Train Through Time Series Boxed Set Books 1-3

by Bess McBride

  “And her brother?” Dani held her breath, her pulse pounding in her ears.

  “I’m not sure. You should probably talk to my brother, Edward. He’s the family historian. He lives about a mile away in the Chamberlain House. Have you heard of that house?”

  Dani nodded silently. Everything was falling into place. Everyone she loved had existed. They had lived, and they had died, but their legacies lived on. She recognized the green eyes now.

  “Are you both descended from Robert Chamberlain?”

  “So you know about him too? Yes, Susan Sadler Richardson had several children and her son, my father, married one of Robert and Ellie Chamberlain’s daughters. So, that’s why we own both of the houses. I’m not sure where the original owner, Stephen Sadler, went or why Susan got the house, but...” Mrs. Sutton eyed her curiously. “You sure seem to know a lot about this family. Are you related to us in some way? We have cousins all over, I think.”

  “I don’t think so,” Dani said quietly. No, she wasn’t related. She hadn’t married Stephen, hadn’t borne his children. She worried at the vague reference in Mrs. Sutton’s voice to Stephen’s whereabouts. He had married, hadn’t he? Oh, please say that he hadn’t waited for her forever.

  “Well, listen, my brother printed out this big family outline from some kind of computer program he has about genealogy, and he gave it to me. Would you like to look at it?”

  Dani fervently nodded, her eyes wide, her throat dry.

  “It’s just over here.” Mrs. Sutton crossed the room to open the bottom drawer of a modern desk. She pulled out a manila folder and brought it to the coffee table. Dani jumped up and relocated the tea tray to another table.

  Mrs. Sutton opened the folder and leafed through it. A plastic baggie filled with some old water-stained envelopes fell out, and she set the packet aside. She spread out the outline which appeared to be on several pieces of paper.

  “Let’s see. Here I am, and Edward.”

  “Edward Richardson?” Where had Dani heard that name? The man on the train? The old gentleman on the train? She turned to look at Mrs. Sutton again. The green eyes were the same. And he had invited her to visit his house on Queen Anne Hill—Robert and Ellie’s house. Ellie would be so tickled to know Dani had met her grandson, that she had descendants. Dani was pleased to know that Ellie’s pregnancy apparently went well.

  Dani suddenly froze with a horrifying thought. She couldn’t possibly look at the family history. It would show when people died...when Stephen died, or Ellie, or Susan. She couldn’t bear to know when they died.

  “Here! Here’s my grandmother, and her brother.”

  Dani balked. She couldn’t look at it.

  “I think it’s so sad to see the sum of peoples’ lives on a piece of paper, don’t you?” Dani said. “I’m so sorry I had you drag that out, but I think I would get depressed looking at the family history and knowing when people died.”

  Mrs. Sutton paused and looked at her. “Well, yes, I can see your point. Are you sure you’re not related to the family? You look kind of familiar, but I can’t think why.”

  “No, no relation,” Dani said. She kept her eyes averted from the family history outline and focused on the baggy. “So, are those family letters?”

  “Well, they’re kind of interesting. They’re letters that were discovered at both the Chamberlain house hidden inside a crevice in the brick steps, and at this house in one of the books in the library—an old history of Seattle. They were found a long, long time ago by my parents. My brother gave them to me to read not too long ago when he gave me this printed family history. I haven’t read them yet, but he says they’re from my grandmother Richardson, great-uncle Sadler, and grandmother Chamberlain. They’re all addressed to some woman named Danielle Douglas.” As soon as Mrs. Sutton had uttered the words, her eyes widened and she snatched the bag and opened it up. She pulled out the letters gingerly and laid them out face up on top of the family history sheets. On the outside of the envelopes was written Miss Danielle Douglas.

  She turned to Dani with a stunned expression. Dani stared at the letters, her heart bursting with a complex combination of joy and grief.

  “Is that you?” Mrs. Sutton shook her head. “Or I mean, is that an ancestor of yours?” She held one of the letters out.

