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A 'Mail Order Bride' company agrees pay a young ladies entire expenses if she will marry single men out west. With the help of a brothel owner, a young boy allows himself to be disguised as a woman and soon finds himself heading west on a train. His only intention is to escape the city, however, the boy in costume, meets up with a kindly old woman who exposes him unwittingly to the linking spell. A VERY slow transformation.

Chapter 13

We watched as hundreds of people disembarked from the passenger cars. I had pulled Cap close under our watchful supervision. I saw a man look out of the ticket office window, step outside his office and slowly walk toward us, "Ma'am, is this the boy from the orphanage in Indiana?" I nodded and turned to face him. "They have him on the Northbound and that isn't right." He held up a clipboard, showing me each of the train's destinations. "See here, this train is heading north toward Madison and Green Bay." He jerked his thumb back over his shoulder, indicating the train near the platform. "The one that you are on is going northwest, toward Eau Claire and Menomonee. That northwestern train is the one he should be on as well, and it was scheduled to arrive at 5:00 p.m."

"What time will it be in now?" I asked softly.

"Well...It'll be 6:00 by the time this Northbound train pulls out. They're all running a bit behind today." He stood and tucked his clipboard under his arm. He was stalling. "I'm really sorry for the wait, ma'am."

"So when do you figure ours will be pulling out?" the old woman asked, frustrated with our continued wait.

He looked down at the clipboard again and frowned, "Probably 7:00 p.m. at the earliest." I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, Cap was listening, he dropped to the floor frustrated and put his head on his fists.

"Well, if we must wait…we must wait," I said running my slender fingers through Cap's hair. "We'll just sit tight until our train arrives...thank you for letting us know."

The shadows became longer, yet still we sat. Cap would walk to the edge of the platform and study the lines as they ran into the distance. At 7:00 there was still no train, we were getting hungry but were afraid to leave for fear of it arriving while we were gone. Finally faintly we heard a whistle just at the edge of the great town, Cap's eyes widened as he heard it as well.

He hurried back to where we were seated, "Is that our train?" he wondered still looking in the direction of the whistling sound we had heard.

"I sure hope so." Grandma groaned, "My seat is becoming sore," she smiled wearily.

Cap knocked his little hand on the bench, "How can the seat get sore, it's made of wood?"

I chuckled and patted the empty spot beside me, "Better sit down. In a minute or two this platform will be teaming with strangers." He promptly sat down as the whistle became louder and closer. As the great shining black engine chugged past, steam rolled from its underside like a cloud in a storm. I was forced to grab my bonnet to keep it and my wig from blowing off and revealing me to the entire station.

One after another of the passenger cars rolled by, full of hundreds who were either on their way home, or off to destinations unknown. We sat quietly as they all piled out of the car. After a few minutes, I felt the presence of someone near, looked up and saw it was the Station Manager.

"Finally," he sighed looking at his watch, "they'll only stop to unload cargo, get water and take care of passengers, and then we're sending them out right away." He folded his arms and sadly shook his head. "Looks like those boys won't be getting a chance to eat tonight."

I gently tapped his arm, "What about the child? He hasn't eaten since earlier in the day. We were afraid to leave the station for fear of missing our train."

He looked at the boy, "Wait here, I'll get the kid something." He caught the eye of a woman, "Hey, Gracie," she stopped and moved our direction, "these good folks have been waiting on the train for quite awhile, do you suppose that we can scrounge something for them...especially the kid?"

She shrugged, "I'll see what I can find." She drifted away, merging with the crowd.

As the passengers milled about, it gave me time to think of my situation. I had been saddled with so much responsibility since doing this stupid scheme that I regretted it every step of the way. I had a youngster to watch and care over. It was true that he amused me but it was troubling the way I was starting to like him. Why was I becoming so fond of Cap? He was a good boy, perhaps it was that which drew me to him, at any rate; he was great company for me to pass the time away.

