A Sentimental Journey

Author’s note:

This story is affectionately dedicated to the memory of my husband’s beloved grandparents, who were my inspiration. This tale is based on their courtship. Grandma and Grandpa W were married for over sixty years, and acted like newlyweds until the day that Grandpa passed away. They were truly an example of how to have a successful marriage, and it is with great love that I present this story to you today.

“A Sentimental Journey” begins shortly after The Cameo’s Portrait of the Past Universe story, “My Boy”.

Jim Frayne put down the old musty box of belongings through which he had been looking and brushed his dusty hands against the thighs of his well-worn jeans. He glanced over at Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler, who had volunteered to help him sort through the last of his great-uncle’s possessions. For the hundredth time since arriving in Sleepyside, he breathed a prayer of thanks for the friends he had found. He knew there weren’t many people who, out of the goodness of their hearts, would spend several days of their summer vacation cleaning out an old, dilapidated outbuilding. Indeed, he was very blessed.

Although the crumbling mansion at Ten Acres had been completely destroyed by the fire, the rundown barn located in the back of the property had been spared. To many, the charred eyesore’s only purpose was to serve as a Holiday Inn of sorts for Sleepyside’s elite wildlife. The jam-packed building provided the perfect sanctuary for several small woodland creatures: warm in the winter, protection from the elements, and countless nooks and crannies to serve as ideal hiding spots.

To Jim, however, the decrepit structure was a veritable treasure-trove. He didn’t expect to find another mattress stuffed with money, but he hoped he’d find something that was valuable, if only to him. Rather than diamonds, pearls, or old stock certificates, Jim searched for a far greater wealth: he sought for the secrets of the past. Items that most would dismiss as being worthless might prove to be the most precious to him, and for that reason, he was determined to sift through every single pile in that barn. Now, as he appraised the heaps of junk scattered all around him, Jim breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t have to tackle this monumental task by himself.

“Thanks for helping me go through this stuff, girls. I really do appreciate it,” he told Trixie and Honey. With a lopsided grin, he nodded at a pile of potential “treasures”. “Who knew that Uncle James could cram so much stuff in this tumbledown barn?”

Trixie eagerly returned the handsome redhead’s smile. “It’s no problem, Jim. We’re happy to help you sort through all your cra…” Giggling in embarrassment, she decided to change her wording. “It’s no problem to help you sort through your belongings.”

“No problem at all!” Honey added excitedly. “Why, what kind of sister would I be if I didn’t help my very own full-blooded adopted brother during his time of need?”

Jim affectionately ruffled Honey’s tawny-colored tresses. “Well, I’ll have to think of some way to reward you both for your hard work. Maybe you can each find a valuable souvenir somewhere amidst all this old crap.” He winked over at Trixie as he stressed the word she had almost used a minute before.

“Gee, I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to pick out just one thing,” Honey commented airily. “There’s so much to choose from.”

“Ooh, I’ve got dibs on this.” With a snort, Trixie held up a garden rake that was missing most of its prongs. “It’s a good thing your uncle kept this, Jim. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve needed a broken rake.”

“Trixie!” Although Honey had intended to scold her friend, she couldn’t keep from giggling. “Uncle James probably had a very good reason for keeping that. I’ll bet there are simply millions of uses for a long-handled gardening tool that’s missing most of its teeth!”

“Sure there are,” Trixie retorted in a sarcastic tone. She glanced around the barn and began pointing at things. “And I’m sure he had a good reason to keep that pile of empty milk bottles, that worthless collection of broken car parts, that old-fashioned wringer washer filled with burned-out light bulbs…”

Jim frowned as he surveyed the huge mounds of trash covering most of the floor. “Yeah, I’m afraid Uncle James was a bit of a packrat,” he commented.

“What gave it away?” Trixie carefully used the long handle of the broken rake to pick up a stained, moth-eaten hospital gown. “Why on earth would he keep this?”

“I’m not sure, but now you know how he used that rake,” Honey replied with a saucy grin.

Trixie made a face at her honey-haired friend. “Well, aren’t you smart?”

“If I was truly smart, I’d think of a way to make all this junk disappear without us having to move it,” Honey joked.

“That’s easy enough,” Trixie stated matter-of-factly. “Since there’s probably nothing of value in here anyway, I’d finish what Jonesy started and torch this place.”

Immediately realizing what she had said, Trixie’s flippant expression turned into a worried wince as she braced herself for Jim’s reaction. Much to Trixie’s relief, Jim had already grown accustomed to her foot-in-mouth comments, and seemed to take what she said with a grain of salt.

The husky redhead exhaled noisily as he waved weakly at the rubbish around him. “As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to have to veto that idea. No matter how long it takes, I’m determined to stay here and snoop through all this junk.”

“Is there something you’re not telling us?” Trixie, assuming her best “bad cop” expression, placed her hands on her hips and looked at Jim through narrowed eyes. “Is there another fortune hidden somewhere in this dilap… delip… er, this junky old barn?”

“Well, I am on a treasure hunt, but I seriously doubt the things I hope to find would be valuable to anyone but me,” Jim told her with a chuckle.

Honey studied her brother curiously. “What’re you looking for?”

“I’m not sure exactly,” Jim admitted, shrugging.

Trixie wrinkled her freckled nose. “Then how will you know when you find it?”

“I just will,” was Jim’s cryptic response.

“But that doesn’t make any sense at all.” Trixie huffed loudly in annoyance. “How do you look for something when you don’t even know what it is you’re looking for? This sounds like a mystery to me.”

