My Darlin' Cousin, Chapter 12 – The Way to Norfolk

Erika couldn't believe what Daemon had just said. Her wide eyes showed it and the sudden blast of her air horn emphasized it. In all her years, she'd heard of engines doing some crazy things. But this… this one was right off the chart. She'd never even dreamed any engine would dare ask such a question. For several moments Erika tried to speak, only to find herself either unable to form any coherent words or just unintelligible grunts and gasps come from her mouth.

It actually started to make Daemon feel a bit uncomfortable. "Say somethin' lil' darlin', please?"

Finally, Erika's words came out with a booming, "SHE ASKED YOU TO DO WHAT?!"

He made a funny looking face. "Ya didn't have ta say it quite that loud," he humorously replied.

"Never mind that!" Erika said. "She asked you to marry her?!"

"Yep. Are ya surprised?"

"Surprised? Surprised?! If it was possible for me to be stunned right off of my drivers, I would be," she claimed.

Daemon snickered. "Lil' darlin' with no drivers? That'd sure be the weirdest dad gum picture I ever done seen."

Erika ignored the comment. "Marriage Daemon? I know engines as a whole strive to be as human as we can. But marriage? Doesn't that seems a little too out of left field?"

"Maybe it did at first," he agreed. "But it weren't like it was a human asking ta marry me. That would be inappropriate." He thought back to his days sitting in the park back in Pine Bluff and winced. "Although a couple o' daggone nit witted pole cat jokesters did make that kinda suggestion a number o' years ago."

"So did you say yes?"

"Well… not right away," Daemon admitted. "Like ya suggested, I weren't too sure she was thinkin' straight at that moment, so I asked her a few questions."

June, 1956 – Dallas, Texas

To say that Daemon was thrown for a loop by Madison's question, was a gross understatement. He wasn't even sure he'd heard her right. "Uh… uh…huh? What was that? Run that by me again."

"You heard me Daemon," Madison told him. "Will you marry me?"

"That's what I done though ya said," he replied with wide eyes.

"So," Madison asked with a pleading expression. "Will you?"

"Uh," he said. "Madison, are ya sure ya know what ya askin'? I mean just two minutes ago ya done told me they was retirin' me soon. Now all of a sudden ya wants ta be my wife?"

"I know it's rather sudden Daemon and maybe I'm not thinking all that clearly," Madison admitted. "But damn it you gorgeous cowboy, I love you. I love you like crazy and I miss you more than you'll ever know when you're not with me. So they're retiring you soon. I don't care! Sooner or later there will come a day when I'll be retired too and if I'm destined to go the smelter, then damn it I want to go knowing that I had at least one thing in this world that I knew was mine and mine alone! One thing that those assholes who are determined to take everything away from us steam engines, could not take away no matter how hard they tried!"

"Madison…" Daemon said quietly as he began to see how much this truly meant to her.

"I know it's crazy Daemon," she went on. "I've never heard of two engines ever getting hitched like this before. Who cares in the end? All I want at the end Daemon is your love. And I want it forever. If I could magically turn us into human beings right now, I would do it in a heartbeat. If I could, I would love to give birth to your children Daemon. But we're engines, not humans. And while some things humans do may not be possible for us, who the hell says marriage isn't possible for us Daemon?"

Daemon had to admit, he had never really thought of it that way before. "I… I guess it's possible for us. We sure as heck might have a lotta people laughin' at us though."

"Again, who cares? I don't care who laughs at us Daemon and I don't who the hell says, 'No you can't do that!' Who the hell are they to say what we can and can't do… especially if our days are numbered? Whether we get retired tomorrow or two hundred years from now, makes no difference to me. All I want is to be your wife and for you to be my husband. What do you say?"

He sniffed and inched his way closer to her. "Ya know, it's usually the feller that asks the lady ta marry him. Not the other way around."

"Yeah, I know. So what?"

"So I gots just one question for ya darlin'."

She smiled. "What?"

"Will ya marry me?"

Madison broke down in joyful sobs and nodded as best she could. "Yes Daemon. Yes, of course I'll marry you. I'd be honored."

"That honor will be all mine, my little Texas Peach," he said as he stretched forward to kiss her.

While Daemon and Madison were starting to plan their upcoming nuptials, in the yard office next to them, Howard was dying a slow death inside. He'd just been given the most terrible news that he'd ever heard in his life. Spreading his arms wide he said in a defeated tone, "So that's it then? That's really it?"

Mr. Barrington nodded. "I'm afraid so Howard."

Howard snorted and shook his head in frustration. "I don't like it. Not one bit. Doing this to Daemon now… on the heels of his finest hour. It's not right George!"

"Damn it Howard, I know that," Mr. Barrington barked. "Right is the last thing it is, especially after he just exposed Blue for what he really was. But it's out of my hands Howard, you know that!"

Howard snorted again and walked over to a nearby window. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked out Daemon who was laughing heartily and enjoying his time with his girl. "Look at him there. He can still fly like the wind with a passenger train and he can handle a hundred car freight train with the greatest of ease. Why the hell would Cotton Belt retire him?!"

"Because the Accounting Department in St. Louis doesn't care about all that," Mr. Barrington reminded him. "All they care about is the bottom line and the bottom is telling them that despite their less than stellar performance, diesels like Boudreaux and Thibodeaux are far cheaper to run and maintain than steam locomotives.

Once again, Howard snorted angrily. "Oh the bottom line, the bottom line… to hell with the bottom line! I've been with this railroad for forty-two years now George. I was running trains when the parents of most of those bean counters were still crapping their diapers!"

"What's your point?"

Howard sighed heavily. "I wonder how long it will be before those damned bean counters decide that the salary Cotton Belt is paying me is affecting the bottom line?"

"You're being silly Howard."

He turned to face Mr. Barrington. "Am I George?" He shook his head emphatically. "Somehow I don't think so. Somehow, I get the feeling that there's going to come a day in the not too distant future when all that management cares about is the damned bottom line… if that's not already the case."

"Howard we both knew this day would come sooner or later," Mr. Barrington reminded him. "The writing's been on the wall for years."