I had to admit that I was quite fond of Grandma, she was a wonderful woman and even though she was constantly beside, she was a pleasant companion to travel with and it was my own fault that I had not taken a chance at stealing away and disappearing into the surrounding countryside as I had planned. I sighed and rubbed my temples slowly, "How would I ever get myself out of this mess?" I sighed softly.

"What was that, Charity?" The old woman touched my sleeve.

"I said that I thought I was getting a headache." I partly lied, but it was true about the headache anyway.

The sun disappeared behind the horizon, casting strange shadows on each of the taller brick buildings around us. When we were finally able to board the car, it looked exactly as the one we sat in earlier.

Again we found the same area in the car as we had sat in the other train, I took a deep breath as I folded my skirt behind me and sat down. Cap sat next to me this time and placed his tired head on my lap, Grandma sat opposite me in the seat. The car was dimly lit by the sconces on the wall, one would be barely enough to stab out the darkness, but together with the others, created a dim glow within the car.

The ticket master walked past and punched our tickets, handing them back before moving on. I watched outside as a moth danced along the glass, as if trying to fly through it. The air had grown cool outside, and I knew winter couldn't be far off. I yawned and brushed the cheek of Cap. His eyes were drowsy and he sighed tiredly.

"Ma'am?" I looked up, the woman whom the Ticket Manager had asked to find some food had returned. "I'm sorry Ma'am, all I could find was this fruit and cookies. It ain't much, but it should tide you, your mother and son until Janesville."

I sighed, and took the bag of food from her with a smile. "Thank you."

She turned and hurried out of the car, she vanished in the darkness outside. I tapped the boy on the shoulder, but when I looked down, it was evident that he was asleep. A quick glance across proved Grandma was asleep as well. Sitting the bag beside me on the seat, I allowed my eyes to close and I began to drift off in a gentle pillow of sleep.

It seemed that my eyes were only closed for a moment, when I felt a gentle jarring from the train’s movement I let my eyes open slowly. The bright morning sun was shining brilliantly in the eastern sky, I sat up and looked around me at the other sleeping passengers. I looked down, Cap was still using my lap as his pillow, I glanced across at Grandma...she was quietly reading from her Great Aunt's book.

"Where are we?" I asked, fluffing the realistic hair of my wig. "I never even felt us taking off."

She glanced up and smiled, "Neither did I, when I woke the sun was just coming up. I decided that I would try and get some reading in while it was quiet." She reached down into her lap, "Would you care to share an apple for breakfast?"

I nodded and she passed my half it to me. "Sure, I am feeling a bit hungry." I carefully bit at the crisp white flesh and chewed quietly, realizing that my stomach situation finally had seemed to pass. I made a mental note to check the bandage as soon as time permitted.

"Would you like me to read some?" I shrugged, and then nodded. "This one is called, ‘A Woman's Place’." She sat up straighter and smiled. "'A woman's place is in the home, with her husband and family alone. Within her soul lies a heart of gold, she carries it well, as I’ve been told. With a graceful air and playful smile, she draws him close with feminine wiles'." I sat unblinking as she read, my mind filled of the rhythm of her words.

"That one sort of read like a poem didn't it?" the old woman shrugged and turned the page. This one is strangely worded, listen to this? 'Take his mind and let it be, he will know what we all see. Let him understand through feminine eyes the wants, the ways of a lover’s little lies. As the distance closes, the love will grow, nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. Into his arms she will flee, where comfort and passion wait for thee'."

We sat and stared at each other, she calmly closed the book. "Now what do you supposed to figure on that meaning?" she asked as she placed it back into her bag.

I said nothing, for in my mind I was thinking that it was the babbling of a lunatic. By the time I finished eating my half of her apple; Cap was stirring softly in my lap. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Gosh...it's morning already?"

I teased his hair and handed him one of the apples and a cookie that we were given to us in Chicago, he calmly chewed it while he looked out the window. I was slightly hungry still, but could wait until later on to snack on the remainder of what the woman had given us. As I thought about the last few days, It was strange that over this time I had a little bit of fruit and the plate of chicken and noodles, with mashed potatoes. And yet, my hunger seemed sated after just half of this apple, I guessed it was the constant constriction of the corset that was impeding my appetite.

