The Witch's Christmas Wish

by Rebecca Lovell

  “Telegram?” Terra signed her name in the guest register. “For me?”

  “Yes, it came right after you left as a matter of fact. I wasn’t sure where you had gone so I couldn’t forward it. Just a moment.” He went into the back room and Gard came forward to sign his name in the register as well.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s a telegram for me, apparently. It came right after we left.” She shrugged and shook her head. “I have no idea who would send me a telegram, much less know where I was staying to send it.” The clerk came back with an envelope in his hand.

  “Here you are. I hope it wasn’t too urgent.” There was a worried look on his face and Terra smiled to put him more at ease.

  “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s all right.” She reached out and took the envelope, and when she did she was suddenly overloaded with images and sounds. Screaming. Fire. A man burning and then a jolt, followed by an explosion and a screaming of metal against metal. Terra felt every bit of it as it rolled over her again and again, then she heard a woman screaming and her knees gave way as she fell down into the dark.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The hotel clerk opened the door in front of him and Gard carried Terra into her hotel room, still unconscious. He laid her on the bed and turned to the clerk, who was somehow holding both the suitcases, Gard’s briefcase, and Terra’s hat.

  “Just set everything down. I appreciate your help.” Gard put his hand on Terra’s forehead. It was clammy and cold, but he was relieved he didn’t feel a fever.

  “Do you need me to call for the doctor? I could get him here rather quickly.” The clerk hovered near the bed and Gard shook his head.

  “She’ll be fine. She’s just exhausted.” At least that’s what I hope, Gard added to himself. “I still need the room for myself, but if you’ll set the key on the table I’ll go get myself settled once she’s awake.” The clerk nodded and opened the door.

  “If you want me to call the doctor, just let me know.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.” As soon as the door closed, Gard unbuttoned Terra’s coat so she could get more air and took off her stylish heeled shoes. “Come on, Terra, wake up.”

  He had a feeling he knew why she had passed out. It had happened right after she touched the telegram, so it had to be one of her visions. She’d never said anything about losing consciousness when she had a vision before, and neither had Tilly when he had peppered her with questions once he felt comfortable with her. Whatever she’d seen, it had to be bad.

  Gard had shoved the telegram in his pocket before he picked Terra up and he considered reading it to see what had caused this to happen. It seemed like an invasion of privacy and it wouldn’t help her wake up any faster so he tried to put it out of his mind. He went to the bathroom to get a cool cloth for her forehead. The water was ice-cold so he wrung it out quickly and was bringing it back to her when he saw her eyes flutter open.

  “Terra!” Dropping the wet cloth on the desk, he went to her side and sat on the side of the bed. “Are you okay?”

  “Where am I?” She tried to sit up and Gard shook his head.

  “In your hotel room at the Margolis. You’d better lay down for a minute or two, though. You hit the floor pretty hard.” He took one of her still-gloved hands. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m just a bit dizzy. I’ll be all right.” Even though she protested, Terra laid back down. “What happened? Everything’s a bit foggy at the moment.”

  “You got a telegram,” Gard said hesitantly. He didn’t want her to read it again and lose consciousness. “Not sure who it was from but you just passed out without even opening it.” He took the envelope from his pocket.

  “That’s right. The telegram.” Sounding somewhat groggy, Terra pressed a hand to her forehead. “Can you give it to me? I want to read it.” She saw the look on his face and took it from him anyway. “I’m sure it’s nothing, Gard. I’m just so tired from the whole day.”

  “Can I read it with you?” In spite of his worries, Gard’s curiosity had been piqued by the telegram. He was relieved when Terra nodded and she sat up so he could look over her shoulder. Not sure what else to do, he put a hand on her shoulder to give her some support. She smiled back at him, then turned to her telegram.

  Sis –

  Coming down to Roanoke in a day or two to spend Christmas with you. Surprise!

  Tommy

  “No,” Terra said, her face pale. “He can’t be coming here, he just can’t.”

  “A day or two? And we were in Baltimore for two days. That means he’s coming either tonight or tomorrow.” Gard frowned. “It’s kind of late for trains to be coming in. According to the timetable there was only one other coming into Roanoke tonight, from New York.”

  “Oh my God.” Terra stood up suddenly, all traces of her earlier grogginess gone. “It’s coming from New York but it’s making a stop in Baltimore. I remember my vision now.”

  “You think Keats’s son is somehow sabotaging the engine? The Baltimore police did say they hadn’t caught him yet.” He held his hand out. “Can I see the telegram?”

  “Of course.” Terra started buttoning up her coat. “We have to go to the train station right now. I have to find a way to warn Tommy.” She looked at Gard, and he could see the terror in her eyes. “I can’t let anything happen to him.”

  “We don’t know that he’s the engineer,” Gard said. “He could be coming down as a passenger.”

  “No, I saw him.” She put her hat on over her disheveled updo and put her shoes on. “I saw him in the engine and he was on fire. It’s the same vision I’ve been having since I was a little girl, but this time it was so strong I know it’s going to happen soon.”

  “How are we going to stop it if it’s already left Baltimore?” Gard buttoned his own coat while Terra rummaged through her pocket to find her room key.