  Dani nodded. She could do nothing else. She couldn’t tell Mrs. Sutton that the letters were addressed to her...in the hopes that she would find them when she returned to her own time.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I had an ancestor named Danielle Douglas, a namesake, who knew the family back at the turn of the century. May I read them?” She reached for them with a shaking hand.

  “I knew it! I’m certain we’re related in some way!” the older woman said with glee. “Yes, here, read them. I’m just going to go call Edward and tell him.”

  Dani opened the first envelope gingerly. Faded and fragile with age, she pulled the letter out and read the thin sheet.

  Dear Dani,

  We miss you so much! Stephen is miserable without you. I know you had to go but please think about coming back when you can. I hope your mother is well.

  Love, Susan

  Tears streamed down Dani’s face, and she kissed the sheet. A second envelope, this one not water stained, in the same handwriting held the same message. Mrs. Sutton had said they left letters at both homes.

  She opened a third envelope, the handwriting different, more modern.

  Hey, there!

  If you’re reading this, then you made it back. I wished we could have spent more time together while you were here. I can’t tell you what a relief it was to have someone from the future here. No pressure, but if you decide you don’t want to stay there, you’re always welcome back here. You know, of course, that Stephen misses you. But if you decide to stay there, say hi to my grandkids for me. Just goes to show I got through the lack of anesthesia pretty well. I’m pretty sure I met my grandson, Edward, on the train before I traveled. Spitting image of Robert, or at least what Robert will look like when he’s older.

  Ellie

  Dani kissed the sheet as well. She missed Ellie terribly, and she longed to tell her how well she’d done in creating descendents. Ellie had only written one note, if the handwriting was anything to go by.

  Dani’s heart was in her throat as she opened the first of the final two letters. The handwriting bore a distinctive flare.

  My love

  You have been gone less than a day, and yet I miss you more than I can say. I am sure you know that it took all of my strength for me to make the decision to return to my own time...and to leave you. I believe I know what it cost you to let go of me at the last moment. Your plan succeeded, and here I am, safe and sound in my own time, and missing you dreadfully, so much so I feel I can hardly breathe.

  You must know that I longed to beg you to come back with me, but I could not. It would have been wrong of me to add to your burden. I hope that by the time you read this letter, if you find it, your mother’s health will have improved.

  I love you, Danielle Douglas, now and forever. My love for you will never die, not even with the passage of a hundred years. I believe I was meant to meet you, to fall in love with you, and to love you for the rest of my life...and the rest of yours.

  I do not say this to add to your grief but to let you know that there will be no descendents from me. Do not look for them. I will not marry, Dani. I cannot imagine loving anyone as much as I do you.

  I must end the note, dearest, as Susan is impatiently waiting for us to deliver our notes about the city, and I must write a few more in the hopes you will find them someday.

  I will love you forever,

  Stephen

  Tears poured down Dani’s face, and she reached for the other note blindly. The note was identical if a little more water-stained than the first.

  Mrs. Sutton returned.

  “My brother wasn’t home, so I left a message for him.” She stopped short. “Oh, my dear, wha
t’s wrong? Is it the letters?”

  Dani nodded and reached for the tissue Mrs. Sutton proffered. “Love letters? From my ancestor to your ancestor, I think?”

  Dani nodded again silently. Mrs. Sutton picked the letters up, and began to read them. Dani squirmed at the thought of a stranger reading Stephen’s letter to her, but there was nothing she could do.

  He had said he wouldn’t marry. The knowledge tore at her heart, and she couldn’t bear the pain. She couldn’t do that to him! Dani suspected that Stephen had meant it when he wrote the note, but hopefully time would have softened his stance. She had to know!

  “Mrs. Sutton?” Dani hesitated, wanting to know, yet afraid she would find out more than she needed to, including the date of his death.

  “Yes? Oh, my, these letters are so sad. It seems your ancestor, Danielle Douglas, left? Do you know anything about that?”