Howard waved a disgusted hand at him and turned back toward the window. "Aw don't give me that writing on the wall crap George," he growled. "You're starting to sound just like the immature, silly whiz kids in the Accounting Department." He sighed again. "I don't suppose Santa Fe or Norfolk and Western would interested in purchasing Daemon, would they? Might preserve his service career a little longer."

Mr. Barrington shook his head. "Sorry Howard, I already tried. Santa Fe is almost all dieselized now and Norfolk and Western is starting to retire their smaller steam engines in favor of diesels. On top of that, management doesn't want to sell Daemon."

That didn't make any sense to Howard stared down at the floor and shook his head. "So how long does Daemon have then?"

"Three months at most," Mr. Barrington said flatly. "He's to be retired by the end of September."

"It's still not right George," Howard grumbled. A thought occurred to him. "What about Norfolk and Western borrowing him? I get that they're not interested in buying him, but what if Daemon was loaned to Norfolk and Western the way they've loaned Madison to us? Considering what Daemon has done to protect their precious Madison in the last couple weeks, Norfolk and Western owes Daemon something."

Mr. Barrington nodded. "As it happens, I agree with you. And I'm way ahead of you on that one Howard. I spoke to Norfolk and Western about exactly that and they graciously agreed to borrow Daemon during his final weeks. There's just one problem though."

"Let me guess," Howard snorted. "The damned bean counters in St. Louis?"

"Bingo," Mr. Barrington confirmed. "Apparently they're expecting a huge influx of travelers with the start of the school year and they need Daemon to pick up the potential slack."

Howard wasn't buying it. "That's a load of bull and you know it George. If that were true, why are they choosing to retire Daemon now?" He turned to face Mr. Barrington and shook his head. "There's something else you're not telling me George. What is it?"

Mr. Barrington let out a slow breath. "All right Howard, I'll level with you. But what I'm about to say goes no further than this office until I say otherwise because it's not official yet and I could get in serious trouble for sharing it with you."

"All right."

"The city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas where Daemon was built has expressed interest in purchasing Daemon and possibly putting him on public display," Mr. Barrington revealed.

Howard raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?"

Mr. Barrington nodded. "Mm hmm. And they've offered quite a sum for him."

Howard saw where Mr. Barrington was headed with this. "How much is quite a sum?"

"More than it cost Cotton Belt to build him, that's for sure."

It was pretty darn close to the answer Howard thought he'd get. "Ah ha, so management will sell Daemon if given sufficient… motivation shall we say? Only thing is another railroad won't offer that kind of motivation because steam is on its way out industry wide. Another railroad would pay far less than what the city of Pine Bluff has offered, am I right?"

"Mm hmm."

"And that's also why the bean counters don't want Daemon going eastward at all because they're afraid it'll jeopardize their chances for a nice little payout by the city of Pine Bluff to forever take Daemon off Cotton Belt's hands."

"Now you're getting it."

Howard's smile and nod were decidedly sarcastic in nature. "It's all making sense now. Like you said, they only care about the bottom line."

"There is one little bright spot though," Mr. Barrington tried to assure him.

"Oh really," Howard asked cynically. "And what that might be?"

"Robert Smith, the president of Norfolk and Western, contacted Harold McKenzie who, as you know, is president of the Cotton Belt. When McKenzie contacted me, he said they had talked at great length about the situation. Ultimately the decision was made to go over the heads of the young suits in St. Louis and let Daemon go eastward for a while."

Howard wasn't terribly optimistic from Mr. Barrington's tone. "And just how long is a while?"

"Daemon has to return to Dallas the day after Labor Day. That gives him just over nine weeks out east. You all can set off tomorrow morning."

Howard looked out the window again and saw Daemon kiss Madison. He smiled fondly. "It's better than nothing I guess. And at least he'll spend most of his final working days with his woman. Guess I'd better go give them the news."

"All right Howard. If there's anything you need, just call me."

Howards nodded once as he stepped outside and Mr. Barrington returned to his duties. He sighed and stiffened himself. He'd told Daemon a lot of difficult things over the years, but he didn't think there would be anything more difficult than this… than telling him Cotton Belt no longer though he was useful and would be retiring him soon. He looked up at his beloved L-1 with tears in his eyes as Daemon and Madison laughed, oblivious to the fact he'd emerged from the office.

"Oh Daemon," Madison said. "I'm so happy. I don' think I've ever been this happy in my life."

"Me either lil' darlin'," he told her. "Me either."

Howard took a deep breath and dried his eyes. It wasn't fair damn it. It wasn't fair. His engine was one of the hardest working and most respected engines on the Cotton Belt. And on top of that, his engine was a hero. He deserved a better fate.

It was then that Daemon noticed Howard had returned. "Oh hang on lil' darlin'," he said. "Mister Howard's done come back." He saw the look of distress on his driver's face. "What is it Mister Howard? What's wrong?"

Howard wasn't sure where to begin. "I uh… I got bad news Daemon," he said slowly. "But I have some good news too."

"Okay," Daemon said. "Whatcha got?"

"I uh…" Howard couldn't do it. He just couldn't tell the engine he loved and was so proud of that his days were numbered. Thinking quickly, he told Daemon a half truth. "Uh… Norfolk and Western has recalled Madison. She has to set off for Virginia tomorrow morning."

Daemon gazed adoringly into the eyes of his Texas Peach. "Well… we done knew ya'd have ta go back sooner or later lil' darlin'."

Tears started to well up in Madison's eyes. "Yeah, we did. Oh Daemon, I'm going to miss you so much."

Howard interrupted. "Well now both of you put the tears on simmer for a moment. If you two recall, I said I also had good news."

Madison nodded slightly. "What's the good news Mister Howard?"

"Well Daemon, as a gesture of thanks for everything you've done for Madison recently, Norfolk and Western has invited you to come spend a little time with your girl back home. How'd you like to spend nine weeks in Virginia, Daemon?"

