CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As much as I loved riding the Southern Belle, I knew I would be aboard almost another full day without the company of Mr. Bennett and Lucy and Dexter Boudreaux. For several hours, I sat in the observation car and read a book I found on the train, From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming. I really enjoyed the book, and James Bond was a great way to keep me distracted from my thoughts.
When I finally needed to give my eyes a break, I returned to the salon. People mingled about while high-quality radios, built into the sides of the train cars, piped out festive tunes by the Everly Brothers and Bobby Darin.
Bobby Darin was just becoming popular back at Franklin College when Jake and I were there, and Jake did a great impression of Bobby singing “Splish Splash.” As I pictured him
