by C. Fennessy
Chapter 7: A Familiar Face
Inside the station, Kelly looked at her watch. It was almost 1:30. The train to Westfield hadn't arrived yet and it was due to leave the station at 1:33.
An announcement came over the intercom.
"The 1:33 train to Montpelier, Randolph, White River Junction, Concord, Manchester, and Westfield, is now arriving at track two."
The girls gathered up their travel bags and went out to the platform. They watched the Amtrak train approach the station slowly. Soon it came to a stop and the conductor blew his whistle. Passengers began to disembark.
"Oh, I hate saying goodbye!" Cindy groaned.
"I'll be home in a few days," Kelly said, "We'll see each other when I get back."
The girls hugged each other and Kelly walked them to the steps of the train. The girls climbed aboard and waved to her.
"Goodbye! Have a great time in New York!" Jan cried.
"Tell your dad and grandparents ‘Merry Christmas’ from me!" Cindy called out as Jan pushed her ahead as other passengers tried to get on.
"I will!" Kelly called back, waving.
Kelly walked along the train and finally saw the girls waving at her from a seat window. She waved back and then crouched down. She made a small snowball and then threw it at their window. A white patch stuck on the glass and she laughed at their expressions.
"Young lady, there will be no more snowballs thrown at the train," a voice said.
Kelly turned around to see a conductor standing next to her and scowling.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't throw it hard. I was just joking with my friends. I won't do it again, I promise! Sorry, sir!"
He nodded and blew his whistle again, calling, "All aboard!"
The train rumbled and hissed as the wheels began to roll. Gradually, it picked up speed and Kelly ran alongside waving at her friends, yelling, "See you soon!" as they both waved back, smiling.
In a few seconds the train faded into the distance.
Kelly stood, catching her breath. She looked at her watch and saw she only had fifteen minutes until her own train would arrive. She walked back inside the station to warm up
A railway porter approached her, wearing an official railway jacket and hat.
"Ah, Miss Carlson?"
Kelly was surprised that he knew her name. She thought he looked familiar.
“Yes?”
"We may have made a mistake with your luggage. If you could just come with me to identify your bags, we can clear this up."
"A mistake? What kind of mistake?" she asked warily.
"Follow me, please," he replied, turning away. He led her around toward the back of the station.
Kelly had a strange feeling come over her, like something was not right. Why was he going that way when the luggage was out on the platform?
He turned and saw her hesitating.
"Come on! The train is coming, so we don't have much time!"
He waved for her to follow, but she had learned long ago to trust her instincts.
"If there is a problem," she called to him, "just put all of my luggage on the next train to New York. I'll figure it out there."
The porter shook his head impatiently.
"No! You have to come with me now!"
His angry tone frightened her. She shook her head and went back into the station directly to the ticket counter. The clerk asked, “May I help you?”
"There's a man out there who wanted me to go with him to check my luggage, but he was going to take me way back there behind the station. Would you please find out what's going on?"
The clerk frowned, and then nodded. He told another clerk to take over, and then went to the back door.
Kelly watched as he looked outside left and right for the porter. Finally, he came back to her.
"There's nobody out there now. What did he look like?"
"He was rather young…maybe 19 or 20, and had red hair and freckles. He had a slender build, and was about your height."
"Well, Miss, no one of that description works at this station. Are you sure he said he was a porter?"
"He had on a railway jacket and hat, but he was wearing sneakers."
The clerk shook his head, "No, we don’t have anyone working here who fits that description."
Kelly was worried. She wondered what was going on. The clerk spotted two sheriff's deputies drinking coffee at the snack bar and waved to them. They came over.
He told the deputies what Kelly had seen and added, "It concerns me because yesterday, one of the porters reported that someone stole his hat and coat. We don't have anyone of that description working here."
The deputies asked Kelly to show them where he had gone and what he had said to her. She showed them the route he had taken and reported exactly what he had told her.
They searched the area while she waited inside. Finally, they came back inside and spoke to her.
"You were smart not to go with them, Miss. We've had a report about someone who tried to attack a young lady at the White Pines Lodge."
"Yes! That was me! It happened yesterday morning."
The deputies looked surprised.
"You? What's your name?"
"Kelly Carlson."
They both nodded, wide-eyed.
"Yes, that's the name we were told about! It looks like he might have tried to get you again."
