Chapter 7
Rick pulled the handle of the toilet and let out a sigh of relief. He had been so intent in finishing the story that he had been writing that he had almost had an embarrassing accident. If might have happened if he had not taken notice of his body's urgent demand that he go to the toilet. Almost at the last moment he noted the urgency and he fled from his seat. There was a moment of panic when he found he did not know where the toilet was. Thankfully some one told him there was a toilet in the observation car. He could not get there fast enough.
Rick washed his hands thoroughly and then dried his hands on the towel that hung on the wrack beside the mirror. He checked his appearance in the mirror one final time, making sure that his hair was in place. He could have used a comb, he thought to himself as he brushed his hair back into place. Appearances were important his mother always said and he could not disagree with that adage.
He switched off the light in the toilet as he stepped out and into the observation car. The observation car was empty which he found a little surprising. The windows of the observation car were much larger than the ones in the passenger cars allowing a better view of the passing scenery and the seats ran the length of the car rather than side by side as in the other cars.
Rick walked to the middle of the car and knelt on a seat and peered out the window. He noticed that the train was slowly making its way up a hill but its speed had not slowed down. A schedule had to be kept, he reminded himself. The train was passing along row upon rows of tall snow covered fir trees. Christmas trees. An amused smile leaped to his face as he pictured in his mind all these trees covered in tinsel and twinkling lights. That would be so cool. He wondered if it was possible to do such a thing. Maybe one day he might try doing it just to see what it would be like. It would so very cool.
Rick heard the door to the observation car open and the familiar sound of in rushing air but he did not take much notice of it. He was still staring out the window at the fir trees imagining all sorts of decorations they could be covered with to celebrate the Yuletide season. What a wonderful sight it would be, he thought. Yeah one of these day he might just do it, Rick concluded.
He managed to rein in his runaway imagination as he remembered he had a story to finish. He had to finish it for Kate. He was still a little amazed that Kate wanted to read his story. No one had ever taken much interest in the stories that he wrote much less actually want to read what he had written. There was a part of him that wanted to impress her.
Rick pushed himself off the seat and stood up. Turning around he pulled up short.
"I told you we'd finish it later." Will announced.
Rick looked at the smirking future G-man or super villain as he stood at the front of the car. He had his arms folded across his chest. Rick felt his heart sink. There was no way of escaping he realised. Will was blocking his only way of escape.
"So it's later, is it?" Rick said.
Will nodded his head and unfolded his arms letting them drop to his sides. He started to move slowly towards Rick.
"So are you going to fight or are you chicken?" Will said.
Rick knew he was many things but he did not think he was a chicken. Still all the same he did not want to fight but from the looks of things he was not going to get out of it. As Will approached Rick took a step backwards.
"I don't think I'm any kind of poultry." Rick said.
"Huh?" Will said, his smile faltering a little.
So not the sharpest tool in the shed, Rick thought to himself as he saw Will's reaction. Perhaps he could use his words to diffuse the situation?
"So, you think you can make a move on my girlfriend, eh?" Will said.
"She's not your girlfriend." Rick replied quickly.
"Says who?" Will challenged. "You?"
"Says Kate."
Will laughed loudly at Rick's remark.
"Listen bud, don't listen to what she says, she's my girlfriend."
"No she's not."
Will continued to move closer to Rick.
"Yes she is." Will said firmly.
"There are some people in this world who just don't seem to get the hint." Rick told him. "They're intellectually challenged, you know?"
The smile on Will's face dropped as he weighed up what Rick had just said.
"Hey, you callin' me dumb?" Will said angrily.
Okay, maybe using words may not have been the best course of action, Rick thought to himself, seeing Will's sudden rise to anger. Still if he kept him talking perhaps someone might come to break this up. He had not forgotten Conductor Montgomery's timely intervention the last time. Perhaps it might happen again.
"I said are you calling me dumb?" Will demanded.
Rick shrugged his shoulders. "If the shoe fits."
Will closed the distance between them in a couple of quick strides. Until he was standing a few inches from Rick. He shoved Rick in the chest sending him backwards a couple of steps. It was a hard shove. Rick took a couple a couple of steps forward. Will grinned as he shoved Rick again.
This time Rick was ready for it and he did not move.
"You going to do something or you going to talk and shove all day?" Rick told him.
