Innocent Read Online Free Page B

climbed out and he grabbed my bag from the back.
    “Traveling light is the way to go,” he said as he handed me my bag.
    “I guess none of us has much choice.”
    My suitcase was old and worn; one of the clasps didn’t fasten properly. I supposed beggars couldn’t be choosers. In the suitcase I had a change of clothing, an extra pair of shoes, a few personal items and, of course, my nightgown, the only thing that actually did belong to me.
    In my purse—which, of course, had also been donated—was the envelope from Mrs. Hazelton, my ticket, a letter of introduction to my employer and the money Mrs. Hazelton had given me. I knew they were all in there because I’d doubled-checked and then checked again before we left. I pressed the purse tightly to my chest. It was like a shield against the world, its contents the only things that would offer me any protection.
    As we walked to the station, there were very few people who didn’t nod or say hello or acknowledge us in one way or another, and we answered back. Hope was so small that we either knew somebody or knew of them. There couldn’t be a soul in town who didn’t know about the fire.
    I felt a little self-conscious and struggled to make polite eye contact. At times it had been hard enough that they all knew I was an orphan, but now it was even worse. I was an orphan without an orphanage, dressed in donated clothing, leaving town. I had always been an unwanted, homeless child, and now I was even more unwanted and homeless, no longer a child but still not an adult. If Joe was right and there was steel inside of me, I didn’t feel it. Unless that cold feeling was the steel pressed against my bones. I was uneasy, even scared. I wished Toni were there with me.
    “Looks like some joker has gotten to the sign again,” Joe said.
    Hanging from the side of the station was a big sign that said HOPE ; in smaller letters someone had added less . I’d seen the town sign change many times— No Hope , Small Hope , False Hope and now Hopeless . Suddenly I felt all of those things. I clutched my purse even tighter.
    Joe looked at his watch. “Won’t be more than a few minutes before it arrives.”
    I was prepared to wait forever. Sometimes the train was late. I’d heard that sometimes it didn’t even come at all.
    “I guess I better be getting back,” Joe said.
    “You’re going?” I exclaimed.
    “I’ve never been much for goodbyes. Maybe that’s why I didn’t leave the orphanage before this. Besides, you won’t have to wait for long.”
    “I was just hoping that…I’ll be fine. Thank you for driving me.”
    Joe held out his hand to shake goodbye. I reached up and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him with all my might, almost pulling him off his feet. When I released my grip, Joe looked embarrassed.
    “I’m going to miss you so much,” I said.
    “Me too.”
    “Goodbye, Jumpin’ Joe,” I said, calling him by his nickname.
    I thought I saw a tear in the corner of his eye, but he turned away before I could tell for sure. I watched as he walked along the platform, moving past the other people, and then disappeared around the side of the station. He was gone. I had to fight the urge to run after him, jump in the truck and beg him to take me with him. A train horn sounded, and then the bells at the crossing started to chime. It was coming.
    Within seconds I heard the sound of the train itself, although, looking down the track, I still couldn’t see it around the curve of the rails. The drone of the engine got louder and louder, echoing off the station itself. Finally it rounded the curve, its bright front light leading the way. The engine got louder, and then I heard the squeal of metal wheels on metal tracks as the train started to brake. The front light was blindingly bright, causing me to look away. The sound of the engine got louder and louder, overwhelming me as the train entered the station, and I stepped back from the platform, partially propelled