Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) (9 page)

A memory from long ago flashed through her head. Holding a lead pencil, a much-younger Maggie drew a picture on a tablet. Mother hovered over her, praising every mark she made.
Why doesn’t she encourage me like that today?
Maggie wasn’t sure she was ready to hear the answer to that question.

Maybe she really didn’t want to know at all.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

Maggie glanced up from her nearly finished drawing. Her mother stood in the archway between the parlor and the foyer. Something had changed since last night. Florence smiled at both of them. Maybe she was no longer angry with Maggie.

“Go ahead to the dining room. I’ll get the men.” Florence headed down the hallway.

Maggie closed her sketch pad and picked up her drawing tools. “I’ll run these up to my room.”

“And I’ll go on into the dining room. Mrs. Jorgensen might need a little help.”

Maggie doubted that. With her granddaughter Ingrid’s help, their housekeeper probably already had everything under control.

When Maggie arrived at the table, the two men stood behind their chairs. Florence was already seated at the opposite end from Daddy, and Georgia sat near her. The only empty seat was next to Daddy and across from Charles. Maggie would enjoy facing him during the meal. Maybe she could find traces of her old friend while she watched him. She headed toward that chair.

Charles beat her to it. “Let me help you.”

She dropped carefully into the chair while he smoothly pushed it just the right distance from the table. He returned to his side of the table, and both men sat down. She thanked him quietly.

Ingrid and her grandmother came in with soup bowls filled with food that filled the room with a delicious aroma. Following Florence’s lead, everyone covered their laps with the white linen napkins.

Daddy waited until everyone was situated. “Let’s return thanks for this wonderful food.” His heartfelt prayer was soon over, and everyone could begin eating.

Conversation flowed smoothly through four wonderful courses—soup, a broiled fish dish, beef Wellington with green peas and mashed potatoes, and a honey applesauce cake. Maggie was hungrier than she had been in a long time, so she enjoyed every morsel.

When Daddy finished, he placed his fork quietly on his crystal dessert plate. “I asked Charles to join us for dinner because we have come up with another brilliant plan.”

Maggie glanced at the man across from her, and his lips tilted into a crooked smile.
So he’s kept a secret from me too.

Daddy took hold of her hand that rested on the table beside her plate. “Maggie, your mother and I decided last night that it’s time for you to visit your grandmother. And since it’s been awhile since Georgia has been home, she’s going to accompany you.”

“Really?” Maggie felt like jumping up and hugging her father. She knew the trip was his idea. How had he ever convinced Florence it was a good thing?

“Yes, really.” Daddy tilted his head down to gaze at her.

“And you’re going, Aunt Georgia? That’s wonderful.” She wanted to laugh out loud and shout it from the rooftops. Finally she would get to do the thing she’d wanted to do for ever so long.

Georgia smiled at her. “I’ve been wanting to visit Mother, so when Joshua and Flo asked me, I jumped at the chance. It’s not really a good thing for a woman to travel alone that far, by train or any other means.”

“It’s hard to believe that I’m going to Arkansas.” Maggie stared out the window at the sky just as a bird soared by. Soon she would be as free as that bird.

Daddy gave her hand a squeeze, drawing her attention back to him. “And I’ve arranged for Charles to go with the two of you as an escort. I’d hate to send women who are precious to me on such a long trip without a man to look out for them. Not everyone in this country is honest. And there are scoundrels who would take advantage of unescorted women. You will be traveling through some parts of the country that aren’t as civilized as it is here in Seattle.”

Maggie shot a glance at Charles then pulled her hand away and clasped both of hers in her lap. “I don’t know what to say. Just how soon will this journey take place?”

Florence cleared her throat. “I told your father we’d be able to get both of you ready in a week, so he’s going to purchase tickets for that Monday. That is, if it’s all right with you.”

For a moment, Maggie couldn’t even think straight. She’d be going to Arkansas in about a week. She let that fact soak in. Then she jumped up and gave her father a hug followed by a hug for her mother. The quick embrace lingered when Florence clasped her close and didn’t let go. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had hugged her like that. She decided to enjoy it while she could. Sometime soon, she would have to ask her parents about the adoption paper she found. But that could wait until after she returned from Arkansas.

And Charles would be going with them. She glanced at him. Maybe they could get to know each other on a deeper level on the trip, since they were both more grown up than they were when they spent so much time together during their school years.

But Charles was watching Georgia, a small smile curving his lips. Maggie felt her heart sink just a little. The handsome Charles evidently had eyes only for her aunt.

Chapter 8

A week later Maggie stood on the platform of the Columbia and Puget Sound railroad depot with her parents and Aunt Georgia. A brisk gust blew her skirt against her legs and almost lifted her hat from her head. She grasped it with one hand and held it down.

Her father had purchased their tickets ahead of time, so when they got to the station, all he had to do was make sure their luggage was loaded. In addition to their carpetbags, which they would keep with them, Maggie and Georgia each had a trunk. These held not only their clothing and essentials but also gifts for Maggie’s grandmother.

