“Reggie!Please stop calling me Sir … it makes me feel old, and there is no difference between classes out here, Jess. I am simply a man, so call me by my God-given name, no differently than you do the others.” I try to make light of the situation, since she is a bundle of nerves right now. “Jessica, why don’t you sit down? I will ring for something to drink, and we can try to relax a little before dinner. Do you prefer coffee or tea?”
“Either is fine, I am not picky. Sir … I mean, Reggie, you do not have to stay in here with me. Once the train gets on its way, I’m sure I can find somewhere to sleep in one of the passenger cars in the back. I am certain a man such as yourself has better things to do than babysit a wayward servant.”
Once again, I feel my temper spike. “Absolutely not, you will not be sleeping on an old wooden bench when there is a perfectly good bed right here. Actually, I don’t have anything else to do … you are the most interesting thing that’s happened to me in a while. It’s not every day a man gets a fake wife, and this is a good test run for me. Now I will ask you once again, and this time you will tell me the truth: coffee or tea?”
“Tea.”
“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“I am used to being the one waiting on others.”
“I understand that, but for the next few days, you are the wife of a very influential man, so enjoy it.”
“You act as if I can just turn off who I am.”
“No, that’s not the case, but what I do know is that in general, people are quick to adapt to any situation, so you’ve got this. We will dine in our room this evening, and yes, when it’s time for bed, things will be a little strange, but by the end of this trip, we will have adapted and all will be well. That is just the way of life.”
“Mr. Kerns, I would think of the two of us, you would be more upset than I. After all, it’s not like you picked me as your wife. A man like you can have any woman he wants. What if your dream woman is on this train right now and you miss her because you are stuck acting with me?”
“Jessica, I am not looking for a wife. I would not notice her anyway because my mind is consumed with this new chapter of my life. But the real question is, what good would being worried do? That solves nothing, and even though the situation is not ideal, it still worked out. You are here where you wanted to be, and now I have the help I need. However, out of this arrangement, you are the one who got the shaft because I do snore, and I’ll probably pass gas in my sleep and stink the whole cabin up.”
That brings a small smile to her face as she shakes her head slightly. “You are quite shameless, Mr. Kerns.”
“Seems like you and my mother have the same opinion of me. Now sit down, you are making me nervous with all your fidgeting.”
The whistle blows, and the train jerks as we start rolling slowly down the track. I busy myself unpacking one of my bags just todo something besides look at her as she sits on the edge of her bed. I am not sure who is more relieved, me or her, when the tea tray arrives.
Jessica instantly clicks into servant mode and it is like watching someone flip a switch. She gathers the cart, rearranging things on it to suit her, then pours me the first cup. “Would you like sugar or cream, Sir?”
“Okay, the next time you call me that, I am not going to respond.”
“It’s a habit.”
“I understand that, but it’s also the best way for us to get caught.” Sighing tiredly, I run my hands through my unruly hair. “Jessica, you and I are going to be together for a long time, possibly the rest of our lives. That is, unless or until you find a man and decide to leave me to start your own life. You need to see me as more than your employer, as I would prefer to be your friend as well. We are both relocating to a part of the world where we will be the only familiar faces around. We will need to be able to rely on each other … And I’m a sugar man.”
“I am not looking for a man, … Reggie. I’ve witnessed enough failed relationships and marriages to see what that kind of heartache does to the one left behind. I simply want a fair wage where I can have a few small comforts and live out my life peacefully.”
“Wow, that is pretty jaded and somewhat depressing … how old are you, fifty? You’re just a young filly still.”
“I am twenty-three and old enough to know my own mind.”
I take the teapot out of her hand and motion for her to sit across from me at the little table in the room.
“How do you take your tea?”
“Sugar and cream.”
“You spoiled debutante, you!”
I can tell she is fighting her emotions as she looks down. “Stop it.”
The blush that crosses her delicate cheeks is well worth the teasing. “Yes, but I made you smile. You are simply uncomfortable with me because you know nothing about me. So, ask your questions.”
“I know more about you than you think, Reggie. I asked around before I decided to get on this train, and because Mrs. Beacon had worked for Mr. Hayes for most of her life, she was very informative. Once I mentioned I was considering your offer, she encouraged me to come with you. Said worst-case scenario, I could always find Mr. Hayes. She said he was too much of a gentleman to abandon me, and he would either take me in himself or find me another position. She thought a lot of him and his missing sister. Did he ever find her? I am assuming he did, and that’s why he sold his homes and decided to stay out there with her.”
I am shocked by how much I get out of her and how animated she is once she starts talking. “Grant did find Eliza, but she passed away shortly afterward. Then, because Grant never does what any of us expects, he stayed instead of coming back home. He is the reason I too, am headed out West. Grant is respected by all who know him, and yes, your Mrs. Beacon was correct, he would do all those things for you. However, you have me, soyou won’t have to worry about it. But, Miss Jessica, you do have me at a disadvantage, as I know absolutely nothing about you. So, let me think where to start … oh yes, one of your statements caught my attention. How did you learn to shoot a gun and ride a horse?”
“I was an only child, but not for their lack of trying. Mother didn’t like me underfoot, but Father always welcomed my help, even when I was little. By the time I was ten years old, I was roping cows and slaughtering pigs. By twelve, I was helping Dad hunt so we could stock the cellar for winter. I would have helped sooner, but the shotgun kept knocking me off my feet until I gained a little weight.
