Page 51 of The Love Bus

THE NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD

A fter such a long and tumultuous day, I ought to have slept like the dead. Did I, though?

Not even close.

So when the alarm went off on my phone the next morning, I groaned and buried my face in the pillow. The wine I’d drunk didn’t help either.

What day was it again? What city were we in?

Train. Durango.

Noah, and?—

His mom. Right next door.

With that fun reminder to start off my day, I dragged myself out of bed and downstairs, where most of the group had already gathered near the hotel lobby doors.

Tay stood to the side with her clipboard, eyes scanning a list and looking even more exhausted than she had the night before, though a little relief poked through when the yellow school bus drew up to the doors.

At the sound of rustling polyester, I knew immediately that Babs had sidled up next to me.

“You’re not with your BFF this morning?” I asked before she could start drilling me about yesterday.

She was wearing the purple tracksuit today, with Morty’s hat, of course, and as usual, she had that knowing sparkle in her eye.

The thing about Babs, though, was that even though she was one of the world’s busiest busybodies, you couldn’t help but just… love her.

“I just saw them in the dining room,” she said.

“Them?” I asked innocently.

Babs, of course, merely patted my arm. “Christine needed to run up to the room to grab a sweater. But she and your Dr. Noah will be along shortly.”

This time, I didn’t bother correcting her. Not because I thought Noah was mine, but because by now, I was learning that it wouldn’t do any good.

And well, Babs wasn’t completely wrong…

He was maybe a little bit mine.

“How’d you sleep, dear?” She smiled brightly, her red lipstick—on her—looking perfectly appropriate for a day of touring.

“Like a rock,” I lied.

Her grin widened. “Mm-hmm. Must’ve been all that…mountain air.”

It was one thing allowing these senior citizens to speculate about my love life—or lack thereof—quite another to provide details. So, I clamped my mouth shut and breathed a sigh of relief when Mother and Son Grady stepped off of the elevator.

And, I’ll admit, I didn’t mind when Noah’s blue-gray gaze immediately found mine.

It was as if we had some kind of invisible pull between us. One that wasn’t entirely sexual. But also…kind of was.

I mean, we’d been on a bed. Anything could have happened.

Being in the crosshairs of what—to me, anyway—felt like a smoldering stare, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking the same thing.

And holy hotplate, I could feel the heat working its way up my neck.

But my attention snapped away as Tay crossed the lobby toward us, her frown deepening the closer she got.

“Morning,” she said, giving me a bit of a subtle side eye. Even though Tay seemed all business today, I could tell she wanted to know if I’d taken her up on her advice. Thank the stars she knew better than to ask me in front of Babs—or Mrs. Grady—or any of my other newfound friends.

But Tay, who’d been handing tickets out to our group, did not look happy when she turned to me.

“So, I’ve got bad news.” She forced a brittle smile. “Instead of changing your mom’s ticket into your name, they cancelled it. And the train’s sold out. I’m so sorry, Luna.”

Well…crumbs. My heart actually sank a little. Until that second, I hadn’t realized how much I was looking forward to riding on the train. We’d seen it driving into town—an old steam engine that immediately reminded me of my dad.

But I didn’t want to add to Tay’s problems today, so even though I felt my throat tightening up, I just nodded. “No worries. No big deal. I can…” I gestured around the hotel. “Hang out at the pool?”

“It doesn’t open for the season until tomorrow.” Tay was clearly upset. “All we can do is bring you to the station and hope someone cancels last minute.”

“I bet someone cancels,” Babs offered optimistically. “People always cancel on these things. Don’t they, Tay sweetie?”

But Tay only winced. “It’s a pretty popular attraction. But we can hope.”

“Okay. That’s fine.” I told myself it shouldn’t matter. I’d already experienced some incredible things on this tour. “If there isn’t room, there isn’t room.”

I felt Noah watching me. Then I felt his mom watching him. Then I felt Babs watching all of us.

“Well, then. Let’s try to get there early, shall we?” Babs addressed Tay, who quickly nodded and went about rounding up our group.

Unfortunately, we could have been a full hour early, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. Because I was number nine on the wait list.

“Okay, then…” I took a step away from the group.

As I did, I could see the look on Noah’s face. He was going to offer to give his ticket up, or maybe even stay behind. But his mom…

His mom was celebrating the fact that she’d survived breast cancer! I shook my head before he could offer.

I took another step back. “I’ll video the train pull away. Wishing you all bon voyage !” Even now, with the sight of the engine rumbling on the tracks, I was kind of excited to watch this beast get going.