“Sorry, Trix, but there’s no mystery for you to solve,” Jim said with a grin. “The truth is, I don’t have very many mementoes from my past, so I’m hoping that maybe I’ll find a piece of family history.” Suddenly embarrassed that he had revealed such an intimate detail, Jim nervously shrugged his hands into his pockets. “I guess that’s kind of silly. Anything worth keeping has probably been devoured by the moths or mice by now.”

Trixie’s features softened as she took in the childlike hope on Jim’s face. “You don’t know that, Jim,” she encouraged. “With all this junk in here, you’re bound to find something!”

“I hope so,” Jim answered.

“I hope so, too,” Honey added. “And Trixie’s right about one thing: There is a lot of junk in here. Going through it all could take days.”

“Hey, since it’s so hot in here, I’ll understand if you girls want to bail,” Jim offered. “There’s no reason for us all to roast in this pigpen.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, big brother!” Tenderhearted Honey reached over and gave Jim an impulsive hug. “I’m staying until you’ve sorted through the very last piece of trash and found a family heirloom. With the two of us doing the work—”

Trixie interrupted with a loud clearing of her throat. “Don’t you mean the three of us?”

Honey flashed a grateful smile at her curly-haired friend. “With the three of us doing the work, we’ll get done in no time!”

“And not only will we sort through all this stuff, we’ll also find you bunches of family history to boot!” Trixie proclaimed.

“You girls are really something.” Jim cast the girls an admiring glance, his gaze lingering a bit longer on the petite blonde. Fearing his lengthy perusal would reveal his true feelings, he shifted his line of vision to a rusty hubcap filled with an assortment of nuts and bolts. “Well, if we ever want to get finished, we’d better get back to work.”

The three friends resumed their task, each focusing on a different area of the barn. Although she was hard at work, Trixie couldn’t resist sneaking the occasional peek over at the husky boy. The muscles of his back strained against the thin fabric of his t-shirt as he bent over to pick up a couple of cinder blocks. She watched intently as he threw them out the door, amazed by his obvious strength.

Trixie’s adoration quickly turned to revulsion as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a cracked full-length mirror which was propped against a wall of the barn. She groaned as she appraised her appearance; she was covered from head to toe with a thick layer of dust. Her red tank top and denim shorts, as well as her trademark sandy ringlets, were completely coated with the seemingly magnetic powder. Both her clothes and hair appeared gray. Even the freckles spattered across the bridge of her nose were thoroughly concealed, which Trixie would normally consider a good thing. However, in this instance, she wasn’t sure that her now ashen complexion was an improvement over the previous freckles.

Exhaustion quickly setting in, Trixie wiped a bead of perspiration away from her hairline. The sweltering ninety-degree temperature and smothering humidity were excruciating; however, being confined in a small space with two other heat-producing individuals made it almost intolerable. Especially when one of those individuals is hot enough on his own to melt an iceberg the size of Texas, Trixie thought to herself as she peeked over at the muscular russet-haired boy.

Although she hadn’t spoken a word out loud, Trixie immediately clamped a sturdy hand over her mouth. To her dismay, the inevitable telltale crimson blush spread like wildfire from her neck to her cheeks. Not now, she pleaded silently. Well, maybe nobody will notice…

Unfortunately, somebody did notice.

“Are you okay, Trix?” Jim put down the toolbox he had just found and walked across the barn until he was at Trixie’s side. Examining her carefully, he placed a concerned hand on her shoulder. “You look a little flushed. Maybe you should take a break.”

Trixie looked up at him with wide, blue eyes. She gulped loudly as she tried not to notice how Jim’s fingertips were brushing against her shoulder. The sensation of having his hand graze her bare skin certainly wasn’t helping her cool down. “I’m fine,” she gulped.

However, Jim would not be so quickly convinced. “Are you sure, Trix? Your cheeks are beet red. I’m worried you’re getting sick from the heat.”

“It’s probably just a sunburn.” To add credibility to her dismissal, Trixie wrinkled her pert nose and gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. Much to her dismay, the shrugging motion caused her arch nemesis (definition: the curl which stubbornly insisted on planting itself in the middle of her forehead at the most inconvenient of times) to pick this particular moment to rise up against her and vaunt itself in an unseemly manner.

Annoyed with her flaming cheeks, out-of-control hair, and life in general, Trixie sighed impatiently as she brushed the ever-present sandy ringlet out of her eyes, all the while knowing her actions were futile. Just as she suspected, a few seconds later the impudent curl immediately returned to its usual position and resumed dangling in the middle of her sweat-dampened forehead.

Huffing in irritation, Trixie pointed towards the large pair of rusty pruning scissors that were hanging on the wall. “Hand me those gardening shears, Hon,” she demanded impatiently. “This curl’s goin’ down!”

Instead of complying with her friend’s request, Honey merely giggled. “If you think I’m going to let you whack off your hair with a rusty old pair of hedge clippers, then you’re crazy.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Trixie sputtered. Deciding talk was cheap, she grasped the offensive corkscrew and gave it a hearty yank in an effort to rid her soul of that which vexed her. Much to her disappointment, the curly strand of hair remained on her head in spite of the searing pain. Not one to give up, Trixie yanked again, this time a bit harder. “This menace to society has been attached to my scalp long enough! It’s time to unleash the savage beast!”

Chuckling heartily, Jim wrapped his large, freckled hand around Trixie’s curl-filled fist. “You’d better stop before you give yourself a headache.”

“It’d be worth it,” Trixie ground out through clenched teeth.

“Well, then do it for me,” Jim countered, his shamrock-colored eyes pleading.