Daemon and Madison were both so excited by Howard's news, they could barely stay on the rails. "Oh wow!" Daemon exclaimed. "Are ya kiddin'? I gits ta go ta Virginny?! YAAAHOOOOOO!"

"Oh Daemon my love, this is wonderful!" Madison squealed. "I've always wanted to show you my home and now I finally can! I'm so excited!"

"Me too my love," he said. "Me too." He glanced over at Howard. "Ya think we should tell him?"

"I don't think we really have a choice Daemon," she replied.

"Yeah I guess not."

"What?" Howard asked, perplexed. "Tell me what?"

"Well Mister Howard…" Daemon began. "Madison an' I wanna git married."

Howard thanked his lucky stars he wasn't a tobacco chewer or else he might've swallowed it right then and there. "M… married?"

"Mm hmm," Madison agreed.

"B-but your locomotives."

"So?" Daemon challenged. "What does that gotta do with anythin'? Why can't we gits married?"

Howard considered Daemon's argument. He shrugged. "Yeah," he concluded. "Why not indeed?" And in that moment, Howard decided that if his engine wanted to be a "married man", then by God it was going to happen. It was the least he could do for Daemon in his final days for his years of tireless service and heroism. He clapped his hands once with great enthusiasm. "All right then Daemon, let's get you to Virginia and Madison, let's get you back to Virginia. Once we're all there, I promise you both here and now, that I will find a way to make this happen!"

"Thank ya Mister Howard," Daemon said joyfully. "From the bottom o' my boiler, thank ya ever so much."

A short time later back at the Cadiz roundhouse, the engines had gathered around to hear the news that Daemon was heading east. While they were all a little sad that Daemon would be leaving them, it was only for a little while and they all agreed that in light of what he had just done for Madison and Norfolk & Western in general, it was a well-deserved opportunity. Especially since Daemon and Madison had taken the opportunity to announce their upcoming nuptials to the Cadiz Crew.

To say that the locomotives of the Cadiz Crew were excited to hear this news that a marriage was coming soon, was a massive understatement. None of them had ever heard of locomotives getting "permanently coupled" as it were, but they agreed with Daemon's "why not" assessment of the situation. Even Thibodeaux and Boudreaux. Who said locomotives couldn't "tie up" like that? And it gave a few of them a chance to reflect on their own relationships and where they were destined to go.

Thibodeaux thought about his beloved Alexis, the beautiful Southern Pacific Daylight E9 he'd met in Houston a little over a year ago. Their relationship had been a whirlwind of passion and discovery with perhaps a little bit cab banging thrown in for good measure. Be that as it may, there was no one like his beloved Alexis and he'd wondered every now and then what it would be like to have a wife the way humans did. And despite his past differences with Daemon, he was pleased that at least one of them was going to take a leap of faith so to speak.

Chief was having similar thoughts. Not all that long ago, after arriving in Denver with their regular Texas Zephyr assignment, he and Warrior had been forced to pinch-hit on the westbound California Zephyr. As a result, he and Warrior had ended up going to San Francisco, a place neither of them were familiar with and were a little intimidated by. That's where Chief had met Leliah.

He'd never thought a freight unit could look so amazing, but Leliah wore her Southern Pacific black widow colors to perfection. He'd been completely smitten by her from the moment they'd met. Fortunately for him, the feeling had been mutual as she'd absolutely been awed by the shininess of his stainless steel. She'd once said it was so bright and dazzling, it commanded other engines to gaze upon him with an air of royalty. The fact that she'd taken the time to show him around San Francisco only deepened his affection for her. Their romance had heated up hot and fast after that and these days, he relished every chance he got to see her down in Houston.

Warrior too had gotten in on the romance act in the form of Leliah's own B unit sister, Lethia. Granted, it was a little awkward constantly having to tote him around wherever he went and it made alone time with Leliah something of a rarity. But Leliah had the same problem hauling Lethia around everywhere, so the romantic situations usually ended up being more humorous than embarrassing.

"Daemon this is so wonderful," Katherine congratulated them. "I'm so happy for you both."

"Me too Daemon," her sister, Karen added. "Congratulations to both of you."

"Thank ya kindly Katherine," he replied.

Madison didn't speak, but merely smiled and nodded in appreciation.

Katherine sighed. "I only wish you two were going to get hitched here. I don't want to miss the ceremony."

Before Daemon could answer, Howard offered up a response. "Don't you worry about that, Katherine. We'll figure something out."

"Oh please Mister Howard," Katherine replied. "I'd be ever so grateful for anything you could do."

"Like I said, we'll figure something out," Howard assured her.

Next to speak was Thibodeaux. "Daemo'… ah know you an' ah have no' always got along," he said. "An' only a fool woul' believe dat we woul' star' bein' friends now. Bu' mah boy, for all you have done, you deserve dis. Ah am truly sincere whe' ah say, dat ah hope you two have a joyful life togeder… however long eet may be. From de bottom of mah hear' Daemo'… congratulations, an goo' fortune be wit' you bot'."

Daemon was surprised at Thibodeaux's unexpected words of kindness. And with a respectful nod, he replied, "Thank ya Thibodeaux."

"You're welcome monsieur," Thibodeaux replied.

Leo asked a question. "So if you guys are headed to Virginia tomorrow, when's the big day going to be?"

"As soon as we can find someone who will marry us," Madison replied. She said her next statement with a bit of hesitation, all too aware of Daemon's impending retirement. "And the sooner that is, the better."

"We're sure going to miss you around here Daemon," Maria said. "But you'll be back before long and then you'll have all kinds of time to tell us what life is like as a hitched engine."

Back in Daemon's cab, Howard frowned, also all too aware of his locomotive's impending retirement.

"Well when it comes time for you all to head out tomorrow, we're going to give you one heck of a send-off," Leo insisted.

It was then that the engines heard a screech. Mister Barrington's car squealed to a fast stop and he jumped out, a look of extreme distress on his face. "Uh, hold that thought Leo," he said as he approached. "We got a major problem on our hands."

Daemon was filled with dread. "Is I still goin' ta Virginny sir?" he asked, fearing the answer.