For the better part of the day, we continued northward until almost 4:30 in the late afternoon, with a cookie and one of the other apples that had been given us for lunch. I was unsure whether a momentary bout of nausea, which I assumed was caused by the many days of being on a rocking, lumbering train or simply by being hungry.

I sighed and placed my hands upon the seat, as I started to rise I spoke softly to my traveling companion. “Grandma, I’m going to go to the privy, can you keep an eye on Cap for me?”

“You go on child, the boy will be fine.” She replied as Cap gave her a big smile.

I found my way into the little closet and quickly lifted up the copious amounts of the dress while fumbling for the string that was holding the bandage. Thankfully I saw there was no more blood on the little rolled cloth, and allowed myself to relieve myself and dropped both the rolled cloth and little square through the hole and slowly pulled my undergarments back up. Allowing the dress to settle back, smoothing it so it draped me flawlessly gave a quick look into the mirror and quietly exited the room.

As I again took my seat, Cap had his nose pressed against the window, watching the many farms that passed by. "Will the Dakota Territory be like this?" he asked quietly.

"I'm not sure, Cap," I answered as truthfully as I could.

"It sure is green here," he commented, his breath fogging the glass, and then just as quickly disappearing.

"Yes, it is quite green," I added, calmly brushing his hair away from his eyes as a deep smile of appreciation played across my face.

"Look at all the cows!" He pointed across the fields, "Do you suppose I'll have a cow?"

"You may, if your new Pa and Ma have one. Who knows, they may let you help take care of it for them." He gave me a sideways glance and smiled.

"I'd like that," he said softly, then looked at the floor. "Do you suppose that I'll see you around?"
"Around Webster?" I asked. "You may."

"I hope so," he glanced up quickly and smiled, "I think I'd miss you."

Before I could realize what I was doing, I had gently drawn him into a hug, squeezing him tightly. Tears were slowly rolling down my own cheek and I was kissing his soft hair. "I'll miss you too, Cap."

I glanced up at Grandma; her eyes were glassy and full of tears. She smiled sadly and looked away, toward the quietly passing countryside. Not one word was spoken until we rolled into Janesville.

Chapter 14

We sat inside the car at the train station, I had been asked not to leave the train by a little weasel looking man with graying hair. I knew the 'Mail Order' people were watching me very closely because he only went as far as a bench to make sure of my movement. Cap was sad that we couldn't get out and stretch our legs, but when Grandma stepped off to pick us up something to eat, he became in better spirits as she asked him to go along.

Sitting there alone gave me time to think to myself, which was something that I had found very little time to do for most of the trip. I had grown during this venture, I felt older. Maybe it was the fact that I was on my own and trying to do something with my life for a change, or maybe it was being Cap's guardian for the trip. I wasn't sure what had transpired, but I just knew that I felt older and grown up, unlike the seventeen years that I really was.

The constant worry about what would happen if I were found out was constantly playing upon my nerves. Would I ever find my chance to steal away and convert myself back to the boy hidden under this entire feminine garb? I sighed deeply, even the strangeness in my chest had eased up some, and my voice though was still slightly raspy, which caused it to come off sounding just a tiny bit higher. The raspy-ness actually helped because it allowed me to sound even more feminine than I had before. I guess that was one plus of trying to recuperate from a chest cold.

Outside I could hear singing, so I began to search along the street next to the station with my eyes. Soon, four men came into view, two tall thin ones and two shorter, one of them being a bit heavy. They were singing some unfamiliar tune which they harmonized quite beautifully. I found myself tapping my foot to their efforts as they continued past. One man sang the deep notes, sounding much like a tiger’s growl, the heavy man was singing slightly higher, the taller man was singing what sounded like the melody and the shortest man was singing quite high. Together they sounded like heaven.