Disoriented by his intense emerald gaze, Trixie allowed her fingers to release their grip on the ringlet in question, confusion filling her round china blue eyes. “Why should you care if I get rid of this stupid corkscrew?”

“If you pull out that curl, Shamus, how will I tug it?” Jim inquired in his most solemn voice.

She was so hypnotized by Jim’s eyes that she could barely respond. “What’re you talking about?”

“I’m talking about something I’ve wanted to do from the first moment I saw you,” Jim told her. “I’ve always resisted the urge, but since you’re so curious…” With a devilish grin, he finally succumbed to the power of the curl, grasped it between his left thumb and index finger, and gave it a gentle tug.

Trixie gasped in surprise. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the intimate gesture, Jim’s warm breath tickling her cheek, or the blissful sensation of having him so close, but for whatever reason, her equilibrium completely vanished, causing her knees to buckle. As she precariously wobbled around in an attempt to regain her footing, she stepped backwards and collided with a reasonably heavy object which was buried under a pile of outdated clothing.

“Whoa!” Trixie yelped as she struggled to remain upright. No matter how valiantly she fought, maintaining a standing position proved impossible. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jim reaching out to help her as Honey gasped in horror. Unfortunately, before Jim’s strong arms could stabilize her, she fell backwards, knocking off the heap of clothes in the process.

Immediately, Jim knelt down beside her, examining her thoroughly for any sign of injury. “Are you all right, Trixie?”

“Nothing damaged, except for my pride,” Trixie said with a wince. With a giggle, she reached underneath her rear end and pulled out a crushed Chinese lantern. “And maybe this…”

“No, I think that was already like that,” Jim assured her with a wink. Chivalrous as always, he placed his arms around Trixie and helped her stand. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Trixie knew she should answer him. Really she did. However, the realization that she was actually in Jim’s arms caused her tongue to go numb, and when she tried to speak, nothing came out. Instead of impressing him with some cleverly worded quip, she was forced to mutely stare at him like she had a hundred cotton balls in her mouth. Just as she began to worry that she was drooling, Honey saved her.

“Oh my goodness, Jim!” she shrieked. “You guys have got to see this!”

Jim and Trixie both scrambled to Honey’s side. They gasped simultaneously as they peered down curiously at an old trunk which had been the cause of Trixie’s fall.

“When Trixie bumped into it, the lid popped open,” Honey explained. “Just look at all the neat stuff inside! You’re sure to find some family heirlooms in there, Jim.”

The redhead bent over and examined the trunk’s contents. An army uniform, still neatly ironed and in pristine condition, had been laid on the top of the stack. Reverently, Jim picked up the old uniform and examined it.

Trixie and Honey stood back silently so Jim could privately study the contents of his uncle’s trunk. However, curiosity eventually won out, and Trixie had to ask, “Whose uniform was that, Jim?”

“Uncle James’.” Jim touched the various medals and stars with the tips of his fingers. “His name tag is still pinned to the front.”

“I didn’t know he was in the army,” Trixie commented.

“I didn’t either.” After handing the uniform to Honey for safekeeping, Jim dug deeper into the trunk and pulled out a shoebox. A quick peek inside revealed several black-and-white photographs.

“I’ll look at these later,” Jim murmured as he set the pictures on the floor beside him. “Maybe I’ll find some photos of Dad in there.”

The next item selected from the trunk was a thick stack of letters, held together by a frayed blue ribbon. The passing of time had caused the envelopes to yellow with age. Likewise, the once vibrant dye of the ribbon had faded.

Trixie furrowed her brow in a thoughtful manner as she peered down at the missives. “What’re those?”

“Letters,” was Jim’s simple response.

However, that one-word reply did absolutely nothing to appease Trixie’s insatiable curiosity. “Who do they belong to?” she prompted with a touch of impatience.

Jim shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t know. The one on top was addressed to ‘Soldier in the United States Army’, so I assume that it wasn’t written to anyone in particular.”

Honey peered down curiously at the envelopes. “Do you recognize the name on the return address?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Jim murmured after a quick appraisal at the name and address written at the upper left-hand corner of the envelope on the top of the stack. “Does the name ‘Janelle Barker’ ring a bell with anyone?”

“Nope,” Trixie answered. “How ‘bout you, Hon?”

“I’ve never heard that name before.” Honey giggled suddenly. “Of course, since I only moved to Sleepyside earlier this summer, that really isn’t surprising.”

“Well, whoever Janelle is, she wasn’t even from Sleepyside,” Jim commented. “The return address says Pennsylvania.”

Like a bloodhound on the trail of a scent, Trixie’s nose wrinkled with interest. “How curious.” She anxiously held her breath, hoping Jim would read the letter; unfortunately, he set the envelope aside to see what else was in the trunk.

“Look at these old records!” he exclaimed.

Honey clapped her hands in delight. “Oh! I just love the Andrews sisters! They were so beautiful and could sing like angels! If we have the right kind of record player, do you think we could listen to them later?”

Unlike her companions, Trixie’s attention couldn’t be averted so quickly. She gazed longingly at the stack of missives beside Jim. Although she tried to push her curiosity aside, her brain refused to switch topics. “Hey, aren’t you wondering who that letter was from, Jim?”

“Not really,” Jim said in an offhand manner. “I’ll look at them later, when I have more time.”

Trixie wanted to drop the subject. In fact, the corners of her lips twitched from the effort of keeping her mouth closed. However, the temptation proved too great. “If you got the letter out of the envelope and read it, you might find out who sent it. It would probably only take a minute or two.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Jim murmured as he continued flipping through the stack of World War Two-era music.

