The Letter (Carter Sisters Series Book 4)

by Morgan Dawson

  “Oh no. You’re not getting away from my teasing. I will get Hazel to write some of my annoying messages in her letters.”

  I smile. “I can hardly wait.”

  I walk quietly by my family as we make our way around the crowds of people. It’s very loud in here. There are people shouting, children crying, and endless amounts of chatter.

  We sit down on a bench, and Pa hands me my ticket. “Put this in your bag you take on the train. They will ask you for it when you get on.”

  “Okay. How do I know where to sit?” I practically yell to get my voice heard.

  “The conductor will show you.”

  “You’ll be fine, Lydia. You might even like it.” Genevieve smiles.

  We sit there for a while visiting, and I tell them I’ll write to them as soon as I can.

  Pa looks up at the clock. “You should probably start getting on the train now, dear.”

  I nod, standing up, my bag still tightly clutched in my hands.

  Bradley smiles, and pulls me into a hug. “Have fun on your trip, Lydia. I’ll take your big bag to the baggage car. When you get there, follow the other people in your car until you get to where your bag will be.”

  I nod, and he begins walking away. I watch after him, but soon lose him in the crowd of people. Next, I hug Douglas. Then Freida.

  Genevieve gives me a hug next. “See you soon.”

  I hug Pa, and he doesn’t say anything. I look up into his eyes and tears glisten in them. “I’ll be all right, Pa.”

  “I know you will, Lydia. I know.”

  Tears roll down my face again as I pull away, and Hazel runs into my arms sobbing. “I didn’t think the time would actually come.”

  “Me neither,” I reply feeling tears running down my face.

  I eventually pull myself away and look at my distraught sister. Her eyes are puffy and red, and I imagine mine are the same.

  “All aboard, all aboard,” the conductor calls out.

  I wave at my family before setting off in the direction of my carriage. A hand grabs my arm, and I let out a cry, pulling it free and turning back to see Joel.

  “What?” I ask.

  “You’re going the wrong way. The car you need is the one up there. Where the man with the big top hat is.” He smirks.

  I smile. “Oh. Thank you.”

  I once again gather my courage and with my family trailing behind me, I make my way to the carriage.

  The right way this time.

  Chapter 6

  I look up at the big, black train in front of me. It’s amazing, yet terrifying at the same time.

  “Miss? Are you wanting in this car?” A man’s voice disrupts me from my thoughts.

  “Uh…I think so.”

  The man smiles. He looks to be a little younger than my pa. “Here. Let me see your ticket.”

  I pull it out of my bag and hand it to him, my hands shaking.

  “Yes. This is the right one. Give this ticket to the person inside wearing the same outfit as me. He’s another conductor. Have a safe journey.”

  “Thank you.” I smile, taking my ticket from him as he helps me climb up the steps into the train carriage.

  Another conductor greets me. “Ticket, please.”

  I hand it to him, and he mutters to himself before marking something on it and punching a hole in the ticket with a metal clipper. He begins walking down the carriage, and I assume I’m meant to follow him.

  He stops and motions for me to climb into the seat. “The window seat. Have a good ride.”

  With that he walks away quickly the way he came.

  I hesitantly sit down on the seat next to the window and look out. It’s rather high up here, but I’m soon able to locate my family. They’re looking up at the windows, and I wave, hoping they’ll see me. A few seats in front of me, a young man slides the window open and waves his handkerchief out. I realize as a few people wave up at him, this must get their attention.

  So, fingers trembling I manage to also slide the small top window beside me open, and I too, wave my handkerchief out. Hazel’s face lights up as she points to me. Soon they’re all waving at me.

  I feel someone sit down in the seat beside me, but I keep waving at my family.

  When the train’s whistle blows, I jump, my eyes widening.

  Joel laughs and smiles up at me. I will miss them so much. We must look rather pathetic, but we don’t leave each other very often, so this is very hard. And there are a few other families on the platform looking equally forlorn.

  I feel my stomach churn when the train begins to squeal as it lurches and begins to roll forward slowly. I figure if I get up quickly enough, I could jump out of the train without hurting myself too much. I sigh, looking back at my family who are still waving at me, and giving me the reassurance to not run out of the train.

  It picks up speed, slowly at first, until eventually it’s pulled away and I can’t see my family anymore. I know they are likely still watching the train leave.

  Another tear runs down my cheek, but I quickly wipe it away.

  “You ever been on one of these before?” A girl’s voice beside me makes me turn to face her.

  She has long red hair, and her nose has freckles speckled across it. Her eyes are a dark brown and she looks equally as terrified as I am.

  “No. This is my first.” I clear my throat.

  “Same. My name is Abigale.” She smiles faintly.

  I smile back and realize I must look odd. I remember this is the part I tell her my name. I’m so used to Hazel doing it for me. “Oh, I’m Lydia.”

  “Nice to meet you. Are you going to Northwood too?”

  “Yes I am.”

  She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m going there to care for my sick aunt.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear she’s sick.”

  “Yes well, I’ve never even met her before. My father insisted that I go to help her. Why are you going to Northwood?”

