Shortly after they arrived in the little town of Silverton, Daniel walked from the depot to the town, went to the Grill as usual, and ordered a burger and fries with a coke.

“Can I get anything else for you, Hon?” the buxom waitress dressed in western garb asked as she handed him his basket of food.

“Just some ketchup,” he said, absently.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

“No, I think I’m good.”

“You look a little tired,” she said. Maybe you could use a back rub.”

Daniel looked up at her then and smiled thinly. “No thanks, Trixie.”

“Well, you let Trixie know if you change your mind,” she said, with a big wink.

“I’m ok. Thanks for the offer,” he said.

Trixie propositioned him at least once a week. For the most part, he ignored her. He could get his lunch somewhere else, but the Grill made the best hamburgers in Silverton. Better than anyplace, even in Durango, for that matter.

He took his ketchup from Trixie and went to sit on the steps of the boardwalk to eat.

Another reason he liked to eat at the Grill was that he could watch the train from here. In a little bit, the second train would be coming up, and then, before he left to head back, there would be all four trains lined up on the tracks. To Daniel, it was a beautiful site. Then, he would take his train and head south, back to civilization. He was always a little sad on the trip back. The trip up was bright and full of anticipation. Everyone was excited with the novelty. Then, on the way back, everyone was tired and pleasantly wiped out. Some of the tourists would take the option of riding the bus back down, though for the life of him, Daniel had never understood that. Why would anyone want to ride a bus when they could ride the train? Sure, it was faster, but why bother to go on vacation if you were just going to rush through things? Just stay at home, Daniel always wanted to tell them. Of course, he didn’t. Part of his job was to keep the tourists happy.

About halfway through his lunch, he saw her. Madison was sitting inside the train. He couldn’t tell what she was doing, but he assumed she must have brought her lunch in that monstrous bag she brought with her.

He felt a little sorry for her, sitting there on the train eating alone. Then, he remembered that he was also eating alone. Well, at least he got off the train. He wondered what had brought her here to work. Why did a girl like her choose to work on a dirty train? She should have worked in an office somewhere, typing with well-manicured nails and wearing her nice clothes. The clothes she had on would be ruined after being subjected to all the smut and grime of the train.

Maybe she was in trouble and was hiding from someone. He’d seen that before. The train was a good place to hide if a person was trying to get away from someone - like maybe an abusive ex-husband or boyfriend. He found himself involuntarily glancing around. The thought of some madman coming around gave him some pause. They were isolated on the train. He hoped Mattie had had the presence of mind to run a background check on her - just in case.

He felt a little guilty thinking such thoughts about her. Even though he’d just met her, he wanted her to be safe. He wanted to protect her from whatever had caused her to run here - and he was fairly certain, now that he thought about it, that something, or more likely someone had run her here to hide.

Well, hell, he thought, finishing his last french fry. Maybe he should just let her stay. At least with her here, he could keep an eye on her. He sure didn’t mind looking at her anyway.

As he tossed his garbage in the trash can, he found that not only could he not keep his eyes away from her, he also could not keep his legs from walking toward her.

She didn’t see him coming up behind her, and she must not have heard him. He stopped right behind where she was sitting and looked over her shoulder. She was writing intently in one of those bullet journals he’d seen people using lately. He tried to read what she was writing, but couldn’t quite make it out.

She paused to take a bite of the apple she was holding in her left hand, and must have sensed his presence. She slowly turned and looked back, then jumped with a little screech - not quite a scream - when she saw him.

He backed up, holding up his hands. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I kept thinking you’d hear me.”

“Don’t do that!” she said, slamming her journal closed.

“I said I’m sorry,” but he hadn’t intended to frighten her. Her hands were trembling and her pupils were dilated. He sat down on the seat across from her. “Honest, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s a good thing you weren’t trying.”

He laughed.

She shot him a glance. “It’s not funny.”

He bit back a smile. “I know. It won’t happen again.” And he meant it. The girl was jumpy. That told him he was on the right track in thinking that someone was after her. “Are you going to get something to eat?” he asked, thinking to distract her.

“I’m having an apple.”

“An apple? That isn’t lunch. You need your strength.”

“It’s all I ever eat for lunch.”