I followed them with my eyes. The shortest man noticed me and tipped his bowler hat, smiling. I felt my face grow warm and gave him a timid wave with my fingers. They continued on down the platform and stopped to sing for a crowd gathered, waiting on another train. I was sad to see them go away, because they had become pleasant diversion from the boredom of my being stuck here alone on the train. As they drifted from sight, Grandma and Cap approached through the crowd, heading up the steps for the train.

"Did you hear those men sing?" Cap shouted as he bounded down the aisle, "they sang a song to Grandma." He smiled and looked back toward the older woman picking her way back to where they were setting.

"They were very good, although I had heard one other such group back in New York that was better." She sat down and placed a paper sack between us on the seat. "Let’s see, I found a place close by that would make sandwiches. Here's a smoked ham sandwich, Charity. Here's one for you, Cap." She placed it in his glad hands. "I found us a treat for our desert."

"Oranges!" Cap shouted, blurting out even before Grandma could continue; she smiled at him and placed it into his hands. He studied it for a moment and frowned. "Do I like oranges?"

I laughed and placed my orange into the feminine folds of my skirt, resting it in the groove between my thighs. "Eat your sandwich first; Cap...then we'll see if you like oranges."

He sat it on the seat next to him and stared at it intently. "Is it good?" He asked.

"Quite good," answered Grandma.

I had never seen a youngster eat so fast before in my life, almost as soon as he finished he picked up the orange and bit into it like an apple before we could stop him. His eagerness was short lived. "Ugh!" He spat out the peel and handed the fruit to me. "I don't think I like oranges."

I laughed and slowly began to peel it open, laying the thick peeling back on my skirt. I took it and gently broke apart the sections, handing him one wedge. "This is how you eat an orange, Cap."

He wasn't sure if he wanted that wedge, for he took it from me as if it were a hot stone. He waited until I took a wedge of my own and bit it, "Go on." I said, demurely chewing the tangy fruit. "Give it another try."

He put it into his mouth and bit down, his eyes gave us both a look of surprise. "This is good!" he grinned, "better than that stuff in your lap!" Soon he was smiling and attacked the rest of it until it was gone.

Soon after, we had washed stickiness from our hands and gotten drinks of water from the little spigot. By the time we had returned to our seats, passengers began coming into our car and filling the seats fast.

Grandma sat quietly as the short blasts of the whistle were heard. I could see she was sad, knowing that our journey together would be over sometime later tonight. I had Cap on my lap and was quietly reading to him from the Bible that Grandma had given me.

I heard her sigh, "Tomorrow you will be alone with the boy." She smiled weakly, "I'm going to miss you both."

I smiled, nodding slightly. "We will miss your company as well." I felt my throat tighten, "You have made this trip very pleasant."

She patted my arm and smiled, "It's quite easy to see that you'll make a lovely mother, especially the way you are with him." I felt myself smile, for what reason, I had no idea.

Chapter 15

The day wore on, Cap's head rolled against my shoulder, he had fallen asleep. Grandma sat across from us watching as the country-side drifted past the window, I could see that she was in deep thought and wanted to talk but was unsure on how to approach the conversation. Finally, she cleared her throat, "Charity, I'm going to ask you something and, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

I looked up, "Sure Grandma, go ahead."

She looked around slowly, "Have you...ever been alone with a man before?"

I laughed, "Not ever." I was able to answer that question with confidence.

She nodded and searched outside, as if that would give the answers to her thoughts. She spoke without even looking at me…she was somewhere else, long ago. "When my dear Charles and I were first married, I too had been...inexperienced."

I let my eyes drift down toward Cap's head, while I was staring into his dark hair she continued. "He was so strong and handsome, I was young and petite, like you are." She observed, again without turning toward me. "But I loved him so," she sighed, "I wanted to please him so much, I'd do anything for his love."

She looked down at her bag, and then turned to face me. "I wasn't sure if I could sleep with him, I'd become afraid that he wouldn't want me if he knew I was not experienced." She placed her hand on the bag at her side, "My Great Aunt was from the old country, she forgot more things that we could ever know. The only thing that I was sure of was that this book had been penned by her and her alone."