  I smile. “It’s a little odd actually. My ma passed away about five years ago and she left me a letter for when I turned eighteen. She used to live in Northwood and wanted me to visit and complete certain things in the letter.”

  “That’s sounds like so much fun. I’d rather do that then look after a sick old woman.”

  I chuckle a little.

  I don’t know how I’m doing this. Having a conversation with a stranger. But somehow, maybe it’s my nerves, I find it easy to talk with Abigale.

  I feel relieved she ended up sitting beside me. We’re close in age, and I was worried a grumpy, old man would sit next to me.

  We chat for a while and eventually I pull out my weaving.

  “What’s that?” she asks.

  “I’m weaving a small wall decoration.”

  She looks down at it and smiles. “It looks so lovely. I can’t do anything like that. Not even sew.”

  “My ma taught me and my sisters when we were young.”

  She laughs. “My ma tried but I could never seem to get it.”

  “I’m sure you could learn it if you put some extra time into it.”

  Abigale smiles, her dark brown eyes moving to the bag in her lap. She pulls out a book and gives me a small smile before opening it.

  After a few seconds of not being distracted by conversation, I remember I’m sitting on a train. A train that is going much faster than I believe it ought to be going. And one that could go off the rails at any minute.

  I take a deep breath before turning my head to look out the window. The world seems to be flying past me. The sky is blue, and the sun is now high in the sky.

  I think of my family who are likely in the wagon on their way back home. I wonder how they’re doing, especially Hazel.

  Taking a quick note of the feeling of the train’s vibration, I look back to my weaving. I must distract myself in order to forget about the possible death I am awaiting.

  I hope this is my over imaginative mind at work again.

 
Chapter 7

  As the hours go by, I become a little more relaxed. Though not completely. I know at any minute things could go wrong, but so far, I’m still here. I’ve been on and off visiting with Abigale, working on my weaving, and I’m now about twenty pages into the book Genevieve let me bring with me.

  I set the book down on my lap now, though, my eyes beginning to feel sore. I look out the window, noticing how the sky has clouded over quite a bit. It doesn’t look like rain clouds, though.

  “Look.” Abigale taps my shoulder and points to a train worker at the front of the train car.

  He’s got a thick moustache and dark brown hair. “Attention, passengers. It’s now currently six o’clock. We will be pulling into a station soon where a Harvey House is. Here you will be able to take of refreshments in their dining room. The meals are varied and delicious. Please be patient while they serve you your meal. There will be plenty of time to dine and re-board the train.”

  “Well good thing they were thinking of food. I never even thought of that part.” I laugh, my eyes meeting Abigale’s.

  She sets her hand on her stomach. “Hopefully the food tastes good. I haven’t eaten anything since my breakfast.”

  When the train pulls into the station, we follow everyone else and enter the dining room of the restaurant there. It’s quite beautiful, and rather grand, all the waitresses have on long black dresses and rather full white aprons.

  Abigale and I are both quite nervous but we order the roast goose with a dessert afterward of apricot and apple Charlotte. I feel proud of myself, being able to order it on my own. It’s quite an adventure and we’re both impressed with the stunning surroundings, and the meal we’re being provided with.

  I take a bite of my goose and realize just how hungry I actually am. The journey here had been a long and nerve-racking one. And as I eat, I once again think of what my family are doing. Probably riding in the wagon, still on the journey home.

  I close my eyes for a second reminding myself that they’re fine and all I need to think about right now is getting back on the train, then figuring out where to go when I get off the train. With unclear instructions from Ma, I know it may be difficult to find this Anna Harris.

  * * *

  It’s now dark outside the train. The stars are covered by clouds which makes it seem even darker.

  Abigale asked a conductor what time we’re expected to get to Northwood. He told us around noon tomorrow.

  It’s rather scary for me to imagine getting off the train. It’s odd that I was so scared to get on the train before, but now getting off is what scares me. While it undeniably will be a relief to arrive safe, I will be in a completely new place. One with people I don’t know, and one that is much larger than any other town I’ve been to. Is it even classified as a town? All I know is it’s big, and that means I’m going to get lost if I’m not careful.

  And I have no idea what to expect when I arrive. The unexpected is what I fear most.

  I look to Abigale, realizing she’s fallen asleep. Her neck is likely going to be sore in the morning with it angled to the side.

  Many of the passengers are asleep like Abigale, but I’ve been unable to. It’s so hard to even try go to sleep when I know what I’m riding on, and I’m with a whole bunch of people I don’t know. I sigh, resting my elbow on the window ledge, then resting my chin on my hand.

  Looking out the window, it’s hard to see anything with it being so dark.

  I lean my head against the wall of the train and try to shut my eyes. I know tomorrow will be a tiring day, so it would be a good idea for me to try get some sleep.

  I think of my home for a while, and I also think of the letter from Ma. The piece of paper that has put me in this position.

  My eyes feel heavy, and I begin to feel myself almost drifting off, then abruptly waking up again a couple of times. Soon, I feel myself slipping into a world of darkness, the train still rumbling down the tracks.