“No wonder you’re so skinny.”

“I’m healthy, thank you.”

“Come with me. I’ll buy you a hamburger,” he suggested.

She shook her head. “I’ve got money. And I don’t eat burgers.”

“Really?” he asked, puzzled. “How about french fries?”

“I don’t eat french fries, either.”

“Then, what exactly do you eat?”

She smiled and he knew he’d been successful in distracting and calming her. “There are lots of foods out there that don’t involve grease and beef,” she said.

“What’s wrong with beef and grease?”

“Surely you know about eating healthy,” she said. “Or do you really spend all your time on this train?”

“I do spend a lot of time on the train, but, yes, I do stay in touch with the modern world.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” she said, tucking her journal safely into her bag.

“What are you working on?”

“Nothing.”

“Is there anything I should know about you?”

She looked at him as though he had grown horns. “Why would you need to know anything about me?”

“I don’t know,” he said, glancing around. “Maybe there’s an ex-husband you’re hiding from.”

She slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Ex-boyfriend?”

“No,” she said, “not that I know of.”

“Then, why do you want to spend your days riding around on this dirty old train?”

“Why do you?”

“I happen to like it.”

“So do I,” she said.

He studied her for a few minutes. He liked the way her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but enough of it had come loose to from her face. He liked her delicate features that, again, reminded him of an elfish princess. Maybe he’d spent too much time watching the Lord of the Rings. “Have you ever been to Silverton?” he asked.

“Not that I remember,” she said.

“Then, come on,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand. “Let me show you around.”

She checked her watch.

“Trust me, there’s plenty of time.”

She seemed to think about it, then obviously couldn’t come up with a good reason to turn him down.

“You aren’t doing anything else,” he insisted.

“Oh, all right,” she said. “You’re a very persistent man.”

“You’re the one who said we should get to know each other.”

“I didn’t mean like this,” she said.

“Then how?”

“I don’t know,” she said, but she took his hand and after grabbing her bag, allowed him to help her up.

He found that he was tempted to hold on to her hand as they walked toward the platform, so he did. He held her hand until he had helped her down the steps of the train car, then released her, though he would have preferred not to.

“I usually eat lunch there,” he said, nodding toward the Grill.

“Looks like a healthy place to eat,” she commented, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“They have the best burgers in Silverton.”

“Uh huh,” she answered.

As they went past the Grill, Daniel ignored the questioning stares from Trixie.

He couldn’t help but notice how the two women were as different as night and day. He smiled a little as he thought about the possibility of Madison propositioning him. He knew that would never happen.

“What’s funny?” she asked. “Is that woman a friend of yours? I think she’s trying to get your attention.”

“What?” he asked, a little thrown off at her observation. He gave himself away, though, by glancing over at Trixie who was, indeed watching them. “No.”

“Ok. Anyway, you were smiling.”

Relieved that she wasn’t talking about Trixie anymore, “you don’t want me to smile.”

She studied him with a sideways glance. “I don’t mind.”

“Really?”

She nodded. Was she saying she found him attractive? He found that he wanted to believe this.

Trixie completely forgotten, he began to enjoy himself.

“Tell me something about you, Madison McKivitz.”

A shadow of panic passed over her features. “What do you want to know?” she asked, but she kept her gaze turned away from him.

He really didn’t care what she told him. He wanted to know everything about her. She was fascinating. “What were you writing?” he asked the only thing he could think of that wasn’t too weird or desperate sounding.

She hesitated, perhaps weighing the options - did she want to confide in him?

“I just like to journal my experiences,” she said, finally.

“Any particular reason why?”

“No. Any particular reason you want to know?”

He shrugged. “Just curious,” he said. They stopped at a bench beneath an aspen tree.

Madison reached up and touched one of the quaking golden leaves. “I love these aspen trees,” she said.

“They are pretty, especially this time of year.”

“They’re more than pretty. They’re magical. I’ve never seen any other trees shimmer like this.”

“Maybe they are magical,” he said, looking around at the mountains in the distance. The clouds had dissipated and the sun was bright, warming the air. At this moment, he didn’t think there was a more beautiful place in the world to be.... or a more beautiful girl to be with.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“Here and there.”

“Army brat?”

