Once Stephanie had closed the window from singing towards Diesel and Diesel 10, she sighed and pushed back a loose strand of hair that was in front of her face.
Her long brown hair was pulled up from being inside the Steamworks from Henry, meeting Victor along with his cute and silly crane, Kevin.
Since she had encountered anthropomorphic locomotives before, Stephanie had been calm about it, feeling like she was born with this around her.
But the back of her head told her she does not belong on this island and belongs where she used to live, back in Marysville.
Ignoring the thought in the back of her head, Stephanie went back to the book on the desk she had recently pulled down from the shelves, sitting down in front of it on the chair.
She reached over to the light switch and flicked it on, shining the light onto the cover of the book.
The title of the book reads, "The History of Locomotives on The North Western Railway."
Sir Topham Hatt's name at the bottom too, which seemed confusing to Stephanie.
At first, Stephanie thought she might be in trouble if she was caught reading something personal from Sir Topham Hatt himself since the book has his name on it.
She hesitated for a moment, thinking to herself about the consequences she might get if either the maids discover her, butlers, or Sir Topham Hatt himself!
The hair on the back of Stephanie's neck prickled slightly in fear about the thought, but gathering her courage, she decided to take the risk and have a quick look.
Shakily reaching over with a hand, Stephanie opened the book to the first page, allowing her curiosity.
The first page had the diagram of a FR 21/K2 class, except without a face.
This curious Stephanie as she read the page about the class, including how to operate the locomotive, the fuel types it needs, and how to repair it, too.
Stephanie continued reading about the locomotive through the three pages, which are written in perfect handwriting so that anyone else could study the designs.
Once she had reached the last page of the FR 21/K2 class, Stephanie flipped the next page of the book in the curiosity of what else could be inside, only to come to another diagram.
The next page showed a picture of an LB&SCR E2 class, and just like the first three pages, it explains how to operate the steam locomotive, what fuel types it needs, and how to repair it.
It took about five pages to explain everything, but Stephanie read through them carefully to examine every detail.
She flipped to the next engine, an LNER Gresley A1 that looked almost like Gordon, except a little different from how she remembered.
Stephanie flipped through the pages of the class like the previous pages.
She learned how to fix it if it was broken, even learning about what type of fuel it needs and how to operate it, too.
After flipping through nine pages of the class and the description, Stephanie moved onto the next locomotive, an LMS Stanier Class 5 "Black Five," that looked like Henry.
Stephanie read through the pages of how the machine worked, which fuel the locomotive runs on, including the diagrams.
Stephanie even read about how to operate the locomotive through the pages.
It took about ten to eleven pages to understand the complete process of how the locomotive works until Stephanie moved onto the next one.
The next steam train was an L&YR Class 28, which curious Stephanie more as she became engrossed in the book.
She carefully read through the pages of how the locomotive works, with the parts and the fuel.
Stephanie even read about operating the locomotive, too, if she has the chance to run it.
After seven pages of the description, Stephanie stopped for a moment and glanced over at the clock, noticing it was noon.
A voice cleared his throat from the background, causing Stephanie to jolt after hearing the noise, her shoulder hunching slightly with worry.
"Miss Allen?" Stephanie slowly turned around and noticed it was Sir Topham Hatt's butler, Reginald. "It is lunchtime."
"Al-Already?" Stephanie stammered. "I was only reading for about…"
She paused for a moment and glanced over at the clock for a moment.
"For three or four hours?" Stephanie finished, shrugging her shoulders slightly to herself.
Reginald hummed to himself slightly in thought, remembering Stephanie entering the house at around eight or nine in the morning.
"You did come to the mansion around eight or nine o'clock in the morning," Reginald explained, gently rubbing the bottom of his chin. "So, you did stay here in the library for about three or four hours."
Stephanie turned back to him and said, "Thank you."
Reginald nodded his head once and stepped into the library, noticing the book in front of Stephanie.
A shy blush appeared on Stephanie's cheeks when Reginald noticed the book Sir Topham Hatt wrote, expecting punishment.
But, Reginald said instead, "I see you have found Sir Topham Hatt's father's book."
Stephanie flinched when he explained as she slowly glanced over at it on the desk as the page was stopped on about the L&YR Class 28 steam train.
"This is his father's book?" Stephanie cringed.
She felt like she was going to be in more trouble with Sir Topham Hatt himself.
Reginald nodded his head and said, "I did not expect you to be curious about reading books in a library. Most people I have known usually pull out their phone and text."
Stephanie glanced to the side and nodded her head in agreement.
Her foster-father's 'friends' would come over to have a visit with him from time to time from different countries and long-distance traveling.
Some would sit down on the couch and text on their phone or talk to someone, possibly either drinking tea or any beverages.
Reginald waited patiently for Stephanie to place a bookmark where she had left off and stood up from the desk, clicking the light off and pushing the chair in.
Once she had pushed her chair in and turned her lamp light off, Stephanie followed Reginald to the living room, where the long table was at.
To Stephanie's relief, Sir Topham Hatt was not there.
Reginald pulled out a chair for Stephanie to sit down and placed a napkin on her lap.
Stephanie waited as Reginald prepared her lunch, looking confused by the kindness he was showing.
She said nothing about it but watched as he walked into the kitchen to fetch something.
