“Nay. Just wondering exactly what I plan to do.”
“What do ye mean? Ye are going to see the ocean because we dinnae have it in the Ozarks.”
Geordie nodded. “And I think it might be best to cease wondering if there was anything else to it.”
“What else were ye wondering about?”
“Whether I wanted to live there, if I was thinking of, or searching for, a place to settle.”
“Ah. That would displease Iain.”
Geordie laughed and nodded. “It would, and not just because he has always worked to keep us all together. He hasnae said it, but I really do think his plan is to make his own clan.” He grinned when Robbie laughed.
“Possibly. We will ken for certain if he ever starts trying to contact clansmen from back home and bring them over.”
“God help us. Some of those people arenae missed by me.”
“Nor me.” He pulled out a deck of cards. “Want a game?”
“Why not,” Geordie answered and sat up straight. “Cannae sleep right now and it will pass the time.”
“Ye could watch the country go by out the window.”
“Trees, fields, messy towns swollen by people from the trains or people searching for a new place to live. Nay. Seen enough of them. Thought getting the train stopping in one’s town was a great thing. After having seen some, dinnae think it is.”
“Nay,” agreed Robbie as he dealt the cards. “Train service takes over a town and changes it.”
“And no’ really for the better. What game are we playing?”
“Poker. Need to practice for all those wild nights in the saloons I plan to indulge in.”
Geordie laughed and then concentrated on his cards. It would at least pass the time and might help him get in the mood for another nap.
Chapter Five
As Geordie stepped down from the train he tried not to breathe too deeply, a little afraid he would fall into a coughing fit. The smell of the train was starting to cause a deep-set itch in his throat. He also missed the lady and little Morgan. Their talk had made the time pass faster. Morgan’s mother, Jane, a quiet, troubled woman had, at times, seemed eager to share conversation with an adult. He was still amazed that her husband, sick and dying as he had been, had managed to hold off the forces chasing him for as long as he had.
She had told him a wild story about how her husband had given her a chest to hold and keep secret. The man had only told her what was in it when he was close to death. The chest was filled with gold coins from a Confederate supply payment, and he told her some long tale of catching the thieves and finding the small chest where one of them had stashed some for himself. Her husband kept it, thinking he might find a chance to return it to the men who were with him, or put it back in the hands of the men who had been with him when they found the gold. He warned her that someone had heard a tale about it from one of the thieves and several incidents had convinced her such men still were hunting it down.
It amazed him that Jane’s husband had obviously fought off or eluded several attempts even though he knew he was dying. It was why she and Morgan had got off the train at the last stop to travel on to her mother, where she hoped to burrow in until she was no longer hunted. She was convinced the ones hunting her knew something about the chest. He prayed she would be proved wrong. If greed had driven her pursuers to hunt for it so hard, they would certainly not hesitate to hurt her and a child to get the chest of gold.
Sometimes tales about such things led to people being killed, but he had not heard of anyone who had actually found gold or some other treasure. Geordie had wished Jane luck and a secure, safe place to live with her mother. It did bother him that she was so pale and often rubbed at her middle as if she had some pain there. He had wanted to ask her about it but had never figured out how to do it delicately. Geordie could only hope it was something her mother could fix. The war had already collected enough dead.
James had allowed him to share his address with the woman. Geordie had also given her his home address, although he doubted she would contact him there, since it was so far away. Things she had said made him suspect the very last place she wished to go was anywhere in the west. Still, it eased his mind to know she could find them if she ever needed help. He hoped she could burrow safely at her mother’s, but two women and a child would have little defense against men who wished to get rich without working for it.
As he counted out the money to have the horses stabled for the night, he tried to dodge the man’s attempts to introduce him to his daughter. He had to laugh as he thought about all the single men who would be going through these towns for a while yet. The men drifting back home, the ones who had families they ached to reunite with, who thought they were safe now that the war was over. They were in for a big surprise.
Jane had gotten off the train in what had looked like a mill city, and he hoped she was not pushed to work in one. He had seen how it aged and wearied women workers.
They quickly went in search of a hotel. When Geordie had mentioned getting a room, both James and Robbie had readily agreed. It took several tries to find one that had a room at a price they thought reasonable, but soon they were settled. As Robbie sprawled out on the bed, he and James went on a search for some food.
Since they were still close to the train station, the crowds on the street ebbed and flowed, but Geordie just wanted them gone. By the time they got to a place that sold sandwiches and coffee, Geordie breathed a hearty sigh of relief. James went up to get their food, bringing mugs of coffee over as he waited for the rest. Geordie sipped the strong coffee and looked around at the people.
It was a working man’s eatery, he decided. There were a lot of people who had just arrived on the train as well. That confirmed his feeling that it was the cheapest choice they could find. It was much like the kind of places they had gone to on occasion back home when they had briefly stayed in the city.
“Coffee is good,” said James. “Hope that means the food will be as well.”
“Look at the customers. Mostly working men. Often means a place that is reasonably priced, plain but good.”