“No, not really,” she said, leaving his question unanswered which only increased his curiosity. “Where are you from?” She asked.

“Littleton.” When her eyes widened, he continued. “It’s outside of Denver.”

She nodded. “I know. I’m just a little surprised.”

“Why?”

“Why would a city boy like you want to work on a dirty, grimy train?” she asked, tossing his question back at him.

Leaning back on the park bench, he stretched his legs out and gave that some thought. “I get your point,” he said. “It may be a city, but it is Colorado.”

She broke one of the leaves off the tree and sat down, leaving a foot between them, twirling the leaf in her fingers. “Meaning?”

“Meaning, it’s almost expected that we will get out and do outdoorsy things.”

“What makes you think I’m not from Colorado?”

That one was easy. “Your accent is wrong.”

“I could have lived somewhere else for a time.”

“You could have, but I kind of doubt you’re from here.”

“So, you’re an expert on these things?”

“Kind of, yeah. It comes with the territory,” he said.

“Since you’ve got it all figured out, I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“Actually, you’re quite the mystery.”

“Then why don’t we just keep it that way?”

“Whatever you like, Princess,” he said. Then instantly regretted his biting remark. It was just that he had met women before who didn’t want to let anyone get to know them because they were only toying with him anyway. After all, he was just a country boy who rode all day on a train. He was sure some of them got a kick out of messing with him.

He was relieved when she didn’t react. In fact, it was as though she hadn’t heard him.

She didn’t seem to be one of those girls. She seemed to be keeping herself distant, but he sensed it was something more about her and less about him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, unable to resist.

“Don’t be,” she said, looking up at him with those fathomless blue eyes. “I’m just a little jumpy, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, “I understand. I won’t pry.”

She exhaled. “Thank you.”

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand to pull her up. This could easily become a habit, this holding her hand. He released her, of course, though he didn’t want to.

“What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?”

“Chocolate.”

“Good. Mine too. I’m buying.”

She started to resist. He could tell. And was rather impressed when she didn’t. He was making progress.

They stepped into Smedley’s ice cream parlor. “Do you want a cup or a cone?” he asked.

“Cup.”

He ordered two cups of chocolate ice cream, paid the clerk, and handed Madison hers.

They found a table in the back and settled in to eat their ice cream.

“What do you think about Silverton so far?”

“It’s nice. Quaint.”

“You won’t want to be here at night by yourself - it gets a little rowdy. But during the day when the tourists are here, it is nice.”

“Good to know,” she said, closing her eyes as she took a bite of chocolate. “I don’t plan to be.”

“How long? Nevermind. I said I wouldn’t pry.”

She looked at him through those lashes and smiled. “Tell me about you,” she said.

This was beginning to feel like a date, he thought. But surprisingly, he didn’t mind. It was surprising because he hadn’t dated in two years. Not since the last time.

“What do you want to know?” he asked, winking at her, when she looked at him with surprise.

“If we keep doing this to each other, we’ll just go in circles,” she said.

“I kind of doubt that,” he said.

‘How long have you been a conductor?”

“Eight years,” he said. “I started out as a concession worker.”

“Ah ha,” she said.

“Ah ha what?”

“Ah ha, since you started out as a concession worker, I should.”

“No, I just see the benefits of it.”

She chuckled.

He liked it that she laughed, but he refrained from mentioning it, afraid she would be self-conscious and not do it anymore.

“And I’m willing to be,” she said, “that females who start out as concession workers typically don’t get promoted to brakemen.”

“Good point,” he said, taking her empty ice cream cup and, along with his, put them in the trash. “Shall we go?”

“I think we should,” she said, glancing at her watch.

Halfway back to the train area, Daniel stopped in front of one of the shops. “Wait here,” he said, and disappeared inside for a few minutes.

Madison busied herself looking around the town. There were two rows of shops and cafes separated by one two lane road. It really was kind of old-fashioned - except for the cars and pick-up trucks crowding the area. She was more of a city girl herself, but this was okay for a job. Besides, she thought, looking past the town to the scenery. It really was breathtaking here.

She turned her attention to the shop where Daniel had gone. He was talking with a woman behind the counter. As she watched, he smiled at the woman. Now he would get whatever he wanted, she thought. For whatever reason, he had turned on the charm for the woman. He looked up toward her and seeing her watching him, winked at her with that same charm.

