THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER (21 page)

He was more concerned about Lulu, though. Her face was gray and her posture
showed how exhausted she was. He went to her and said, "There's a bedroom forward. I'm
sure Mr. Dodderidge wouldn't mind if you used it."

She bristled, as only Lulu could, and sat up straight. "Don't be silly. I'm as capable
of enduring this as you are."

He noticed, when he'd gone back to his own seat, that she slumped again.
Damn stubborn woman!

Twilight was upon them the last time the train attacked a drift and lost the battle.
The men from the cabooses moved more slowly now, and digging out took longer than
before. Seeing their evident exhaustion, Tony went out and helped dig. In doing so, he
realized how soft he'd become with town living. His fine leather gloves were completely
unsuited to the work, and the finger seams soon gave out. When Dodderidge came back
from a reconnaissance of the line ahead, he was glad to set his shovel aside and join the
superintendent and his lieutenants for a conference inside the private car.

"That next cut's a good half-mile long," Dodderidge told them, as he sipped hot
coffee. "Jake here knows the line, and he puts the snow depth at close to thirty feet. So
we'll back down to Shoshone and let the men get some rest. Tomorrow morning we'll get
an early start on clearing it."

It was midnight before they reached Shoshone, and even later when they found
their beds, fortunately not let to anyone else in their absence.

The next day Tony rode in the engine, along with Dodderidge. The explosion of
snow and ice as the train plowed into blockages took his breath away. He found himself
thinking he would like to have the helm of something as powerful as the great engine for
just one hour.

When they came to the deep, snow-filled cut that had stopped them the night
before, the train stopped and let the crews out. Tony went back to suggest to Lulu and the
Palmers that they climb up onto the rocky ridge the cut went through and watch from there.
They all agreed, and soon they were comfortably seated well out of range of any thrown
snow and ice but with a good view of the action to come.

The train backed off more than a mile where it sat for some time, building up a
good head of steam. The whistle shrieked again and again. The engine started slowly, then
rushed toward them, great billows of black smoke pouring from the three stacks.
Dodderidge had told them the train would be traveling at least sixty miles an hour when it
passed them. As it approached at that breakneck speed, it grew larger and larger, until he
had the crazy sensation that it would become immense enough to annihilate the ridge on
which they sat along with the snowdrift it was meant to destroy. He wondered if the
engineer and fireman were frightened, knowing that they could be crushed if the ice proved
stronger than the engines.

As it approached, a whirlwind of snow was tossed aside by the enormous plow,
nearly obliterating the engine, so that its headlamp shone eerily through the white, swirling
cloud. The lead engine shrieked again, a cry to battle, and plowed into the drift with a
terrible noise.

Gobbets and blocks of snow and ice flew upwards and out. The rocks on which
they sat shook with the force of the train's impact. The engines, all three of them,
disappeared into the flying snow, still snorting fiercely. The noise and tumult slowly
lessened and the suspended snow settled. When the air cleared at last, what they saw left
them all speechless. The train was gone, its passage marked only by a mound of snow, like
a mole's burrow. Some distance ahead, perhaps fifty yards, a smokestack broke the even
mound, and from just behind it, a shrieking plume of steam burst from the safety
valve.

The crew poured from the cabooses and went to work. Dodderidge had
commanded that Tony not assist them, so he and the others walked along the ridge to
watch the digging out. What they saw when the crews removed the snow from around the
plow was graphic evidence of the force with which the train had hit the snowdrift. The
plow was bent and twisted, its struts and braces broken like rotten logs. One brace, as thick
as his upper arm, was bent back until its jagged end was within inches of the boiler. When
it was revealed, the entire crew stood in silent wonder. Had it penetrated the boiler, the
engine would have gone off like a monstrous bomb.

They slept again that night at Shoshone.