  Chapter 8

  I wake up to the sound of quiet chatter and the ever so constant rumble of the train going down the tracks.

  Abigale is still sleeping soundly, so I rub my eyes, looking out the window. The sun is just rising over the horizon and the sky is a beautiful shade of pink and orange. We’re still traveling farther and farther away from home, and the thought terrifies me.

  I realize that every minute that goes by, the closer I am to Northwood. This is the farthest I’ve ever journeyed from my familiar home.

  I let out a sigh. Why am I doing this again?

  * * *

  A few hours have gone by since I woke up this morning. Abigale is awake now, and we’ve been visiting for a while.

  “I’m so nervous for when we stop and have to get off.” Her brown eyes sparkle.

  Nodding in agreement, I frown. “Yes. Where are we even supposed to go?”

  “Well I think we have to go find our bags that they stored away in a different car. Then I don’t know about you, but my aunt said she’d send one of her chauffeurs to get me.”

  “Chauffeurs?” I smile, raising an eyebrow.

  She rolls her eyes, giggling. “Yes. Turns out this mystery aunt has a lot more money than I thought. Meanwhile, her brother and his family are practically having to sell our belongings in order to buy enough food.”

  “Northwood is going to be so much different then where I’ve lived before. I mean for one, there are a lot of people with enough wealth to share with ten other people.”

  “Indeed. I’m used to walking around in a town with people I know the names of. Now I likely won’t even know one.”

  I shiver at the thought.

  “What’re you going to do with that when you’re done?”

  I look down to my weaving in my lap, still moving my fingers in the rhythmic pattern. “Well normally I give some to my family. And the rest I put in a box that my pa takes Willowcreek when he goes to sell them. I suppose now, I’m just making it for the sake of making it. To distract me from the fear I’m feeling right now.”

  “Maybe I should try that then. I’m terrified.” Abigale pauses, looking up at me. “When we get there, where are you going to go?”

  I let out a breath. “I haven’t a clue. The letter my ma gave me just said to ask around for someone named Anna Harris.”

  “Well you’ll have your work cut out for you then. I know my aunt’s address. Perhaps I could give you it, so you could write to me when you’re settled. That way I know you found your way?”

  “I’d like that. Maybe we’ll see each other even after we go our separate ways. Even though Northwood is so large, and I doubt we will.”

  She smiles. “You never know, right?”

  “Are we here?” I say, feeling nervous as the train begins to slow.

  “No.” Abigale smiles. “This is the first stop. Some people are getting off here, and I think others are going to get on. Then Northwood.”

  Sure enough, only half of the people stand from their seats and hurry off the train. Soon after, many people board and replace the seats of the people who’d gone off. I’ll admit it feels nice to not be moving right now.

  Too soon, I feel the train begin to squeal as it moves slowly forward again, and hear it picking up speed. And much to my dismay, soon we’re going very fast again.

  I almost feel sick, so I shut my eyes for a minute. This may be a long remainder of the ride to Northwood…

  * * *

  It’s been a couple of hours I’d say since we stopped to let some people off and now, the train is starting to slow, the brakes squealing. I look to Abigale, and she smiles. We’ve made it.

  Once the train stops, we stand from our seats, and I’m sure to grab all my things.

  The others rush off, and I urge Abigale to move quickly and follow them.

  “They know where the bags are. Let’s follow them,” I explain to her.

  She nods, taking the hand of a man standing at the door of the train.

  When she’s on the groun
d, I take the man’s hand as well and carefully step onto the ground.

  I observe my surroundings and nearly want to cry. There are people absolutely everywhere. It’s loud and I hear what I assume is a clock chiming from in the city.

  “Lydia!” Abigale shouts over the noise of the crowd and grabs my arm. “We must follow them!”

  “Right,” I say and we pretty much run after our fellow train passengers along the cobbled path. We’re directly beside the train we were on. People surge past us, some of them brushing their shoulders with mine.

  To my relief, we soon stop in front of a car where a man is holding bags up and people are claiming them.

  We wait until both Abigale and I have our bags, before we begin to look for the way out.

  “Where do we go?” I ask her, struggling to see any clue to where we should head.

  She looks around frantically. “Perhaps we should ask someone? Wait. I think I see the clock tower. Surely that’s where we should head?”

  “All right, let’s go.” I lift my bag up and realize just how heavy it is, but still manage to carry it through the crowds of people.

  We make our way toward the clock tower slowly. I realize as we near it, it’s located on the opposite side of the street. We’ve made it out.

  There are horse-drawn carriages everywhere. Some made of the fanciest materials, with horses dressed in the finest jewels. Others look like the wagon my family has.

  I walk past one carriage where a woman with a massive velvet purple dress steps out. This is what the city is like. So much different to what I know. I’m still following Abigale as we walk down the crowded sidewalk.

  “Do you know who you’re looking for?” I ask, looking toward her.

  She nods, her eyes searching. “She told my father she’d send the man wearing a top hat with purple feathers on the front. And he’d be standing in front of a white carriage with golden features.”

  I look to the carriages near us. Then I see it. It’s a lovely carriage, with intricate golden designs on the white polished carriage. “There.” I point.