Her family had arrived at the depot early, and Maggie wondered if Charles was going to miss the train. Finally, his driver brought him in his open landau. He climbed from the buggy, and his driver handed him a carpetbag and a leather portmanteau.

Maggie gazed across the tracks toward Puget Sound. The weather was just right for traveling. No rain today. Just warm autumn sunshine and a welcome wind blowing across the Sound keeping the air from feeling oppressive. She wondered how long the warm weather would linger. She hoped they would return before winter had an icy grip on Seattle and on the mountains they’d have to cross in the train.

“Are you excited our day of departure is finally here?” Charles stood much closer behind her than she had been aware.

If she turned too quickly, she might bump right into him. She took a deep breath, stepped away, then pivoted. “Yes. Are you?”

One of his sculptured eyebrows lifted. “Certainly, I’m glad to be going.” His gaze slid to her aunt, and he broke away to greet her.

Maggie watched them talk, saw her aunt laugh in response to some comment he made, saw him smile.
Does that man know how devastating his smile is?
She certainly hoped he didn’t. He could be a danger to every unattached woman in sight. She pulled her gaze from Charles and stared across the water.

In the distance, a mournful whistle broke the silence around them. Soon the clackety-clacks of the huge engine pulling the railcars joined with the wail. The train came into sight around a bend as it exited the forest surrounding Seattle, and Maggie’s sense of expectancy grew. Within literal minutes they’d be heading south. The railroad would take them into Oregon before they headed east. And if she remembered correctly, it would take them all the way across the state of Missouri, where they’d change trains and head southwest into Arkansas.

She had heard stories, though not from her parents, about the months it took to come from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon. Those travelers probably marveled that people could now make that journey in less than two weeks. Modern travel was a wonder.

Maggie had never been on the platform when a train came in. As the iron monster approached, the wooden structure vibrated, and she widened her stance to help maintain her balance. Up close, the engine was enormous. Almost scary. What if it jumped the tracks? She stepped back as she watched it pull into the station, accompanied by metal screeching against metal and hissing puffs of steam.

As soon as the train came to a complete stop, the conductor hopped down from the steps on the middle passenger car. “You folks takin’ this train?” He removed his uniform hat and tucked it under his arm.

Father stepped forward. “My daughter, my sister-in-law, and my business partner are.” He indicated each one when he mentioned them. “I’d appreciate it if you’d take good care of them.”

“Sure thing.” The conductor slapped his hat back on his head. “This here’s one of them Pullman cars. They’ll be comfortable in it.”

Father nodded, then he and Charles accompanied the conductor to the end of the train where freight cars were hooked up right in front of the caboose. The three men loaded the two trunks and portmanteau onto one of the baggage cars.

Mother clasped Maggie into a tight embrace. “I’ll miss you, Margaret. I’ve seen you every single day since you were born. You be careful while you’re gone.”

Tears trickled down Maggie’s cheeks. How could her mother have seen her since the day she was born? Did she and her father get her the actual day of her birth? So many questions without answers, but Maggie wasn’t going to ask them until she got back from Arkansas. Maybe by then she’d have the courage to tell them what she had found in the white box nestled in the very bottom of her trunk. Maybe then she could ask all the questions rattling around in her brain.

Still clinging to her, Mother pressed a soft kiss to one of Maggie’s cheeks. How long had it been since she’d felt this connected to her mother?

“Good-bye, Mother.”

Daddy and Charles returned. Daddy wrapped his arms around Maggie and cradled her against his chest. Tears pooled in her eyes, making everything she could see melt together. Then they made their way down her cheeks.

“I love you, Maggie girl.” His voice hitched on the endearing name he’d called her most of her life. “I’ll miss you. Even when I didn’t come home from work until after you were asleep, I came into your room and kissed you goodnight. I can’t do that while you’re gone.” The last words came out as a husky whisper.

When he released her, he pulled a pristine white handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the streaks from her face. “I hope you find what you need while you’re with Agatha. I think she’ll be good for you.”

A sob escaped from Maggie’s throat, and Daddy pressed the large cotton square into her hands. “You need this more than I do.”

She dabbed her eyes, trying to erase the evidence of her weeping. She looked toward the railroad car. Charles stood at the bottom step near the conductor.

Daddy walked with her to where the conductor stood and handed the man the tickets.

Charles offered his hand to help Georgia onto the train. When she stood on the small platform outside the door of the car, he reached toward Maggie. She slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lift her aboard. Soon all three were clustered on the small platform with their punched tickets in their hands.

“Aaalll aboooard!” The conductor’s voice rang out before he swung himself up onto the platform too.

More screeching of metal and hissing of steam accompanied the slow, jerky movement as the magnificent machine chugged forward. Maggie clung to the railing trying to maintain her balance. The train moved faster and faster, accompanied by the incessant clacking as the engine pulled them away from the station, away from her family, and away from her home.