The third day was practically a repeat of the second. On the fourth day, all
passengers remained in town, while a crew of more than a hundred men went out to widen
the cross-cuts. Dodderidge came in to the hotel lobby just as Lulu and the Palmers were
preparing to retire upstairs. "We'll make it tomorrow," he said. "The boys did a good job
today, and the plow's fixed. If you want to use my car again, you're welcome to. Just be at
the depot by six tomorrow."

When they reached the big cut the next day, Lulu again joined Tony and the
Palmers atop the ridge. Tony stood some distance away, atop an outcrop of bare rock, too
high and sharp for snow to adhere to it. Not for the first time, a frisson of desire crept up
her spine at the sight of him. Immediately she quashed it, as she had each of its
predecessors.

The low, gray clouds had cleared, and a pale sun was doing its best to warm the
day. She removed her bonnet and ran her hands through her hair, feeling the fresh air like
cool water on her itchy scalp. "Oh, how glad I'll be to be home," she said to no one in
particular. The first thing she would do was heat water for a bath, for she'd had to make do
with sponge baths ever since leaving Boise. How long ago was that? "What's the date?" she
said, without thinking.

Beside her, the younger Mr. Palmer said, "I believe it is the twenty-fourth of
February."

"Good heavens," she said. "I've been traveling for more than two weeks and have
come only a bit over a hundred miles." When her companion chuckled, she had to join
him. "I'm sure that doesn't seem so very long to you, does it? Didn't you say you'd left
England the middle of January?"

"We did, indeed. And we'd planned to be well on our way back by now."

"At least we'll be in Hailey in time to complete our business," his brother
said.

Neither man had said exactly what had brought them so far, but Lulu was certain it
was something involving great sums of money. Why else would they travel at so perilous a
time of year? "Today, I hope," she said, thinking of her comfortable bed.

Tony returned just then. "I don't think there's much doubt we'll make it today. Did
you see that last run? The plow smashed through like it was hitting powder snow, not solid
ice. Those cross-cuts really made a difference."

The train, having backed away to build yet more steam, came running toward
them again. Lulu held her breath as it passed, feeling the rock she sat upon tremble with its
passage. Once more ice and packed snow flew in all directions as it hit the last thirty feet
of drift. It slowed, but did not stop. They couldn't see what was happening, due to the
flying snow, but they could hear it thundering through.

As the clamor died away and the suspended snow and ice settled, they saw the
train sitting just beyond the cut, puffing like an exhausted draft animal.

"Let's go," Tony cried, taking her hand. He pulled her with him down the far slope
and along the path beaten down by the digging crews.

Dodderidge was waiting beside the last engine, a big grin on his face. "Well, folks,
you'll be in Hailey within the hour. So climb aboard and take it easy. I've told Mr. Palmer
here he can ride in the engine with Hank."

They all thanked him and trudged back to the comfort of his private car. From
there to Hailey, the train sped along, making only one stop for water.

The Hailey depot had never looked so good to Lulu, even though she would have
preferred to arrive without such fanfare. Half the town seemed to have turned out.

Her trunk had not come with them, but would be shipped tomorrow. Carrying her
valise, containing her papers and a change of underwear in desperate need of soap and
water, she decided to walk to her apartment. It was only a few blocks, and she'd had far too
little exercise the past three weeks.

"I've certainly enjoyed sharing this great adventure with you both," she told the
Palmers, who were waiting to be interviewed by a newspaper reporter. They offered her a
ride in the hotel's carriage, but she demurred. "It's a lovely day, and I'll enjoy the walk. It's
not far."

Tony came out of the depot just then, carrying his own small suitcase. Knowing
she could put it off no longer, she said, "I would like to talk to you. Could you come over
after supper tomorrow night?"

"Why don't you have supper with me uptown?" he countered. "Then I could walk
you home afterward."

"I'd prefer not. Just come by about seven. I won't keep you long." She turned
away, knowing he was staring after her with a puzzled expression. Too bad. What she had
to tell him would be difficult enough, without having to be sociable too.

* * * *

He arrived precisely at seven the next evening. Lulu, whose stomach had been
swirling with butterflies all afternoon, opened the door before he had a chance to
knock.