  Dani shook her head. “No, not really.” She hated lying to the kind woman, Susan’s granddaughter, but she could hardly tell her the truth.

  “I was wondering,” Dani started again, “does your family history outline tell you if Stephen Sadler was married?”

  “Well, let me see.” Mrs. Sutton picked up a sheet and scanned it then she picked up another.

  Dani felt faint from holding her breath as the older woman scanned each sheet.

  “Don’t tell me the date of his death,” Dani said. Mrs. Sutton looked up in surprise. “Oh, I’m just sentimental that way, hate to know when people die.”

  “Yes, of course. I feel the same way.” Mrs. Sutton found the sheet she was looking for. “Here it is. Yes, he did marry, and had children.” She offered the sheet to Dani, but Dani put out a hand to stop her at the same time she let out a deep sigh. So, Stephen had married after all. That was the way it should be.

  Mrs. Sutton perused the sheet once again and let out a chuckle. “Do you want to know who he married?”

  Dani shook her head fervently. “No, no, I don’t!”

  “It’s your ancestor, Danielle Douglas! The one who left!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Stephen awakened, focusing his eyes on the red velvet of the seat back. He had dreamed Dani had returned to him. Her mother had survived her illness, and Dani had made the decision to come back. Though the time traveling seemed dangerous at best, she had successfully traveled in time twice and he had once. It was possible they could do it again!

  He straightened in the chair, the book on the table catching his eyes. He opened it as he had done some many times over the past two days to assure himself that the letters were still tucked inside, the tips of them peeking out over the top. He would have to let Susan know the notes were here so that she could watch out for the book. He surveyed the library once again. He would leave the house to Susan, and she could take ownership once she married.

  Early dawn light filtered in through the velvet curtains. He checked his watch. Five o’clock. Restlessly, he stood and paced the room, feeling a bit like a caged lion. Inactivity wore at him. He needed to do something, anything to resolve his grief. He could not make Dani return, but surely there must be something he could do to come to terms with his loss. Wallowing in self-pity had its place, but that might come later. Had he done absolutely everything he could do to resolve the chasm between himself and Dani?

  He thought of Dani probably now at home again in Whitefish, Montana, at least in her time. And the nearby park with its majestic peaks. Susan would enjoy such a sight. Susan, who needed fresh air.

  He strode from the room and ran up the stairs to tap on Susan’s door.

  “Susan, dearest, wake up!”

  “Enter,” Susan said sleepily.

  Stephen burst into her room and crossed the room to her wardrobe. He opened the doors, reached in for a portmanteau and grabbed a few of her dresses.

  “What on earth are you doing, Stephen? Are we going somewhere?” Susan rubbed her eyes and raised herself on one elbow to watch him.

  “Yes, we are going to visit Montana. You will like it there.”

  “Montana! Where Dani is from?” She sat bolt upright.

  He turned and smiled. “Where Dani is from. The doctor said you must have fresh air, and so you shall. So will I.”

  An hour later saw them at the train station purchasing tickets to Montana.

  “Good gravy, man, you are not heading out on another train trip again so soon? Where did you and Mrs. Sadler disappear to the other day? Did you return to your compartment? I looked up and you were gone.”

  Stephen turned to see Rory O’Rourke standing behind them, tickets in his hand. Rory nodded to Susan. Stephen’s question was answered. Rory had not seen them disappear as he put it. Their secret was safe.

  “I should ask you the same thing, Rory. What takes you on another journey so quickly?”

  “Business interests in Spokane, Stephen. Business interests.” He patted Stephen on the shoulder. “And where is Mrs. Sadler?” The tentative manner of his question reminded Stephen of his behavior on the two days prior.

  “She is visiting her mother. We go to join her.” Stephen ignored Susan’s quick intake of breath.

  “Excellent!” Rory murmured. “It is time to board, so I shall see you on the train?” He reached out a hand to Stephen, who took it in his own. He was no longer angry with Rory but still held reservations about his old friend. Rory flirted as easily as other men breathed, but that was no excuse for his behavior toward another man’s wife—even if they hadn’t really been married.