Her knees felt a little weak. That wasn’t good. The last thing she needed was to fall prey to the man’s charm. It would be trouble to get attached to the man – to anyone.

She looked away. And it was only a few minutes later that he came outside with a satisfied expression on his face.

“That must have gone well,” she said.

“It did,” he said, smugly. “I got you something.”

“What? Why?”

“The usual response is ‘thank you.’”

“Shouldn’t I see it first?”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little square box. She took a step back. And there was a sudden ringing in her ears. She couldn’t pull her eyes from the box. Dizzy, she needed to sit down. He must have sensed that she was about to fall, because he reached out and grabbed her arms. The little box tumbled to the ground. Gently, he eased her to the sidewalk and held her against him.

An elderly couple who were walking by stopped, “Can we help you?” the older man asked. “Is she okay?”

“I think it’s just the elevation,” Daniel said, “We’ll be ok, but thank you.”

“You dropped this,” the woman said, handing the fallen box to him.

Daniel thanked them again and stroked the back of her head, running his fingers soothingly through her hair.

Slowly, she began to feel some semblance of balance returning. The dizziness subsided and she pulled back a little.

“Are you better?” Daniel asked.

She nodded, but kept her grip on his shirt.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“Has this happened to you before?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I think you would know,” he said.

“I’m sure it’s just the elevation,” she said, borrowing his idea.

“It must have been,” he agreed. “Can you stand?’

With his help, she stood up. Her legs were a little weak, but after a few minutes, she felt more like herself. “I think I can walk now.”

The train’s whistle went off in the background - four long toots. “They’re calling us back,” she said.

“Indeed, they are, but they’ll wait.”

She glanced at her watch. “We have to go.”

“I think you’re going to be okay,” he said.

With Daniel holding on to her arm, they made their way down the boardwalk to the train. Most of the tourists had found their way back, many of them already on the train.

“I’m okay now,” she said, “It won’t inspire much confidence if you have to carry me to the train.”

“You’re right,” he said, releasing her. “But if you need to sit quietly for the ride back, it’s okay.”

“Not a chance. It’s only my first day on the job. I have to do better than that.”

“All right,” he said, with skepticism. “But if you’re coming back for a second day, you have to get through the first.”

“Excuse us,” two young, enthusiastic college girls asked of Madison. “Will you take our picture with him?”

Madison tried not to roll her eyes. “Sure,” she said, taking the camera.

She waited while they leaned against him, clutching his arms, and smiled broadly. As she snapped the picture, she allowed herself to roll her eyes. Daniel was smiling as big as they were.

“You must be used to that,” she said when they were out of earshot.

“It comes with the territory,” he said. “I’m just a character to them.”

“A character they’d like to devour,” she said, and wondered if he really was that oblivious.

He laughed. And she felt much better. He may have smiled in their picture. But she had made him laugh.

“Hey,” he said. “I almost forgot to give you what I bought for you.”

Her eyes widened. Please don’t let it happen again. That strange Déjà vu feeling that left her faint. He pulled his hand out of his pocket and taking her hand in his left one, placed something cool in her hand.

She opened her palm to find a silver chain with a silver and gold aspen leaf attached.

Looking up at him, her eyes felt a little moist. “You got me an aspen leaf,” was all she could manage to say.

He shrugged. “You said you liked them.”

Her voice came out as barely a whisper, “thank you.”

The next hour and a half passed before she saw Daniel again. She was standing in the back of the open gondola car wondering who was going to need stitches for bloody knuckles from grabbing tree limbs out the window.

Her heart did a little leap when she saw him coming toward her. He stopped a few inches in front of her and it was at that point that she realized just how tall he was. She had walked beside him and he had held her close, but only now, with him standing in front of her, did she fully realize that her head would fit against his broad chest. She lifted her eyes to meet his.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I feel fine,” she answered. Actually, her heart rate was a little accelerated at the moment as she suspected was her blood pressure.

“I was worried about you.”

The cabin swayed, and before she could grab for the metal pole beside her, she actually bumped into that chest she had just been contemplating. His hand shot out to steady her and, unlike earlier when she was dazed and faint, she felt his hand through her shirt and jacket.