"Come in." Even to her ears the words sounded curt, grudging.

"You don't exactly sound welcoming," he said, setting his hat on the small table
beside the door. "I thought you wanted to see me."

"I do. Please sit down." She'd debated with herself about serving coffee and
cookies, but had decided against it. Doing so would give this the sense of a social event,
and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She'd tell him, listen to his proposal, and turn
him down. Then he'd go storming out and that would be the end of it.

Until June, when she would have to decide how to care for a baby.

"You sound as if you're going to give me bad news," he said, watching her
suspiciously as she seated herself in a straight chair facing him. "What is it?" He half rose
as the obvious must have occurred to him.

"It's nothing to do with our parents, so relax," she said. "This is strictly between
you and me. I'm not asking for help or advice from you. I'll handle this by myself. But you
have a right to be told."

His face grew still, and she saw a strength in it not usually apparent. "Told
what?"

"I'm pregnant."

About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon the announcement was made that the snowplow
had reached Bellevue. Immediately the streets swarmed with people, and every available
team was pressed into service to haul sight-seers to the depot, some 200 of which reached
just in time to witness the arrival of the snowplow which came up the track enveloped in a
mountain of snow. When it reached the depot its complement of 40 or 50 men went to
work to assist the shovelers who had been clearing the Y of snow during the past three or
four days. This occupied about an hour, when the plow was run over it, and the road was
open.

Wood River Times

~~~

Tony laughed. He couldn't help himself.

"That's not funny," he said, even as more laughter threatened to bubble up into his
throat.

"I haven't found it so." She rose and went to the door. With one hand on the knob,
she said, "That's all I wanted to say. I'd appreciate it if you'd go now. I'm really tired."

The laughter vanished as if it had never been. "Go? Go? Where? To Hell? That's
what you're saying, isn't it, Lulu? Great God, woman? Haven't you done enough to destroy
me?" He clenched his fists at his sides, knowing if he laid a hand on her, he'd shake her
until her neck snapped. "Is that what you've been after, ever since you came to town? To
break my spirit, my heart?

"That's it, isn't it? You've wanted to get even with me for years, just because I
went off without saying goodbye. Well, let me tell you, Luella Marie King, I left because I
hurt so bad I couldn't bear to see you again. I offered you my heart, my life. I wanted us to
be together, always. One word from you--just one word--and I'd've stayed there. Or done
whatever else you asked..."

"All these years, and you still haven't forgiven me, have you?" He knew he was
babbling, saying crazy things because she'd hurt him so much and he wanted to hurt her
back.

"What are you talking about? Forgiven you for what? I stayed away from you
because I didn't want to hurt you again. It would have been just like you to try to talk me
into marrying you."

"If that doesn't take the cake! You figured all you had to do was waltz into town
and I'd throw myself at your feet, begging you to marry me. You think you're pretty great
shakes, don't you? What's the matter, weren't the men back East blind enough to suit you?
Couldn't you hide what you are from them?" He laughed, this time a real laugh, although
the taste of it was bitter. "Did they see past that pretty, pale skin to the nigger
beneath?"

He reeled back as her fist smashed against his nose. Despite the ringing in his
head, he had to give her credit. All the lessons he and her brothers had given her on how to
hit had stayed with her. Cupping his palm under his streaming nose, he sat, leaned his head
back.

"You yellow-bellied bastard! I'm not the one trying to hide what I am! Look at
you, doing your best to forget where you came from. Does Soomey know you deny your
heritage?" She stomped out of the room and returned, carrying a towel. "Here! I don't want
blood all over my floor." After handing it to him, she opened the door and went outside. In
a moment she was back with a handful of snow, which she packed into the bloodstained
towel. "Hold that in place. And push on your upper lip."

He accepted the cold towel and held it against his nose, but continued to pinch his
nostrils together, breathing through his mouth. Gradually the bleeding slowed, eventually
stopped. All the while she paced the floor, picking things up and putting them down, as
restless and edgy as any captive wild thing.