Redemption (A TTTE Story)

Part IV: Deception, Downfall, and Disgrace

August 1888

Emily awoke to an already warm boiler.

"Mornin' already?.", she drowsily muttered to herself. She closed her eyes once more, hoping to get a little more rest.

But it wasn't meant to be.

"Looks like lazy wheels finally decided ta wake up.", said an all too familiar voice. Emily didn't even bother to open her eyes.

"Good mornin' ta ya as well, Natey."

"I told ya not ta call me 'at. Why weren't ya back at th' sheds 'til eleven at night?"

Emily partially opened one eye and looked at Nathan. He was much cleaner now, but his running boards were still dirty and his brass work was smudged.

"Eleven? Is'at when I got back?", she asked.

"It doesn't take thirteen hours ta get ta York 'nd back!"

"Perhaps not," Emily said, closing her eyes, "but I 'ad ta travel ta Darlington."

"Darlington!?", spluttered Nathan, "Why th' 'ell did'ja go ta Darlington!?!"

"Nay other engine was available at York. Th' station master offered me ta take th' train, 'nd so I did."

"No wonder th' Special Scotch Express was late!!"

Emily opened her eyes and looked at Nathan, who was blowing steam everywhere.

"I was early ta both stations," Emily calmly responded, "'nd if ya dinnae believe me ya can check th' logs yerself."

"'en explain why it took ya thirteen hours ta get back!"

"Me sanding gear failed part way ta Darlington. Driver 'cided 'at it was unsafe ta return home without access ta sand."

Nathan laughed. "So 'at's it! Ya broke down!"

"Strong words, Dusty, considering 'at's comin' from th' one who suffered a blowback yesterday.", Emily smiled.

Nathan was furious.

"'at's different!", he snapped, "'nd I told ya not ta call me Dusty!"

"It is different," answered Emily, who closed her eyes again, "'nd far m're embarrassin'."

"Why ya little--!"

Nathan didn't get the chance to finish his sentence.

Ker-POP!!

Emily's eyes shot open just in time to see a metallic object land on the ballast in front of her. A loud shrieking noise filled the air, and the whole shed was quickly filled with steam.

"You silly engine!", Nathan's driver shouted through the smoke, over the screeching, "You just had to start another fight! And now look what ya did! Ya blew a safety valve!"

Emily watched as the barely visible man leaned down to grab the metallic object in front of her, which was the remains of the brass dome that normally would cover Nathan's safety valve.

"Now Emily will have to do your work as well as her own!", shouted a man. Emily didn't recognize him; there had been rumor that Nathan already had a new fireman, as his last one had supposedly quit.

Nathan didn't respond. He just crossly stared at his buffers. The screaming noise quickly dissipated, much to everyone's relief.

"Nevermind," said Emily, who couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Nathan, "it happens ta th' best of us."