"Yes Daemon you are," Mister Barrington assured him. "You've been promised that, and you will get it. But not in the way we may have been thinking a short while ago. I said you could head out to Virginia tomorrow, but that's no longer the case. You and Madison have to leave right away."

"Sounds serious George," Howard called down from Daemon's cab. "What's going on?"

Mister Barrington's look of worry deepened. "I just got a call from the General Yardmaster at Southern Pacific's yard in Corsicana. They've had a major fire in their engine facility. Lots of engines have been damaged and a few were destroyed.

All of the engines of the Cadiz crew were shocked to hear the news and Daemon echoed the general feeling among them. "Aw, no."

"Those that were injured," Mister Barrington went on. "Well, not all of them are expected to recover. Quite a few people have been hurt and killed as well."

"Oh Lord," Katherine said. "Those poor people… those poor engines…"

"What happened George?" Howard called down.

"I don't know," Mister Barrington replied. "The fire investigators are still combing over everything and there are several places where it's still too hot for them to go. What I do know at this moment is that the fire apparently spread very fast. Most of those hurt or killed by it had little or no time to react."

There was a moment of silence as they all silently prayed for the people and locomotives that had been hurt or worse by the tragedy.

"I assured the yardmaster in Corsicana that the Cadiz Crew would step in to help however they could, and we will do exactly that," Mister Barrington stated. "Even those of you who technically do not work for the Espee or the Cotton Belt. Southern Pacific management predicts that it will take ninety-six hours to gather enough engines in Corsicana to cover what's been damaged. So until then, all of you who do not work for the Cotton Belt or Espee directly… may I say "Welcome." Because for the next ninety six hours, you work for us."

Mister Barrington turned to Daemon and Madison. "As I said, you two need to leave right away and the reason why is I'm assigning you two to today's BSM."

Daemon was shocked and with raised eyebrows he exclaimed, "The BSM sir?"

"I know that's an assignment normally reserved for diesels Daemon," Mister Barrington said. "But Espee's diesels assigned to it were damaged in the fire and the closest diesels I have to spare are in Texarkana. There's no way they'll get to Corsicana in time to keep the BSM on schedule. So I'm giving it to you two."

"What's the BSM Daemon?" Madison inquired.

"It's the Blue Streak Merchandise and it's Espee's highest priority freight train," Daemon explained. "Comes in from the West Coast haulin' a bunch a perishable items and stuff. It's one o' the few freights that runs at passenger train speed."

"He's right Madison," Mister Barrington confirmed. "That train operates on a very fast and very tight schedule. It must get into St. Louis on time to make its necessary connections with the eastern railroads. If you take off right now, you can beat the BSM into Corsicana by about forty-five minutes. You'll have clear track the whole way. Don't let me down."

Madison still didn't relish the idea of hauling a freight train, but if it was that important and it got Daemon to Virginia quicker than planned, it was a small price to pay. "We'll get it done sir," she said.

"You bet sir," Daemon confirmed. "We won't let ya down. Oh but uh… what happens we was gits ta St. Louis?"

"Ah yes I've already taken care of that," Mister Barrington explained. "From St. Louis you'll deadhead east over the Baltimore & Ohio to Cincinnati. It's the most direct route between the two cities that exists."

"And we can pick up Norfolk & Western rails in Cincinnati," Madison observed.

"Right." Mister Barrington then turned to Maria. "Twenty minutes after they leave Maria, you need to head down to Corsicana to help with freight traffic. Leo, you'll do the same twenty minutes after Maria leaves."

"Yes sir," Maria and Leo said in unison.

Mister Barrington then turned to Katherine and Karen. "Now for you ladies, I've talked to the Frisco and for the next few days, their engines will be pulling the Texas Special all the way to San Antonio. The reason why is because with Daemon out east, I'm forced to assign both of you to Cotton Belt's Morning Star to St. Louis."

That got Thibodeaux and Boudreaux's attention. "Pardo' me sir," Thibodeaux said. "Wha' abou' me and Boudreaux? De Morning Star ees our normal assignmen'."

"Oui," Boudreaux agreed. "No' dat we doubt de girls' abeelity to pull eet. Bu' why are we suddenly being take' off eet?"

Mister Barrington had the answer. "Because the reserve power for the Sunset Limited was among the casualties in Corsicana. I don't know why they were being serviced there and frankly it doesn't matter. Espee has specifically requested you two be transferred to Sunset Limited for the next few days." With a knowing expression he added, "I'm sure you two would rather spend time in New Orleans that St. Louis."

"Ah tink dees migh' be a goo' time to shu' up an' leeve well enough alone," Boudreaux suggested to his brother.

"Oui… eet ees," Thibodeaux agreed. He addressed Mister Barrington. "Forge' we said anyting Mister Barrington," he said and addressed Katherine and Karen. "Enjoy de Morning Star girls. Have fu' een St. Louis."

Mister Barrington nodded with a 'that's-what-I-thought' expression. "All right then, twenty minutes after Leo leaves, you two can leave. Only you two will not stop in Corsicana. Instead, you'll go all the way to San Antonio and wait for the eastbound Sunset Limited." He turned to the E5s. "Chief, Warrior, you guys are temporarily assigned to the Sunbeam between here and Houston."

"Yes sir," Chief said as Warrior nodded.

"And lastly, I'm pulling Delaney out of mothballs to take over the Lone Star in your absence Daemon."

Daemon was thrilled that his brother was getting one last "day in the sun" as it were. But he was a little upset that he wouldn't be around to see him. "That's great Mister Barrington. I's sure he'll love it."

Mister Barrington nodded, then motioned in the general direction of Corsicana. "All right, get going you two. Time's a-wastin' and you don't have much of it to waste."

"C'mon my little Texas Peach," Daemon said. "Time to giddyap."

Madison couldn't help but laugh. "I'm right with you my cowboy."

Not quite an hour later, Daemon and Madison rolled into the yards in Corsicana. The carnage that greeted them was utterly horrifying to see. Even before they actually saw the yard, they could see the residual smoke rising from the conflagration that had occurred. But seeing the actual devastation the fire had wreaked was far worse.

