Undeterred

Chapter Eleven

The train screeched to a stop and jostled Levi awake. He looked over his left shoulder and saw Cora still sleeping rather peacefully. A small smile danced across his face as he looked at the angel before him.She certainly has done more than any other girl I know other than Ma'ma. He brushed Cora's hair away from her face before gently tapping her. "Cora, time to get off!"

Cora stirred and wiped her eyes. "Huh? We are here already?" Levi nodded.

"Aye, we are. An' not a moment too soon." He glanced outside where the sun was just beginning to descend behind the gentle rolling hills in the distance. "We best get home b'fore Cyrus' dessert vanishes like the the sun!" This woke Cora the rest of the way. She laughed.

"Okay, okay! Let's go!" With that they both stood up and made their way to the station and the porter who had their sole bag.

"...and then what?" asked a rather bouncy Ellis. Levi smiled.

"He offered us supper and it was the best soup I had ever seen,"exaggerated Levi. "It had oysters, vegetables, and all kinds of wonderful spices." Just about that moment Cyrus came in carrying a large steaming pie. "But nothin' can compare to Cyrus' wonderful apple pies!" Cyrus smiled

"Aw, shucks! Thanks, Levi. It's nothin' special just Ma'ma's recipe and a little elbow grease," blushed Cyrus.

"Nah wonda I don't like it sometimes," joked Loren. "Ya put too much grease in it!"

"Youne'er like m'cookin'," Cyrus complained. "Ma'ba ya should try cookin' it instead of always tendin' t'vegetables!"

"C'mon, Cyrus, it were only a joke!" Loren retorted. Cyrus sighed, but still tried his best to laugh it off with the others.

"Now, now muggin's stop jokin' around. We don't wanna leave Miss Cora thinkin' were just a buncha jesters do we? She's leavin' to go back home in d'morning," Levi stated matter-of-factly. Cora smiled.

"Y'all have been the best hosts e'er otha than Mister Lincoln o'course,"Cora complimented.

"Been our pleasure," Levi nodded.

"Thoroughly enjoyed y'comp'ny!" Loren joined in.

"Been swell," chimed in Ellis.

"Gonna miss ya, Cora," Issiah said wiping a tear from his face; she hugged him slightly.

"Glad t'known someone loves m'cookin," Cyrus said smiling. Cora smiled and nodded approvingly and briefly closed her eyes. Then they all enjoyed Cyrus' pie.