by Mary Daheim
“No.” Renie shrugged. “I’m hungry, that’s all.”
“Have some crackers and cheese,” Judith said. “They’re good.” Renie was looking out the window. “I’ll wait for dinner.”
The response bothered Judith. Her cousin’s mood had changed after the first hunger pang, but usually she became cranky instead of tense. For the next few minutes they sat in atypical silence, sipping their drinks and watching the train’s darkening passage toward the mountain pass.
At six-thirty they heard the announcement for their dinner sitting. “I’ll go first,” Renie said. “I can open the doors between the cars for you.”
“Aren’t they heavy? Will that screw up your bum shoulder?”
“If you press the doors in the right place, there’s no problem.” The cousins reached the front of their coach, where Roy was standing with a stack of bedding. “There you are,” he said in a chipper tone. “Shall I make up your beds while you have dinner?”
Judith glanced at Renie; Renie shrugged.
Roy smiled. “Let’s take another vote.”
“We may go to the dome car after dinner,” Judith said.
“I’ll wait a bit, then.” Glancing at Renie, Roy’s face fell. “Oh, Mrs. Jones, I couldn’t get Mr. Weevil’s autograph. He was asleep when I went to his room.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Renie said. “It was a whim.”
Roy looked relieved. “Mrs. Weevil—I assume she’s his missus—told me his condition is worsening. She says his mind wanders and he’s delusional. They’re suing the party who was responsible for the tragedy. It’s so sad for someone like him to end up in such a helpless state.”
Judith tried to hide her dismay. “Is Mrs. Weevil serious about a lawsuit?”
Roy shrugged. “I guess so. The attack was criminal. I hope the police were called in.”
“Um. Yes.” Judith wished she could tell Roy that the police had already been there, at least in the form of a retired homicide detective named Joe Flynn. “I’d better catch up with my cousin,” she said, realizing that Renie had drifted off down the corridor. “Thanks, Roy.”
By the time Judith caught up with her cousin, there were a half-dozen people lined up ahead of them. “Pepper’s crazy,” she said under her breath. “If she sues me, she’ll be laughed out of court. How can a broken arm and leg put Willie at death’s door?”
“Drop it,” Renie murmured. “If someone hears you, they’ll think you’re nuts. Why do you want to go to the dome car after dinner?”
Judith tried to shake off Roy’s unsettling account of Pepper’s threats. As an elderly couple moved into line behind the cousins, she offered them what she hoped was a cheerful smile before turning back to Renie. “Neither of us likes to go to bed early. Maybe we can find somebody who plays cards.”
A tall, lean bald man in front of Renie turned around. “Did someone mention cards?”
“Yes,” Judith said. “What do you play?”
The man put an arm around a petite woman with gray streaks in her short black hair. “My wife and I play everything except the hi-lo poker games. You name it, we play it.” He squeezed his wife’s shoulders. “Don’t we, Sharon?”
When Sharon smiled at Judith, her sharp features softened and her oval face lighted up. “If you want a foursome, we’re on.”
Judith, Renie, and the cardplayers stepped aside as a couple with two young children exited the dining car. “I brought four decks,” Judith said. “One set’s for pinochle, the other’s for bridge or whatever else.”
“I’m Jim Downey,” the man said, putting out his hand. “We’re from Milwaukee.”
Noting that Renie hadn’t responded to Jim’s friendly gesture, Judith hurriedly shook his hand. “Judith Flynn,” she said, “and my cousin Serena Jones, nicknamed Renie.”
Without enthusiasm, Renie shook hands with the Downeys. “Hi,” she said with a strained smile.
“The dome car after dinner?” Jim said.
“Yes,” Judith replied, noticing that the line had extended around the corner of the second sleeper. “It looks like you two are next. More of the early birds are leaving at the other end of the car.”
“Maybe,” Sharon said, “we can sit together. The tables seat four.”
“That’d be nice,” Judith responded. “Are you heading home?” Jim nodded. “We got on at that last stop. Our son’s stationed at the nearby naval base. We did some exploring in the area. It’s really beautiful. The only part of the West Coast we’d been in before was Southern California. This is our first train trip. It’s a great way to travel, though I wish the beds were longer.”
