“Why? I saw a performance of one of them,Macbeth, I think it was, and it wasn’t too bad but cannot imagine what it would be like to read it.”
“Ye saw it acted out? In Maine?”
“No. In Boston. Went to university there. I was trying to impress a girl. Was pleased it didn’t make me fall asleep. That would have been embarrassing.”
“Especially considering all the killing that goes on in it.”
“True. If I remember right, there is a fair bit of slaughter in the one you are reading.”
Geordie laughed. “Aye. Still have some trouble with the words, but getting better. Emily was a good teacher. Still not sure I understand all of it because the language is so different.”
“Maybe next time you should read something written in this century.”
“There’s a thought.” James had stretched out and closed his eyes, so Geordie struggled a while longer with his book until he had to follow the man’s example and sleep.
* * *
Geordie stepped off the train and headed to the stable car. Robbie and James followed him, Robbie prodding James for information about Maine. Geordie hoped Robbie was just curious and not looking to find a new place to live. Trying to explain to his brothers how he had come home without Robbie was definitely not something he wanted to have to do. It would upset a lot of people, family and friends. Unfortunately, he was not sure he had the heart to deny Robbie much of anything, nor did he have the gifted tongue to talk Robbie out of a plan to move east.
They fetched their horses and took them to the stables. Collecting up their baggage and saddle packs, they went to the boarding house. They got two rooms side by side and went up the stairs to get to them. Geordie could still smell the newness of the wood. This had been built simply because the train came through the area. He wondered how much of the rest of the town was so new.
He could see why people fought to get a train coming through their town as he looked out the window, having settled into his room. Trains brought noise and dirt but they also brought business. He promised himself he would try to remember that about trains when next he was grumbling about the smell and noise of the machines.
James rapped on the door and then walked in. “Shall we hunt down some food? I saw a place just round the corner.”
“I could do with some food,” Robbie said as he slowly sat up on the bed he had chosen for himself. “We have eaten everything Mrs. O’Neal packed for us. Only have some sweets and a few bottles of cider left.”
“We’ll see if we can pick up a few things to add to that.”
Taking just a little time to tidy up, they all walked to the place James had seen. It was large and looked a lot like a saloon except the tables had cloths on them. They sat at one near the doors, a wall at their backs, and a pleasantly attired young woman came over to hand them a small listing of what they offered.
“I think this is pretty new as well,” said Geordie when the woman left to fill their order.
James sat back and looked around, then nodded. “Think it used to be a saloon. They obviously decided to keep the bar and use it for more proper things. I suspect they are still in the planning stage and deciding exactly what they want to be.”
“As long as the train keeps passing through and stopping, they will have business.”
“Aye,” Robbie agreed, then stared at the table across from them. “We arenae wearing uniforms, but I think some people have a good idea of which side we fought for.”
Glancing at the men Robbie had been watching, Geordie sighed. “Weel, dinnae stare at them or they will think it is a challenge.”
“If they have such a difficult time dealing with people who may have supported the Union, wonder why they are coming this way? They are headed right for the heart of the Yankees.”
“To work and make a living.”
“Suspect that galls them.”
“Oh, aye. Ah, here comes our food.”
The plates set before them were clean and the food plentiful if ordinary. It was the kind of thing Mrs. O’Neal would make them. Geordie hoped they did not decide to imitate fancy city restaurants. Once he had gone to one with Emily’s grandfather, a duke, and had found it stifling, even unsettling because he was so unsure of how to act.
“So, just how long a train ride do we have left, James?”
“A few days. We switch trains here for a more direct route. We will end up in New York at the end of this trip. Then we ride or take a short train trip to Boston. Then we ride again. Should get to my home in about a week if the weather is kind.”
Geordie laughed. “If I recall right, that isnae something one can count on in that area.”
“Not at all. But, if we are lucky, the weather will at least remember it is spring now. It will be close to planting time when we get there.”
