It was the Christmas of 1866, and Rheneas was exhausted working on the coal runs between stations.

"Nearly there, old boy," Said his driver, "We're nearly at the end, and then we can rest before returning to the sheds."

Sounds delightful, Driver," Rheneas commented wearily. Still, it hadn't been a bad day's work if he did say so himself. The day had been chilly and short, but he and Skarloey had been kept busy, delivering food and coal to the station for their friends in the villages up and down the line, in between their usual duties.

"Wonder if Skarloey's alright," Muttered Rheneas, looking up at the clouds. It was nearly three, and it was starting to get dark already. Fortunately for him, he was near Skarloey Station, the railway's terminus, so when he finished there, he could head back to the sheds. (Mr. Mack had been warned of a particularly bad blizzard tonight, and he wanted the two little engines back in their shed before the storm hit.)

….

As he passed the lake, Rheneas saw a tiny figure on the frozen surface, pretending to skate. As much as he wanted to smile at the innocence, he was also wary that the ice could be too fragile to support a human; even one as small as a child.

What happened next seemed to happen in both slow motion and yet simultaneously in a flash. The ice gave way, and the child disappeared with a faint scream. Rheneas watched this scene in horror, momentarily lost for words. When he did manage to speak, he forced out the words.

"Driver, stop!"

"What is it, old boy?" Asked his driver, applying Rheneas's brakes and brining the last of his train to a halt.

"I saw a child fall through the ice and into the lake!" Rheneas replied frantically. "We have to do something, or they'll drown!"

"You're right," said his driver, studying the lake. "Give me the shunter's pole," he added to the fireman.

The fireman complied, before stoking up his engine's fire. "I'll keep this warm for when you get back," he said.

The driver nodded, before running out of the cab, over the fence and towards the lake. Rheneas stayed put, biting his lip; all thoughts of getting home to a cosy shed were out of the window.

….

The driver ran to the lake, before venturing onto its icy surface. Nearby, he could hear the frantic thrashing of a child in distress, frenzied splashing and attempted screams and cries- only for the noise to be muffled.

He lowered the shunter's pole, using it to guide the child to the edge before lifting her out of the water; for it was a wee girl of only seven or eight that had suffered such a tragic plight. The driver looked frantically for where the little girl could have come from; but it was nearly nightfall, and she needed his help urgently if she were to have any chance of surviving this unexpected accident.

Cursing under his breath, he tramped back through the snow to reunite with Rheneas and his fireman.

….

Once the fireman had Rheneas's fire stoked to such a great heat, he then blew the whistle to attract the driver's attention and safely guide him back up towards the line. Rheneas was trembling; partially from the cold, and partially from fear that they were too late to save the poor wee one in distress.

"Oh, I couldn't bear it! I couldn't!" He quivered. His usual sternness and stoicism had long deserted him; his emotions were running high, and he was hoping for the best outcome, but also very, very fearful of the worst.

….

At last, the driver reached his engine, the little girl in his arms, bundled in his jacket. Rheneas listened with dread to his crew's curses and hasty assurances as they lifted her into the cab and gently lain her next to his firebox, hoping to coax some warmth to her body.

….

Five minutes passed, then ten. Fifteen. Twenty-five. Thirty-nine.

….

An hour after the driver's return to the footplate, the fireman came out with grim news. "I'm afraid we lost her, old boy." He said solemnly. "I'm sorry."

Rheneas felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of cold water into his firebox. "But… how…?" he whispered in shock.

"We did what we could to warm her, but she succumbed to hypothermia, may God rest her soul." The fireman informed him quietly.

Rheneas couldn't tell if he was going to scream, cry or curse. "What now?" He managed instead, through gritted teeth.

"Well, I've been asked to tell you what's happened and then we're going to Skarloey to report it to the station. This'll need to go to the police, I'm afraid. They can track down the child's mother from there. And, also, Rheneas" he cleared his throat. "I'm very sorry this had to happen, old boy, but I'm proud of you for acting so promptly. Even if we couldn't save her, at least she was spared dying alone in that wretched lake."

Rheneas felt tears prick his eyes, but he said nothing, and he remained silent all the way to Skarloey Station.

….

The child was hastily brought into the station, wrapped in the coats of the crew, and the stationmaster managed to contact the police, urging them to come as soon as possible.

Rheneas finally gave in to agonized sobs, feeling sick that he and his crew were living out such a horrible nightmare, and that a poor innocent little girl died in spite of their endeavours to ensure otherwise.

….

The police arrived at the station as quick as they could come, and they interviewed Rheneas's crew about the incident. They both reported what had happened, and when the police finished with the two men, they were allowed to leave to get themselves and their little engine home.

As the blizzard Mr. Mack had predicted did come on just as Rheneas left the station of his namesake, he had no choice but to take the rest of the journey back to the sheds with great caution. The police interviews, combined with the bad weather, meant it was very late indeed by the time Rheneas crawled home to the shed and let himself drop off into an uneasy sleep, grateful Skarloey wasn't awake to pester him with questions or timekeeping related jeers.

….

Rheneas awoke late the next day, to find Mr. Mack standing with an attractive young woman, her blonde hair secured under a shawl, and her dress all black. Her ocean-blue eyes were brimmed with tears, and her cheeks were so pale she almost looked whitewashed.

"Rheneas, this is Mrs. Rebecca Pine, the mother of the little girl whom you and your crew saved from the lake yesterday." He said, before turning to her. "My sincere condolences for your loss, Mrs. Pine."