“Jim,” Sharon said in mild reproach, “stop fussing. You’re only six-two. Didn’t Roy tell us you’d have plenty of room?”
“Roy’s five-ten,” Jim said. “How could he be sure?”
Sharon’s expression was droll. “Face it, Jim. You’re all over the place even in our king-size bed at home.” She turned back to Judith. “Are you in this sleeper or the next one?”
“The next one,” Judith replied.
“So are we,” Sharon said. “The second roomette from the stairwell in the middle of the car.” She poked her husband. “We’re next,” she said, gesturing at the waiter who was beckoning to them.
Jim smiled at Judith. “Let’s see if they call you folks, too,” he said before following his wife into the dining car.
Judith watched as the Downeys were seated at a vacant table. The waiter reappeared, this time motioning to the cousins. Renie stepped aside, giving the golden agers behind them a phony smile. “Let these folks go first,” she said before Judith could move. “We can wait.”
The elderly man and woman thanked Renie. Judith glared at her cousin after the couple went into the dining car. “What’s wrong with you?” she whispered. “Do you think the Downeys are crooks?”
“No,” Renie said. “I don’t feel sociable, that’s all.”
“So you’re going to act like you’re made of stone? Please—let me have an enjoyable meal. The Downeys seem like nice people.”
“They probably are,” Renie conceded.
“Now I’ll feel embarrassed when I make eye contact with them,” Judith complained.
“They must think you’re a head case.”
Renie scowled at Judith. “Be quiet or everybody in line will think we both are. In fact,” she went on hurriedly, “go to the bathroom.”
“What?”
“Do it.” Renie pointed to the restroom across the corridor.
“Now!” She virtually shoved Judith against the door.
It was too late. Judith saw Pepper and Wayne Fielding come out of the dining car. Renie dropped her purse in front of Pepper. “Oh!” she cried. “Sorry! Can you grab that mascara wand? It’s rolling away. So are my horse chestnuts.”
Judith couldn’t maneuver fast enough to get into the restroom, but the waiter was speaking to Renie while Pepper and Wayne retrieved the items on the floor. Realizing what her cousin was up to, Judith managed to squeeze past everyone in the crowded corridor and escape into the dining car. As the waiter showed her to an empty table, she heard Renie call out a loud “thank you!” to Pepper and Wayne.
“I know why you’ve been acting peculiar,” Judith said as a disheveled Renie flopped down next to her. “You didn’t want those two to recognize me.”
“You’re half right,” Renie said, rummaging in her purse to see if anything was missing. “Ah! I’ve still got all my horse chestnuts. Eight big new ones from this September.”
Judith smiled faintly at Renie’s gathering of horse chestnuts every fall, a tradition started by her father, who’d give some to her and keep the others for himself as a talisman. Uncle Cliff’s reason had nothing to do with alleged health benefits, but because he’d picked one up shortly before catching the biggest rainbow trout he’d ever seen. Years ago, Judith had suggested to Renie that her cousin’s handbag wouldn’t be so heavy if she didn’t fill it with so many horse chestnuts. Renie had replied, “It�
��s not heavy, cousin, it’s my father.”
Renie closed her purse. “I didn’t want you to see them.”
“Why not?”
Renie groaned. “Because I don’t want to spend this trip obsessing about that Weevil bunch. It makes me nervous.” She shuddered. “It also scares me.”
“Oh, coz!” Judith laughed. “I’m always curious about people.”
“Yeah, right. But your interest has gotten you into some dangerous situations.”
Judith made a face. “That isn’t my fault. I can’t help it if—” She stopped as her cousin made a sharp gesture.
Renie’s smile was a bit frosty. “We have company. Hi,” she said to the two stout gray-haired men who were joining them.
The shorter of the newcomers smiled apologetically. “No English.”
“That’s okay,” Judith said. “I mean…we understand.”
“Polish,” he said, pointing to himself and then to his friend.
“Hungarian.”
“Ah,” Judith said, nodding.
“Lucky us,” Renie said with a genuine smile.
Both men smiled back and nodded.
“Tweedledum and Tweedledee,” Renie said cheerfully.