The engine servicing facility was completely destroyed. The engine house itself had burned to the ground. The wash facilities were unusable as several water hoses and brushes had been burned up and a devastating explosion seemed to have originated in the vicinity of the fueling pit. Most of the fire investigators on the scene had congregated in this location.

But what was most horrific of all were the dozens of white sheets all around the facility, each of them covering what only hours before had been a living person. The engines too. Seeing dozens of them charred, broken, mangled and motionless left little doubt that they hadn't been able to escape the catastrophe, however it had happened. A few of them were still alive and even semi-conscious, though they couldn't say or do much. One male Southern Pacific F7 in what had been black widow colors heard the chuff of the approaching steam engines. But he was so badly charred and mangled, his colors were barely recognizable and parts of him still smoldered from the heat. His eyes fluttered open and as he witnessed Daemon and Madison approach, he tried to utter something. But the pain was so great all he could do was moan in agony and close his eyes again.

Daemon and Madison looked at the poor diesel in shock. Whoever he was, he'd been sitting on a siding when the disaster occurred. Now it seemed like whatever had happened had caused him to spin almost completely around as the ruined nearby track was torched and bunched up around him. His front truck had managed to stay attached to him in the disaster, but his rear truck had dislodged and now lay several feet to the side of him.

Although Madison generally disliked diesels, she wasn't completely heartless. Seeing engines in this kind of state, steam, diesel or otherwise, was always a tragedy and it never ceased to upset her especially in light of what had happened to both her and her sister, Maxine, back in 1948. "Daemon…" she said with considerable distress.

"I know darlin'," he said solemnly. "Ain't a daggone thing we can do for them though. All we can do is git the BSM ta Saint Louie on time."

"I know Daemon," she replied. "It's just that… seeing this and remembering what happened to me earlier this year…" Her voice trailed off as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

"Aw darlin' I know," Daemon gently told her. A whiff of diesel fuel permeated his nostrils and he made a face. "Jus' count yer blessin's. What happened ta ya was tragic for sure. But ya still here and we's still together, ain't we? That's gotta count fer somethin'."

Madison smiled. "That's not something Daemon. That's everything."

Daemon smiled. "I's real glad ya think that way lil' darlin'," he said.

Up in Daemon's cab, Howard checked his watch. "We've got about a half hour before the BSM gets here you two. As we're not going to have a chance to take on additional coal and water before Memphis, I suggest we top off now just to be safe."

"Good idea Mister Howard," Daemon agreed. "But where we gonna do that? This place look worse than one o' them new fangled trailer parks after a tornado done gone through it."

Howard chuckled, but Daemon did have a point. The permanent steam locomotive facilities had been removed from Corsicana more than a year earlier. He closed the throttle and slowed Daemon to a crawl. "Hey…" he shouted to a worker on the ground. "Where can we get some fuel and water?"

Covered in dirt and soot, the worker said nothing but instead pointed in the direction Daemon was heading. Howard acknowledged him and opened Daemon's throttle up a little more. "Well, let's see what we can find."

About a hundred yards further on, they were routed through a switch and approached a short string of tank cars on a spur. Parked nearby on a gravel road was a fueling truck. A flagman was on the ground nearby and signaled Daemon to keep moving slowly towards him. Howard stopped Daemon as they reached the flagman and called down to him, "Can we get fuel and water there?"

"Yes sir," the flagman shouted back. "When we heard you guys were going to be sending a few steamers our way, we hastily cobbled this little refueling pit together." He moved slightly as a small group of workers approached Daemon and Madison, connecting various hoses to their tenders as they did. "We'll get you fueled and watered in no time."

"Uh beggin' yer pardon," Daemon said. "Waterin' Madison's okay, but what about fuel? She done burn coal, not oil like I do."

"Good point," Howard said. He turned to Clyde. "Stay here. I'm going to go have a talk with Madison's driver."

"Right," Clyde responded with a nod. As Howard climbed down and walked away, Clyde inspected Daemon's fire. He dumped a load of sand into the firebox making Daemon sneeze one time.

"You all right there old boy," Clyde asked.

"Yeah, I's fine," Daemon replied. "I just hate that dad gum sand ya always throwin' in me. Makes me feel like I gots hay fever."

It wasn't the first time Daemon had said that and it made Clyde laugh every time. He made a few minor adjustments to Daemon's fire and took the opportunity to refill his boiler with water. Clyde then climbed out on top of Daemon's tender. With a quick glance he made sure that the other workers were getting the fuel oil and water into the proper bunkers. The last thing they needed was a witless mishap and the oil and water getting inadvertently mixed.

Moments later when Clyde was sitting back in his seat, Howard returned. "Assuming the BSM isn't drastically heavy today, Madison will be okay on coal until we get to Memphis," he reported. "But her driver said she will most definitely have to take on coal when we arrive there."

"Let's hope for the best then," Clyde observed.

It wasn't long after that, that the Blue Streak Merchandise with over a hundred boxcars and reefer cars rolled into the yard. Pulled by an A-B-B-A set of Black Widow F3s, they looked exhausted. Coming to a stop near where Daemon and Madison were parked, they were immediately cut from the train as the two steamers were turned and positioned to take their place.

Both Daemon and Madison could tell the F3s didn't really appreciate handing Southern Pacific's hottest freight train off to a pair of steam engines. However, the diesels were smart enough to keep their mouths shut as it was well known that Daemon and his kin had the ability to handle hundred car freights all by themselves when necessary. Either that, or the diesels were just too tired to give a damn.

Whatever the reason, they kept their silence as Daemon and Madison backed on to the BSM. As they coupled up, Howard checked his watch. They were already a few minutes late but if they got underway soon they could make up most, if not all, that time before they reached Memphis. Howard completed an air brake test and checked Daemon's boiler pressure. It was holding steady at 250 pounds and Howard heard two whistle blasts behind him. It was Madison's driver signaling that she was ready to go.

