In an America that might have been, two war orphans from a divided nation, one in the north and one in the south, meet across a vast battlefield, striking out to forge a future together in the west. It's 1892, the fourth and bloodiest year of the Ci...
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Kay put her corset in her trunk and left it there. She left her crinoline on the top bunk, and after the first day without it she thought that maybe it might accidently be left behind when they next changed trains. This being her own woman was heady! Instead she wore the day dress she wore at home. They sat in the coach car still, but it was so much nicer without the stiff crinoline. Now if only she could have a bath. The sink was no use with the train rocking about. After another day, Charity, with a naughty laugh, did the same with her corset. It was like being girls again. Kay felt like running down the aisles of the train, but of course there were limits.
They changed trains in Columbus and Indianapolis. The crinoline made it all the way. Really, she would have had to alter her dresses, because without it, the fabric would have draped more and been too long.
The further they got west, the more soldiers they saw. Kay and Charity sat in their seats while the train sat on the sidings and watched through the windows as troop trains, supply trains, and war trains went by. The war trains were the most interesting. There were iron cars with guns sticking out through little windows. There were train cars with long giant cannon built into them, and wide stubby cannon so big that Kay thought she might fit be able to fit her trunk down their barrels. She saw flat cars with wheeled iron boxes chained to the top that had guns sticking out and smoke stacks on their tops. Then there were trains of horse cars filled with horses, their faces visible through little windows, each with its own little stall, and flat cars with wagons, small cannon of different shapes, and curious mechanical guns. Trains went by packed with soldiers, sometimes passenger cars like hers or boxcars for the less lucky, often with soldiers clinging to the tops of the cars as well. And going the other way were the unending river of wounded being sent to hospitals back east.
Finally there could be no more delays possible, and the B&O line ended in Saint Louis. It felt strange leaving the train in a strange city with no idea of where to go. Up until then, Kay's journey had gone pretty much as she planned, with one thing leading to another. In Saint Louis though, her plans ran out. It was like being at the end of the world. The platforms were full of soldiers, all of them in their way. Kay and Charity threaded their way between lounging soldiers and went to the ticket office because, they could think of no place else to go, and Kay needed a ticket for her next journey anyway. She was horrified to hear that there were no trains west. The lines were closed because it was too dangerous and some sections had been damaged.
"I don't know why or how miss. Probably those damn Indians. Always trouble. Always upset about something." The clerk wore a strange hat with no top. Just a brim. Kay had never seen anything like it.
"Then we are going to need a hotel. Can you recommend one?" she replied.
"Ma'am, there are no hotels but ours. The city is full and the officers have all the rooms. And I'm not sure we can find space for you either. There's a lot of people wanting to go places but with no way to get there." He looked frustrated and put upon.
