarette and stretch my legs.”

After Jax stepped outside, Renie followed. “I always go first on the stairs,” she explained. “My cousin's had a hip replacement, so if she falls, she can land on me. I'm a human cushion.”

Jax smiled. “Are you a deductible medical expense on her taxes?”

“Not a bad idea,” Renie responded as Judith cautiously made her descent. “I don't come cheap, though.”

“Big blue sky or not, it's chilly out here,” Judith said, dialing
Mike's number. “I hope he picks up. What time would it be at home?”

Renie looked incredulous. “You're asking me?”

“Okay, an hour behind…Hi, Mike,” she said, relieved. “No, I'm fine. We're in Shelby…I thought you'd know where it is after your stint in Montana. I have to make this quick. Did you leave your camera at our house?…You didn't?” Judith read from the note she'd made. “It's a Canon EOS 5D Mark II…Yes, Aunt Renie told me they were pricey…Is everything okay with you guys?…Good. I still feel bad about having to leave…What?” She saw Jax walking toward the train.

“Let's go,” the attendant called, putting her cigarette out. Renie was by the door with one foot on the step. “No,” Judith said into the phone. “Did you ask your dad?…They must be somewhere. Have to go. Love you.” She disconnected and let Jax help her get back on.

“Well?” Renie said as the train started moving again.

“It's not Mike's camera. Otherwise, all's well, except they can't find Willie's old videos they watched at our house. I told him to check with Joe.”

Renie's expression was sardonic. “Kristin screwed up?”

“She
is
human,” Judith said.

“I think.”

The cousins climbed the stairs to the upper level. “Can you make it back to our compartment without me?” Renie asked. “I have to go through the dining car to get to the bar on the lower level.”

“I think so,” Judith said. “Bottled water for me. I finished the freebies.”

“Okay. Be careful. It's noon so it may take me a while. Lots of passengers get sandwiches and salads in the club car.”

Fortunately, the train wasn't yet at full speed by the time Judith reached their bedroom. Twenty minutes passed before Renie staggered through the door. “Now I'm hungry,” she declared, setting down two bottled waters and two Pepsis.

“What's our next stop?” Judith asked.

Renie scanned the schedule she kept inside her book. “Havre, just after one. We're there for twenty minutes. It's the Empire Builder's midway point before the Twin Cities. When James J. Hill built the Great Northern Railway, he founded the town as a major service center. It's our last stop until Malta just before three.”

Judith opened a water bottle. “Shall we head for the dining car at the Havre stop?”

“Sure.” Renie poured Pepsi into a plastic glass. “Do you want to me to check your suitcase to make sure you didn't pack your camera?”

“It might be Joe's. He meant to take pictures of the Halloween parade, but left it at the house. Maybe I grabbed it by mistake in my addled condition.”

“I should put the Canon back. Can you lock your luggage?” Judith grimaced. “I could if I knew where I put the key. I haven't seen it since the Scotland trip. It's probably in the suitcase.”

Renie nodded. “I'll look for—” She was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Now what? Yes?” she called.

The door slid open. Jax stepped just inside the compartment. “They're working on the sound system, so we're taking dinner reservations now.”

“Where's Roy?” Judith asked, standing up.

Jax's smooth, almond skin grew darker. “He's…not available. I'm taking on his duties in both sleeper cars, at least for the rest of the day.”

“Is he ill?” Judith asked.

Jax clutched the clipboard she was holding and didn't make eye contact. “I can't say. Which dinner service would you prefer?”

Judith looked at Renie. “Six-thirty?” Seeing her cousin nod, she turned back to Jax. “Can we do that?”

“I…” Jax dropped the clipboard. “Oh, darn! I'm all thumbs!” Renie picked up the clipboard. “You're also upside down. Let
me switch this around.” She unclipped the reservation sheet, turned it right side up, and secured it to the board. “You're trembling. What's going on around here?”

Jax held out her hands and studied them with an anxious eye. “I…I'm upset. You must think I'm an idiot.”

“No we don't,” Judith said with compassion. “You might feel better if you told us what's going on.”