Chapter 210: An Unusual Passenger
It was a dark and stormy night on Sodor. Caroline and her husband Jim bounced along in their old car on their way home.
"A pity the match got cancelled. I had a good feeling about this one."
"Oh well, there's always next time. I just wish it we hadn't had to drive so far. You know how old this car is, she isn't too good for long drives anymore."
"Nonsense. She still has plenty of fight left in her."
The sputter from the engine said otherwise. Before this conversation could go farther, Caroline spotted someone up ahead.
"Jim, look! There's someone up ahead."
Seeing what his wife was pointing at, Jim pulled the old car to the side of the road. The hitchiker was old and worn, his clothes soaked by the constant downpour.
"Evening, stranger. Need a lift?"
"Oh yes please. I've missed my bus, and the next one's been delayed."
"Well hop in."
"Much oblidged."
The stranger crawled into the backseat, water dripping from his cold body.
"I'm just the road a ways in Elsbridge."
"Sounds good. I need to get home before my wife Myrna worries."
"Don't sweat it. Just buckle up and we'll get there in no time."
Once again, the old car spluttered to life and they set off once more. But despite their best attempts, their passenger remained dead silent, merely staring off into space in the backseat.
After a few minutes of silence, the man tapped Jim on the shoulder.
Pull over up ahead. I can walk home from here."
"You sure? Its pouring down rain."
"Don't worry, I don't have far to walk."
But as he moved to get out, Caroline took off her coat and handed it to him.
"Wait. Take this."
"Please, its-"
"Take it. I won't take no for an answer."
Relucantly, the man took it with a promise to return it tomorrow. The two watched him as he disappeared into the dark night before leaving to find shelter themselves.
The rain proved to be too much to drive through, so they stayed at a small inn for the night. As they were checking out the next morning, they noticed a framed picture on the wall. A very familiar picture.
"Jim, look! Its..."
"Well I'll be, it is."
The concierge looked at where they were pointing.
"Oh, that's old Ted Abner. He founded the inn. You knew him?"
"My husband and I gave him a ride home last night. To think we'd wind up in his own inn..."
The clerk's face grew pale.
"Ma'am...Jim's been dead for a year."
"What?"
"He was waiting for the bus one stormy night. The bus took a corner too fast and jumped the curb, running him over. Poor Jim never saw it coming."
Unnerved, Caroline and her husband quickly exited the inn and drove back to where they dropped the stranger off. There they found a cold and empty cemetery, its only occupants being the dead and themselves. After a minute of searching, they came across a pair of graves.
"Here lies Ted and Myrna Abner. But...how?"
"Caroline, look!"
There, resting atop Ted's grave, was Caroline's coat, still dripping wet from the rain.