“Or maybe you could just look at the next letter in the stack,” Trixie suggested in what she hoped was a casual tone. “Have you thought of that, Jim?”

“Glen Miller!” Honey burst out excitedly. “Wow, I love the old big band sound!”

Trixie released a labored breath and rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Old letters sometimes contain really neat stuff. Who knows what we could find if we… er, I mean you… if you read those letters! You might learn something interesting, you know. So, do you want to take a peek? Just a quick one. What do you think, Jim?”

“I think I’d better let you read these letters before you have a coronary,” Jim teased. He cast the sandy blonde a fond smile as he handed her the thick collection of envelopes. “Knock yourself out, Trix.”

Trixie looked longingly at the stack of correspondence she now held in her hands. “Are you sure you don’t want to look at them first? I mean, they were in your uncle’s trunk… Maybe you should be the first person to read them.”

“Go ahead, Trix,” Jim urged. “Just be sure to tell me if you find out anything interesting.”

“Okay,” Trixie agreed. She found an old stool to sit on and assumed a good position for reading. Anxiously, she untied the ribbon, selected the first envelope in the pile, and pulled out the letter. After several minutes, she bounced up and down excitedly. “Oh, whoa, Jim! Listen to this…”

“ ‘Dear Soldier in the United States Army,

I know you don’t know me, and I hope you don’t mind receiving mail from some strange girl. My oldest brother thinks I’m crazy for writing to someone I’ve never met, but it isn’t the first time he’s been exasperated with me, so here I am, writing this letter to a complete stranger. However, I’ve often heard that a stranger is merely a friend you haven’t had the privilege of meeting yet, and in this case, I hope that proves to be true.

Now that I’ve babbled on and on, let me introduce myself. My name is Janelle Barker, and I live in a small, rural town in Pennsylvania. My family refers to me simply as Nell (except for my mother, who insists upon calling me by my full name), and if you wish to reply to this letter, please feel free to call me Nell. I am the youngest of three children. My father works in a factory, and my mother donates much of her time raising money for such organizations as the USO and the Red Cross. I have two older brothers, Walter and Clarence. Walter is very responsible and serious, but Clarence is an awful tease. Both have served in the military. Walter served on the U.S.S. West Virginia and was badly injured when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He was given an honorable discharge, and is now at home. Clarence still serves our great country as a pilot in the Army Air Force, and is stationed in East Anglia.

You may be curious why I’m writing to someone I’ve never met in spite of my brother’s teasing, so please allow me to explain. As I stated earlier, my mother has always been very active in her cause of supporting our soldiers. I, too, have developed a great desire to assist with the war effort. I wanted to join the Women’s Army Corps, but my father threatened to disown me if I did. Since I was so determined to help out in some way, Mama has encouraged me to join her Ladies Auxiliary. I think she hoped I’d be content to knit scarves, fold bandages, bake cookies and raise money for supplies, but much to her disappointment, I still desire a more active role. The little I do never seems to be enough, compared to the ultimate sacrifice our soldiers make every day.

Mama tried to convince me to become a Junior Hostess with the USO. I honestly believe that’s only because she fears that I am a hopeless tomboy, and if I became a USO girl, I’d be required to attend charm school. However, I think I would rather die than spend every night sewing on buttons and stripes, wearing my prettiest dress, and dancing with strange men. All the tiny brass pins in the world could not persuade me to change my mind, so I continue to search for other ways to help encourage our soldiers.

Recently, our local Red Cross held a meeting for volunteers, and the speaker talked about how lonely and homesick our troops are. She urged those in attendance to send a postcard, letter, or care package to a member of our armed forces in order to show our appreciation for their service. Although I write weekly letters to Clarence, I realize there are soldiers who aren’t blessed with such a doting family. Therefore, I have taken this speaker’s advice to heart, and I pray that God will place this letter in the hands of someone who is lonely and in need of some encouragement.

I hope this letter exhorts you to never waiver in your decision to protect the liberties which we all hold so dear. May the Lord keep you safe as you continue to serve our nation as a defender of freedom. Please let me know if you have any needs, and I will do my best to send you a care package. Once again, thank you for your bravery, and God bless America!

Regards,

Nell Barker’ ”

Her china blue eyes sparkling brightly, Trixie threw up her hands in exultation. “Janelle Barker is Nell Frayne! What do you think about that? Your aunt must’ve sent that letter to a soldier before she married your Uncle James! Don’t you think that’s neat, Jim?” She paused momentarily and looked at the redhead in a confused manner. “Is something wrong? You aren’t saying anything.”

“Well, you haven’t given me a chance,” Jim retorted, chuckling. “You’re so excited that I can’t get a word in edgewise.”

“Sorry,” Trixie apologized. She grinned sheepishly at the handsome teenage boy. “I guess I’m getting a little carried away.”

Jim smiled affectionately at the petite whirlwind. Her sand-colored curls were askew, dust covered her freckled nose, and her cheeks were tinged pink from embarrassment. If anyone had asked Jim’s opinion, he would’ve had to admit that she’d never looked more adorable. “That’s okay, Trix,” he said fondly. “I like it when you get carried away.”

Honey had to stifle a laugh as she watched the exchange. Sensing her best friend’s embarrassment, she decided to rescue her by returning the topic of the conversation back to the letters. “So, are all those from Nell?”