She pulled the old worn book from the bag, "In these pages there are great powers; strange powers that seem to be made of the very fabric which hold our lives together." She thumbed through the book. "My aunt had 'prayed' over me as I have you, her prayers had helped me overcome the inadequacies that I felt of being experienced. When she was done, it didn't matter...for I knew. What she accomplished filled me with the knowledge that I would need to become his perfect mate." She fidgeted in her seat, looking at the sleeping boy in my arms.

"Yes, go on," I said, speaking softly.

She again thumbed through the book, "I have read a few to you, knowing that the poems and prayers could...and will, work changes in your very life." I sat quietly, Cap resting heavily in my lap. "These collections of poems and prayers will help you become the woman that your husband needs, the woman his body needs...the wife that he loves." I felt my heart skip a beat; my stomach feeling like a thousand butterflies had suddenly taken flight.

"What are you saying?" I asked, softly.

She looked away again, the passing trees drawing her gaze. "You're becoming the woman of your future husband's dreams. The old prayers of my Great Aunt's are seeing to it."

I felt a laugh break from my throat, "Sure. That's okay." I covered my face with my long slender fingers, smiling into my soft palms. "You're a very religious woman, how can you take the simple words your aunt has written so seriously?" I chuckled. "I believe in a higher power, but aren't you reading too much into your aunt's abilities?" I let my smile drift away slowly; she seemed neither hurt, nor upset.

"Perhaps you're right, Charity. It seemed to me long ago, once those words were read over my late husband and I, things simply fell into place for us after that."

"Perhaps, a coincidence…?" I added. She shrugged and smiled back, as I continued. "…besides, you only read a few for me, right?"

"I only read 'YOU' a few; many others though, were read quietly with you in mind." She placed the ancient book on her lap, "I'm sure it will amount to nothing." She added with a troubled look of concern upon her face as she nervously thumbed the cover.

I felt my head resting against Cap's, my lips brushing against his forehead. I sat up, shocked at the maternal affection I had just displayed. Why was I doing that? I felt my fingers caressing his chubby cheeks as I sat facing Grandma.

"Just what other things did you read for me?" I asked softly, looking around.

She sat thinking for a moment, "One was the poem about growing maternal, there was another about knowing what pleases a man, and how to go about doing it." I felt my face redden. "Then there was the other about golden hair."

I sat stunned. "What of those that you didn't read to me, aloud?"

She looked down, apparently ashamed of our discussion. "They were only things that all young women dream of. I was sure that you would feel no different."

"Please, Grandma, what others were there?" I sighed quietly, afraid to wake up the sleeping boy.

"I noticed how slight you had been when we first met, how much like a boy that your figure was." A slow chill crept down my spine, gooseflesh danced upon my arms. "I didn't figure either you, or your future husband, would mind if your figure was more...womanly."

I looked down at myself quickly, nothing seemed any different. She whispered, "You aren't seeing it, are you?" I shook my head, admitting that I failed to see the changes that the prayer was supposed to bring about. "That's part of her 'prayer', the changes are supposed to go unnoticed." She smiled and spoke lower, "All men want their women with a fuller figure."

My hand absentmindedly drifted toward my chest, her smile was innocent. "You can't see it, but you 'are' different there, your waist and hips. The man you are marrying had an image of what he wanted in a woman, and you are changing into that woman."

I felt my lip tremble, "No. This can't happen!" I tried to stand, but Cap's weight held me down. "I never intended to carry the marriage through!" I rocked my head against the red velvet of the seat, all the while trying to control my frightened breathing.

"All young ladies get a touch of cold feet before they are married, Charity. It'll be okay, you'll see." I sat staring at her, all the while, rubbing the strain away from my temples.

"You don't understand, Grandma...I was only posing as this woman to escape a life on the streets in the city. I never intended to carry out the masquerade of being a Mail Order Bride!" I felt the emotion rise in my voice, crying softly for this lie I had lived.