“Careful,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t quite have my train legs yet.”

He chuckled.

Her eyes caught sight of a building behind him off to the right, nestled almost out of sight in the trees. “What’s that?” she asked.

“It’s Chestnut Inn.”

“How do people get here? Is there a road?”

“No road. People ride the train up, we let them off, and they stay here.”

“How odd,” she said.

“It’s kind of nice, actually.”

“Have you stayed here?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t think I’d like it.”

“It’s nice.”

“It’s too remote.”

“That’s what makes it nice. You are a city girl, aren’t you?”

She smiled. “Yes, I suppose I am.”

He shook his head. “How will you ever make it?”

“I’ll make it just fine,” she said. “Just when I go on vacation, I’ll go to the Westin, not the Chestnut Inn.”

“There’s no hope for you.”

The train’s whistles went off. “They’re calling us,” he said.

“Back to work.”

“I never stop,” he said. “That little boy, three seats back needs to keep his head inside the train.” With that comment, he walked off.

She watched the boy, and sure enough, he stuck his head out the window just as a rock wall was approaching. She reached him in two seconds and pulled him back.

“You were about to lose your head,” she told him when he glared at her. He turned and gaped at the sight of the rock wall racing by just outside the window.

Madison sighed. The boy was safe. But she was left feeling a little bereft without Daniel there. This was not good. She already missed him when he wasn’t there.

Going back to her post at the end of the car, she ran her fingers along the little aspen leaf that she wore around her neck. Why had he given her a gift? Granted, it hadn’t cost him much more than a few dollars, but he had listened to her when she said she liked aspen trees and had gone to the trouble to buy her something related.

It was such a small token, but because it was so small and personal, it meant more than some expensive generic gift.

Nonetheless, her mind circled around again. It was a gift. Was it inappropriate for him to give her a gift? Perhaps she should have refused it. But that would have been rude.

Or would it have been smart? Maybe it was just a token to make up for his earlier attempt to have her work in the concession stand.

She sighed.

Whatever his reason, she liked it.

And she liked him.

The next hour and a half went by slowly. Most of the passengers were as drained as she was and after the little boy hanging his head out the window, there was little activity among them. They were on flat land now and there was little to see. Taking a break, she went into the concession car to talk with Amy.

“How was your first day on the job?” she asked.

Madison blew out her breathe. “It was good.”

“You looked like you were having a good time with Mr. Daniel.”

“Mr. Daniel was helping me get over my elevation sickness,” Madison said, thinking quickly. She’d been afraid that there would be talk. That was the last thing she needed. Rumors. Before she even got started.

“He’s good about things like that,” she said. “He’s kind of hot, too, for an older guy.”

Madison almost laughed. But then, she supposed he did seem old to someone who was still a teenager. “I didn’t notice,” she lied.

“Really?” Amy asked, with a perplexed expression. “Melinda, who called in sick today, wants to marry him. She thinks he’s the bomb.”

Madison groaned inwardly. If she was interested in Daniel, which she was not, she would not like thinking about Melinda going for him, too. It’s a good thing she wasn’t interested in him.

“Do you live in Durango?” Amy asked, as she straightened the paper cups.

“Yes,” Madison said. More personal questions.

“Are you from there?” Amy continued.

“No.”

“Where are you from?”

“The city.”

“Really? I would have guessed that. You don’t look like an outdoorsy person.”

“No? How can you tell?”

Amy scrunched her nose and considered her answer. “I don’t know. You’re kind of pale and you aren’t dressed right for riding the train.”

“Gee thanks,” Madison said.

“Oh, I don’t mean it like that. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just different people belong in different places.”

That was two people that had told her that day that she didn’t belong there. Should she be taking them seriously? Maybe it was what she was wearing. It had been the only thing she had. She hadn’t had a choice.

“What did you do before this?” Amy asked.

The question she didn’t want to answer. Couldn’t answer. “This and that.”

“Yeah, me, too. I like this job though. It’s kind of relaxing and not stressful.”

“Are you a student?”

“Yeah, I go to C.U.”

Madison swallowed her surprise. The girl didn’t look old enough to be out of high school.