On the other hand, she admits she is rather hungry because she had eaten nothing for a long time.
During the time, Stephanie quietly ate her lunch, thinking to herself about the strangeness around Sodor.
She felt like a stranger around here after Ms. Dowager Hatt found her at the docks.
Even though they are sentient, it does not help Stephanie but felt like she is being watched.
Sir Topham Hatt's butler noticed that she was being weirdly slow with her eating, even after having four tuna sandwiches.
"Is there something the matter, Ms. Allen?" Reginald asked. "You are eating too slow on your food."
Stephanie stopped eating and glanced up at Sir Topham Hatt's butler, answering, "Do you think I am a stranger?"
Reginald cocked an eyebrow at Stephanie, looking confused.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Everyone is weirdly nice to me," Stephanie continued, placing her sandwich down on the plate. "I just came from America here with no passports or IDs and came underneath Ms. Dowager Hatt's wing unwillingly."
She rubbed the back of her left hand nervously.
Reginald thought to himself after Stephanie explained her thoughts about why everyone is so friendly to her.
He answered after thinking to himself for a moment, "Because you were never a threat to us, Ms. Allen."
Stephanie perked and glanced over at him.
"You may be adventurous, curious, and attend to slow everyone down a little." Reginald continued, causing Stephanie to blush slightly out of sheepishness. "But, you were never a threat. You are only a lost little girl and maybe a runaway from your father."
She glanced down at her hands after Reginald had mentioned her father, mentally thinking about it.
"Now, don't mind me, but you might as well finish your lunch," Reginald gently spoke. "You don't want to miss out on what else that book holds."
Stephanie glanced down at her sandwich for a moment before nodding her head.
"And, I will tell Sir Topham Hatt that you have read his father's book," he added.
Her blush brightened a little when he mentioned Sir Topham Hatt's father.
Once she had finished her ninth sandwich, Stephanie went back to the library and turned the lamp on.
She sat down on the same chair she was sitting on and opened the book to the bookmarked page.
Stephanie flipped to the next page, and it was about an Avonside Saddle Tank.
This locomotive piqued Stephanie's curiosity by how it looked and operated.
She had never heard of an Avionside Saddle Tank locomotive.
So, Stephanie read through the pages, studying how the steam train works, the fuel, including the parts.
It lasted through eight pages before flipping to the next locomotive type, a GER class C53.
Stephanie read about the GWR 5700 Classes, CR Class 812, BR Class 08, and many more!
She joked to herself that this book is never-ending.
But, while studying through the pages, a steam train caught Stephanie's attention.
It was a Nevada Central No. 2 steam train, and underneath the diagram was the name 'Casey Jones Sr' and 'Casey Jones Jr.'
The first name had the words 'Deceased' at the bottom of the title, but the second one did not.
However, the second name has 'Replaced' at the end.
It saddened Stephanie a little when she read that word, feeling sorry for the locomotive.
After she had read through nine pages of the locomotive, Stephanie flipped over to the next locomotive.
Half of her mind expected another steam train, bus, or any other locomotive.
But it was a robot instead!
Stephanie was surprised to see a robot instead of a locomotive in the book but curiously read about it.
She read through the pages about the robot until Stephanie got to the back of the book.
After reading the last page, Stephanie lifted the book from the desk she was reading to close it.
During that movement, something fell out from inside the book.
It landed on the ground between her sock-covered feet and the desk.
At first, Stephanie felt worried that she might have accidentally dropped a page from the book.
And get in trouble with Sir Topham Hatt if he notices some crucial pages were missing.
But her curiosity, on the other hand, got the best of her.
Stephanie closed the book she was reading through and reached down to the paper that had dropped out.
It was a folded piece of paper instead of being a page, and Stephanie feels more curious about what it could be.
Opening the folded paper, Stephanie noticed it was a map!
The map had different spots of various places where some locomotives Stephanie had read from the book.
Some are miles away from where the mansion is, but one of them was close and hidden deep inside the forest.
One had a JNR Class D51, but the spot was crossed off with ink that it was difficult for her to read.
Stephanie felt excited to save the locomotives that have been locked away for a long time.
Despite being new on the island, Stephanie felt like it was unfair on the old steam trains.
They have been working here for a long time, only to be scrapped the next week or more if they started showing age.
She wanted to help people, even locomotives, who are kind to other people.
Folding the map back, Stephanie tucked it into her pocket and closed the book, placing it back on the shelf.
After placing the book back on the shelf, Stephanie exited the library.
Stopping in the middle of the hallway while heading towards her room, she glanced over at the clock.
It reads 5:45, past lunchtime, which meant she had been reading for a much longer time than what she suspected.
Stephanie sighed and rubbed the back of her neck with her hand, feeling most of her bones ache slightly from leaning over the desk reading books.
Maybe she was reading a little too much in the library.
But, since she was a little girl, Stephanie loved reading books, remembering times when she would travel beyond worlds and learn new things that she had never found out before.
A soft smile appeared on her face when she remembered as a kid before her parents died.
Always wanting to read thicker books at the library and asking her mother to read or tell her a story.
She sighed and exited out of the hallway, heading towards her room to have the rest of the day off from reading.
As she had the map of the lost locomotives tucked into the pocket of her blue jeans.
