Train Song: A Novel of Suspense by Jo Allison

Author:Jo Allison [Allison, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998940809
Publisher: Old Underwood Publishing Company

He hurries off the train, noting that there are at least a dozen parties detraining. The station’s only two stories but goes on a long way down the track. Even the inside is whitewashed. A Harvey House restaurant carries out the western theme, and Terence figures he could have enjoyed that for an hour or so if the train had arrived on time. Several parties of people, including some women traveling with husbands, are met by a hotel wagon that says “Grand Canyon Tours,” raising the question of who’d go see a canyon, even this one he’s heard of, in the snow. But when he glances outside, the snow seems to have stopped. The occasional flakes could be blowing off the roof of the train shed.

Terence rushes to a desk to ask about the eastbound California Limited. The ticket agent looks surprised, noting perhaps that Terence has just gotten off a train that runs on the adjoining track. But he politely says, “Yes, sir. One drawing room headed to Kansas City. That train should be arriving within the half hour. Engineer will be able to make up time, get you to Kansas City on schedule, sir.”

Terence’s sigh of relief makes the man smile as he accepts the chief’s money. Terence is keeping it in a special wallet, so he can pay back what he doesn’t spend. He’s figured out what it means that the Santa Fe charges double for a drawing room car for one person, and he might have done with the much cheaper compartment that made into a bed and kept the difference. But he feels so much more secure behind a door than behind a curtain.

He makes his way slowly to a bench. He can feel the weight of the Colt he’s now carrying on his person. He feels the more subtle weight of his knife. He sits back and watches the platform, and his trembling slowly stops. He begins thinking ahead, now that affairs are back on schedule: he’ll settle in his room, try to freshen up some, maybe change into a shirt not terribly wrinkled, and go to breakfast. Mac and Julia will have to make their way to the dining car eventually.

The eastbound train arrives, and several more groups of folks get off. The conductor hurries Terence onto a car just behind the diner—where lights are on as someone starts the morning’s preparations. Terence is ready to pull himself and his bag up the steps, waiting for the man and woman in front of him to negotiate them. He looks down the long train, wondering where the McConnells sleep.

And sees the little man. He has a suitcase bigger than Terence’s bag and is trying to heft it with both hands. A porter steps up to help him on the train. A good number of cars down.

Holy Mother. Why would anyone—except himself—turn around and head back the way they came? Maybe it hasn’t been idle speculation. Maybe the little man is looking to meet the McConnells himself.

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