The Last Train Home - The Last Train Home Part 29
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The Last Train Home Part 29

"I stink like shit," Lindsay said flatly.

"You smell like a sweaty horse," Ginny corrected with a smile. "And for the life of me I can't figure out why."

"I rode all the way from Talking Rock to Atlanta. I earned every bit of this atrocious stink."

"You what?"Ginny's jaw sagged."But that's at least fifty miles!" They began walking. "And you're afraid of horses."

"You're telling me this?"Lindsay steered them back downstairs towards the wash room that held a large tub. She had no desire to fight with a tiny china wash basin and rag, even if it meant hauling her ass up and down the stairs once more. She was so stiff from riding, and then the manic trek to Troy by train, that she craved a soak in the worst way.

At the bottom of the stairs her steps faltered a bit.

"Lindsay!"Ginny grabbed her and held her as she got her balance. "Hey... careful."

"Uh oh."A wave of exhaustion crashed over her and it took far more effort than it should have to steady herself. "I think I'm running out of steam," she murmured, rubbing her burning eyes.

"Sweetheart, when was the last time you ate or slept?" A beat."And don't lie."

Lindsay sighed and opened her eyes."I ate morning before last. But I threw it up."

"Oh, Lindsay."

"The last time I slept was with you in the barn." Ginny opened her mouth, but Lindsay cut her off."I had to find you. Have mercy on me, all right? I was a little busy getting here."Lindsay's eyes begged her partner to understand and, reluctantly, Ginny did.

Ginny shook her head and wound her arm around Lindsay's, urging her towards the wash room again. This was going to be the quickest bath in the history of man. She hoped that Edith and Trudy wouldn't mind, but she was going to raid the icebox too. Desperate times called for desperate measures. She only hoped that someday she could repay their kindness.

They drained the tub and Ginny filled it with several more buckets of hot water that took far too long to heat. Knowing how much Lindsay enjoyed it, Ginny lathered her hands with a large cake of white soap and washed Lindsay's hair while her friend leaned back and purred like a feline. They talked the entire time, trading kisses and stories until Lindsay had explained that it was Rat Face who'd kept her from making the train. And Ginny had told her of Christian's telegram that had paved the way for them.

"But there's still one thing I don't understand."Lindsay began to shiver and Ginny cursed herself for not remembering to bring anything for her to change into. Their nightshirts were still upstairs in their bag. She grabbed another linen towel, vowing to do a load of laundry for Edith and Trudy in the morning. Her eyebrows pulled together as Lindsay wrapped it around herself. Her ribs were more prominent than when they'd met, and she realized with a start that her request that Lindsay not steal was literally causing her to go hungry.

"As soon as I jumped off the freight train in Troy, I went to the best place in any town for information on just about any subject."

"Umm... you barged in on a gossipy sewing circle?"Ginny tossed Lindsay's clothes in the sink for washing in the morning and retrieved the oil lamp from a nearby table.

Quickly, they scurried out of the washroom and towards the stairs, Lindsay's bare feet chilling quickly on the cold, wooden floors.

The rail-rider's low chuckle made Ginny smile. "I never thought of that. You're probably right, but I wouldn't know where to find one anyway. I headed for the saloon."

Ginny's mouth formed a small 'O'. She would have slapped herself in the forehead, but she was too busy holding the lantern in one hand and Lindsay's hand in the other. "The one near the depot, I take it?"

Lindsay nodded. Taking a deep breath she forced herself up the steps, though she was sorely tempted to curl up on the floor right where she was."Smokey's."

"I guess you heard about what happened this afternoon then."

"Seems a Yankee girl and gravedigger named Milo got into an argument over the boy Milo had gotten from an orphan train recently. Knowing you, I figured if I didn't hightail it over to the cemetery, I was likely to miss whatever unimaginable trouble you were getting yourself into."She couldn't stifle her smug grin. It was about time the shoe was on the other foot. Ginny rolled her eyes and pointed to the first door at the top of the stairs, and she and Lindsay padded directly to the bed, not bothering to stop anywhere else."You got all that information just by asking? It was like pulling teeth for me."

