The train ride back to Yanube City was as interesting as before, but worry over the note summoning me home overrode my pleasure and made the return trip seem slower. I fretted over getting from the station to the farm because in my haste, I’d not taken the time to send a message home. I assumed Ma would have the presence of mind to let Rachel Ann know I was on the way.
The locomotive started slowing at least a mile before we crossed the trestle over the river. With a hoot of the whistle and a hiss of steam, the engineer eased the passenger cars to a halt alongside the station house. I stepped from the train and caught sight of Ethan leaning against the depot wall. I took that to mean he didn’t want to get too close to the white man’s iron horse.
Nonetheless, he stepped forward as soon as