Mrs. Grady didn’t seem to mind leaving me behind. “Come on then, Noah. The brochure says to try to get a seat on the back for the best views of the train.”

She gave a little tug on Noah’s arm, but he didn’t move, his eyes still on me. “What are you gonna do?”

“I’ll figure something out. I’ll be fine.” And I would. I punched up my most encouraging smile. “Be with your mom.”

That, coming from me, was kind of ironic.

But I meant it.

And even though I could see he was feeling more than a little torn, I also saw a hint of relief. Because…yeah.

Breast cancer.

So, with my whole-hearted blessing, he allowed his mom to drag him away. “We’ll save you a seat, Babs!” Mrs. Grady called over her shoulder.

Whereas everyone else was already clamoring onto the cars, Babs still hadn’t moved.

“You’d better go, Babs,” I said. “Unless chasing a train down like a hobo is on your bucket list…”

“No…” The platform was almost completely empty now. I looked around nervously.

“Seriously, Babs?—”

“Take my seat, Luna.” Before I knew what she was doing, she’d pressed the ticket into my hand. “You gave up your massage for me.”

“What? No, Babs?—”

But this time, it was Babs who was moving away. “It’s only fair!”

“Babs!” I couldn’t take her ticket.

“I believe I saw a haberdasher on Main Street, and I really need to stop in to have this fraying on Morty’s hat repaired. And I want to stop in at that honey shop.” But then she gave me a stern look. “Get on that train, Luna Faraday, or so help me, I’ll call your mother.”

My eyes flew wide.

She wouldn’t! Of course, she had to be joking. How would she even find my mom’s number?

But as it turned out, the threat got her point across.

“You’re sure…?”

She pointed sharply. “Young lady, you get on that train!” Hoo boy. That got me moving. Babs could be scary when she wanted to be.

“I’m going. I’m going…” I was kind of skipping backward. “And Babs?”

She tilted her head.

“Thanks,” I said.

The engine let out a chugging groan, wheels grinding forward with a shudder that vibrated through the platform as it began to pull away.

And suddenly, I was running along the platform—heart racing, wind catching my skirt—like a heroine in an old thirties’ movie.

Catching up to the caboose, I reached for the rail—and missed by an inch as the train just barely began to outpace me.

My heart leapt into my throat.

After all that, I couldn’t miss it now.

I pushed my legs harder, practically sprinting alongside the last car, and reached out for one more try when?—

A hand caught mine. Firm. Familiar. “I’ve got you.”

Noah.

He was already there, one foot braced on the step, the other reaching for me. Without hesitation, he pulled me up, his other hand steady at my waist. For a breathless second, we were toe to toe, thigh to thigh… chest to chest.

The train rumbled beneath us as the small western town unfolded behind us.

My hair, which had escaped my ponytail, blew around my face. Noah’s eyes caught on it briefly, something like wonder in his gaze.

My heart was racing, from sprinting, but also…because…

“That was…” Exciting. Intoxicating. “Incredibly romantic.”

Was this my life now?

“I try,” he said, not letting go.

And just like that, I’d made it.

A conductor moved up behind us, shaking his head in obvious disapproval.

“We really don’t condone that sort of thing,” he admonished. He held out his hand. “Do you at least have a ticket, miss?”

Breathless, not about to let him dampen this moment, I handed it over. Babs’s ticket. Of which I felt more than a little guilty about taking.

Even if she hadn’t given me a choice.

There wasn’t a door, just a chain across the entrance to the train car. I started to hitch my skirt, ready to climb over, but the conductor sighed, unlatched it properly, and waved us like a weary parent.

And yet, I had zero regrets.

A breeze curled through the car, lifting my hair, and for a flicker of a second, I had that same feeling I’d had just before falling into the lake yesterday: buoyant, breathless.

Limitless.

“Come on,” Noah murmured, his hand warm against my back.

We stepped inside together. Just one step over the threshold, and yet it felt like we’d crossed into something else entirely. Even though the town was still visible—shops, traffic, bustling pedestrians—this felt separate. Slower.

This ride was made for watching the world go by: wide windows framed in brass and wood, long padded benches along either side. Not like the bus. Not like a plane. This was built for seeing, not just going.

“Here we are,” Noah said behind me, gesturing to the last open seats.

And sitting there, trying very hard not to look disappointed, was?—

His mother.

Without Babs there to soak up the conversational oxygen, the vibe between us felt…sharper.

“Where’s Babs?” she asked, scooting along the bench to make room.