Trail to Shasta (9781101622049) Read Online Free Page A

the most part. It was frightening once or twice, but we came through it quite unscathed, thanks be to the Lord.”
    The waiter returned with their tea and coffee. The ladies added sugar and stirred it in for a long time. The waiter had also brought lemons, which they used. Clint simply drank his coffee black with nothing in it.
    Bride sipped her tea and said to Bridget, “Oh, this is heavenly.”
    â€œWait until you have the steak,” Clint said.
    â€œIt’s been so long since we’ve had beef,” Bridget said. “I mean, good beef.”
    â€œI suppose there were hardships for you in your country?” Clint asked.
    â€œYes,” Bridget said, “we were living under great hardship when . . . well, when Mr. O’Neil came to our rescue.”
    â€œAnd how did that occur, if I may ask?” Clint said.
    The girls exchanged a look, and then Bridget said, “He did not tell you?”
    â€œI know only what was in the letter,” Clint said. “I haven’t seen Ed in some time.”
    â€œAnd yet he asked you to do this?”
    â€œWe’re friends,” Clint said. “It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other. We’re still friends.”
    â€œThat is very admirable,” Bridget said. “Perhaps he should explain the whole thing to you when he sees you again.”
    â€œPerhaps you’re right,” Clint said. “I didn’t mean to be intrusive.”
    â€œYou are very well spoken for a Westerner, Mr. Adams,” Bridget said. He didn’t want to insult her, but she was better spoken than most Irish he’d met.
    â€œI was born in the East,” he said.
    â€œI see.”
    The waiter came then with their plates, and they suspended their conversation while he laid them out. Bride’s eyes went wide with glee at the sight of the steaming steak and onions, as well as all the other vegetables.
    When the waiter withdrew, Clint said, “Well, I guess we’d better eat.”
    The girls didn’t have to be told twice.
    * * * 
    Kemper returned to the passenger car, sat next to Ahern.
    â€œYou see them?”
    â€œThey’re in the dining car.”
    â€œAll right,” Ahern said, “we’ll have to wait until they finish eating, then we can get something.”
    â€œWe gonna find out where they’re sleepin’?”
    â€œWe are,” Ahern said, “but we can do that by slipping a dollar to a conductor, or porter. Just relax, Kemper. Just relax.”

SEVEN
    The steak wasn’t particularly good, but it was what Clint expected from railroad food. On the other hand, the Shaughnessy sisters loved their meal, consumed it with great gusto. The waiter brought them more tea to wash it all down.
    When they were finished and he had cleared the plates, the waiter asked, “Would the ladies like dessert?”
    â€œDessert?” Bride asked.
    â€œWe have several kinds of pie—” the waiter started.
    â€œMay we have one of each?” Bride asked. She looked at Bridget, Clint, and the waiter, not at all sure who would make that decision.
    â€œI don’t see why not,” Clint said.
    â€œVery well, suh,” the waiter said. “One slice of each pie.”
    Bride slapped her hands together happily and Bridget smiled her thanks at Clint.
    â€œThank you so much,” he said. “She loves sweets.”
    â€œThen she should have as much as she can take,” Clint said. “What about you?”
    She looked him in the eye and said, “My pleasures run to other things.”
    For a moment he wondered if she was trying to send him a message, but he didn’t know her well enough to judge.
    The waiter came with slices of apple, cherry, peach, and rhubarb pie. The girls gave the pie all their attention. Clint managed a small piece of rhubarb and a larger piece of peach, but other than that, the girls ate it