Lindsay slid under the soft quilt and clean sheets, not bothering to get dressed. Her eyes immediately drifted closed as her head sank into a thick, down-filled pillow."Oh, God, this is wonderful. And you shouldn't doubt me, I have a way with people, you know."She coughed weakly. "Uh huh." Ginny stripped out of her clothes and looked longingly at the soft bed that held Lindsay. She worried her lower lip, then padded over to the bedroom door and threw the lock.

"What are you- Yeow!" Lindsay squealed and her eyes popped wide open when two cold feet and a very naked, warm body scooted under the covers and pressed itself against her.

"Shh," Ginny whispered, snuggling as close as skin would allow."You'll wake up Edith and Trudy." "And give them a heart attack if they find us naked in bed together."But Lindsay closed her eyes at the feeling of warm satisfaction being this close to Ginny gave her. There was, she admitted to herself, nothing in the world like it."You're so soft," she whispered absently, her original train of thought derailing.

"Mmm." Ginny smiled and placed a delicate kiss on Lindsay's collarbone."So are you."She rested her head against Lindsay's shoulder and threw her leg over lean hips, effectively pinning her to the bed."So you wheedled the information out of someone at the bar?"

"Not exactly," Lindsay murmured sleepily.

Ginny yawned, the traveling and worrying about her brothers and Jane was catching up with her with a vengeance."What does that mean?"

"I didn't have any money to bribe the bartender, and the big club he kept by the till discouraged me from trying to pound it out of him." She ran her fingers through Ginny's hair, delighting in its smooth texture."So I bought the information the only way I could."

Lindsay sounded so unhappy about what she'd done that Ginny's stomach dropped. Oh, my God. She pushed herself up and stared down at Lindsay."You mean-?"

"That's right." Lindsay nodded sadly, crushed.

Ginny's heart began to pound.

Lindsay's scratchy voice was filled with self-disgust, and she didn't dare open her eyes to see Ginny's reaction."There's some stupid, bastard bartender walking around Troy, Alabama with Lewis' navy blue blanket."

One week later...

Lindsay had been right. By the day after she arrived in Troy there was no hiding that she'd caught a nasty cold. Much to her annoyance, and Ginny's insistence, there would be no traveling until she was well.

But Lindsay was getting better quicker than Ginny had anticipated and, barring a relapse, they would be heading west on the following day's noon train.

For once, good fortune had smiled on them; Edith and Trudy had been more gracious than they could have hoped for. The two sisters had offered them use of their home for as long as they needed it. Lindsay and Ginny and the boys were doted on like long lost, visiting grandchildren.

The women were sitting in the parlor talking, and the boys had just finished their daily, much-hated, mandatory bath and were both tucked into bedsit was only seven o'clock, but the sun had set.

"Now, Ginny," Edith chided gently, "just look at her. Take the poor thing to bed."

Ginny's cheeks began to heat.

Oblivious to the innuendo, Edith plowed ahead."She's worn to the bone." The white-haired woman pointed at Lindsay, whose head was bobbing as she fought to stay awake. A tiny string of drool hung suspended from the corner of her mouth and her eyes were open just a crack.

Ginny's blush deepened and she fought the urge to fan her flaming cheeks. They hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Lindsay had been feeling much better, and for the first time their gentle physical explorations had progressed to a level well beyond what either of them had, somewhat guiltily, admitted to have experimented with alone. The shared feelings, deep touches, and exotic tastes they'd reveled in....Oh, my. Ginny's belly twisted pleasantly just remembering. Unfortunately, her new lover was paying the price for their long night of sensual discovery.

She shook her head."I guess it's bedtime."

Lindsay's head shot up and eagerly she mumbled, "Bedtime?" She looked at Ginny hopefully.

"Time to sleep," Ginny corrected with a faintly elevated eyebrow and just a hint of a smirk.

"Oh."Lindsay scowled.

"Well, good night girls," Trudy told them, pushing herself to her feet.

"Sleep tight," Edith added as she followed her sister out of the room.

"Night," Lindsay and Ginny called in unison.

Ginny stood first and extended her hand to Lindsay. The davenport was so soft that it tended to swallow its occupants, and she groaned as Ginny pulled her to her feet.

"It was a good day today, don't you think?" Ginny asked absently as they headed for the stairs, their hands still entwined.