The foreigners seemed puzzled. “Sorry?” the other man said. Renie kept smiling. “No problem.”
Judith perused the fairly lavish menu, given the restrictions of what she presumed was a small kitchen. The waiter appeared to take their orders. Judith chose the salmon; Renie asked for the chicken. The foreigners weren’t sure.
Renie reached across the table, pointing to the menu. “Cluck, cluck,” she said flapping her arms. “Moo, moo,” she said, tapping the steak. For the salmon, she made swimming motions, accidentally hitting Judith with her elbow. “Excuse me, coz,” she said. “What can I do for vegetarian lasagna?”
Judith pointed to Renie’s napkin. “You’re the artist,” she said. “Draw vegetables, then do your animal imitations again, but shake your head.”
“Jeez,” Renie murmured. “I can design an annual report expending that much energy.” Before she could take a pen out of her purse, both men mooed. “Good work,” she remarked. “I might have screwed up the carrot. It could be mistaken for a turnip.”
The foreigners were engaged in conversation. Judith couldn’t figure out what language they were speaking, but their manner was amiable. “So,” she asked Renie, “how did you know Pepper and Wayne were in the dining car?”
“Pepper’s red hair is hard to miss,” Renie said. “When I went to get our refills, I had to go through the dining car. I saw a redheaded woman with the man you identified as Wayne Fielding. I decided not to mention seeing them for the previously stated reason of making you crazy and you making me even crazier.”
Judith understood. “How can I not be interested in that Weevil crew? I was so relieved to be rid of them, but then they showed up here and it unsettled me. I’m even more upset now that they’re supposedly suing me. Why shouldn’t I be concerned?”
Renie didn’t respond until after the waiter brought their salads. “The account that Roy has given us is wildly exaggerated. I’m sure there are other people on this train who know who Willie is. Once gossip starts, it gets twisted after it’s passed on—and on. When we got in line for dinner, I noticed Pepper and Wayne were still in the dining car. The two other people who had been sitting with them were just leaving. I was afraid we might get stuck sitting with Willie’s cohorts. But then they got up, too. I didn’t want them to see you because you know there’d be some kind of scene. That’s another reason I wasn’t keen on going to the dome car after dinner. Since they came out through the sleeper section, it’s possible that they’re staying on the lower level with Willie. You’ll have to avoid those two until they get off in Montana unless you want to go head-to-head with Pepper and Wayne.”
“Damn.” Judith sprinkled salt and pepper on her salad. “Maybe you’re right—we shouldn’t play cards with the Downeys.”
Renie shook her head. “I’ve nothing against the Downeys,” she said. “I was just distracted by figuring out how to prevent Pepper and Wayne from seeing you—and vice versa. We can’t stay cooped up in our compartment for what may be another whole day. Unless…how about a disguise?”
Judith looked incredulous. “Absolutely not!”
“It’s Halloween,” Renie pointed out.
“But only until midnight,” Judith declared. “How would I explain looking like Catwoman or Batgirl tomorrow?”
Renie stirred a lavish amount of dressing into her lettuce and tomatoes. “I was thinking more Darth Vader. But we don’t have costumes. Unless,” she went on, brightening, “we use the bedsheets and dress up as ghosts.”
“Oh, no!” Judith exclaimed. “Not the dreaded bedsheets! Your poor kids never got to be anything else, and they had to use pillowcases for their treats. Meanwhile, I was forced to spend money I didn’t have on Luke Skywalker.”
“True,” Renie admitted. “But our kids had fun. Or did they? Maybe that’s why they moved so far away.” She stuffed a big helping of salad into her mouth.
“Forget the disguise,” Judith said. “We’ll watch for Pepper and Wayne sightings. You move faster, so you can be my advance man. Woman, I mean.”
“Your scout,” Renie said, and frowned. “I’ve got to explain my odd behavior to the Downeys after dinner. It’s a good thing we’re not seated near them. It gives me time to explain why I acted like a jackass.” She paused, adding more salad dressing. “You do it. You’re much better at untruths.”
Judith smirked. “The truth is that sometimes you are a jackass.”
“Okay. Go with it.” Renie shoveled in more salad and chewed lustily.
Judith laughed. “I can be blunt?”