“Oops,” Trixie muttered through a laugh. “I was so excited by that letter that I forgot to read the rest of them.” She hastily selected the next envelope. Before she could even open it, she had to cry, “I think it’s from your uncle!” Her hands trembling from the effort of trying to contain her excitement, Trixie pulled out the second missive.

“ ‘Dear Nell,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I can’t begin to tell you how I appreciated your letter. The life of a soldier can get really lonely since we’re so far away from our loved ones for so long. It’s always comforting to receive mail. I wasn’t expecting to hear from my own family for another few days, so you can imagine my surprise when I was given your letter. I’d just received word that one of the soldiers I trained had been killed in battle, so you’ll never know how much I needed a friend at that moment. Your words were like a drink of cool water, and I’m so very grateful that you took the time to write a supportive letter to a soldier.

My name is James Frayne, and I am a Captain with the Army. Right now, I’m stationed at Camp Croft, which is a training base in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but my home (as well as my heart) is inSleepyside, New York, which is a small town on the Hudson River. My family has lived there for several generations, and I plan to settle there when my tour is over.

Thank you so much for your enchanting letter, Nell. It came just when I needed it. Your efforts to support the troops are such an encouragement, not only to me, but to all those who are defending this country. We certainly have a battle ahead of us, but we’re in this for the long haul.

I would consider it a great honor to correspond with you. On a personal note, I must tell you that in spite of your supposed tomboy ways, I found your letter extremely charming. The USO would be lucky to have you as a Junior Hostess; however, at the risk of offending you, I’m relieved that I won’t have to share you with all the drunken sailors passing through your town. USO girls, as kind as they are, are a dime a dozen, but girls possessing your charm and enthusiasm are truly special.

Fondly,

James’ ”

“Whoo-hoo, Uncle James,” Honey murmured appreciatively once Trixie had finished reading the letter aloud. “He certainly had a way with words.”

“What’re you talking about?” Jim inquired.

Honey rolled her large hazel eyes. “Oh, please. Didn’t you catch the way he was romancing her?”

“Not particularly,” he muttered with a shrug. Even though he had never actually met his great-uncle, Jim wasn’t too sure he wanted to imagine how his now-deceased relative had “romanced” anyone. Frankly, he found the thought of it kind of gross.

“Surely you picked up on it, Trix.” Honey looked over at her curly-haired friend. However, Trixie had already begun reading the next letter to herself and was too engrossed in it to even realize she’d been asked a question and could offer no backup.

“Well, Uncle James laid it on pretty thick, if you ask me,” Honey continued. “Didn’t you notice how he said she was charming, and that he didn’t want to share her?”

“He was probably just worried that she wouldn’t have time to be his pen pal if she joined the USO,” Jim offered.

Honey smiled smugly. “Or maybe he was worried she’d meet a handsome soldier and get married before he had the chance to propose to her. Didn’t you hear what he said about her being special?”

“That’s true,” Jim conceded. “But do you really think that he could already like her after just one letter? I mean, she only wrote a few paragraphs.”

“Maybe a few paragraphs is all it took,” Honey pointed out. “Haven’t you ever heard of love at first read?”

Knowing there was no need to argue, Jim chuckled as he threw up his hands in resignation. “Since Uncle James and Aunt Nell have both passed away, I don’t guess we’ll ever find out for sure.”

“Well, there’s one way to find out.” Honey looked over at Trixie. “What does the next letter say, Trix? Read it out loud, and then read the one after that. ”

Startled by the sound of her name, Trixie looked up suddenly. She was already halfway through the next letter and was so anxious to find out how it ended that she hated to go back to the beginning. However, back to the beginning she went. “All right,” she agreed hesitantly.

“ ‘Dear James,

I’m so glad that my letter was able to brighten your day. Your letter certainly brightened mine. Nobody has ever called me charming before. Why, I was positively blushing! Do you mind if I show my brother what you wrote? Walter and Clarence have teased me for years about being a harum-scarum tomboy, and unless I offer proof, they’d never believe me if I told them that I’d been called such a thing. Of course, Walter is still upset with me about writing to you, but he’ll forgive me eventually, as he always does. He’s terribly overprotective, but what older brother isn’t? He often scolds me when I find myself in the middle of a precarious situation, but Walter’s always been there to help when I’ve needed him…

August 14, 1942

If it weren’t for the sound of the chugging motor, the 1937 Pontiac DeLuxe sedan would’ve been completely noiseless. Nell Barker glanced over at her oldest brother, who was the driver of the car. Walter’s lips formed a thin line as he kept his intense gaze focused on the road ahead of them.

With a little over twenty miles left to travel until they arrived at the train station, Nell had finally lost patience with her brother. His juvenile attempt to change her mind about leaving by not speaking to her for the duration of the trip had failed. She was more determined than ever to go.

“Don’t you think you’re a little old to be giving me the silent treatment?” she asked with a sniff of indignation.

Walter didn’t even blink.

“I’m eighteen-years-old,” she continued. “I think I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”

Walter simply pushed up his hat by the rim, scratched his forehead, and then returned the fedora to its proper position.

“I know you think I’m just being impulsive, but I’m not.” Nell crossed her arms in front of her as Walter’s silence only served as fuel to her flames of anger. “I’ve thought this through carefully, and I’m doing the right thing.”

Yawning, Walter propped one elbow out the sedan’s window.

Her blue eyes blazing, Nell yelled, “Well, I don’t care what you say, Walter Barker! I’m going to South Carolina, and you can’t stop me!”

As his answer, Walter decreased his speed and carefully pulled the Pontiac off the road. He shut off the engine and then turned towards his sister, a smug expression on his face.

