Bartered
Chapter Five
"Quit totin' Lil 'Un like he's a sack of taters."
Alice's dim eyes glare at me in response, but she pulls that baby up higher on her hip.
Ignorin' her stern stare, I approach the grocery store owner with my basket brimmin' full with Eddie Cullen's eggs. I've been sellin' an tradin' them thangs fer weeks now, an gittin' good money fer 'em too.
As I'm standin' an waitin' on old Ms. Cope to count my money out, I hear the distinct sound of the locomotive in the distance. Shiftin' my weight on each foot, I hurriedly snatch the money from her hands, anxious to see the train rollin' down the tracks.
"Why you like the train so much?"
It's the first words I've heard my lil sister utter in a long time. As we ease through the storefront I explain in a rush.
"I like thankin' 'bout that train, where it's been an where it's goin'. Sometimes I imagine what it feels like to ride on that old train an see the countryside, see how them city folks live in places like San Francisco an such. That's in California."
"Time's a-wastin'," my sister mutters as we clamber outside, "sittin' an thankin' 'bout trains. You ain't goin' nowhere. Neither am I."
I roll my eyes in response as giddiness overcomes me. Even Alice's sour disposition can't ruin my good mood.
The wheels on that locomotive roar across the tracks, the whistle just a-blowin'. Lil 'Un's done got squirrelly, an his bottom lip pokes out an his eyes well up with tears. I take him from Alice's feeble grip an whisper comfortin' words in his ear. His eyes grow wide as the train approaches, an the tears fade away. Them lil legs go to kickin' when the train starts screechin' as it approaches the nearby station. It slowly chugs an chugs until it comes to a standstill.
A familiar flash of shiny hair catches my attention from the corner of my eye. Eddie's strollin' out of the train station with a grin plastered across his face. He looks dapper in his freshly pressed, dress shirt, red suspenders, trousers, an hat. The smile he's wears ain't nothin' like I've seen 'fore. It's a different kinda smile than he wears when the two of us are together.
Instinct kicks in. I pull Alice with my one free hand behind Pa's buggy, peepin' at Eddie as he bounces on his heels, them long fingers shoved in his trousers. The locomotive releases an exhausted sigh, steam spewin' from above. Steps are placed in front of the passenger car door, opened by a smartly dressed, eager attendant. People gradually descend the steps.
Eddie's face brightens as he spots someone standin' at the carriage door. The smile he wears spreads ear to ear, splitin' his handsome face in half, white teeth peepin' out behind his pink lips.
My breath leaves my chest as a woman daintily steps from the train. I take her in as I stand there: powder blue satin shoes, billowin' blue dress, skin so pale it's alabaster 'gainst the rustic countryside, blonde curls piled on her head, the tendrils dancin' in the stiff, lazy breeze. An her red lips are brushin' 'gainst a newly burnished cheek.
Not only does my breath leave my chest, but my heart does, as well. Eddie returns the kiss, pressin' them same lips he kisses me with 'gainst her tender cheek in return.
Droppin' my gaze I cling tightly to Lil 'Un, rememberin' who I am an my station in life. Alice gives me a peculiar look as I square my shoulders an stand tall. We climb into the buggy, an I hand her the baby. Snappin' the reins, I feel his intense stare from the platform. Pa's horse trots down the dusty road, but I keep my gaze steadily ahead.
"You's right, Ali," I tell my sister, just as the baby begins to cry. "Ain't no sense in thankin'. I ain't never goin' nowhere. Nowhere but here."
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