“Suptuyu,” Renie replied with her mouth full. “Hifis!”
The cousins slapped hands. The foreigners smiled and nodded.
“America woman, very good,” the first man said.
The other man agreed. “Live well. Live long. Much courage.”
The cousins smiled at the foreigners. “Let’s hope,” Judith said, “we don’t need too much courage to stay alive and well.”
“Amen,” said Renie.
Chapter Six
The four-handed pinochle game with the Downeys had gone so well that Judith and Renie agreed to play bridge with them Monday night. When the cousins got back to their room around eleven-thirty, they remembered to set their watches ahead.
“We’ve lost another hour,” Renie grumbled. “By the time we get to Boston, it’ll be Thanksgiving.”
“You gained an hour today,” Judith reminded her.
Renie looked puzzled. “I did?”
It was pointless to argue. “Never mind.” She stared at Renie’s tiger-striped nightgown.
“What zoo did you buy that from?”
“Nordquist’s zoo, marked down to less than half price.” She reached into her carry-on.
“Matching peignoir included,” she said, holding up a flowing garment with black boalike feather cuffs. “Bill hates it. I think it scares him.”
“It scares me,” Judith said. “It’s a good thing we’re not going on safari. You’d get shot the first day.”
“Right,” Renie conceded. “By Bill.” She twirled the thin satin rope that served as a belt. “I thought he’d find this sexy. Maybe I should’ve added tassels.”
“You should’ve avoided the lingerie sale,” Judith muttered, waiting for Renie to climb into the upper berth before getting into her own bed.
“You okay?” Renie asked after a moment or two later.
“I may have nightmares about tigers, but I’ve settled in,” Judith replied.
“Good. ’Night.”
There wasn’t another peep from Renie, who seemed to have already dozed off in her cozy little nest. Judith, however, was still awake when the train made its last stop before Idaho. Minutes later she heard voices in the corridor and remembered that the third bedroom’s passengers mu
st have just boarded. As the train picked up speed, the rocking motion lulled Judith to sleep. When she woke up the sun was out. Montana, she thought, wondering where they were in Big Sky country. Pushing aside the curtain, she peeked through the window.
“Coz!” she cried. “I see snow!”
“Wha’?” Renie’s voice was muffled.
“Snow. Trees. We’ve slowed down. Are we near Glacier National Park?”
Renie groaned. “Shuddup.”
Judith heard her cousin rustling around in the upper birth. “It’s after eight-thirty. When do they stop serving breakfast?”
There was no reply.
“Coz?” Judith felt stiff when she stood up. “Are you conscious?”
“I am now, dammit.”
“I’m taking a shower,” Judith said. “Don’t go back to sleep.”
“Eight-thirty,” Renie muttered, “mountain standard time, but my body knows it’s seven-thirty back home. I never wake up until—”
Judith closed the door, cutting off her cousin’s habitual complaints about not being a morning person. By the time she emerged, Renie was up and griping. “I hate showers,” she said, “but I have no choice. Move it.” She nudged Judith out of the way. “If I don’t come out in half an hour, you’ll know I drowned.”
Judith got dressed. She’d finished drying her hair when the train slowed to a crawl. Brush in hand, she looked out the window again. A group of children were having a snowball fight in front of a four-story half-timbered building. As the train picked up speed again, Judith saw a sign that read Izaak Walton Inn. As the inn disappeared from view she heard Roy’s voice in the corridor and opened the door. He was headed in the opposite direction just beyond the stairwell. “Roy?” she called, keeping her voice down in case other passengers were still asleep. “Roy?”
He turned around. “Aha. I see you’re up and about, Mrs. Flynn. Did you have a good night?”
“I did, once I got to sleep,” Judith said. “Why did we almost come to a stop? Was something on the tracks?”
Roy chuckled. “There’s only one flag stop along the Empire Builder’s route. That was it, Essex, Montana. Back in 1939, the inn was built to house the Great Northern Railroad workers. Later it became a tourist attraction on the south edge of Glacier National Park. The inn’s historical status allows travelers to get on and off during the summer and winter seasons. Depending on the engineer’s whim, we slow down to acknowledge the site’s importance.”