Nell’s forehead creased with puzzlement. “The train station’s twenty miles from here. Why did you pull off the road?”

“I’m stopping you,” Walter answered rather matter-of-factly.

“Ooh!” Nell’s fists curled as she tried to suppress the rage boiling up within her. “Start the car and get back on the road this instant, or I’ll… I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Walter prompted, his chin quivering from the effort of suppressing a grin.

“I’ll show you what!” Nell blustered. Angrily, she opened the passenger’s door, got out of the car, and then slammed the door closed as hard as she could. After opening the rear-hinged back door to retrieve her belongings, she stomped a few yards down the road, suitcase in tow.

Walter had to chuckle at the ridiculous sight before him. Nell’s suitcase probably weighed almost as much as she did, if not more. Yet somehow, the petite woman managed to drag the cumbersome piece of luggage behind her. The task grew even more daunting as the playful breeze threatened to steal Nell’s fashionable hat. Never one to shirk a challenge, his sister merely kept her left hand over her hat while the right one struggled to lift her bulky suitcase. However, what she did next quite effectively wiped the smirk from off of Walter’s face.

With a toss of her curls, Nell set her belongings on the ground, assumed a ladylike stance, and then purposely glanced back at her brother, her face the mask of feminine propriety. Once she was sure that she held his attention, she stuck out one leg in a sultry pose and lifted the hemline of her straight skirt until it was well above her knee.

“Janelle Barker!” Walter bellowed as he struggled to get out of the sedan. “Lower that hemline and get back in the car this instant!”

Nell’s bright blue eyes were round with feigned innocence. “If I do, will you take me to the train station?”

“We’ll talk about that later,” Walter hedged. He reached out to take Nell’s suitcase, but stopped short as he watched his sister’s hemline go up rather than down.

“You’re just stalling!” Glaring at him with as much impudence as she could project, Nell lifted the bottom of her skirt another inch until the band of her stocking showed.

“Put your skirt down!” Walter demanded hotly. He wavered back and forth between shielding his sister’s leg and craning his ear to listen for approaching vehicles. “What if someone driving by stops and tries to pick you up?”

With a soft sigh, Nell rolled her eyes in exasperation. “But that’s the whole point, Walter. I want someone to pick me up and drive me to the train station, since you obviously aren’t going to do it.”

Waving his hands in frustration, Walter finally buckled. “All right, you win! Get in the car before I change my mind!” As he turned to walk back to the vehicle, Nell stopped him.

“Aren’t you going to carry my bag for me?” she inquired sweetly.

Muttering a few choice curse words he’d picked up in the military, Walter picked up his sister’s suitcase, loaded it in the back of the Pontiac, and soon the siblings were on their way.

“I should’ve left you back there and let you take your chances hitchhiking,” Walter grumbled.

“Why didn’t you?” Nell asked him quietly.

“Because in spite of your annoying habit of behaving like a foolish little girl, I’m actually quite fond of you,” Walter retorted.

Nell moved to the middle of the bench seat so she could pat his hand while he clasped the steering wheel. “Not nearly as fond as I am of you, big brother.”

“Oh, quit with your beguiling ways,” he scolded lightly. “That’s twice now you’ve conned me into agreeing to drive you to the station. What else do you want?”

“Your blessing,” was Nell’s whispered response.

“Now you’re asking for the impossible.” Walter cleared his throat gruffly. “Nellie, why’re you doing this?”

“Because I love him.” The certainty in Nell Barker’s voice spoke multitudes. “I’m in love with James Winthrop Frayne, and I can’t wait another minute to be his wife.”

“I respect that, but do you have to run off like this?” Walter questioned. “You don’t even know this man.”

Nell’s chin lifted stubbornly. “I may not have met him yet, but I know him.”

“Well, that’s wonderful that you know James, but the rest of your family would like the chance to get to know him,” he retorted. “We’d all feel better if we knew for ourselves that he isn’t after our money.”

Nell hooted with laughter. “I can promise you that James isn’t after our money, what little of it we have. The Fraynes could buy and sell the Barkers many times over. His grandfather made tons of money years ago, and his family owns a huge estate in New York that James will inherit someday.”

“Okay, so maybe he isn’t after your money,” Walter conceded. “Still, couldn’t you wait to be married until James goes on leave? That way he can come to Pennsylvania and meet the family first…”

“No, it has to be now,” Nell insisted. “He received word that he’s being transferred to a base in Alaska in a few days. We want to get married before he leaves, so he doesn’t have time to meet you all first.”

“I don’t think I’ll like James very much when I do meet him,” Walter remarked. “It’s just not proper to marry a girl before meeting her family.”

“The war has changed a lot of things,” Nell stated matter-of-factly. “Why, there’s even talk that they’re going to take away our nylon stockings. Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you…”

“The neighbors are all talking about it, you know.”

“The neighbors are talking about my stockings?” Nell asked with an impish grin.

“No, you little ninny,” Walter corrected, his mustache twitching in amusement. “They’re talking about how you’re running off to marry some stranger.”

Nell’s eyes shot over to her eldest brother. “What’re they saying?” she questioned, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

“Well, it’s nothing good, I can tell you that!” Walter exclaimed.

Nell licked her lips as she tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t give away her obvious pleasure at being the subject of rumors in their small town. However, her curiosity got the better of her, as it usually did. “What are they saying, then?”

Walter looked over at her sternly. “Janelle Barker, someday that inquisitive streak of yours is going to be your downfall. Curiosity’s like a snake; it bites you so quickly that eventually you won’t have time to find a cure.”

