Geordie collected their mugs and took them up to the counter to have them set on a small tray to carry them.
“Just try to keep people from bumping into me.”
“Aye, sir.” Geordie grinned, knowing by James’s brief muttering that the man had an urge to hit him but could not do it while he had the tray.
James and Geordie walked slowly back to the hotel, careful that James did not get the tray knocked out of his hands. When they entered the hotel the man behind the desk showed them where to leave the things that would be returned to the eatery after their meal.
By the time they got to the room, Robbie was sound asleep. Geordie helped James set the food out on the rough table in the room. Whether it was the scent of the coffee or the soup which did it, Robbie started to wake up. When he sat up and rubbed his hands over his face, then looked over at him and James seated at the table, Geordie just smiled.
“Guess this is good coffee. It wakes the dead,” Geordie said.
“Ha, ha,” said Robbie. “So funny,” he muttered as he stood up and walked over to the table.
“Coffee, soup, which I think is chicken, and a beef sandwich,” said James. “One sandwich. I got the others for later.”
“Ye were allowed to take these things out of the shop?” Robbie asked as he sat down.
“They have an agreement with this hotel. There’s a spot in the lobby where we can put the mugs, tray, and other things.”
“How long are we staying here?”
“Two nights,” Geordie replied.
“That’s nice. Then we ride, right?”
“Yup,” replied James. “Figured a bit of a rest after riding the trains for so long would be good.”
Robbie nodded. “I’ll admit, it would help me build up a tolerance for the ride.”
“Me? I just want a wee rest from traveling on a train,” said Geordie. “A wee rest from all the people.”
James laughed. “Not the friendliest fellow, are you.”
“I am friendly, just dinnae like crowds.”
“So, we will have a rest and then start riding up the coast. If the weather turns sour there are a lot of short rail runs we can catch a ride on. I have traveled on the Boston to Maine line, and it was fine.” James frowned. “There are a few small ones up the coast, too. The one that goes from Lynn to Portsmouth gets up north and we can ride on the coast road.” Noticing how Geordie and Robbie were staring at him, James asked, “What?”
“Did the East go mad for railroads?” asked Geordie.
“A bit, I think. We have a lot because once the first ones were in, it seemed like every town wanted one, and then people wanted a way to travel to the coast with ease.” He shrugged. “It supplied troops and all, and that impressed folk. Some say it is why we won the war.”
“Probably, although I dinnae think anyone really won except the gravediggers.”
Everyone went silent and finished their meal. Soon they moved to get ready for bed. Geordie let Robbie have one of the two beds. He figured he could toss a coin with James to see who had the other and who had to sleep on the army cot the hotel set up in the room.
To his dismay, James won. They then took turns using the washroom and toilet down the hall. When Geordie got on the cot after putting his bedding roll on it, he decided it was not so bad. Closing his eyes, he promised himself he would keep a close watch on Robbie. His brother would not speak up when he was wearied, so Geordie would watch and speak up when he saw the signs. He wasn’t sure how it could make Robbie worse if he overdid, but Geordie did not want to be the one on watch if it was a possibility. And he did not want to watch his brother suffer.
As soon as James returned and put the lights out, Geordie wished a good night to his roommates and closed his eyes. Robbie did not reply and Geordie figured his brother was far more exhausted than he had realized and had already gone back to sleep. They would do their best to be sure tomorrow was a lazy day.
* * *
Morning arrived with the welcome scent of coffee. Geordie looked up to see James accepting the tray with three mugs from a blushing maid. They had been pleased that the place offered coffee with the room. Getting up, he put on his clothes and hurried down the hall to the toilet, then slipped into the washroom to have a quick wash. By the time he got back to the room, Robbie was sitting at the table sipping his coffee.
“Where did James go?” Geordie asked as he picked up his coffee and sat down.
“He went down the road to find us some breakfast.”
“You didnae want to go?”