"But this man was different. The one at the hotel was taller and bigger. It's not the same man, I'm sure of it."
The deputies looked concerned.
"There could be two men, possibly, who are trying to kidnap you. Are you waiting to get on a train?"
"She's booked on the 1:45 to New York that should be here any minute," the clerk told him.
"Then we'll escort you onto the train and speak with the conductor to keep an eye on you during your trip. Come with us."
When the train arrived, Kelly was escorted onto the train by the deputies. They came on board, and after she was seated, they searched the cars for a man matching the description she had given. When they saw that he was not aboard the train, one of the deputies spoke to the conductor while the other came to Kelly.
"He doesn't appear to be on the train, but we've got some deputies coming to search the area around the station. I think you'll be safe on the train. Stay in this car and the conductor will keep an eye on you. If you have to leave, let him know."
"I will, and thank you very much!"
The deputy touched his cap and nodded. After they left, the conductor, a middle-aged man with a mustache and glasses, came to her and smiled.
"Don't worry, Miss. You'll be safe here. If you need anything, just let me know. I'll be in this car until we get to Grand Central Station in New York."
She nodded and thanked him.
Soon, the train was moving. Other people were waving goodbye to family and friends.
Kelly remembered how happy she had been just a short while ago. But now, she was nervous and worried. What if that man had gotten on the train and was hiding until the deputies left?
She looked around for the conductor and saw him in the back of the car helping someone store a bag in the overhead compartment. She sighed nervously and tried to relax.
"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want," she mumbled. She looked out the windows at the snow-covered mountains, so beautiful. Majestic was the word that came to her mind. Recalling another Bible verse, she whispered, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and Earth."
"The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
She had memorized those verses from Psalm 121 when she had been confirmed. Whenever she was afraid, she spoke these words, bringing calm to her spirit. She wished that her friends were with her, but knew that she wasn't alone. The Lord was with her, always.
Ten minutes earlier back at the station, Steve met up
with Sam.
"Where is she?" Sam demanded.
"She wouldn't come!"
"What? Why not? Did you tell her-"
“Yes! I told her that there was a mistake with her luggage and I needed her to come with me to straighten it out, but she wouldn't!"
Sam swore bitterly. He wanted to punch Steve, but instead, he kicked a nearby trash can.
"Where is she now?" Sam demanded.
"Inside the station. There are lots of people in there. We can't get her now!"
Sam said, "Come on!"
They both headed for the station, but suddenly, two sheriff's deputies came out, looking around. Sam and Steve ducked back behind a brick wall.
"She must've told the cops!" Steve cried.
"Shut up!" Sam snapped. He waited until the deputies went back inside the station, and then said, "You go back to the car and wait ten minutes. If I don't come back, it means I'm on the train. Drive to Montpelier and meet me at the station there. I'll try to find some way to get her off the train there and then we can take her."
Steve nodded and went off to wait in the car. Sam pulled his knit hat down over his forehead and went toward the station. Looking through the glass doors, he saw Kelly with the two deputies. He walked around the other end of the station to the platform. Another train soon arrived, and he waited to see if she would get on the train.
Two deputies escorted Kelly onto the train and went aboard with her. Sam waited for a few minutes, but he knew that the deputies would probably find someone to watch her on the train. Angrily, he stormed back to the car.
Getting inside, he snapped, "Drive to Montpelier! We'll try again at the next train station."
"But she won't be getting off until New York-" Steve reminded him.
"I know that! I'll have to go on the train and figure out something. Now step on it. We've got to beat that train to the station!"
Steve pulled out of the parking lot with his wheels spinning on the ice. He stabbed the pedal to the floor and the engine roared.
Inside the train, the conductor cried, "Next stop: Randolph, Vermont!" repeating this announcement as he walked from car to car.
Kelly had dozed off in her seat. She awoke as the announcement was made for Montpelier Station. She took her purse and went to the bathroom in the rear of the car. She smiled at the conductor who was keeping an eye on her. He saw her go into the bathroom.
When the train stopped at the station, Kelly returned to her seat. She watched as people gathered their belongings and got off while others got on the train. She watched the faces of the people, looking for anyone who looked familiar or resembled the young red-headed man.
Once again the train started moving.
It was ten minutes later when a familiar voice asked, "Kelly?"
Kelly looked up and smiled warmly, happy to see a familiar face.
"Sam! What a surprise!"