25.

The Carter family stood on the railroad station platform waiting and watching. The wire said Edie and the girls would arrive at two-twenty. It was only one-forty, but they were there and very nervous.

Suddenly they heard a train whistle in the distance. Sam, the oldest went to the ticket window and asked, “Is that the two-twenty coming this early?”

“No, that is a special. It belongs to some big rail baron named Big Manchester. Big shots like him get to upset the regular schedules by running hotshot through trains.”

Sam walked back to the family and told them the situation. They watched as the smoke drew closer and closer. The train whistle split the air and steam hissed as the big black monster pulled into the station.

The escaping steam made the family move back further down the platform. When the steam cleared they saw a huge black man unloading cases, luggage, and trunks, especially one big heavy trunk. A small colored woman, helping him, called to someone on the train.

Sam pointed at the train, “Mighty fancy train. Look, at that engine, and it has a coal tender, Pullman, dining car, private car, box car, club car, and a caboose. I learned all of those from the station agent when I worked here one summer. Sure is a fancy train. Owner must really be rich.”

Down the tracks men were unloading a wagon and a surrey. They led horses off the boxcar and hitched them to a wagon and a buggy. Two of the men drove the two conveyances down the track to the platform and started loading the luggage in the wagon.

Suddenly there was a cry, “Grandma! Grandma!”

Sue’s three little blond haired tots burst from the train and ran down the platform to their grandma.

Ann shouted, “We rode the train with Aunt Edie and Big Manchester. It was fun.”

Her Grandma asked, “Where is your aunt?”

“On the train, Grandma,” Ann said, “She said she would be here in a few minutes.”

On the train, Edie made her last round. She stood in the center of the private car and glanced around. She remembered very nice things about the car and its appointments, the private bath, closets, a big bed, carpet, curtains, fine polished wood, fine furniture and chandlers. She ran her fingers over the upholstery and fine wood. It was a luxurious car.

In the Club Car she walked in an elongated circle around the inside of the car. She touched each item as she passed. There was one change in the Club Car. The big heavy trunk that served as the base for the poker table was gone. The table top lay on the floor.

Car by car, she touched, felt and remembered good and bad things. Wandering through each car brought many memories. Some memories made her smile and then feel a little sad.

When Edie reached the front of the train, she looked out the Pullman window at her family standing on the station platform. She saw the three girls and her Ma. The girls clung to their Grandma. She studied each of the others and tried to sort them out.

Last night in her private bed she had tried to recall their faces, but it was impossible. She wondered if she would be a total stranger to her loved ones.

There was one more problem. Her assorted life of gambling was not something she could brag about. Since she had been involved with men who smoked, drank, and played poker, some of the wrong was bound to rub off on her.

She’d killed in self defense and that was certainly not something she could brag about. She’d never been drunk, nor did she cheat, except to expose a card shark. She had to admit she did like a drink of good brandy after a meal and a smoke. Her Ma would die if she found out these things. On top of every thing, her Ma would have a stroke if she learned of Edie’s life style. Well, there was one thing she could brag about. She never took up with men.

Her two guns were buried deep in one of the trunks. She hoped they would stay buried along with her past.

Edie took a deep breathe, walked out on the railcar platform and descended the steps. She stepped across to the station platform and faced her family.

Not one soul moved. She heard Ann say, “Here is our aunt.”

George, the one sibling who took up for her, when they were young, stepped a little closer.

With a small voice and in complete disbelief, he asked, “Edie?”

He and the family gazed on a tall, elegant, well dressed woman. She wore a rich brown earth tone long dress, gloves, and a feathered hat, and carried a parasol, all of which matched.

Again he asked in the same soft disbelieving voice, “Edie?”

Edie smiled and said, “George.”

George’s mouth fell open just a little. He stuttered, “Oh, Edie! You are beautiful! You are beautiful! Oh, welcome home!”

The group on the train platform broke into pandemonium. There were cheers, cries of excitement, hugs and certainly tears of joy. Each person had to embrace Edie.

Finally, the group opened a path and Edie’s mother moved slowly toward her daughter.

“Edie!” her mother exclaimed.

“Ma,” Edie responded.

They embraced as tears of joy rolled down happy cheeks.

“Daughter, Baby,” her mother crooned. “I have prayed for this day ever since you left home.”

Wiping the tears, Edie responded, “Oh, Mama, you have not called me Baby since I was four or five.”

“I know, child and I have prayed for forgiveness as I am ashamed of how I treated you and your sisters. I feared your father and failed to shelter you and show you much love, but I did and do dearly love you.”

Edie hugged her mother again, “Mother, it is all in the past. I have prayed for your forgiveness for running away from home. That did not help things.”

Edie held her mother at arm’s length and said, “I want you to know, since I found my nieces I have been taking them to church. I too have prayed for forgiveness.”

Her mother exclaimed, “You went to church? You prayed for forgiveness?”

“Yes, church, Mother. I found a Baptist church and started taking the girls. I guess I needed it too.”

Her mother blinked her eyes, “You needed it? But I thought.” She paused trying to sort out her feelings.

“Yes, Mother and I will tell you all about the past few years, some day.”

Edie’s mother again blinked her eyes. She’d heard rumors about Edie, but refused to believe them as Edie was always the most faithful to church, revival, and singings.

She muttered under her breath, “How could Edie be anything but good?”

The family in their excitement did not more than glance at the train that brought Edie home, as it backed down the track and switched to a siding.

As it cleared the main line another train, the scheduled train, pulled into the station. Several persons disembarked, but the family paid no attention.

A blond haired man with a full blond beard approached Edie’s family.

He asked, “Which one of you is called Edie Carter?”

Edie turned and approached the man, “I am Edie Carter.”

“Well, Ma’am, I am Nate Carter, Deputy U. S. Marshal and I have come to take you back to El Paso. The federal judge wants to question you about several shootings.”