"I guess."

"The boys really like you."

"Uh huh."Lindsay yawned as they began climbing the tall staircase."I like them, too."

"Lewis asked me if you were going to be staying with us...well, I mean...you know...permanently."The words tumbled out in a nervous rush."Uff!" Ginny yelped when her arm was nearly yanked from its socket. She'd kept walking, waiting for Lindsay's reaction, not knowing that Lindsay's feet had frozen mid-step. "You trying to kill me?"

Lindsay swallowed so loudly that Ginny heard it."What did you tell him?"The expression Lindsay wore wasn't what Ginny expected, and it made her heart clench.

Ginny frowned as she lifted her hand and cupped Lindsay's cheek, feeling her friend lean in heavily to the touch. She hadn't meant to worry her."Actually, I lied my pants off."

Lindsay's eyes widened."Yo-you did?"

"Uh huh," she said solemnly. "I told Lewis that how long you stayed with us would depend on you." Blue eyes twinkled. "But we both know I have no intention of letting you go. So it looks like you're stuck with me until you can escape my clutches and wily ways, Broccoli Bunch." She wriggled her eyebrows, pleased to see a relaxed smile transform Lindsay's face."Careful what you wish for. You might get it."

Lindsay's heart resumed beating, and for a second she was truly speechless.

"Lindsay?" Ginny said worriedly."Hey, was that an answer you can live with?" She searched the other woman's face, hoping that Lindsay understood the deep emotion behind the blithely spoken words.

Lindsay nodded."Yeah," she croaked softly."And I happen to like your clutches." This time it was Lindsay who smirked."And I love your wily ways."

A bubble of embarrassed laughter exploded from Ginny."Oh, Lord."

They were so close to the same height that it seemed odd to be looking up at Ginny, who was standing two steps above her. She leaned forward and laid her head against Ginny's chest as two arms naturally circled her. She sighed against the material of the soft gray dress, feeling the redhead kiss the top of her head.

They stayed that way for a long time till Ginny finally asked Lindsay if she was sure she was in good enough shape to travel the next day.

"I'll be fine. I've had more rest this past week than I have my entire life. I think I've gained ten pounds."

"Mmm... You and me both."

"We needed it."

Ginny nodded and kissed Lindsay's head again."I guess we did."

They finished climbing the stairs and got all the way into their room with Ginny remaining silent, deep in thought.

"You'll find her, Ginny," Lindsay assured softly as she closed and locked their bedroom door. The lamp by the bedside wasn't lit and she left it that way, not needing to see to strip out of her clothes and wearily tug on her warm nightshirt. She heard Ginny's soft sigh and the rustle of clothing next to her as shoes and dress were slipped out of.

"What if we don't find her?"

They crawled into bed and pulled up the sheet, blanket, and quilt that Edith had added to their bed that afternoon. It was going to dip down close to freezing tonight and the elderly woman wasn't taking any chances with Lindsay's precarious health.

Lindsay rolled over on her side and propped her head up with her hand, admiring the gentle sloping of Ginny's nose and the soft planes of her heart-shaped face. "You said that same thing about both your brothers, and they're right down the hall, safe and sound. Maybe it's not about luck. Maybe it's about hard work and not giving up."

Ginny mirrored Lindsay's posture, kissing the fingers that moved to delicately trace her lips."Maybe." She rolled that over in her mind a bit before smiling sadly."We both know that sometimes hard work isn't enough. I worked from dawn to dusk until my fingers bled, plucking chickens in the Lower East Side for half the pay of the man standing next to me. And even with my wages and Alice's and Mama's and Arthur's, we were barely making it in a slum. If hard work was all it took for success, then we'd have been millionaires."

Lindsay didn't have an answer to that. "What makes you think you'll have worse luck with Jane than you did with the boys then? No reason your streak can't hold."

"Uh huh. Streaks never hold. That's why they're called streaks. I know just how lucky I am to have found the boys at all, much less have them here with me now. I keep telling myself that that might have to be enough." She swallowed thickly. "That I'll have to be strong for them when all our luck runs out and try to be thankful for what we have."

"Bullshit."

Ginny blinked.

"Sometimes you think too much." The flash of white teeth removed the sting from what she'd said.