An adolescent guy came up to the counter and handed his mug over to Amy. “I need a refill,” he said.

“Again? You sure do drink a lot,” Amy said, taking his cup.

The boy grinned. “I sure do.”

“Here you go,” Amy said, handing him his refilled cup.

“Say, do you have plans when we land?”

“When we land?” Amy laughed.

“Yeah, do you want to get something to eat?”

“Sorry. Can’t.”

“Thanks for the refill,” The boy said lightly, but he looked crestfallen as he turned and walked away.

Amy rolled her eyes. “That happens all the time.”

“He looked young.”

“I know! He can’t be a day over eighteen.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-one. And - hello! I’m not going out with someone who can’t even drink.”

Madison smiled. She was definitely getting older.

Then she looked up and Daniel was standing in the doorframe. Her heart did a little flip and she smiled. Her hand unconsciously went to the aspen leaf around her neck.

He smiled back. And she forgot all about Amy. Forgot about being tired. Forgot about everything except for the man smiling at her with beautiful green eyes.

She was on a slippery-slope, but she didn’t know what to do about it.

Using his finger, he motioned her toward him. She didn’t hesitate, but walked right toward him and followed him out the door and onto the train platform that separated the two cars. Out of Amy’s earshot. She was still a little nervous about standing on the platforms, but she didn’t mind so much with him there.

They were back in civilization now. She could see cars on the highway and houses on the mountainside behind them.

She looked up at him questioningly.

“I was wondering how things went today,” he asked.

“Things went well, I think.”

He nodded. “I think so, too.”

Madison didn’t quite know what to say. They were standing in what she considered to be a dangerous place. The only reason she could think of that they might be out here was so that others couldn’t overhear their conversation - unlike earlier.

“So.... are you coming back tomorrow?”

That was a question she had not expected. Not at this point. Not after everything that had happened that day. “I’m planning on it. Why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to make sure. I was hoping you would.”

Well, that was a surprise. “Really? Earlier you said I shouldn’t be here.”

“I never said you shouldn’t be here. Just not… anyway, I changed my mind. You’re good with people. The rest we can work out.”

“Thanks. I think.” She wasn’t sure what “the rest” was, but as long as it could be worked out...

“Stop by Mattie’s office on the way out to see if she has a uniform you can wear.”

“She said she ordered one.”

“Well, then see if it’s in. You can’t keep ruining your good clothes.”

She almost told him it didn’t matter because she didn’t have any other clothes, but refrained. It would give away too much information.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Good,” he said.

She waited. A passenger went by and they had to give him space to walk by. She was forced to stand against Daniel. The bumpiness of the train kept causing them to press against each other. He finally just put his arm around her to steady her.

The passenger disappeared, but neither one of them moved. Madison started to move, but he held her there.

“He’ll be right back,” Daniel said.

He was right. About two seconds later, the man walked past them again.

“How did you know?” she asked, truly impressed.

“He just likes to walk around. He’s been doing it the whole trip.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” she said.

“It’s ok. He spent most of his time in the front part of the train.”

“Oh.” She waited a beat. “Why are we out here?”

“I wanted to talk to you in private.”

“Is there something else?’

He let her move away and she looked into his eyes. She saw questions there. Questions she wasn’t willing to answer.

“No,” he said, suddenly. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay,” she said, watching him leave her there on the platform - the one place on the train that she definitely did not want to be. She followed him into the gondola car. She didn’t really want to continue her conversation with Amy. She was certain that now Amy would have something more to say to her. Or worse - to ask her.

It wasn’t long before they got back to the depot and everyone hurriedly got off the train.

After making sure everything was in order, she, too, got off the train, and went to Mattie’s office.

“Well, hello!” Mattie greeted her exuberantly.

“Hi, Mattie.”

“How was your first day on the train?’

“It was wonderful. I’m exhausted.”

“Sit down,” Mattie said, motioning to an empty chair in front of her.

“Thanks,” Madison said.

“So? Tell me.”

“It was fairly uneventful.”

Mattie nodded. “That’s a good way to start out. How was Daniel?”

Madison took a breath. What could she say about Daniel? “I don’t think he was very happy at first that I was there and he didn’t know about it beforehand.”

