Chapter 6

Delly unlatches a drowsy Wiggleworm Will from her breast and hands him to me to set in his cradle.

As soon as he is down, I turn and whisper to her. "When did you get this magazine?" My tone is sharp and a puzzled look appears on her face.

"Rye gave it to me before dinner. He said it came on today's train."

My eyes narrow. The captain's words in the story are an exact replica of the letter I received. It has to be more than a coincidence. I pull my latest proposal letter from my pocket.

"This note was wedged in the doorframe of the Mercantile yesterday."

She reads it and her eyes light up. "Oh Katniss, this is so romantic."

"Compare the words." I hold the magazine open to her.

Her eyes flit back back and forth between the two. "They are the same."

"Did you write it Delly?"

Her eyes open wide. "I swear Katniss, I didn't write this." She studies the paper. "I don't recognize this hand either."

Wrinkles form on her forehead as she frowns. "You said this letter arrived yesterday. Did you go to the train station today to meet up with this gentleman?"

My cheeks grow warm. "I did, but he never showed up. Then I fell asleep. Peeta found me when he was making his delivery."

She shakes her head and bites her lower lip. She starts to say something, but Rye knocks and enters the room.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow," Delly says. She gives me an encouraging smile and I hope she means to keep this matter secret from her husband. I am already embarrassed.

I return to my room to puzzle this mystery. Did the same person write all three letters? Could there be more than one man interested in me? I am so confused. But my lack of sleep from the previous evening prevents me from giving it too much thought. As soon as I lay my head down, tiredness overwhelms me and I fall asleep quickly.

The next morning I wake up determined to find out the identity of the person or persons that is writing to me. I shove the proposal letter into my pocket.

I hear conversation as I go downstairs for breakfast. I can't make out the words but Peeta says my name just before I enter the room. But he stops speaking as soon as he catches sight of me. Surprisingly I see that he is conversing with Delly, who has her back to me at the table.

After a moment of awkward tension, I wish them "good morning."

Delly turns to face me. She is dressed for a day of work. I am glad to see she is finally up. After more than a month in bed, she should be.

"I was just telling Peeta about that letter you showed me last night," Delly says.

I give her a black look. Why would she tell Peeta?

Peeta shifts in his seat. He looks about as uncomfortable as I feel right now. I immediately wonder if he knows more about the letter than what Delly has mentioned. Is Peeta in league with Finnick? Was his comment about us being friends a way to steer me in Finnick's direction?

"Can you get the letter?" she asks. "Maybe Peeta will recognize the writing?"

Scowling, I reach into my pocket, pull it out, and hand it to him.

Peeta unfolds the letter and reads it silently. I study his face, remembering how he looked when I gave him the letters Delly wrote when I first arrived in Panem. His reaction is similar. His expression changes from bewilderment to anger in a few seconds.

He tosses the letter onto the table and springs up. "I have to go."

"Do you know who wrote it?" Delly calls, as Peeta rushes out of the kitchen.

But he doesn't answer.

"Oh, Katniss, he's so jealous." Delly chirps.

I don't understand Peeta's reaction, but I know Delly is wrong. Peeta only wants to be my friend.

Today Delly and I do laundry. We hang diapers on the clothesline that is located on the side of the house near to the bakery. Peeta makes more noise than usual, slamming baking pans around.

Delly's grins. "He's upset," she whispers.

It must be distress over another matter.

When we are done, I help Rye in the Mercantile.

"Where were you yesterday afternoon?" Finnick purrs in my ear. I nearly drop the can I was setting onto a shelf. "I stopped by to purchase a pencil and Rye said you were out."

I am shocked by his words because it occurs to me that if Finnick had written that proposal letter, he would know exactly where I had been – waiting behind the train station. But if it wasn't Finnick, then who was it?

From his reaction this morning, I suspect Peeta knows who wrote it. I linger at the dinner table that evening until Rye and Delly leave the room. Peeta has been quiet at this meal, barely glancing my way.

In my most sociable tone I ask him about the hand that penned the letter I showed him this morning.

He is quiet for a moment, and then answers. "Haymitch Abernathy."

The drunken stationmaster has proposed marriage to me? I am flabbergasted. He must have copied the words directly from Delly's copy of Godey's Lady's Book when the train dropped off the mail. Did he write the other letters, too?

"I never would have guessed."

A playful smile forms on Peeta's lips. "I take it you're not interested in a marriage proposal from Haymitch."

"No. I though it was written by someone else," I blurt out.

"Who?" Peeta's expression changes. He looks serious now.

I immediately wish I hadn't said anything. "Never mind."

"Who Katniss?" He is insistent.

I don't want to answer him, but he has caught my eyes and I feel trapped in those blue orbs.