James nodded. “Same where I live. Go down near where the fishing boats dock and you’ll find such places.”
“My da used to tell us about the fancy restaurants. He went to them with clients who wanted to buy a portrait of someone in their family, and wanted to discuss it over a meal. He said he thought they took him to such places as a bribe, hoping he would lower his price. He didnae. Also said what ye paid for was fancy napkins and fancy plates and foreign food ye couldnae often ken what it was exactly.”
“Rich people often prefer foreign food. Never figured out why.”
“Maybe just to show people they ken more than the common mon.”
“Possible.”
The man behind the counter stepped up and bellowed James’s name. Grinning, James went to get their sandwiches. Geordie hurried to finish his coffee. He frowned when James returned with a tray holding what looked like a small kettle of soup and three more mugs of coffee, as well as six sandwiches.
“The man asked where we were staying and I told him. Seems we can take this with us and leave it at the hotel. He will send a boy to pick it up late tonight. Guess it is a regular service between this place and the hotel.”
Geordie collected their mugs and took them up to the counter to have them set on a small tray to carry them.
“Just try to keep people from bumping into me.”
“Aye, sir.” Geordie grinned, knowing by James’s brief muttering that the man had an urge to hit him but could not do it while he had the tray.
James and Geordie walked slowly back to the hotel, careful that James did not get the tray knocked out of his hands. When they entered the hotel the man behind the desk showed them where to leave the things that would be returned to the eatery after their meal.
By the time they got to the room, Robbie was sound asleep. Geordie helped James set the food out on the roug
h table in the room. Whether it was the scent of the coffee or the soup which did it, Robbie started to wake up. When he sat up and rubbed his hands over his face, then looked over at him and James seated at the table, Geordie just smiled.
“Guess this is good coffee. It wakes the dead,” Geordie said.
“Ha, ha,” said Robbie. “So funny,” he muttered as he stood up and walked over to the table.
“Coffee, soup, which I think is chicken, and a beef sandwich,” said James. “One sandwich. I got the others for later.”
“Ye were allowed to take these things out of the shop?” Robbie asked as he sat down.
“They have an agreement with this hotel. There’s a spot in the lobby where we can put the mugs, tray, and other things.”
“How long are we staying here?”
“Two nights,” Geordie replied.
“That’s nice. Then we ride, right?”
“Yup,” replied James. “Figured a bit of a rest after riding the trains for so long would be good.”
Robbie nodded. “I’ll admit, it would help me build up a tolerance for the ride.”
“Me? I just want a wee rest from traveling on a train,” said Geordie. “A wee rest from all the people.”
James laughed. “Not the friendliest fellow, are you.”
“I am friendly, just dinnae like crowds.”
“So, we will have a rest and then start riding up the coast. If the weather turns sour there are a lot of short rail runs we can catch a ride on. I have traveled on the Boston to Maine line, and it was fine.” James frowned. “There are a few small ones up the coast, too. The one that goes from Lynn to Portsmouth gets up north and we can ride on the coast road.” Noticing how Geordie and Robbie were staring at him, James asked, “What?”
“Did the East go mad for railroads?” asked Geordie.
“A bit, I think. We have a lot because once the first ones were in, it seemed like every town wanted one, and then people wanted a way to travel to the coast with ease.” He shrugged. “It supplied troops and all, and that impressed folk. Some say it is why we won the war.”
“Probably, although I dinnae think anyone really won except the gravediggers.”
Everyone went silent and finished their meal. Soon they moved to get ready for bed. Geordie let Robbie have one of the two beds. He figured he could toss a coin with James to see who had the other and who had to sleep on the army cot the hotel set up in the room.
To his dismay, James won. They then took turns using the washroom and toilet down the hall. When Geordie got on the cot after putting his bedding roll on it, he decided it was not so bad. Closing his eyes, he promised himself he would keep a close watch on Robbie. His brother would not speak up when he was wearied, so Geordie would watch and speak up when he saw the signs. He wasn’t sure how it could make Robbie worse if he overdid, but Geordie did not want to be the one on watch if it was a possibility. And he did not want to watch his brother suffer.
As soon as James returned and put the lights out, Geordie wished a good night to his roommates and closed his eyes. Robbie did not reply and Geordie figured his brother was far more exhausted than he had realized and had already gone back to sleep. They would do their best to be sure tomorrow was a lazy day.
* * *
Morning arrived with the welcome scent of coffee. Geordie looked up to see James accepting the tray with three mugs from a blushing maid. They had been pleased that the place offered coffee with the room. Getting up, he put on his clothes and hurried down the hall to the toilet, then slipped into the washroom to have a quick wash. By the time he got back to the room, Robbie was sitting at the table sipping his coffee.
“Where did James go?” Geordie asked as he picked up his coffee and sat down.
“He went down the road to find us some breakfast.”
“You didnae want to go?”
“Nay. A bit achy this morning. Rubbed some of the cream Emily made up for me on my leg and it has helped. James said it looked calm enough outside he didnae think he needed someone to guard over him as he came back with the tray.”
