ONE

The train chugged along as she stared out the window, straightening her bonnet; it had been a very long and boring ride. She fidgeted with her dress, and then her hair, Shuffled her feet. The passenger next to her raised her eyes from the newspaper she had been trying to read. She noticed her now. She had been watching out for her since she boarded the train. Unbeknownst to the young lady. She noticed how small framed she was. Her wild blond hair was curling in and around her face. Her rather bisque complexion and large crystal blue eyes made her look like china doll that they have in the store front windows.

The woman leaned back in her seat now. The train pitched and tossed and she fought to keep herself in her seat. The purple slim cut dress with its black velvet trim on the collar and cuffs. Her poise. The woman shook her head. They had not spoken through the whole ride. Now the young woman turned to her. Giving her a stare that both took her back and amused her at the same time. She was not the only one watching this young lady. There were others that had been watching her too.

There was a young man that had been staring at her practically the whole time. The older woman had noticed him. She wondered if the young lady had noticed as well. She made up her mind that she would ask her at the next stop. The young woman finally turned to her. “You are staring at me, is there something wrong?” she asked in her deep southern accent.

“No,” the woman answered.

“I just could not help think that you looked scared. Is there something I can help you with?” she asked. The young woman stared for a moment, then put her hand out.

“My name is Hannah, I am sorry for not having introduced myself to you before now.” Her expression was soft and her heavy eyelashes fluttered.

“Hello, my name is Ginger,” the woman answered, with a soft smile that told Hannah that she could feel safe. Hannah went back to shuffling her feet again. “I have a hard time staying in one place. I think I get that from my Father.” She smiled and turned her attention back to the window.

“We will be stopping soon, and then you can walk around a bit, will that make you feel better?” Ginger asked.

“Oh yes, I am used to having to walk a lot. I am a teacher in New York. The children keep me on my feet,” she laughed. Her laugh was light and the young man in the back smiled despite himself. He had been hanging on her every word. He had made up his mind that he would approach her at the next stop. He needed to see her. She had kept him captivated so far. How beautiful she was, he thought to himself. The way she spoke even made him shiver. The train pitched again and he almost lost his footing. Shaking his head, he chuckled to himself. I had better keep my wits about me. The sound of the engine roared as they settled back in their seats. She almost convinced herself to take a nap. But then she couldn’t. She was much too restless. She couldn’t wait until the train stopped. She sighed and let herself relax back into the seat. Her mind drifted to where she was going. For the first time in three years, she was going home. How she had missed her mother and father. She thought about them now. She had gotten a letter from her father saying he needed her to come home for her Grandmother’s funeral. She dreaded going home for that. She had been very close to her Grandmother when she was home. Now that she had grown up, she felt guilty that she had not spent more time with her. She had let her life become too busy to write her very much.

With the thoughts in her head, she felt her face redden. Taking her kerchief from her pocket, she wiped her neck and face. He watched her more closely now. She shook her head as if to try to get rid of what ever she had been thinking about. The train slowed and the conductor announced that they would be stopping in a few minutes. She felt relieved, and twisted in her seat. Once the train stopped she could barely contain herself. She was up to her feet in a flash. Ginger stood to let her out. She strode to the front of the train, unaware that the young man had jumped to his feet and followed her. When she reached the platform, she stopped and took her bonnet off. The wind blew her hair around. He followed her to the hotel. She walked to the counter with grace and pose. The man behind the counter looked up from his paperwork and smiled at her. He handed her the key to her room and kept smiling at her. Her hand brushed his and his face reddened. She picked up her bag and walked to the stairs. She didn’t notice the him trying to keep up with her. He snatched the key from the man and ran after her. The man behind the counter smiled and went back to doing his paperwork.

She let herself in her room, sat on the bed and removed her clip in her hair. It fell in large curls down her back. She stood and looked out the window. Smiled and thought about being there alone. The thought of it excited her. She had been out on her own for the past three years, but her other grandmother had kept an eye on her. Along with her brother. Now, she was free. She opened her bag, and pulled out a clean dress. She changed and decided to go find somewhere to eat. She came out of her room as he came out of his. He smiled at her. She smiled back and proceeded to walk away.

He knew that it was now or never. If he didn’t catch her attention now, he never would. He quickly smiled at her.

“My name is Brady.” He smiled, and put out his hand. She looked at him and smiled.

“Hannah,” she answered. The mere touch of his hand in hers made her mind reel. He was ruggedly handsome. She had not seen a man like him before. The men in New York were cultured and dressed in suits. They wore their hair slicked back and parted in the middle. Till now she had not even thought about starting a relationship with a man. She hadn’t made time in her life to do so. She came to her senses still holding his hand. His large smile told her that he didn’t mind. He asked her if he could join her for dinner. She blushed and told him yes. He walked with her down the stairs. With her so close to him now, he could barely keep his composure. They sat in the dining room of the hotel. He pulled her chair out for her and then sat opposite her. Brady talked to her about where he was from and the reason he was traveling. She smiled at him and thought to herself. How rugged he looks were. How big he was. His hands dwarfed her own. His smile was enough to make her quiver. She smiled now, not because of what he was saying, but because she was thinking about taking him to bed. This was wicked she thought. She had not been with a man ever in her life. Until now, she had not even allowed herself to have these feelings. She had lived up to her fathers vision of her. The good girl. The pretty little girl. Well, she thought. I am out here by myself, and why shouldn’t I. Then her thoughts went to her father. She lowered her head. What would he think of her if he knew what she was thinking. Brady looked at her from across the table. He could see she was uneasy.

(Continued...)