The conductor opened the door and ushered them inside. Maggie walked down the length of the car, keeping pace with her parents as they walked alongside the train as far as they could on the platform. All three waved the whole time. When Maggie could no longer see her parents, she dropped her hand. Why had she insisted on leaving them? Already she missed their comforting presence.

“We can sit here.” Charles stood beside her, indicating two bench seats upholstered in worn red velvet and facing each other.

Georgia moved out of the aisle, then turned back. “Do you want to sit by the window, Maggie, or would you prefer the aisle seat?”

Maggie didn’t remember the trip from Oregon City; all she had seen was Seattle and that one trip to Portland. Now they were going halfway across the vast continent. She didn’t want to miss a single thing on the journey.

“I’d like to sit by the window.” Maggie eased onto the bench with the thin padding. This would probably become uncomfortable before long.

Charles sat across from her. “This is a sleeping car. For the night, this area will be changed into upper and lower sleeping berths.”

He must have known what she was thinking. Then his words sunk in. She glanced around the car. Although it wasn’t full, by any means, there were several people sharing the space. A family with two young children. A scruffy old man and two other men who appeared to be traveling salesmen. Another couple huddled close together, ignoring everyone else.
Quite a motley crew
.

“We’re supposed to sleep with these strangers?” Maggie hoped none of them heard her.

Georgia laughed. “These berths have privacy curtains. You and I can probably share a berth, and Charles can take the other one.”

That’s a relief
. “But where will we change clothes?”

Georgia leaned close and whispered. “There are necessary rooms at the ends of the cars. You can go there to change, or we can just don our bedclothes inside the berth. On previous trips I’ve done it both ways.”

As the train traveled inland, Maggie enjoyed seeing the various landscapes that slid past the windows. Lush grasslands, high mountain peaks, streams, forests, wildlife. Soon the car became stuffy as the sun rose higher in the sky.

“Can we open these windows?” Maggie fanned herself with her hand.

“I’ll do it if you’re sure you want me to.” Charles stood and reached for the latch. “The only thing is, when the windows are open, soot often comes into the car. See the film it’s forming on the outside of the glass?”

Georgia fingered her buttons. “Maybe we could just remove our jackets. We’d be more comfortable that way.”

Maggie was willing to try anything to get some relief. She slipped her arms out of her fitted spencer. The space felt cooler with just her long-sleeve dimity blouse tucked into her suit skirt.

Georgia pulled the picnic basket from under their seat. “Is anyone besides me hungry?”

Charles dropped back onto his bench. “I could do with some food about now. What do we have?”

“Knowing Mrs. Jorgensen, probably enough to feed an army.” Maggie lifted the hinged lid and enticing aromas of roast beef and something spicy permeated the air around them.

She looked up and noticed that the people sitting near them glanced longingly toward the food. She lowered her voice. “We can’t eat in front of these people. I wouldn’t feel right about it.”

Georgia made a quick scan of the car. “There are less than a dozen people, counting us. Maybe some of them have been on the train for quite a while. Do you think we have enough to share?”

Maggie nodded. “But what will we do for food after it’s all gone?”

Charles raked his long fingers through his hair. “The train will have to stop to take on fuel and water. Usually we can buy food where it stops. Besides, some of this will spoil before we can eat all of it.”

“Then let’s divide what we have.” Maggie lifted the tea towel covering the food.

A large mound of sandwiches lay beneath, along with apples and cookies. Plenty to share with everyone, even the conductor if he came through their car. She put the tea towel on the seat beside Georgia and unloaded enough food for the three of them.

“Charles, will you help me distribute this?”

He grinned at her. “At your service, ma’am.” He gave a low bow from the waist.

“Don’t go getting all highfalutin on me.” Maggie moved into the aisle and walked to the end of the car.

Charles followed her, carrying the basket. As they moved back down the aisle, she asked each passenger if he or she would like something to eat. All but one of them accepted the food. Each time she handed a sandwich, an apple, and a cookie to someone, her heart expanded a tiny bit more.

Some of the people appeared to have been traveling a long time. A few wore clothing that was ragged and worn. Maggie treated each person with the same deference, and they thanked her profusely.

Florence had been active in helping the poor in Seattle, but she never let Maggie go with her. This was a completely new experience, one Maggie would never forget. For the first time, she shared what she had and accepted the blessings spoken to her in return.

After they finished their meal, Georgia packed away the remaining food and tucked the tea towel around it.

During the afternoon, Maggie got tired and fell asleep with her head leaning against the window. When she awoke from her nap, her neck had a crick in it, and Georgia gently snored with her chin resting on her chest. She would probably also have a sore neck when she woke up.

Maggie tried to rub the pain out of her neck and shoulder, but it didn’t work. Charles leaned toward her and told her to shift over to sit beside him, so they wouldn’t awaken Georgia. He had her turn with her back to him, and he rubbed until her pain left her. No one had ever done anything like that for her. She turned around to thank him and found his face very close to hers.