Mattie nodded again. “I suspected as much. He’s a little proprietary about his train.”

“I could tell.” She hesitated, but she had to know. “You didn’t tell him about me?”

“No. I’m sorry. I hope he wasn’t too hard on you.”

“No... I’m just wondering why you didn’t tell him.”

“I didn’t tell him because Daniel would have said no. He would not have given you a chance to prove yourself.”

“I see,” Madison said. “What did he want you to do about the vacancy?’

“He would have just kept it open until the job fair in the spring.”

“Isn’t that riskier than hiring someone now to help out?”

“Of course, it is. But Daniel wouldn’t see it that way. He would have hired someone - eventually.”

“That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

“It doesn’t to me either. That’s one reason I hired you. The other reason was that you learned in one night what it takes everyone else a month to learn.”

Madison shrugged. “It wasn’t hard.”

“Tell that to everyone else.”

Madison didn’t want to talk about herself. She didn’t want any more questions. “Do you have my uniform?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” she said, getting up to retrieve it. “And,” she said, glancing at Madison’s clothes. “It might be a good thing if that’s all you have to wear.”

Madison smiled, but didn’t say anything. Mattie had seen these clothes before.

“I had them overnighted,” Mattie was saying. “I had a feeling you might be needing them.”

“I really appreciate it. I’ll look more like a brakeman now.”

Mattie nodded. “It won’t hurt.”

“Is there anything else I should know?’

“Yes,” Mattie said. “You need a shower.”

Madison closed her door and kicked off her shoes. She was exhausted, both emotionally and physically. She had to get up at five in the morning and do it all over again.

And she did, indeed, need a bath.

At least she had a uniform to wear tomorrow. Her clothes were most likely ruined, as everyone pointed out - from all the soot and grime of the engine.

Part of her wanted to take Daniel’s advice from that morning and find a job that was cleaner. But another part of her found it exhilarating to be a part of the workings of the train.

And... perhaps she was a little curious about Daniel. Not that she would ever act on anything, since she worked with him, but she was a little curious. And she did find him more than a little intriguing.

She did not want to end up like Melinda - the one who allegedly was in love with Daniel and wanted to marry him.

Finding a frozen cheese burrito in the freezer, she put it in the microwave, heated it for a few minutes and devoured it while watching the local news. She’d only been gone for the day, but she felt like she’d been out of touch with the world for ages. She supposed she would get used to it. The whole being out of touch with civilization while at work. Really, any job was that way, this one just seemed more remote because it, well... it was. There wasn’t even any cell phone service during most of the trip.

She went into the bathroom and turned on the water in the bathtub, adding some gardenia scented bubble bath. She could not wait to get out of her clothes and get cleaned up.

Taking her aspen leaf off, she carefully set it on her dresser. She was still confused about why he had done it. She supposed she would figure it out one day. In the meantime, it was a token that meant something to her - it meant she belonged. A welcome, of sorts.

After turning on some background music, Michael Bublè, she slid into the tub of hot water and felt her muscles unwinding.

Her mind drifted over the events of the day - the people she had met - the things she had learned. She thought about Mattie and Amy. About the passengers on the train. She wondered what the passengers would be like tomorrow.

But no matter which direction her mind went, it always circled back to one person: Daniel.

Finally, she closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander at will. She could hear the train whistle in the background of her mind. But there, in the forefront was Daniel. Daniel - holding her hand the first time she stepped on the train. Daniel - showing her around town in Silverton. Daniel - buying her ice cream. Daniel - handing her a silver and bronze aspen leaf to wear around her neck. Daniel - holding her to him on the platform.

It was hopeless. From now on, whenever she thought about the train, she would think of Daniel. Daniel with his beautiful green eyes. His face with an end of the day shadow of a beard. The way he winked at her. The way he made her hands tremble with a mere glance.

She sighed.

Working on the train was nothing like she had expected. And in many ways, it was too much. It was too risky. She had been indulging herself. But now she had to stop. She had to regain control.

Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow she would not be so foolish as to be vulnerable to Daniel’s charm. She had to maintain her distance. If she didn’t he would start asking more questions.

It was too risky to get close to him. If she wasn’t careful, he could find out about her.