Clyde gave Howard a thumbs-up indicating that Daemon's fire was just where it needed to be. Howard then tugged on Daemon's whistle two times, indicating to Madison and her driver that they too, were ready. "Let's go!" he said. He hauled back on Daemon's throttle and the big Northern struggled for a brief second until he felt Madison's power behind him kick in.

"Saint Louie, here we come!" Daemon shouted out.

As they left the yard, Daemon caught only a fleeting glimpse of Maria as she arrived in Corsicana and it wasn't until they were well on their way northward that they passed a southbound Leo and, later still, Thibodeaux and Boudreaux. By the time Daemon and Madison steamed back through Dallas, only Katherine and Karen remained at the Cadiz roundhouse as both Chief and Warrior had departed south with the Sunbeam sometime earlier. The MKT sisters honked a greeting to the steamers as they zoomed by, which Daemon and Madison were happy to return.

As a general rule, Madison hated pulling freight trains, a fact that had only been reinforced by the cattle she had pulled with Daemon back when she first visited Dallas. But this was different. They were moving so fast with the BSM, more than once, Madison actually forgot they were hauling freight. She'd even been able to sit back and take it relatively easy for the majority of the trip thus far, letting Daemon handle most of the work.

Not for the first time, Madison couldn't help but laugh when she thought about the course her life had taken. Here she was, a refined city girl passenger engine, arguably the most beautiful in the United States and she was utterly, hopelessly, passionately in love with a down home dual-service engine with more in common with a cowboy than anything. It was probably the unlikeliest of couples anyone could ever think of, never mind that they were locomotives and not humans.

It suddenly dawned on Madison that Daemon hadn't said much since they'd left Corsicana and it concerned her. "Hey, you all right up there my beloved cowboy?"

"Huh?" Daemon asked. Her question had caught him off guard.

"That's what I thought," Madison said. "What's wrong?"

"Aw nothin' really," he said. "Just thinkin' back ta when big darlin' used ta bring this train inta Corsicana every now an' then."

Madison made face that Daemon never saw. "Big Darlin'? Who's that?"

"Oh that's Mitzi," Daemon explained. "She were one o' them Southern Pacific Cab Forward types. Big ol' girl which is why Delaney started callin' her Big Darlin' when they first met."

Madison snickered. "So you just kind of picked up on it then?"

"Yeah," Daemon admitted. "It didn't offend her none. Heck she wore the nickname like a badge o' honor. Made Delaney feel real proud."

"Were she and Delaney an item?"

"Oh yeah," Daemon said. "It were love at first sight for them. See it weren't all that common ta see them Cab Forwards down in this part o' the country. And yet, after she done met Delaney, she'd always manage ta figure out a way ta git assigned ta the BSM or the Sunset Limited or somethin'. Any way she could git ta Texas ta see him, she'd take it."

Kind of like me always hoping I'd be able to get back here to see you, she thought.

"Like I said, it didn't take them long ta go after each other and they went at it hot and fast," Daemon said. "They was so in love with each other, it were wonderful ta see. But I gots ta admit, I were a little jealous o' them too."

"Why?" Madison wondered.

"Well because it were right after they met that I done learned what ya'd been up ta back east,' Dameon replied.

A solemn, "Oh," was all Madison could say in response.

Daemon quickly moved on, eager to get off the painful topic. "But then the inevitable happened. Delaney were retired and it tore Mitzi apart inside when she got word o' that."

Just like hearing of your impending retirement is tearing me up my darling cowboy, Madison thought.

"Afterwards, poor Mitzi didn't see much of a need ta keep goin' on," Daemon continued. "She were retired herself not long after that. There'd been some talk o' preservin' her shortly after that but I don't what's become o' it."

I wonder if there's any point in hoping that the two of us will ever be preserved, Madison wondered to herself. Fighting back tears, Madison still uttered a somewhat choked, "I love you Daemon."

"I loves ya too Madison… my Texas Peach."

By the time they got to Memphis for servicing, Daemon's driving wheels were a little hotter than they should've normally been. In spite of the time constraint, the decision was made to send Daemon on a quick trip through the wash rack for a hose down and hopefully, cool his wheels a bit.

While this was going on, Madison was taken over to the coaling tower so she could top off. It was going to be long haul to Norfolk from here and they'd both have to top off again somewhere along the way. In any case, Madison was grateful for the fresh coal load as her driver had become increasingly concerned that they wouldn't be able to make St. Louis on her current load.

The hose down effort to cool Daemon's drivers seemed to work well and by the time they started off again for St. Louis, he was feeling wonderful. Even so, to help ease his discomfort, Madison devoted more of her power to hauling the load. She didn't let it show, but she was very concerned about Daemon. Engines didn't just develop hot drivers for no reason.

It turned out that Madison's concerns were not without some merit as by the time they arrived in St. Louis, Daemon's drivers were starting to run hot again. This time, when Daemon was given a hose down, Howard walked alongside his engine to give him an inspection. "What's the problem old friend," he asked.

Daemon winced. "Dad gum if I know Mister Howard," he replied. "But my drivers sure is gittin' powerful warm down there. Almost like there ain't enough grease down there."

Howard knew that wasn't the case as he and Clyde always made sure that Daemon had more than enough grease to make any trip. Still, Daemon's words clued Howard into something and he asked another question. "Are your drivers hot on both sides or just one?"

"Just one Mister Howard," he replied. "Your side. Mister Clyde's side seems okay. "

"And which driver is the hottest?"

"Second one from the front."

That was the answer Howard suspected he'd get and as a result, he had a pretty good idea what the problem was. Daemon's second driver was where the main rod and eccentric crank connected to side rods. He wouldn't know for sure though until they got pieces of Daemon's running gear apart. "I was afraid of that," he mused.

Something in Howard's voice alarmed Daemon. "What? What's goin' on down there?"

Before Howard could answer, Madison returned from the fueling rack and her driver climbed down for a quick conversation. "We're all fueled up and ready to go when you are."

"That's the problem," Howard said. "We might not be. I think I know why Daemon's drivers are heating up."