"Thank, you, Mr. Mack," Replied the lady, softly, before turning to Rheneas. "I heard about what happened to my little Lucy- from… from the police."

"Yes, and I'm very sorry, ma'am," Rheneas replied, sadly. "My crew did all they could to save your daughter's life, and yet…" he swallowed. "I wish we could have done more."

"But you did do something." Said Mrs. Pine, solemnly. "I know I'll never see my wee Lucy again, but I can at least remember someone did something for her in her hour of need, and I wanted to thank you for doing all you and your crew could to save my daughter's life, and to you for alerting your crew to my girl's plight the moment you saw it."

At Rheneas's quizzical look, she explained she had heard the details from the police, who in turn got it all from the stationmaster at Skarloey, who had been told all this by Rheneas's crew.

"I… I appreciate you coming, Mrs. Pine, especially in the face of your loss," Said Rheneas, kindly. "I understand it must have been difficult."

"Unbearable…" She murmured. "I lost my John to the coal mines only two months ago, and now our… darling Lucy…" She tried to stifle her sobs. "It's only me and little James left now…"

Mr. Mack withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her, which she graciously accepted.

Rheneas felt even worse on hearing this admission- not only was this poor lady recently widowed, but she had now also lost a young daughter, and had a little son, waiting for her, and probably wondering where his sister was.

The little engine held it together until Mr. Mack had escorted Mrs. Pine away, and then broke down into noisy sobs that echoed through the empty shed.

….

Mr. Bobbie had heard the sorrowful news and had let Rheneas be for the day. He also had to tell Skarloey to give Rheneas peace.

"Hmph, what's the matter with him?" Skarloey asked irritably.

"Not for me to say, old chap," Said Mr. Bobbie in response. "But please, Skarloey, show your brother some kindness, he needs it right now."

Skarloey didn't approve, but he dared not argue with Mr. Bobbie, and so he dropped the subject.

….

When night fell again, Rheneas found it difficult to sleep; memories of his meeting with Mrs. Pines, combined with those of the tragic accident that robbed Lucy of her precious life, were disturbing him from restful slumbers, so he could only stare at the stars in a melancholic manner.

"Hey, what's the matter with you, boyo?" a voice yawned. "Can't sleep?"

Rheneas jumped, but it was only Skarloey, looking over at him in curiosity. "What's been up with you, Rheneas? I've been hearing the men walk on eggshells whenever your name came up in conversation, but no one would tell me why!"

"I didn't want you finding out from anyone other than me," Muttered Rheneas dully. "Yet it's… it's so hard to articulate what happened."

"Something happened on the coal runs two days ago, correct?" Skarloey asked.

"Er… yes, something did happen."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Why would you care?"

"I know you and I argue a lot, and we have different attitudes to work… but you're still my brother," Skarloey said, quietly. "I want to help you, Rheneas. Will you let me in?"

Rheneas looked from the stars to his brother's face, now a look of concern.

"Skarloey, please…" Rheneas pleaded.

"I know I can't pry," Said the older engine, "but I want to help you, even if it means doing something as small as listening to you…"

He was puzzled when he heard Rheneas mumble something about "… smallest things not being enough."

"Come again?"

Rheneas jumped again, not realising Skarloey had even caught on to the mumbling in the first place. "Sorry, Skarloey, I just…" Tears pooled in his eyes, and he fought to blink them away.

"Don't fight it." Skarloey informed him. "Resistance is futile when the heart is concerned."

"I… I don't know if you heard," Choked Rheneas, "But a little girl… she… she fell in Skarloey Lake two days ago… and succumbed to hypothermia after her rescue…"

Skarloey gasped in shock and horror. Of all the things he could have heard about, a child's death was not one he had expected.

True, he had heard mentions of a tragic accident involving a young girl, but he hadn't realised Rheneas had some connection with the accident.

"I… I happened to be passing the lake when I saw her fall in," Explained Rheneas. "The ice broke beneath her feet and she just… disappeared." He swallowed. "I… I told my crew what happened, and my driver…. He… he brought her back to my cab… and they tried to warm… warm her…"

Skarloey saw that Rheneas was swallowing more, as though struggling to get the words out.

"I take it she passed away?" Asked Skarloey gently. He took his brother's silence for an affirmative, and silence descended onto the sheds.

"I'm sorry…"

"What for?"

"I couldn't save her- we… we tried, and it wasn't enough to save her…" Rheneas said, and he began to cry.

Skarloey said nothing, but ever so gently wheeshed a small cloud of steam towards his brother, hoping it would offer him some comfort, being unable to actually provide any physical contact himself.

"It's not your fault, Rheneas, and don't you apologise." You did what you could, as did your crew. No one could have asked for more from you… and if anyone dares think otherwise, they've got me to answer to!"

Rheneas managed a small smile at that statement, despite his mood. "Thank you, Skarloey," He said quietly. "But I still feel that I could've done more."

"you did what you could, brother, and I'm proud of you for it," Said Skarloey.

"Thank you," Said Rheneas feebly.

"Her mother did tell me, the day after her death, that she couldn't have asked for anything more from my crew or I," Said Rheneas. "But I still felt awful- more so when I heard the lady was a widow and had only her children."

"I'm sure, given time, she'll find peace with her loss, if not completely recover from it," Replied Skarloey, simply. "And I'm sure you will, too, brother."