  “On the train,” Stephen murmured. Rory moved away.

  Stephen took the tickets and his sister’s arm and climbed aboard the observation car of the train.

  “Stephen, are you trying to travel forward in time?” Susan whispered as they seated themselves on a bench. She cast a furtive glance around her shoulder.

  Stephen patted her hand. “No, dear, we cannot travel in time without Dani. She and Ellie are the only ones we know about who have traveled in time. I managed to travel because I was with Dani.”

  “Oh!” Her face deflated. “I had thought...”

  “That we might travel to the future to see Dani?” Stephen’s heart leapt at the thought. “If only we could, Susan. If only we could.”

  “How long is the trip to Montana?”

  “We should reach Kalispell in about twenty-four hours, which is why I negotiated heavily with the ticket agent to procure you a sleeping compartment.”

  “Oh! Such a long time,” Susan said. “I think travel must be much faster in Dani’s time.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Would you care for some tea, Sir? Miss?” The steward awaited their order. Stephen ordered tea, feeling as if he were in a strange dream of repeating everything all over again.

  Rory entered the observation car, and with a wave in their direction, seated himself in the library with the newspaper, further cementing Stephen’s impression of déjà vu. Rory had done the very same thing in just the same pose that last time he saw him.

  Susan pulled a book from her purse and settled in to read. At liberty to devote himself to thoughts of his past trips with Dani, Stephen relaxed into his seat and surveyed the passing scenery as he awaited the train’s approach to Wenatchee. He fully expected nothing to happen other than the train would continue on toward Kalispell with Susan and him on board, but one could always hope.

  ****

  “Wenatchee, ten minutes,” the conductor announced. Stephen jerked awake. He had been dozing and dreaming. Susan rested next to him, her hat removed, her eyes shut as she too dozed against the back of the bench.

  Wenatchee! His heart thudded in his chest. What if... What if they indeed did travel forward in time? Was it possible? Was Dani really the key to the travel? Could it be love? The longing to be with someone no matter how far distant in time or space one was from their beloved.

  He took Susan’s hand gently in his own, hoping not to awaken her. She would surely wonder what he was about. But if they did slip thr
ough some sort of door to the future, he wanted to ensure that Susan came with him.

  The train rumbled as loudly as his heart did. Rory had disappeared, perhaps to the rear of the car where they offered a barber service. An occasional voice could be heard above the sound of the train as fellow passengers readied themselves to step off the train, either with Wenatchee as a final destination or simply to stretch their legs.

  Stephen had no intention of stepping off the train for any reason, but what he needed to do was go back to sleep. Whether Dani was the catalyst or not was unclear, but sleeping seemed to be an important element. He closed his eyes and willed himself back to sleep, his grasp on Susan’s hand firm.

  Some time later, he opened one eye to the sound of his name being uttered.

  “Stephen! Stephen, wake up!” Susan shook his shoulder. “I think it is time for dinner.”

  Stephen straightened. The dark mahogany paneling of the carriage told him everything. They had not traveled in time. Bleakly, he pulled his watch from his vest. Five o’clock—approximately three hours past Wenatchee. It seemed that time travel was not possible for him alone. He had no way to read Dani without her presence.

  “Stephen! What is wrong? You look so unhappy!”

  “When Dani and I traveled, it was near Wenatchee. I must admit that I hoped...”

  “That we could travel forward to see her? As I did?” Her mouth drooped.

  Stephen nodded. “Even though I told you I did not believe we could, I still hoped.” He gave his head a quick shake and scolded himself for making his sister unhappy. That had not been his intent.

  ****

  They arrived in Kalispell in the late afternoon of the following day. Stephen had spent a restless night in the sleeping compartment, superstitiously concerned about his absence from the observation lounge, but one could not simply overnight in the lounge...at least not in his time. He felt closer to Dani in the observation carriage than in any other part of the train.