The Drazen World: The California Limited (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Catherine C. Heywood Page A

her dress and hung it.  Shoes were sent out to be shined.  Underthings were laid out.  The bare minimum of toiletries was left out.  All the rest were folded, tucked, and hung away.  Nothing was said in those minutes, faint smiles the only thing exchanged as they passed each other. 
    When Minnie emerged naked once again from the bathroom, Jack was leaning in the doorway, naked too.  He cupped a cheek tenderly and peered into her eyes.
    “Are you excited for tomorrow, sweetheart?” he asked.
    In fact, she appeared stricken and worn.
    “Yes,” she managed with a small smile and Jack returned it.
    He stared at her for the longest length of time, a thumb brushing back and forth across her cheek.  “Minnie?”
    “Hm?”  Her eyes brightened and her smile widened.
    “If I ask you something, will you promise to hear me out before you say no?”
    “No.”
    He smiled, soft and indulgent.  “Would you like to see me?  In LA?”
    Her mouth parted as if she would speak, but no words came.
    “Because I would like to see you,” he continued.  “Very much.”  He paused to try and read her thoughts on her face.  “Hm?
    “I know what we agreed to.  But ‘two shorten the road,’ as they say.”  She smiled in recognition of the Irish proverb.  “I like you.  And I want to spend more time with you.  Do you like me?”
    Finally she blinked rapidly and nodded.  “I like you,” she said.  “I worry about liking you too much.”
    He brought his other hand to her face and cupped it as he peered into her eyes, a smile widening.  “That is a good worry. ”
    “Not for me.”  She held one of his hands still cupping her face.  “I worry about getting complacent.  About being so satisfied in our friendship that I stop trying to make it.”
    He stepped back for a moment, his brow furrowing.  He wanted her to be happy.  To have all of her dreams come true.  But he wouldn’t be a source for resentment if she didn’t.
    “How about this?” he said after a moment.  “How about we take it one day at a time?  You’ll stay with me in my bungalow while —” he cut off her look of denial with a wagging finger, “—you look for your own place.  I will make sure you don’t like me too much.”  He smiled slyly.  “And you will make sure I don’t like you too much.”  He paused and studied her.  The hesitation.  The interest.  “Can we agree?  Are we going to do this?”
    She paused, then finally nodded.  “Yes.  Yes.”
    “Good girl.”  He kissed her hard as he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carried her to the bed.
    That night he finally made love to her absent any urgency.

 
     
    Chapter 5
     
    La Grande Station, Los Angeles, CA
    June 18, 1935
    The California Limited slowed as it passed a tropical garden and pulled up to burgundy brick buildings.  In front of the open concourse sat a neat row of yellow taxis beside an equally neat row of smartly-dressed baggage handlers.  Beyond them, a burro-drawn covered wagon advertised for passengers bound for Death Valley. 
    Jack’s eyebrows rose as he pointed.  “My God!  Is that—”
    “A donkey?” asked Minnie.  “I think so.”
    As the train came to a loud stop, brakes screeching and steam shushing, in front of a grand, leaf-covered archway, they left the sleeper to join the rest of the passengers, anxious and gaping, waiting to disembark.
    “We have reached our final destination,” a conductor called out as the train car doors swung open and porters placed stools at the bottom of the stairs.  “Please check your compartments for any items you might have missed…”  The conductor efficiently droned as passengers filed off the train.
    While a porter attended to their luggage, Jack took Minnie’s hand as they disembarked into a pressed sea of bodies, passengers and porters and drivers and people waiting for passengers and other trains.
    “Were all these people waiting for our train?” Minnie