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know if it’s the brake lever. All I know is that I can’t let my brother die.” She flung the door open and ran down the hall with Gard close behind. “This is it. This is what I was meant to prevent.”

  Gard followed her down the stairs as she didn’t want to wait for the elevator. She ran through the lobby and out to the parking lot, where she jumped into Gard’s unlocked car. He went around the front to crank the engine as quickly as possible, and was relieved when it came to life immediately. When he got in the car Terra was fidgeting, tugging at her gloves and coat, and she kept looking out the window. Gard backed the car out of its space and headed for the train station.

  It didn’t take long to reach their destination and before Gard had even stopped the car Terra jumped out. Cursing, Gard finished parking and got out to run after her. Thankfully his long legs helped him catch up to her before she was in the train station proper, and he reached out for her arm.

  “Terra, where are we going?”

  “I have to find out when the train is coming, and if Tommy is the engineer.” She looked around the station. “I don’t know where to find that out.”

  “We can check the board for arrival times, then ask someone at the information desk or the rail police office. I’m sure they’re still there dealing with Keats.” He pointed at the timetable on the wall. “It’s over there.”

  “All right, let’s go.” Terra hurried toward the board, pushing the wrong way through the people. The crowd was smaller than it had been earlier but there was still a lot of grumbling and Gard apologized to them as he passed.

  The trains on the timetable were mostly erased but there was still one train on the way. Gard looked down at his watch, then back at the timetable. It read ON TIME, then 7:45 PM. In smaller letters he saw the words “Platform three.”

  “We’ve got about thirty minutes before the train gets here,” Gard said. “Let’s go to the information desk and make sure it’s Tommy before we do anything else.” Terra nodded and he led the way this time. “Excuse me, sir, but can you tell me who the engineer is on the train
that’s coming from Baltimore?”

  “Sure, let me check my book.” He took out a large book that looked like a ledger and ran his finger down the rows. “Thomas Rendon. Is that important?”

  “Extremely.” Gard turned to Terra. “We’re going to need the rail police to help us if we’re going to stop a train. Let’s get down there.”

  This time both of them were running, Gard keeping a close eye on his watch. If it was true that the vision she’d had for years was about to happen, he would do everything in his power to help her keep her brother safe. There were still plenty of people in the rail office when they burst in, and to Gard’s relief Detective Carlisle was still there.

  “Detective Lewis?” Carlisle looked at him in surprise. “What are you two doing back here?”

  “We need your help stopping a train,” Gard said, out of breath. “Someone has sabotaged the train from New York. It stopped in Baltimore on the way here but we couldn’t check it because it came in after we left.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “I can’t explain right now.” Gard exchanged a look with Terra, who looked as if she was on the verge of panicking. “There’s no time. We need to do something or more people will be killed.”

  “I don’t think there is any way to stop a train that’s only twenty minutes out. We’re going to have to find another way.” Relief washed over Gard. He wouldn’t have to convince Carlisle to help them, he was already willing to do it. He turned to the police. “Any way we can divert a train away from the station on short notice?”

  “You could switch tracks so it bypasses the station,” Alvin said quietly from his place in the cell. “If you could get out there, someone would be happy to help you.” He shook his head. “Please forgive my son for this. I’m sure he did it because he thought he didn’t have any other choice.”

  “Get out there,” Carlisle said, grabbing the phone on the desk. “I’ll call for someone to come to Platform Three to take you to the switcher.”

  “Thanks,” Gard said. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Even if we switch the tracks, that won’t keep Tommy from dying. There’s something that starts a fire on the train.” Terra followed Gard as he rushed out the door. “We have to find a way to warn Tommy about it.”

  “If you have any ideas, let me know.” There was a sign that directed them to Platform Three and Gard glanced at his watch. “We have fifteen minutes.”

  “That means he’ll be starting to brake soon. Fifteen minutes isn’t enough!” She sounded as if she was going to cry. “Gard, what are we going to do?”

  “Is it possible for you to have another vision? One that will tell us how the train has been tampered with?” Gard had no idea if she could control her visions and she bit her lip, then nodded.

  “Sometimes I can force one. Maybe if I hold the telegram again I’ll see something.” They had arrived at the platform, where a man in a truck like the one that had taken them to examine the first train was waiting.

  The truck wasn’t very big and Gard put Terra into the back before getting into the front seat with the driver. He didn’t want the man seeing Terra holding the telegram and she might need time to make it come. I have to protect her, Gard thought. Her and her brother.

  “Gard!” Terra called from the back of the truck and he turned to see her face lit up under the moon. “I have an idea!”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “You want your brother to detach the cars before we switch tracks and divert only the engine?” Gard looked surprised and Terra nodded.

  “The brake lever hasn’t been tampered with, there’s a time bomb in the cab. I’m not sure where but I saw it. It’ll go off when he reaches the station.” The switching station was just ahead of them and the driver started to slow down. “If he diverts the engine, he can jump out of it before the bomb goes off.”