"Finnick Odair," I whisper.

He sighs loudly. "Finnick. Of course." He stands up quickly and goes out.

I know it's time for me to take leave of this town. Rye has just paid me and I have more than enough to purchase a train ticket. Delly is ready to take charge of her home and help in the business again. I'm no longer needed. Despite Delly's high expectations, if a middle-aged drunk is my best hope for a marriage in Panem, I think it's best I return to my sister's house.

Climbing the stairs to Delly's room, I devise my getaway. I do not tell her this will be our last night together. She will only try to talk me out of my plan. I read to her knowing I will miss our time together and the friendship we have developed. I kiss Wiggley Will, breathing in his sweet baby scent, memorizing it for all time.

I pack my belongings. I will not be able to take my trunk. But when I get home, I'll borrow money from Prim and mail it to Delly so she can ship the trunk to me. I stay up past midnight writing a letter to Delly and Rye. Although I was tricked into coming to Wyoming, the experience of traveling to another place and taking care of myself has made me a stronger person. Despite my initial anger when I first arrived, I have made some fine memories here.

I consider writing a separate letter to Peeta, but I decide against it. It is not easy for me to walk away from him. But my heart wants more than he is able to give. I could never stay in Panem and watch my friend marry some other woman because surely with his genial nature and handsome appearance he will find a wife one day.

I get up before it is light and sneak out with my bag. I hide it behind a grouping of sagebrush at the back of the train station. This will make it easier for me to leave undetected. I return to my room and put my goodbye letter on top of the trunk. They will find it when I am gone. I keep the money is in my pocket so I can buy my ticket and some food on the train.

The eastbound train does not leave until mid-afternoon. I go through the morning pretending as if it was a normal day. Peeta is silent at breakfast. Delly joins us and she and Rye bicker about a customer who Rye has allowed to run a tab in the Mercantile. Delly is convinced the man will skip town and not pay his bill. The argument halts when the baby cries loudly and Delly rushes upstairs to soothe him.

I panic momentarily when Delly insists we strip the beds and launder the sheets. I fear she will enter my room and see the letter, but I offer to strip both beds while she boils the water and sets up the washtub.

While we work she speculates over who could have written the marriage proposal to me. I don't tell her what Peeta told me. I don't tell her about the other letters either. My heart is sick over this entire matter. I will be glad to be rid of this place and this dilemma.

Peeta asks Delly to watch his shop at midday while he makes his deliveries. She brings her son with her. I go into the Mercantile to help Rye, but not before stopping in the kitchen for a bite to eat. I will need to purchase food on the train during this trip so I want to start my journey on a full stomach.

I help Rye until Delly returns. The baby sleeps soundly and I offer to carry him upstairs and put him in his cradle. Delly hands him off and I go upstairs. I kiss Willikins tenderly one last time and lay him down on the rabbit fur pillow I made for him. I will miss him greatly.

I go downstairs and sneak out the back door, taking one last glance at Peeta who is washing pans behind the bakery. It's better to leave this way. I am not skilled at goodbyes. I hurry to the station, and retrieve my bag from its hiding place before going inside.

Mr. Abernathy stands behind the ticket counter. I hesitate at his sight. But then I realize he likely doesn't know that I'm aware he wrote that proposal letter, and likely the other letters, too. I suspect he saw reason over the matter and that's why he never approached me.

"I'd like one ticket to Omaha," I say.

His eyebrows rise. "Are you sure about this?" I can tell he is sad to see me leave Panem. But it is better this way.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"All right." He hands me a ticket and I carry my bag outside to wait for the train.

I don't have to wait too long before a loud whistle calls and the train's wheels screech as it rolls into the station. When it stops, two passengers disembark and I get on. The car is nearly full, but I find an empty bench. I slide in close to the window and set my bag at my feet. The view outside is that of the copse of trees where Peeta and I shared the loaf of bread just a couple of days ago.

I sigh and lean my head against the window, trying to think of what I will tell Prim and Rory when I arrive in Omaha.

The whistle sounds again and we begin moving. We are hardly past the station when I hear the conductor shouting. "Stop sir. Where do you think you're going?"

The tread of stomping footfalls gets louder and then I hear a familiar voice, "Katniss, there you are."

Confused, I turn from the window. Peeta is sweaty and flushed, sliding in the seat beside me. He pulls me into his arms and presses his lips close to the side of my head.

Author's Note: The United States Post Office began utilizing the country's railroad system to deliver mail in 1863. That same year standard postage rates were set up regardless of distance. Prior to this, distance was the determining factor for cost. In 1869, after the completion of the transcontinental railroad, a letter could travel from New York to San Francisco in seven days.