Madison almost dreaded the answer, but she asked, "Why? What's wrong?"

Howard pointed to Daemon's second driver, specifically at the eccentric crank. "I don't know for sure, but I suspect that the bearings inside Daemon's eccentric crank have deformed or are cracked. They can't move as freely as they should. That's causing excess friction which is in turn, causing his drivers to heat up, starting with this one right here."

"How do we find out for sure?" Madison wondered.

Her own driver supplied the answer. "We don't until his running gear is partially disassembled. For that, he has to be taken off the train and put in the shop."

Madison's heart sank. This couldn't be happening. Not now, not to them. After everything they'd been through and tried to accomplish, it seemed that God or the Great Father or whoever was conspiring with the universe to make sure they stayed apart. They'd both already lost so much and now the one thing they wanted that could never be ripped away from them, seemed destined not to happen despite their best efforts.

Daemon however, had other ideas. "Now just a dad gum minute! I ain't stayin' nowheres around here! I's goin' ta Norfolk ta marry my beloved Texas peach! And ain't nothin' gittin' in the way o' that! Least o' all, a daggone overheatin' bearin'!"

"Daemon, Norfolk is still many hours from here. If we don't get this looked at, you could shear your eccentric crank and main rod clean off," Howard urged. "And even if you don't, I seriously doubt you're going to enjoy the ride from here to Norfolk."

Daemon admitted that Howard did have a point and he looked at Madison. "Would the N&W be willin' ta have a look at me once we git ta Norfolk?"

"Of course Daemon," Madison said. "They're letting you come to Norfolk to say thank you to you in the first place. Norfolk and Western still has some of the best steam mechanics anywhere in the country. They'd be happy to have a look at you and fix whatever needs fixing."

That made Daemon's mind up once and for all. "Then in Norfolk is where ya'll can do whatever work ya need ta on me. Not here, and not anywhere else along the danged way neither." He gazed into Madison's adoring eyes and felt the powerful love she had for him radiating from her. "Now I may not enjoy the ride, but for her, I'll endure some pain. We's gonna be married an' ain't nothin' gonna stop that."

Madison's heart swelled. "I love you Daemon," she said softly.

"I loves ya too Madison."

Howard thought hard about the whole situation. In any other instance, he would've overruled Daemon's desire and ordered him into the shop right away. But damn it, Daemon was only a few months away from retirement. If he couldn't come through for his engine now in the twilight of his career, what good would he have served his engine all the other years of his life?

And there was the problem itself to consider. If Howard ordered Daemon off the train and into the shop now, there was no way Cotton Belt would repair him. Not with his retirement only a few months away. They'd just retire him now and cut their losses. He would derelict and Pine Bluff would most likely not be able to acquire him. If that happened, the cutting torch would be Daemon's final fate. Howard couldn't let that happen. He had to give his engine every possible chance to live on and steam again sometime in the future.

As much as Howard didn't want to believe it, Daemon's best chance for survival was to continue onward to Norfolk and pray his eccentric crank didn't give out before then. There were things that could be done to lessen the odds. He'd have to shut off Daemon's steam and just let freewheel from here on. That would put considerably less pressure on his running gear. And they'd have to stop to rest every couple of hundred miles or so. But they could do it. They had to do it.

Reluctantly, but knowing it was for the best, Howard gave in. "All right Daemon," he said. "We'll try to make Norfolk. But if your eccentric crank shears between here and there, wherever it happens is as far as you go."

Daemon understood what Howard was getting at. "Yes sir," was all he replied with.

"Where's the Baltimore and Ohio train we're supposed to link up with?" Howard wondered.

"Right here," a new voice called out.

Sitting just to Daemon's left was a dark blue, Baltimore and Ohio streamlined steam locomotive. Numbered 5301, she was female and wore a pleasant expression on her face with an infectious smile. Stenciled on her tender along with the name the railroad she served were the words "President Adams" in gold script.

She was a Baltimore and Ohio P-7 class 4-6-2 engine. Better known as the "Presidential" class, she and her 19 sisters each bore the names of the US's first 21 presidents. This particular engine was unique in that she was only one of her sisters to pay tribute to two US Presidents… President John Adams and President John Quincy Adams.

It was engine Daemon knew well as he'd met her several times before in St. Louis when she'd been in command of either the National Limited or the Diplomat. "Caitlin?" he said happily.

"Yup," she said cheerfully. "How you doing Daemon?"

"Well, I's been better," he said, groaning at his pained drivers shortly thereafter. "But Don't ya worry none Miss Caitlin. I'll be just fine."

Madison was surprised. "How do you know Caitlin?"

"Aw shoot, Caitlin an' I met years ago when she were pullin' the National Limited between here and Washington," Daemon said. "Lotsa Mornin' Star passengers used ta transfer ta the National Limited from here."

It truly is a small world when you really think about it, Madison thought.

"I still do pull the National Limited," Caitlin remarked. "And tons of passengers still make the transfer. Oh Daemon, how I do wish you were still the chief engine assigned to the Morning Star."

"Me too," he replied. "But with them two PA-1 nitwits breakin' down as often as they does… I's still assigned ta it often enough."

"And you're much better company than those two, I assure you," Caitlin replied. She turned to Madison. "Good to see you again Madison."

Because Caitlin was streamlined like she was, Madison had always had a measure of respect for the B&O engine, even if she was smaller. "Likewise Caitlin," she replied. "Good to see you're holding up well."

"For the moment yes," Caitlin replied. "Though I'm not certain how much longer that will be the case."

Madison merely nodded, preferring not to say anything and remind herself of Daemon's impending retirement.

"Well now ya'll got me curious," Daemon said. "How in tarnation do ya'll know each other?"

"We met in Chicago a few years back," Madison replied. "I'd been called in at short notice by the Nickel Plate to handle the Nickel Plate Limited between Cleveland and Chicago. Their regular power for the train had broken down and by chance I was in Columbus at the time. Nickel Plate called Norfolk & Western, explained the problem and I was asked to 'pinch hit' as it were."