However, the brotherly lecture did little to squelch Nell’s questions. “They’re probably all talking about what a miracle it is that I’ve finally conned some poor, unsuspecting gentleman to marry me. The gossiping biddies must be disappointed that I’m not going to be an old maid after all.”

“Nobody thought you were going to be an old maid,” Walter corrected, laughing. “In spite of the fact that you were a harum-scarum tomboy when you were younger, you’ve grown into a lovely woman. I’m sure one of the local boys would be only too happy to court you.”

“I don’t want to be courted by one of the local boys,” Nell said with a lengthy sigh. “I’m in love with James. Can’t you understand that?”

Walter slapped the steering wheel to express his frustration. “But this sort of thing just isn’t done! Ladies simply don’t board a train and travel— unescorted, mind you— across the country so they can marry a man— ten years their senior, might I add—they haven’t even met yet!”

“Some girls at the USO marry soldiers they’ve only known for a week; I’ve been writing to James for six months!” Nell argued.

“That isn’t the same as meeting him in person,” Walter shot back. “You can’t really get to know someone after just a few letters.”

“I know James better than I know myself!” Nell took a deep breath, and in a much calmer voice, said, “I never even really knew me until I met James. When I began writing to him, it almost felt like I’d finally found myself.”

Walter wearily rubbed his temples, hoping he could massage away the headache that was beginning to form behind his eyes. “I don’t doubt you love him, but couldn’t you wait until the war’s over and he comes home to stay?”

“But what if he doesn’t come home?” Nell’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m not stupid, Walter; I know he could come home in a box. But if I have to mourn him, I’d rather mourn him as his widow, rather than as his fiancée.”

Silenced by his sister’s impassioned speech, Walter focused on the road ahead of them.

“And just so you know, the idea of a sudden wedding didn’t sit well with James, either,” she continued. “We had spoken of marriage several times during the past couple months, but James was waiting until he was given leave. He’s so honorable that he wanted to come to Pennsylvania first to ask Dad for my hand in marriage. When we found out that he was being sent to Alaska, he wanted to wait until after the war to marry me, but I knew I’d die if I had to wait two or three years until I became his wife. Why, I had to threaten to follow him all the way to Fort Richardson, if I had to. He knew I’d do it, too, so he finally sent me a proposal and the money for a train ticket to Spartanburg, along with the letter from him that I gave to Dad.”

“I still can’t believe that Dad agreed to let you go,” Walter commented.

Nell shrugged her shoulders. “He knew I’d go anyway— with or without his permission— so I guess he decided it was best to send me away with his blessing rather than having me run away mad.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Walter exhaled heavily. “You know that you’re breaking Mama’s heart, don’t you?”

“Would you rather mine be broken?” Nell inquired in a small voice.

Walter cast a scolding sidelong glance at his sister. “That’s not fair, Nell. I don’t want to see either of you suffer, but right now, all I can think about is the memory of our poor, weeping mother as she watched us drive away.”

“I’m sure that soon Mama will realize that she’s not losing a daughter; she’s gaining a son.” Although Nell had tried to keep her tone upbeat, a hint of sadness had crept into her voice.

“She already has two sons; she doesn’t need another one,” Walter pointed out. “But you’re her only daughter, and she’s worried she’ll never see you again.”

“James has promised me that we’ll come to visit as soon as he’s sent back to the states,” Nell told him.

“But that could be years.”

Nell nodded in acknowledgement. “Possibly. It’ll depend mostly on the war.”

It was on the tip of Walter’s tongue to ask his sister what she would do if James died in the line of duty. Though it wasn’t a pleasant possibility, as a military man himself, he had seen that possibility become a reality far too often. Several of the military wives on the base where he’d been stationed in Hawaii were left widows when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He’d seen firsthand how difficult it was for them to put their lives back together again, particularly so far away from their family and friends. Walter wasn’t sure he wanted that for Nell, although it didn’t appear he was going to have much to say about the matter…

Since arguing would be futile, Walter decided to lighten the mood. “Well, there’s one thing you haven’t thought about, little sister.”

“What’s that?”

Walter looked over at her, grinning devilishly. “What if you get on that train and travel all the way to South Carolina, only to find out that you’ve agreed to marry the ugliest man on earth?”

“James isn’t the ugliest man on earth!” Nell gasped.

“How do you know?” Walter goaded. “Did he send you a picture?”

“No, but…”

“Then how do you know that he doesn’t have a third eye or some other abnormality?” Walter demanded teasingly.

Nell rolled her eyes in exasperation. “James told me what he looked like, and I believe he would’ve mentioned something so prominent as a third eye.”

“Well, since you’ve never seen him in person, you only have his word to go on,” Walter commented. “He probably told you that he looks like Cary Grant when he really looks like one of those munchkins in the Wizard of Oz.”

“He does not,” Nell insisted with a giggle. “He told me he’s almost six foot tall—”

“Which means he’s barely a tick over the five foot mark, and that’s when he’s wearing lifts in his shoes,” Walter interjected.

“And he’s sort of husky—”

“Meaning that he’s a bit too fond of his mother’s buttermilk biscuits.”

Nell was laughing so hard that she could barely offer a response. “Will you just stop! Quit interrupting me so I can finish telling you what he looks like.”

“I’m only trying to help,” Walter retorted solemnly. “Please continue with your description. I’m curious what my future nieces and nephews may look like.”

“All right,” Nell agreed. “He has thick hair that’s almost an auburn color—”

“He’s almost bald, and what hair he does have is the color of carrots.”