That is not the way to stretch out the time, a tiny voice in the back of Rick's head told him. He could not help but agree but he was rapidly realising that this situation was going to end up in blows.
"Okay, sport, you can have the first shot." Will announced.
"That's magnanimous of you."
"Hey, you calling me names again?" Will said angrily.
"No."
"Yes you are." Will said as he took a step closer to Rick.
Rick started preparing himself but at that moment the train passed through a narrow canyon. He looked at the window and saw the sides of the canyon were very close the train. From out of the corner of his eye he saw the fist coming. He started to move out of the path of the fist but he was not quick enough.
Rick felt as if he had been punched by a block of granite. Pain exploded along the length of his jaw and his vision turned blurry as tears filled his eyes. As his brain tried to process that, his world turned upside down as his legs turned to rubber and collapsed underneath him. He fell to the floor hard but he did not feel that pain it was his jaw that was hurting the most.
"Stay away from my girlfriend." Will said angrily.
"She's not your girlfriend." Rick wheezed back.
"Stay away from her." Will growled.
Rick was still struggling to find his bearings as the world around his swirled around uncontrollably. He thought that Will was going finish what he had started but nothing came. He heard someone calling out Will's name, telling him that they had to go because someone was coming. He heard the sound of scurrying feet.
For how long he lay on the floor Rick did not know. He opened his eyes and wiped the tears with the back of his hand. When everything had stopped spinning he slowly forced himself into a sitting position. Gingerly he reached for his jaw and winced at the jolt of pain he felt as he rubbed the wound. It was going to hurt for a while of that he was sure. It would not be too long before a bruise appeared. He would have a time of it trying to explain to his mother how he got it.
As his vision cleared he saw a pair of slippered feet standing in front of him. Lifting up his eyes he saw a concerned filled Kate looking down at him. He almost let out a groan. It was bad enough losing a fight, going down after one punch but to have his humiliation witnessed by a girl, a girl that he liked was almost a little too much for his wounded pride to take.
"They say the pen is mightier than the sword." Rick quipped, resorting to humour to hide his humiliation. He rubbed at his jaw, stopping suddenly at the jolt of pain that surged through his jaw. He winced.
Kate nodded her head.
"Two things wrong there, champ." Kate said.
Kate held out her hand to him. Rick stared at the outstretched hand and then his eyes travelled up to her. Amusement twinkled in her eyes but there was a gentle smile on her lips. Rick looked at her hand again. He reached out and took hold of the offered hand and allowed himself to be helped to his feet.
His legs were still a little wobbily. Kate threw his arm around her shoulder and put her arm around his waist to give him support and keep him standing.
"You were using your mouth and not and not a pen." Kate pointed out. "And he used his fist and not a sword."
Rick frowned.
"You saw what happened?" he asked..
"Yeah."
"Oh." Could things get any worse, he wondered.
"I thought it was sweet."
"You did?" Rick said surprised. "What, me getting punched out?"
"No, not that." Kate said with a laugh.
"What then?"
"You standing up to Will."
"Yeah, well."
"A word to the wise, Rick." Kate said.
"Yes?"
"I can look after myself, I don't need a champion to defend my honour."
Despite the pain that flared along his jaw, Rick smiled. Kate used the word 'champion' to mean someone who defends any person or a cause. He did not want to tell her that he had no choice in the matter. Will had come spoiling for a fight and had cornered him and he had to fight.
"Duly noted." Rick informed her.
Kate looked at Rick and saw him grinning at her.
"Come on, let's get you back to your seat." She said.
Rick nodded his head.
They started to walk slowly along the car toward the door. Rick found that the strength had returned to his legs and he could make it back to his seat on his own steam but he liked having Kate helping him.
"You smell, nice." Rick blurted out suddenly.
Kate shot him a look. "Rick." she scolded.
"What? It's true."
Kate looked away from him concentrating on the path ahead. Rick saw her face starting to colour.
"I think Will hit you harder than you thought." Kate remarked.
"Care to kiss it better?" Rick said pointing to spot on his jaw where he had been punched.
Kate turned her head to look at him, her eyes narrowed.
"I guess not." Rick said sheepishly. "It's was worth a shot."
"Do you want a matching bruise on the other side of your face?"
"You know Kate, you're going to have to work on your bedside manner." Rick chuckled.
The sound of Kate's laughter was like a soothing balm to him.
XXXXX
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Con
