She could still hear them all the way at the front. Her brows furrowed as she tried to distract herself and enjoy the route.

"I'll tell me ma when I go home

The boys won't leave the gi–"

"Yeh're askin' fer a righ' smack if'n yeh donnae le' me have a go!"

"They pulled me hair, and stole my comb

But that's alright 'til I go ho–"

"It's my turn to have a go at being in a long train! You hogged the controls all day yesterday!"

"She is handsome, she is prett–"

"Och I'll show you hoggin' the controls c'mere yeh jessie."

"BOYS!"

Emily turned around and screeched back at the autotank. There was a short line of heavy mineral wagons between them, but even still she heard every scathing words passing up the line. A sadistic game of telephone she couldn't hang up on.

"Aye Emily!" Douglas called as he leaned out the cab waving frantically. "Tell Oliver he's lost it and tha' it's my turn to drive!"

"Emily! Douglas lead each train we took yesterday! Tell him to back off, it's my go!"

Emily blew Number 12s whistle loudly as she stared down the two men over the line of wagons.

"I'll have both of you strapped to the tracks if you don't figure a way to get along!" She hollered back. "Douglas I saw you at Crosby yesterday on the regulator. It's Oliver's go. Oliver! Stop being bullied by Douglas!"

"He's not bullyin–" "I'm nae bullyin–" They both tried to retort as Emily blew the whistle again.

"She's a courtin' one, two, three.

Pray won't you tell me who is she."

"Ransacked? But nothing taken?" Sir Topham Hatt was pacing around his office as the station manager stood at the door watching him nervously.

"And it was just the southern branch, Lower Suddery and Brendam?"

"Both were searched and both reported nothing missing." The station manager replied.

"It doesn't make any sense." Sir Topham had sat heavily behind his desk throwing a paper on the desk. The headline declaring, "Robbers strike railway."

"Police reports say it's a similar pattern to the string of burglaries in the towns."

Sir Topham Hatt looked out the window as Number 4 pulled in punctually with the express.

"Why break into a station master's office? Why not take anything? I'm at a loss."

His face beaded with sweat, he pulled a white handkerchief from his coat pocket and mopped his forehead.

"John, do me a favor. Get me in contact with the chief of Police. If someone is terrorizing my railway I'm going to see to it they pay."

Emily returned with 3 egg salad sandwiches and tossed one a piece to Oliver and Douglas. The three sat cordially on crates in the yard having delivered their wagons to the adjoining siding.

"Fill up. Food always makes for better attitudes." She stated as she began unwrapping hers.

"Nae a thing wrong with my attitude." Douglas scoffed as he took a heaping bite, avoiding Emily's glare completely.

Ignoring him completely Emily broke off a small portion of her sandwich.

"Is it alright if I give a little to him?" She gestured at the patient beggar to her right.

"Sure. Loves egg because he looks like an egg." Oliver laughed as Emily held her open palm out.

"Here Toady. Just for you."

The wee pup swallowed it up and sat protectively on Emily's foot, panting gently.

"Room fer one moore?"

"Donnie!" Douglas scooted on his crate and patted enthusiastically next to him.

Donald had finished his train and come around the recently delivered mineral wagons.

"Wha' a day." He sighed as he flumped into the open seat.

"What happened to you?" Oliver asked taking his last bite of sandwich.

"This blether a' the station wouldnae leave meh alone. Gommy bastar' followed meh all over the place askin' abou' my engine an' what not."

"That's.. odd. " Emily surmised

"I hope yeh kicked his scabby backside to the ground" Douglas protested.

"Nae, he was a flitcherin' babe. One toss an' I'd have sent the poore man to an earleh grave."

"Did he want a ride? Did he want to buy your engine?" Emily asked curiously.

"I don't know Emileh!" Donald started getting annoyed. "He jus' wouldnae leave meh in peace an' quiet!"

"I should have brought you a sandwich." Emily sneered as the four-some plus toad continued their lunch.

BAM! Plot! Lol. I said it before, but writing an accent is horrible. And it sucks because I honestly love Donald and Douglas so much. All I can do is ask forgiveness for my missteps and I hope it doesn't distract too much from the narrative.

As always thank you all so much for reading! -REN