"You weren't planning on marrying the farmer?" She had a note of shock in her voice. "Oh my...oh my!" she sighed, drumming her fingers against the ancient book. She grew quiet, her face pained from her concentration of what she had done. "I'm so sorry, Charity. I wasn't aware of your decision to not go through with it."

"I only wanted to go west; I never wanted to marry a man!" I felt tears trickle down my cheek. "What do the prayers mean? What will happen to me?" I gasped.

Grandma smiled sadly, "Once the words have been read, they plot the course of your life." She fingered the cover of the old book, "You now have no choice but to follow through the prayer's direction." She frowned and looked down, "I'm sorry, Charity...I truly meant no harm to you."

"What do you mean...no choice?" I cried as her words slowly sank into my head.

"The closer you get to your destination, the more of his perfect love you become." I dropped my head against the back of my seat; my heart was beating so fast that I could swear that those around me would hear.

"Then I'll get off at Eau Claire with you, I'll go back toward Madison or Chicago!" My eyes wildly watched as the farms passed us by quickly. "He'll never see me arrive!"

She again shook her head, "The two of you have been linked by the prayer. If you fail to arrive, he will seek you out. It has been destined to happen, it will see itself through." As she finished, I felt her words crush the life out of me. I could feel my lip quivering, afraid that the changes that she was so sure of happening were playing themselves out as I neared the man I was supposed to marry. "I guessed you weren't experienced with men, Charity, I just wanted you to be desirable to him, as he would be to you. It was only supposed to make you each others perfect lover." I felt my head drop. "Please forgive me, Charity, I didn't know." Her eyes were glassy with tears.

I tried not being mad at this woman. She wasn't at fault for trying to make the woman she thought I was, happy with the man she thought I would marry. "This is just great!" I sighed sadly.

She touched my lace covered wrist, "Just give it a chance, Charity. You'll make a lovely bride."

"That's going to be hard, ma'am," I sighed, deciding to tell her the truth about me. "You see, the young lady sitting here before you, isn't a woman at all," I sighed, embarrassed at the ruse I had continued to play for so long…too long. "I'm really a seventeen year old orphan boy from New York."

"Impossible!" she gasped, "I don't believe it!"

"It's true," I sighed sadly. "Up until just a few days ago, I was a brown hair, blue-eyed boy living under a 7th street hotel's porch."

"But, you looked so convincing!" she stared, "I was sure you were the girl you portrayed." The look of horror slowly began mounting upon her face. "H...how could you get the clothing? Your hair…it’s blond."

I looked away, then down to the slumbering boy leaning against my corset aided bosom. "I was given clothing by a...a woman. She helped me, made me look like a female. My hair is a wig."

The old woman collapsed back into her seat and gasped, "Oh my Lord in heaven! What have I done?"

"You've done nothing, ma'am," I sighed. "Actually, it's a relief knowing that I've confided in someone."

"You don't understand, child. All of those prayers will come to pass, you WILL become the woman that I thought you once were!" she said, still convinced in her dead Great Aunts prayers and poems.

I gave her an uncomfortable chuckle, "Sure, okay...I’ll be fine." I was positive that the combination of the long journey, lack of sleep, and her age was confusing the old dear; I realized that she needed rest. The good thing about our conversation was, the relief of not harboring my secret any longer, was enough for me. However, her paranoia of the old words, penned by her addle minded great aunt, became almost laughable. I smiled inwardly at the thought of her certainty that I would suddenly 'poof' become female. It all was sad, so sad.

I again looked at Cap, becoming serious. "Cap must not know that I'm really a male, I'll see him through to the Territories, then leave him with his folks at Webster. It's the least I can do for him."

The old woman sadly shook her head, "There will be no turning back for either of you."

I smiled, "You're right, I won't turn back until I get him to his rightful home."

She wiped a stray tear and returned to looking out the window, I could tell that I had disappointed her terribly. For the next several hours neither one of us spoke. I didn't, because of my embarrassment for portraying this woman I was dressed as; her, I assumed, for praying over me from her demented Great Aunt's book.