“Ah, good, because I dinnae want to go either.” He frowned. “I was surprised to see the morning coffee brought to the room by a lass.”
Robbie chuckled. “So was James. He was bothered about how wee she was. Said they shouldnae be sending up such a wee bonnie lass, nay to the rooms they ken have only men in them. That is just asking for trouble for her. I got the feeling he may have a word with whoever is behind the desk, he was that bothered by it. Think he will say something?”
“Quite possible as I got the feeling it really irritated him, and James has never been too shy to let one ken why he is irritated.”
“Weel, just so long as it doesnae stop the coffee from being delivered,” Robbie said.
“Aye, cannae have that.” He exchanged a grin with Robbie. “So, is there anything ye want to see in this city?” asked Geordie, glancing at the pamphlet Robbie held.
“Was wondering about seeing how far away some of the famous Revolution sites are. Ye ken, the ones Da told us about.”
“Och, aye, he did love to talk about that. To hear him ye would think it had happened yesterday instead of nearly a hundred years ago.” He grinned when Robbie laughed. “We need to decide what we want to see, and figure how far away they are.” He nodded at the pamphlet. “Does that say anything helpful?”
“Tells me street addresses, but nothing more.”
“Then we should see if they have a map, or the man at the desk kens where and how far.”
Robbie frowned as he looked at Geordie. “Ye looked sad for a moment. Something wrong?”
“Nay. I just had the passing thought that Da would have loved being in this city, but he couldnae stop here for long. He would love to hear about what we might get to see.”
“Ye ken it was just because they won, dinnae ye? They beat the English.”
“Aye. He loved that.”
There was a thump at the door and Geordie hurried to answer it. He let in James and put their mugs aside so he could put the breakfast plates down on the table. The scent of the food had his stomach growling.
“That is a lot of food,” Geordie said as he looked at the ham, eggs, toast, and a small bowl of what looked like oatmeal.
“I looked at what they offered and asked for the full breakfast. This is what they consider a full breakfast.” He set the tray aside and sat down.
For a while all was quiet as they ate. By the time he turned to his oatmeal, Geordie was not sure he had any room left for it. He almost smiled when he heard his mother’s voice telling him to eat it, that it would stick with him for the whole day. He then wondered why, on this morning and in this city, memories of his parents were so close and so clear.
James piled the empty plates and bowls on the tray, then sat to savor his coffee. “Don’t think I will be wanting more until supper.”
“It was certainly a full breakfast.”
“So, any plans for the day?”
“Nay sure. We need to find out how far away a couple of places are.”
“I feel sure we can just ask the fellow at the desk.”
“Aye, that is what we thought.” Geordie looked at Robbie. “Maybe ye can write down what addresses we might be interested in.”
As Robbie moved to do that, James asked, “What are you interested in?”
“He was thinking about actually seeing a few things that we always heard about when Da talked about your Revolution. Da just loved the stories about it. As I said, mostly he loved that ye won; ye beat the English.”
“We did that. So we go to the guy at the desk and ask him. Maybe go see a couple places.”
“Dinnae want to do too much walking around.”
James glanced at Robbie. “I figured that was why you wanted directions. Not able to just wander around the city. That would be too much walking?”
“Och, aye. Leg is fine even though it does ache a lot from the long train rides. The pain I coul
d deal with, but I cannae deal with it when my leg simply gives up, weakens so much it is mostly useless. So I try to keep my wandering to a minimum.”
“Good idea.” James finished his coffee and moved to put the mug on the tray. “If you have the addresses you are wondering about, give them to me and I will go talk to the fellow.”
Robbie handed him the list, watched him leave and then looked at Geordie. “Do ye think he doesnae really want to walk about, so thinks to get it done and over with fast?”
“Nay. Matthew once said James is one of those who wakes up and feels he needs to do something right away. He wakes up ready to go. Occasionally drove Matthew nuts.” Geordie grinned. “Matthew is a let-me-linger-over-a-few-cups-of-coffee mon.”
“Ah. Fine then. It works at times like this, when our only other choice is to just sit around in this room.”
“True. Now ye are to be sure to let us ken if and when ye have had enough.”
“Aye, mither.” He ducked when Geordie tried to smack him on the head. “I will, as I dinnae want to push too hard when we have miles still to go.”
“I am thinking James may want us to take a train for a ways. It will be faster and he does have to go to Maine, so that would suit him better.”
“Got no problem with that. Now, I think I will see if the washroom is empty as I would like to clean up a wee bit.”
Robbie went into the washroom, took off his shirt, and stared at the scars on his chest. For a moment he was back with those men who had beat him, wondering if he would survive, and then he shook off the paralyzing fear. It had taken him a long time to be able to do that, and he hoped that soon he could do the same with the stark memories that swept over him at odd times. He desperately wanted to forget it all.
As he washed up he wondered if he could at least soften those memories. It did not seem quite fair that he not only clearly remembered the abuse but also the pain of it, the feeling of deep helplessness, and the knee-buckling fear.
The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away Page 5