Western Wolves

Moving Onward

The loud shrilling train whistle filled the air with its battle cries. Prompting the humans to either climb on board or seek cover somewhere else. The sun was resting behind a collage of clouds. Leaving the England station in a dusty gray haze. A young woman slid onto the train just as it began to crawl onward.

She plopped down onto the red cushioned seat. Her blue dress fanning out. Looking down she realized a button was hooked in the wrong hole. Before anyone laid eyes on it she placed them all in their proper places. Pleased with herself, she smoothed her perfectly set brown curls. A man in a small cap stood by her side.

"May I ask for your tickets Ladies?" He asked kindly. The other ladies across from her handed off their tickets. Hurriedly she searched through her deep pockets. Her brain clouded with panic as her hand met nothing but the cold reality. She had forgotten her ticket back at her old apartment. Feeling rather embarrassed and frankly afraid, she cleared her throat. "It seems I have forgotten my ticket."

"Oh dear me. Can't ride without a ticket now can you?" Her eyes lit up remembering the little money she had. Reaching even deeper into her pocket she pulled out a dollar thirty.

"Will this suffice for a replacement?" She questioned. The man counted it all out.

"Everything seems to be in order. Enjoy the rest of your trip." He walked to the next booth, "tickets please gentleman." She let out a sigh of relief, soon she would be floating away from her troubles, and into a world of new ones.

"Where do you be headed off to?" Asked an excited red haired woman. She looked to be bouncing in her seat for pure joy.

"I'm headed to the West. They say that's where to go for a new future."

''What's your name?'' Questioned the red haired woman.

''Aranza Top.'' Turning her head she gazed out the glass windows at the flashing scenery. The last look of her home land. She wondered, "is this really what I want to do? Perhaps it would be better to face Karles." Latching onto to the sights, she forgot about the red haired woman who sat chatting away. She dozed away, resting her head against the soft material.

The loud horn of a boat called out into the misty air, frighting her from her sleep. Aranza rose and went forth from the train. The smell of salt and a chilling breeze whipped around the seaport. Boarding onto the massive boat she was rocked back and forth like a baby in a cradle.The boat ride was a total of forty-two miserable days, of cramped space, bad living conditions, and sea sickness.

She felt no less then over joyed once reaching the shores of Florida. A place once owned by Spanish. It would be a great deal longer until she reached the promising lands of Texas.