As we neared Madison she was frantically flipping pages in the book, apparently looking for a 'cure' to what she had prayed upon me. I shook awake the boy and smiled at him. "Hey sleepy head, we're almost to Madison."

"Can we eat there?" he said, yawning.

"Sure honey, we'll get a bite there," I said, glancing up at the old woman. She had a blank stare on her face as she watched us. I knew she was trying to find some sort of reversal prayer in the book at her fingertips. I gave her a sad smile. It was such a shame that a seemingly sane woman could believe such nonsense!

Cap stood and stretched, rocking slightly with the train's movement. "Can I go get a drink?" I nodded and he walked to the spigot, pulling down the little cup.

"I can't find anything that can reverse the prayers," the little woman whispered as soon as he was out of earshot. "I'm sorry."

I waived her off, "It's really okay."

She sank back into her seat, "I knew you'd say that. The prayer is supposed to make you comfortable with the changes it brings."

Cap came skipping down the aisle; he paused at the edge of the seat. "Can I set by the window now, Charity?"

I swung my legs to the side and he crawled past, using my shoulder for balance. His weight on me put the binding of the corset in a pinch, causing me to wince in pain. I grabbed at the slight swell of my left breast. "Careful, Cap," was all I said; he took his place at the window and watched as Madison rolled into view under the late day sky.

Our wait at this station was brief; we were only there about 45 minutes. While there, we were sold sandwiches by a portly woman with great sagging breasts. I frowned at Cap as he chuckled at the woman, she couldn't help what the good Lord had given her.

The sandwiches were welcome, tasting fresh and delicious. I had mine half finished by the time the train had blown its whistle, while Cap was already finishing his up. Within 10 minutes we were well on our way to Eau Claire where Cap and I would part company with Grandma.

Into the night we traveled, I felt the train slowing down before I heard the whistle. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, Cap was using my thigh as his pillow again. I stopped a worker as he moved up toward the front of the train, "Where are we?" I whispered.

He leaned close, and I could smell his cologne. It had a strange, giddy effect on me as I drank in the scent deeply. Why? "We're just outside Eau Claire, ma'am, and we'll be arriving in about a half hour." He smiled as he answered my question.

"How long will it be before we'll be heading into Minnesota?" I again whispered softly.

He checked his watch, "About an hour after that, ma'am. Around 5:30 a.m. we'll be leaving for St. Paul."

"Thank you," I said softly, he nodded and moved off.

The train rolled to a stop, great vaporous clouds of steam billowed from beneath the engine. I looked across to Grandma; she still had that sad look on her face. As we were jolted to a stop, Cap woke and sat up. "Are we there?"

"We're at Eau Claire, Cap...this is Grandma's stop." He slowly looked toward her, a slight pout washed across his face. She held out her arms and the little boy dropped between them, allowing her to gently hug him goodbye.

"I'll miss you!" he cried into her shoulder.

"I'll miss you too, Cap." She smiled, wiping her eyes of their moisture that had collected in the corners. "Thank you both for being such wonderful traveling companions."

I hugged her tightly, "Thank you for being my friend," I said.

"I'm sorry for...well, you know." She said, avoiding eye contact with me and looking down at Cap.

"It's okay; I'm not upset with you." I gave her a slight smile as she slowly walked down the aisle, carrying her bag. She turned and gave us a slight tentative wave, then headed sadly into the morning's darkness. I watched as she waited for her cases, standing elegantly in the darkness. Cap, watched her from his window, tears still streaming down his face. I felt sad, knowing that she was the closest thing to a real Grandmother that he had probably ever known, and a good friend to me. As we stood watching them, several people gathered around her, family obviously. Each was showering her with hugs and well wishes; slowly, they ushered her off the platform and into the dark streets beyond. Again I was alone.

"I liked her," Cap sighed, taking his seat beside me. He looked as though he would cry.

I watched his face; he was such a cute little boy. I realized the sadness that he was feeling mirrored my own; I also came to understand that I no longer was on this trip alone. I had Cap's company and he had mine. We would see each other through to the end- and for now, that was okay with me!

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