  “How are you going to get a message to him? Even if there’s a wireless on his train the message won’t get to him in time.” The car stopped and Terra and Gard got out. “We have less than fifteen minutes left.”

  “Tommy and I have the same eyes,” Terra said. “He’s never had a vision before but if I could send one to him, he would be able to save himself and the train. It’s my only hope to keep him safe, Gard. I have to try.”

  “Then do it,” Gard replied. “I believe you can.”

  “Thank you.” Terra closed her eyes as she stood next to the switching station while Gard talked to the man in charge of the switch. She had to put everything she had into this.

  Tommy, she called out with all her might, hard enough to make her clench her hands into fists. Tommy, can you hear me? Please, you have to hear me.

  Sis? The answer came back almost immediately and she found herself dizzy with relief. How are you doing this?

  There’s no time. You’re in terrible danger, and you have to do exactly what I show you if you want to save yourself and your passengers. She pushed harder, sending the images from her mind to his. You have to detach your cars before the switching point. We’ll divert your train onto the bypassing rail and you’ll have to jump out of the engine.

  How do you know all this? There was a pause and for a moment Terra thought the connection between them had been lost. Trying again, she showed him the bomb and Alvin in handcuffs.

  I can’t explain it right now. Just do what I told you. Please. I can’t let you leave me.

  All right, Sis. Another pause, then I love you.

  I love you too, Tommy. Tears ran down her cheeks from her closed eyes and she opened them to swipe at her cheeks. “He heard me. Gard, he heard me!”

  “What?” Gard’s eyes widened. “He did? That’s amazing! Is he going to do it?”

  “Yes, he is.” Terra looked at her own wristwatch. “Time is running out but he thinks he can do it. I showed him exactly what to do.” She grabbed Gard’s hands. “Oh, Gard, we might be able to save them all.” Something else popped into her head. “I saw one more thing before. Keats’ son is on this train. I think he intends to die when the train crashes.”

  “The rail police will be able to pick him up when they help the passengers off,” Gard said. “Keats probably told them what his son looks like by now. I’ll have the fellow in here call the station and let them know so they can be on the lookout for him.”

  While Gard went into the switching station, Terra stood watch outside. She could see the bright lights of the train coming closer and then, the screech of metal on metal as Tommy began to brake. Terra held her breath but was relieved when she saw the train slowing to a halt. There was a loud clacking sound and a metal thud, then the engine started moving faster. Terra leaned into the switching station.

  “Now! Switch it now!” She didn’t care that she sounded hysterical or that she was yelling, all she cared about was Tommy. She didn’t know what Gard had told the man in the booth but he nodded and used the wheel to switch tracks.

  As it got closer, Terra could make out both the engine and the cars in the lights of the trainyard. The cars, having been freed from the engine, were rolling at a leisurely pace that made it look like they were going to stop any minute. The engine, on the other hand, was quickly coming to the switching point. It drove past the switching station with its horn blaring and Terra stood on the edge of the station’s platform with her hands covering her mouth. She could hear the scraping as the tracks were switched back so the cars could make it to the station but her eyes were locked on the engine.

  It was well past the station when the engine exploded, lighting up the night. Something large and dark, man-sized at the least, had flown out of the cab just as it had turned into a fireball and Terra screamed. Leaving Gard and the switching station behind, she jumped off onto the ground and ran as fast as the gravel under her shoes would let her. She was barely aware of her hat as it blew off, nor did she care about the pieces of burning metal that surrounded her. All she could think about was Tommy.

  “Tommy? Tommy?” She called to him as s
he looked around. “Please, answer me!”

  “Sis?” A weak voice came from the darkness and Terra raced toward him, stumbling forward a few times over the rocks and the hem of her dress until she found her brother lying on the ground, well away from the fiery train.

  “Oh, Tommy!” Terra fell to her knees beside him and stroked the side of his face. Blood was coming from his nose and a cut on his forehead. She could see by the light of the fire that his leg was twisted and he was covered in soot and dirt. “Tommy, you’re all right!”

  “I’ll live,” he said, trying to smile. “Thanks to you.” He reached up and touched her hair. “You’re a mess. What would Mother say?”

  “She’d say she’s glad you’re alive, just like I am.” Terra took her brother’s hand and smiled. She heard running footsteps on the gravel behind her and turned to see Gard coming toward them, holding his hat on his head.

  “He’s calling for an ambulance,” Gard said. “The police are going to be coming out too, and they’re going to search the train for Keats’s son.”

  “What about my passengers?” Tommy’s voice was weak but Gard grinned down at him.

  “Everyone’s fine. The passengers are all safe.”

  “Thank God.” He looked up at his sister. “Hell of a Christmas surprise, I’d say.” Terra laughed through her tears. She wanted to hug her brother so badly but she was afraid to hurt him. “What happened before? How did you get into my head and show me those pictures?”

  “You know I’ve had visions since I was younger,” Terra said, and Tommy nodded. “I thought maybe because we’re twins I could share one with you.” She wiped her eyes. “There’s so much I need to tell you. My magic might run through you as well.”

  “Me?” He laughed, and it made him cough. “Well, that’ll be something to talk about at dinner parties, won’t it?”