Beth

Beth kept her eye on the train. Streams of smoke puffed out of the smokestack.

The great black wheels groaned as they turned. The long rods moved slowly up and down as the wheels rolled.

Loud hissing sounds came from the engine. A cloud of steam spewed from underneath the train.

The heat washed over Beth. She ran in a wider arc to avoid being burned.

“Stop the train!” she shouted again.

Patrick needed to get to the back door. It was behind Patrick’s and Leonard’s row of seats. Patrick sneaked to the door.

Leonard was watching. But Patrick didn’t care. “No tale telling,” he said to Leonard.

Patrick grabbed the doorknob, turned, and pulled. The door swung open. He quietly sneaked out. He closed the door softly.

Patrick stepped outside onto a wide platform. A gust of wind washed over him. He swayed a bit and grabbed the railing to steady himself.

The train began to really roll now. The squeaks and groans of the wheels and rods were loud.

Just then he saw Beth running alongside the train. She looked out of breath. Her face was red with effort. Her arms were pumping wildly.

Patrick shouted, “Don’t give up!”

Beth was falling farther back. Soon the train would pass her.

Patrick heard the clickety-clack noises of the tracks. He heard the metal wheels grinding as they turned.

Patrick also heard someone behind him. He looked over his shoulder. Leonard was there, right behind him. The boy grinned.

“I’m not tale telling,” Leonard said.

Beth was running full speed right beside the last car. Her dress was flapping in the wind. Her hair was bouncing on her back with each stride.

Patrick scuttled down the platform stairs. He leaned over. He bent as low to the ground as he could get. He stretched out his arm and called to Beth, “Grab my hand!”

“She’ll never make it!” Leonard shouted. “She can’t run fast enough!”

Patrick felt Leonard’s hands on his back.

He’s going to push me off the train, Patrick thought.

Patrick looked over his shoulder. “Leave me alone!” he shouted at the orphan.

Just then Patrick felt Beth’s hand grab his wrist. He swung his head around and focused his attention on her. He clasped her wrist and pulled.

Beth lifted off the ground, but not high enough. She landed on the ground again. She was still running.

Patrick felt her hand slipping from his wrist. He grabbed her palm this time. He squeezed her knuckles as hard as he could.

Just then, Leonard’s arms wrapped around Patrick’s waist. The boy pulled Patrick backward and anchored him.

Patrick gave a mighty tug. Suddenly Beth was on the stairs. She fell on top of him. Patrick leaned back into Leonard.

“Ow!” Leonard said. “Don’t squish me.”

The three children crawled and shuffled away from danger. They scrambled farther back to the safety of the platform.

Beth was gasping for breath. “Thank you,” she said, panting.

Patrick’s heart was pounding. He couldn’t believe Beth was safe. And he couldn’t believe that Leonard had helped.

“Thank you, Leonard,” Patrick said. “Beth would be walking if it wasn’t for you.”

Leonard shrugged. “I just want to see you get in trouble,” he said. “Miss Cookson’s gonna give you a tongue-lashing.”