TWO YEARS LATER- DECEMBER 1877
Anne waited eagerly at Running Creek's train station. It was Friday, and that was her favorite day of the week. Friday meant that Emma came home from Denver! Although it had been over two years since she had first started the weekly routine, it was always exciting to see her twin again, after a long, long week. Anne hated being alone.
The train pulled up to the station, thick steam flowing behind it in smooth, gray, billowing clouds. It was truly a magnificent sight to see, the huge black steam engine.
There was a loud, shrill shriek as the wheels screeched into the station. Anne searched the opaque windows for her sister, but Emma's telltale red hair was nowhere to be found.
Within moments a half dozen passengers had gotten off the train, but Emma wasn't there- no red braids, no freckled face, no cheerful smile. Somehow, Emma had gone!
There's still hope, thought Anne, inclining her head toward the doors. Then she stopped as the conductor's shrill whistle blew, and the doors slammed shut with a loud, metallic squeak in the cold December air. Isn't there?
The chugging noise and loud whistle confirmed her fears. "But-" she whispered. A hand tapped her shoulder.
"Looking for someone, miss?" It was a young man, with his dark hair falling over his sparkling brown eyes.
"Emma's not here, John," she sighed. John knitted his eyebrows together.
"Is it possible you have the wrong train?"
She shot him an are- you- really- serious? look. "There's only one train that comes around on Fridays," she said. "You know that as well as I do."
He took her hand, but she swatted him away. "Just trying to make you feel better," he said.
"I appreciate it, but that doesn't work on me." He nodded, and, as they walked away, he tried to take her hand again. "Would you stop that?" She didn't push him away this time, but her face colored slightly at his touch.
"No," he stated simply.
"You're impossible."
"Thank you, Anne." He smiled at her frustration, and then seemed to notice that she wasn't kidding. She finally pulled her hand from his.
"I still don't know where she could have gone." Anne was almost in tears, and she rubbed her hands together against the breeze. Snow was starting to fall. "Emma always comes home on Fridays! What's wrong with her?" She was angry- no, furious- with her sister for leaving her alone. She'd been doing all of the work, seeing as Maria always seemed to mysteriously disappear when Anne went looking for her, Elizabeth was always studying, and Jane was worried that doing work would soil her dress, or damage her hair. It was infuriating.
"I'm sure she meant no ill," he said gently.
She walked over the frosted ground. "I'm sure she didn't, but a letter would have been nice, don't you think?" She kicked a stray pebble. "Well, here's to another week of relentless chores." She walked off towards the house. John knew it'd be useless to stop her.
*****
Emma approached the bustling train station. Trains came in from everywhere- especially on Fridays. With one glance, she could see a train from New York, from Kansas City, from Los Angeles, even one from Montreal. It was getting later- six minutes to two o'clock. The train to Running Creek left at two o'clock sharp- it had for over two years, after all.
Although she'd been to this station more than a hundred times, Emma suddenly felt lost. It had been a long, long day- old Mrs. Remigrant was sick, the other maid, Melissa, was home for some family business she hadn't cared to disclose. Emma had woken an hour earlier than usual, but still she had not finished her work. She looked around frantically, but nothing looked familiar, and she rushed to the next train over, thinking it might be the right one- but it was heading for Oregon. She sighed, getting more panicked by the second. She looked for a while longer before a faint cry reached her ears.
"Run-ning Cre-eek! All-l aboar-d!"
"Wait!" screamed Emma uselessly, but it would be a wonder if anyone heard her. She picked up her valise and ran as fast as she could towards the train. It had been right in front of her! How on earth had she missed it?
Ladies' shoes had clearly not been designed for running. They hindered her stride with the heel and the buttons that grasped tightly to your feet, and she twisted her ankle. Wincing, she tried to run again, grimacing with every step, but she was too late. The black train was disappearing in a cloud of steam. Only a few people still stood on the platform.
"I missed it," she said in wonder at herself. How could I be so stupid? I'm a failure.
"Can I help you?" It was a young woman, with a long, thick braid the color of coal. Her eyes, though wide- set and beetle- black, shone brightly with kindness.
"Thank you, but I don't think there's anything you can do." Emma smiled sadly at the girl.
The girl nodded, then cast one more, almost simpering look at Emma before she walked away. Drawing a deep breath, Emma put on her bravest smile and walked out of the station, her bag clutched in one hand, trying not to wince at her ankle.
*****
The Galway docks were busy that day, though they were still no more crowded than the streets on any given day. Besides, the docks were always bustling.
Anne watched the people from her bedroom window. Six o'clock in the morning, barely light, and already the people bustled. Nothing could distract them from their errands, but it seemed mindless- how they moved around the markets and the bay, haggling over prices and seeing what they could get for a half- pound. People ran through St. Augustine Street, too. Eager to both get to their jobs and to the markets, the cobbled street was full.
One boy went through the streets with everyone else. He seemed completely normal from the other people, just an ordinary boy with nothing special about him. But to Anne, he was one of the most special people on Earth.
She smiled at the sight of him, and ran from the room to get her shoes. No sooner than she had laced them on did he knock on the door. He was about nine, a year older than she was, and they were the best of friends. "Hi, Charles," she said, opening the door. They smiled, going outside to soak up as much sunlight as they could.
Hi!
Sorry this took so long. I hope it was worth it.
Some new characters! Also, things are gonna be fun now that Anne's nearly sixteen. Oh, boy, are things gonna be fun.
Until next time, then. Remember the votes and comment!
~Megan