Despite herself, Ginny grinned."You have quite a way with words, Lindsay Killian. You know that?"

"Don't I though?"Her hand moved to the soft, warm skin of Ginny's slender throat. She longed to kiss it, but was afraid once she snuggled that close and closed her eyes she'd pass out from exhaustion before she could do anything else.

As if Ginny had read her mind, she lay back flat on the bed and lifted an arm. "C'mere."

"Nuh uh," Lindsay whispered."You come here."Lindsay lay back and opened her arms in invitation. Ginny scooted forward, gladly melting into the warm, comforting embrace.

Twin sighs of pure contentment sounded in the dark room as two sets of eyelids fluttered shut."Ginny?"

"Mmm?"

"If your luck runs out, you will have to be strong. But just when you think you can't be strong anymore, I'll be there to make up the difference. Together we can be as strong as we need to be." Lindsay felt Ginny's ribs expand as she sucked in a breath. "Does that sound all right?"

The sweetest of kisses was her answer.

Leaving Troy, Alabama, was a bittersweet experience. Both Lindsay and Ginny found themselves liking the homey feel of the Southern town, despite the presence of Milo Porter, who, Trudy had discovered, was claiming the boy had run away from home and he was relieved to be rid of the lad. Folks seemed to know it was a lie, but they let Milo retain what was left of his dignity and didn't push the issue. And for whatever reason, the man decided to accept James' fate and go about his own business.

Edith reminded Ginny of her own grandmother, who had passed away so many years ago. Her promise to keep in touch with the elderly sisters had been a genuine one and she vowed to deposit letters indicating their progress in the towns they passed. When they were just about to board the train, Edith pressed a five-dollar gold piece in Ginny's hand, refusing to take no for an answer. She'd assured Ginny it was no financial hardship for her and that it would help to ease her conscience for the small part she and Trudy had played in James' living in Troy in the first place.

Ginny knew it was a gift, plain and simple, because she and Edith had grown so close. Her thank you had gone on for several long seconds until both women were crying as Trudy and Lindsay looked uncomfortably on.

While the two women shared a tearful goodbye, Trudy pulled Lindsay aside and gave her a five-dollar coin of her own, explaining in hushed tones that she knew the girl would need the money for her family. She gave Lindsay a knowing smile and rolled her eyes. She explained that Edith, her beloved but painfully unaware sister, still didn't understand why Trudy remained a spinster and insisted on spending all her free time with the lovely Widow Brown. In life, she explained drolly, allies were a precious thing, especially unexpected ones with healthy bank accounts.

Lindsay couldn't help but agree.

As repayment Trudy only asked that someday, when she was able, Lindsay would pass along a small kindness to another struggling young woman in her shoes. And although Lindsay had a tough time believing there could be two people like her, she accepted Trudy's words, and gift, graciously. She laughed and gave her word, something that was starting to mean something on this new path she was happily wandering. She liked that.

Three days later...

James and Lewis stepped off the train in Opelousas, Louisiana. It was far too warm to wear their coats and the boys had tied them around their waists as they moved through the depot with Lindsay and Ginny trailing behind them.

The foursome had spent a day traveling and then searching in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, only to find out that the baby girl who had been adopted from the recent orphan train from New York City was another child entirely. It had been a bitter disappointment and the first one of its kind that Ginny had faced with her brothers, and their night in a small boarding house room wasn't a pleasant one.

To Lindsay's surprise, it was James who had been inconsolable. He was the last of the family to be with the chubby baby and felt a crushing guilt about not being able to keep her with him. Though he swore he'd fought the Wards' employees tooth and nail when they tried to separate them. One look in the boy's stormy eyes, and there was no doubt that he was telling the God's truth.

As they stepped onto Bellevue Street, a man with an olive complexion and a head full of black, ringlet curls stepped in front of boys to stop their progress but addressed Ginny and Lindsay."Pardon." As an afterthought he yanked his hat from his head. "Is one of you ladies Virginia Chisholm?"His French accent was so thick that Lindsay couldn't understand a single word. Ginny, however, after spending months on Orchard Street where English-speaking, American-born citizens were a minority, had gotten fairly good at deciphering any variety of foreign lilts.