Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall

Author:Patty Smith Hall
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Home and Hearth Publishing
Published: 2020-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

13

“Those hot dogs really hit the spot,” Wesley said, his arm resting across the back of the train seat he shared with Maggie. “I’d heard about the Varsity, but I hadn’t had the chance to get there.”

“I’m still surprised you’ve been here for months and never been there,” Maggie replied, watching Wesley as patches of moonlight shone through the cabin window.

“Now, that I know someone who shares my love for fried pies, we’ll have to go there more often,” Wesley answered, the humor in his voice sending ripples of awareness through her.

She cleared the frog out of her throat. “You should try their ice cream. They’re not serving it now because of the shortages but their lemon cream is out of this world.”

“Then we’ll have to make it a date. The day after the war ends, you and I will head down to the Varsity for ice cream.”

Maggie smiled. She’d had no intentions of leaving the USO with Wesley tonight. Being around him, getting to know more about him could be dangerous to her heart. But learning about his sister, seeing the slump in his shoulders, the tight line of guilt slashed across his brow, she realized she couldn’t walk away.

After Bill had assured her that he would see Donna and Edie home, Maggie and Wesley left the gym. She had automatically turned toward the train station, assuming that they would head for home, but Wesley hadn’t seemed to be in any hurry, taking her elbow and prompted her down a side street that led them deeper into downtown. They walked the streets for hours, talking as they went, eventually ending up at the Varsity. Over onion rings and orange shakes, they talked about almost everything.

Everything, except his sister.

Maggie snuggled into her seat, relishing the warmth of Wesley’s arm draped across her shoulders. He hadn’t spoken more about Beth and she hadn’t pushed it. He’d talk when he was ready, at least, that’s what her daddy always said.

But she couldn’t help wondering. How had Wesley’s sister died?

The steel wheels whined softly against the rails, the chug-a-chug of the train in perfect unison with the gentle rocking of the passenger car. A black inkiness hid the cotton fields and flop houses she knew lined the tracks same as they had since the Civil War. Maggie leaned her head against the window. Around here, everything changed at a snail’s pace.

A few minutes later, the dim glow of lights in the station cast shadows throughout the passenger car. As the train whined to a stop, Wesley tightened his hold on her, folding her into his side as if protecting her from a fierce blow. Maggie wasn’t sure why she liked the way it made her feel, as if she was something infinitely precious that needed to be defended at all cost.

But it was what she would have to give up in return that bothered her. Maggie retreated to her side of the bench seat. God had given her a dream and she wouldn’t let Him down.

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