Chapter 19:

The train arrived at 6:00 am the next day. The passengers were gently awakened by the employees who knocked on the doors, allowed themselves to enter and opened the curtains. Alaska had the particularity of remaining 6 months in the dark and the other 6 months under the sun. And they had arrived in Sitka during the daytime. William had done so much research on this beautiful country. He knew that from mid-November to the end of January, the sun did not rise north of the Arctic Circle, because the tilt of the Earth deviated from the most direct solar radiation. Well… he had no one to talk to about this. Most of the time, it bored people easily…

Still, when they arrived at 5:56 a.m. in Sitka, Alaska and the train finally stopped, it was broad daylight. So, when the employees opened the curtains for the passengers, it woke them all up.

William had gotten ready and went straight out with his bag that he had already packed the day before. He looked one last time at his cabin. It was just goodbye anyway. In three days, he would be back here. He closed the door of his compartment and came face to face with the Savard and he stopped himself from breathing. Why was he unlucky?

"Oh! Mr. Murdoch! Have you prepared your things?" Mildred asked rhetorically. "I hope the hotel will be as good as the train. We're paying for an experience, right?"

William smiled politely but said nothing. What could he say to that?

"Milly… You know the Night Train Station is reliable. We will have a superb hotel, I am sure. And you, what do you think Murdoch?" asked Nathaniel Savard, who was emerging from the compartment, several bags in his hands.

"Yes, yes of course…"

"Are you coming with us?" Milly hoped, smiling kindly at William.

The young man was taken aback and quickly thought of an excuse to decline the invitation. He opened his mouth when he heard a voice coming from behind him.

"Excuse me, sir… You had to help me with my suitcase…"

William felt his heart jump out of his chest when he met Julia Ogden's bright eyes. He quickly turned to the Savard who were still watching him eagerly.

"Yes…yes sorry…I had to help Miss Ogden with her suitcase." he replied uncertainly, before reflexively rubbing his hand behind his head when he felt embarrassed.

"Of course… No worries." Nathan smiled before going back to get the rest of his things in their compartment.

William quickly joined Julia who, to his surprise, put her arm directly in his before leading her to the other side of the hall and closing the door behind them. She smiled at him, then gently let go of his arm.

"I saved your life." she joked.

The young man could not help but smile admiringly.

"Indeed… I don't know what I would have done without you." he continued, his eyes still a little bright.

It was quite amazing. Only a few hours ago, they were arguing about nothing in particular. Moreover, the events of the day before seemed to have "reconciled" them. The fact that William defended the young woman with Inspector Brackenreid. And the moment when Julia had shown a generous, kind, and brilliant facet on her part had captivated the young man. Something had really changed between them.

"Good…" she smiled embarrassed. Her cheeks slightly rosy. "I will leave you alone."

She turned with one last look at him and walked to the end of the hallway before William awoke from his dream.

"Wait!"

He joined her quickly while the young doctor looked at him curiously.

"Do you need help? For your luggage or your business?" asked the detective gallantly, hopeful.

"Oh… I wouldn't want to disturb you…" replied Julia shyly, lowering her eyes slightly.

A shyness that moved William directly.

"You don't bother me… I'm the one offering it to you." he smiled at her.

Doctor Ogden nodded, finally accepting William's help, and walking back ahead of him. He followed her to the compartment he had been in front of when he had seen Magnus Duval come out… Well… He must not think about that anymore.

"You know…you look even better when you smile…it suits you." Miss Ogden suddenly declared, meeting the gaze of a totally stunned William.

"I…thank you." William stammered, not really knowing how to react.

He watched her open the door to her compartment and hold it for him to enter. He complied, passing so close to the doctor that he felt her floral scent fill his nostrils. With his back to her, he could not stop a smile from spreading across his face. She thought he was handsome...

He looked around and saw a suitcase and two bags already ready just in front of the unmade bed.

"Do you have anything else?"

"Nope." replied Miss Ogden, approaching the young man. "Everything is here. I'll take the suitcase and you can take the bags?"

"Yes of course." he smiled gently.

He lifted the bags with ease and walked past the young woman who, suitcase in hand, closed the door behind them. They walked quietly through the different hallways, in silence, only enjoying each other's presence. On their way they passed Westley Novak and Nora Champagne in a rather passionate embrace near the young man's compartment door. They separated when they heard movement and apologized to Julia and William, embarrassed. The young detective simply lowered his gaze not wanting the blush in his cheeks to betray his discomfort. He risked a glance at Miss Ogden who, to his dismay, was staring at him, her eyes mirroring his. They looked away uncomfortably and continued their way in silence. Near the exit of the train, they came across Magnus Duval who seemed to be looking for something.

"Julia! I was looking for you." he smiled as he approached her.

On the other hand, he quickly lost his jeweled air when he saw who she was accompanied by.

"I…I thought you might need help with your luggage…But I see that…" he began with a disappointed look.

"Yes…I…Mr. Murdoch offered to help me…" she smiled embarrassed at him.

"I understand… See you later." he finished, turning to go back where he came from, his head down, his hands in his pockets.

"Magnus…" Julia sighed.

William felt his own jaw clench. Did she have a weakness for this gentleman whom she adored, called by his first name? He kept asking himself the question even if he saw perfectly that this man was under her spell.

The doctor looked up at him, embarrassed for what felt like the tenth time in less than thirty minutes. They finally reached the exit of the train and were helped with Julia's luggage and bags by Mr. Barton and Mr. Lauzon.

They then showed them the way to take to get directly to the hotel that was going to house them all for the next three days. They were about to pick up their luggage when the employees told them that they were going to take it directly to their rooms themselves.

Note: Things finally seem to have calmed down in William and Julia, even if everything does not seem really clear between them. Thanks for reading my story!

Thank you very much for the comment I received. Indeed, English is not my mother tongue, I am French. It makes me happy because I often wonder if my sentences sound good and coherent. I also sometimes reread my fictions and find words that are wrong or that don't mean anything so I try to be careful :)