Nell decided that the wise thing to do would be to ignore Walter’s remarks altogether. “Well, I suppose you’ll find out for yourself what he looks like when I bring him home for a visit.”

“So you’re marrying him even if he’s as homely as the scarecrow in old man Shaver’s field?” Walter challenged.

“Even if he’s as homely as that scarecrow that the crows have picked to death,” Nell affirmed. “You see, I love him for what’s on the inside, and I just hope he feels the same about me.”

Walter looked over at his sister, his face full of affection. He took in her shoulder-length blonde curls, her bright blue eyes and the long, sandy lashes that fluttered above them, the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her pert nose that stood out on her porcelain complexion, her full lips that were currently forming a petulant pout… “You don’t have any reason to worry, Nellie,” he murmured. “He’s going to think you’re beautiful— inside and out.”

The siblings grew quiet as Walter pulled the Pontiac into the train station. After parking, Walter got Nell’s suitcase out of the back, and then escorted her to the terminal where she purchased a one-way ticket to Spartanburg, South Carolina. The train was scheduled to depart in approximately twenty minutes, and passengers were already beginning to board. As they approached the railcar where the luggage was stored, Walter turned to her.

“This is your last chance to back out,” he said. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

With a haughty lift of her chin, Nell gave him a curt tight-lipped smile. “I’m going.”

Walter nodded in acknowledgment. “That’s all I need to know.” He turned his attention to the porter who was standing outside the baggage car, and then handed the young man his sister’s large suitcase containing all her earthly possessions. After slipping the porter a generous tip, he led Nell to the Pullman car on which she was to be a passenger.

“I guess this is goodbye,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

“I guess it is.” Although Nell had known this moment would come, actually saying farewell to Walter proved more difficult than she thought it would be. “I’ll be sure and let everyone know when I’ve made it to Spartanburg.”

“That’s good,” Walter replied. “And I assume you’ll send us your address when you’re settled at Fort Richardson?”

“Of course.” Blinking back a few tears, Nell wrapped her arms around him, unsure when she’d ever see him again. “I love you, Walter.”

“And I love you, Nellie.” Although he tried to keep his voice from cracking, he failed miserably.

Thinking the separation would be easier if it was accomplished quickly, Nell hurriedly pulled away. Struggling not to cry, she turned towards the steps of the train. However, before she could climb aboard, a calloused hand reached out and grabbed her arm. Eyes wide with confusion, Nell looked back.

“Here,” Walter muttered as he stuck a piece of paper in her hand. “In case you don’t like him.”

Not being able to resist the temptation to peek at what she’d been given, Nell opened her fisted hand and gasped when she saw a twenty-dollar bill. “What’s this for?”

“I told you, in case you don’t like him,” Walter repeated. “That should be more than enough to buy you a ticket back home.”

That gesture made it impossible for Nell to continue holding back her tears. She flung herself into her brother’s arms, allowing herself to cry. He embraced her until the conductor gave the final call that all passengers should board the train. As Nell reluctantly pulled away, she mustered a tenuous smile to let her brother know she would be all right. “Walter, will you stay until the train leaves?”

“Of course,” he agreed. “The last thing you’ll see as you leave the station will be me waving goodbye.”

Nell nodded, and then slowly began the climb back up the steps.

“Put that money away somewhere safe from thieves,” he directed as she began to board. “Pickpockets like to hang around train stations.”

“I will,” Nell promised. After one final look back at her brother, she took a deep breath and stepped onto the Pullman car which would carry her to her new life.

Five minutes later, the last thing Nell Barker saw as she looked out the window was Walter waving his hat to bid her farewell.

Two days later…

Butterflies danced around Nell’s stomach as the train finally pulled into the station in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her hand trembled as she attempted to straighten the hat she was wearing, although she wondered briefly if she was doing more harm to her appearance than good. After pulling out a small mirror from her handbag, she inspected her reflection critically, looking for any glaring imperfections she could fix within the next ten minutes. Aside from straightening the bow at the throat of her white blouse, it was as good as it was going to get.

The train lumbered to a stop, and passengers began to gather their belongings. Nell took several deep breaths as she found her handbag. Remembering Walter’s advice, she hooked the strap of her handbag through her elbow, and then secured it under her arm to protect herself from any potential thieves. Legs wobbling, she made her way down the aisle of the Pullman car and disembarked the train.

The station bustled with activity. Hundreds of people waited on platforms for loved ones, as hundreds more stepped off trains. Nell searched the crowd for any glimpse of James, but because of the number of people, it would’ve been difficult to find a familiar face, much less one she’d never actually seen.

She narrowed down her search to those wearing the familiar colors of the United States Army. However, that did little to make her task easier. A sea of olive green moved in waves through the multitude, as the majority of the passersby were wearing Army uniforms. The close proximity of Camp Croft made this the ideal location for those arriving to or departing from the training base.

Nell stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck as she scanned the crowd. Suddenly, out of the corner of her vision, she caught a glimpse of bright red moving through the mob, and immediately honed in on it. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes focused on a redheaded man dressed in the colors of the Army walking towards her.

That has to be James! she thought to herself. Rather than be disappointed that, if this indeed was her fiancé, Walter’s revised description was more accurate than James’ had been, Nell pushed her way through the mass of people, trying to get to him more quickly. Her husband-to-be was easy to track; if his thinning, carrot-colored hair hadn’t garnered her attention, then the sun reflecting off his bald spot surely would have. His portly build was also an asset to Nell; in a crowd of muscular men, a soldier who appeared to be carrying a spare tire around his middle certainly stood out. As far as Nell was concerned, his added girth was