Daemon cringed slightly when Madison mentioned Chicago. That's where she'd linked up with most of the other male engines she'd had flings with. "Chicago, huh?"

Madison knew he'd get a little glum when she mentioned that city and she steamed up as close to him as she could. "Daemon, I'll never be able to apologize to you enough for my behavior. But please believe me when I say that whatever happened back then is all in the past." She gave him a kiss to prove her sincerity.

"I know my Texas peach," he said. "Tarnation, if I felt otherwise, ya think I'd be goin' ta all this trouble ta git ta Norfolk with ya? It's just a little hard to hear that city's name an' not be reminded o' what happened."

Madison smiled. "I understand Daemon." She gave him another kiss.

Caitlin smiled. "Your true boyfriend?" she asked.

Madison smiled. "Yes," she replied. "My true boyfriend."

Back when Caitlin had first met Madison, she'd been going around with Blue from the Santa Fe… an engine that had always disgusted Caitlin. And she never quite knew why Madison was going around with him. Until, in a rare display of depression, Madison had confided in Caitlin that she had a true boyfriend, one that she was crazy in love with. But he lived down south and being separated from him was tearing her apart inside.

Being much older than Madison, Caitlin had done her best to counsel her that trying to drown out the pain of being separated from her 'man' by going around with other men was only going to lead to trouble. Madison had indicated, somewhat coolly, that she was aware of that. And yet she'd had at least one other affair after she and Blue had split up.

"I've made some foolish mistakes in the past," Madison said. "Some of which have come back to haunt me recently and were it not for Daemon… well I don't know what would've happened. But all that's in the past now. Daemon and I are going to be married. It's what I want more than anything."

"Me too darlin'," he said.

Being the excitable engine that she was, Caitlin was over the moon when she heard the news. "Are you serious? Married? You two are really getting married?"

"Yes we are," Madison said. She looked at Daemon. "And no matter what, it will be the happiest day of my life."

"Mine too lil' darlin'."

Over the noise of the St. Louis yards, Caitlin whistled loudly in excitement. "This is wonderful you two! I've never heard of locomotives getting married before! Oh I wish I could be at the ceremony! You'll be the most beautiful bride ever Madison!"

"Caitlin, calm down," Madison said. "Maybe there's a chance you can be at the ceremony."

"If there is, I'm there," she squealed. "Just let me know when." She whistled again and said, "Well then, let's get you all coupled up and on your way! We can't have you two arriving late to your own wedding!"

Madison was pleasantly surprised. "We're traveling with you then?"

Caitlin nodded. "Yup. I'll take you from here to Cincinnati on the National Limited," she explained. "Your sister, Morrigan, called ahead and she'll be waiting for you there with the Powhatan Arrow."

"Sounds good ta me lil' darlin'," Daemon said.

"Me too," Madison agreed. "Let's get underway. Like you said Caitlin, I don't want to be late to my own wedding."

Island of Sodor – Vicarstown Sheds

Present Day

"So that's how you know her."

"Know who?" Daemon wondered.

"Caitlin," Erika said. "When you saw her at the American Steam Days Festival, you greeted each other as old friends. I wondered where you'd met her before."

"Oh yeah," he replied. "I's known Caitlin since… well tarnation, pretty much since day one. It weren't long after I was built that I first met her in Saint Louie. She didn't come ta that place as often as she did in her later years. Saint Louie became more her territory after she were bumped from the Capitol Limited by diesels. And she done stayed on the National Limited or the Diplomat for pretty much the rest o' her career."

"Yeah, I know," Erika said. "She said as much to me not long after I first met her."

"Did she?" Daemon asked. "Well now that brings me ta a question if ya doesn't mind lil' darlin'."

"Shoot," Erika asked.

"How did ya'll meet Caitlin?" he wondered. "I mean I can only think o' two places where ya mighta met her… St. Louie and Chicago. Neither one o' them places is exactly a hop, skip an' a jump from California."

Erika smiled. "You're right Daemon. I met her in Chicago back during the 1950s."

Daemon was surprised. "Now what in tarnation was ya doin' all the way out there?"

Erika explained. "It didn't happen that often, but late in my career I found myself assigned to the Golden State train more than a few times. Now as you probably know, ordinarily the SP handed that train off to the Rock Island in Tucumcari, New Mexico."

"Right, with ya so far," Daemon acknowledged.

"Well there were a few occasions when the Rock Island lacked adequate power to take over the train or on one occasion, the Rock Island locomotives broke down as they were leaving. So I got to haul the train the entire way from Los Angeles to Chicago."

"An' that's how you met Caitlin then, huh?"

"More or less," Erika confirmed. "We didn't go to the same terminal in Chicago. But most of the engine facilities in that area were very close together, so we all just kind of mingled once our jobs were done. Let me tell you how odd it felt to be "rubbing shoulders" so to speak with engines from the Atlantic Coast Line and the Canadian National among others." She smiled at distant, yet pleasant memories. "I've rarely said this, or even admitted it, but spending time in that place with all those engines from different parts of the country are some of the happiest memories I have from my career. Especially in those later years."

"Aw that's great lil' darlin'," Daemon said. "I sure is glad ya got ta experience that."

Erika sighed. "But enough about that. What happened when you and Madison got to Cincinnati?"

Author's Note 1: Harold J. McKenzie was president of the Cotton Belt from July 1st, 1951 to October, 31st, 1969. Robert H. Smith was president of the Norfolk & Western from sometime in 1946 to March 31st, 1958. Smith was succeeded by Stuart T. Saunders in 1958 who, in 1963, would become the CEO of the Pennsylvania Railroad and in 1968, the only CEO of the failed Penn Central merger.

Author's Note 2: Corsicana, Texas is one of the places where the Southern Pacific ended and the Cotton Belt started.

Author's Note 3: I do not own Caitlin, but I expanded on her character a bit to make her fit within the time period. B&O engine #5301 was indeed the only P-7 "Presidential" class engine to pay tribute to two US Presidents. It was also the first of four of the P-7 class to be streamlined, the others being the President Jefferson, the President Madison and the President Monroe.