Mariah awoke from a hard bump, almost falling from her berth, when her coach slammed into the rail car ahead of hers. She felt a second one as the one behind settled into hers. She found a switch on the wall and flipped it on. The brass wall sconce with a crystal globe illuminated the room. Mariah looked at it and shook her head, “That’s weird, I didn’t notice that before,” she uttered to herself. She pulled the curtains back and raised the sash, then glanced outside the cabin window. The sun was rising, and the early morning frost still covered the ground. She stared partially in amazement but in confusion as well. The station outside her window looked as if she had stepped back in time. Wooden rail carts with steel wheels laden with steamer trunks sat on the platform, and domed lamps with opaque glass chimneys hung from a trestle wood ceiling.
“Shasta Springs station, Shasta Springs station,” the conductor announced, “Three-hour water stop, local time Seven-fifteen and thirty-three degrees.”
Arching her brow, she stood and leaned towards the glass, watering stop? she remarked. She shook her head and turned towards the cabin door. She stopped and glanced at it, perplexed. The cabin seemed different. She reached out and placed her hand on the brass closet door handles and timidly opened the polished wood doors, shaking her head… ‘What’s going on?’ She said to herself. When it opened, she saw an elegant white robe next to a linen garment bag. She glared stunningly into the closet door mirror at the night gown she was wearing, “This isn’t mine,” she uttered in confusion. “I don’t even remember putting it on.
She put the robe on and tied its belt, then opened the cabin door into the corridor. The corridor offered more of the same dark Mahogany-stained wood trim and brass labeled plates with arrows indicating the car number and the cars fore and aft.
The conductor rounded the corner wearing an ornate dress uniform and tie, walking towards her, “Good morning, Ma’am. May I help you?”
She stared at him almost in disbelief. “Um… maybe you can tell me what’s going on?”
The conductor smiled, “Just a routine water stop, Ma’am, to replenish the water reservoir in Lula Belle and fill the oil tank. You’re more than welcome to enjoy the station’s amenities, but you might change into warm clothes and a wrap…. It’s a bit chilly out there.”
“No, no, um, I mean, what’s going on here, what day is this, and where am I?”
He smiled, “This is Shasta Springs, Mrs. Keaton. We stop here for passengers going up to Portland and back for Los.”
“No, I mean how did I get here?”
“You’ve been on board since we left ‘Cisco…. are you Okay Mrs. Keaton?”
“I don’t remember any of this, and why are you calling me Mrs. Keaton? That’s not my name, and I’m headed for Tampa. I have a business meeting there tomorrow morning. ”
“Well, Mrs. Keaton, that’s how you registered when you boarded, just like every other time you traveled with us, and The Southern Pacific line doesn’t go to Tampa. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”
Mariah shook her head, “Yes, I think so, but now I am very confused … what do you mean every other time I traveled with you? I’ve never been on this train!”
“I am sorry Ma’am, and I don’t mean to sound contrary, but…. You make this trip every week. You once told me your business in ‘Cisco was important, but you said you would never live there. You even showed me a picture of your husband and children. They seem like a really nice family.”
“Family! You have me confused with someone else, I’m not married, and I’ve never met you!”
“I think you’re just pulling my leg again. I’m Rutherford, Ma’am; I’ve been your conductor on this line for ten years. I’m pretty sure that ring on your finger means you’re married.” He laughed, “and that picture of the kids you showed me last night… well they sure look a lot like you.”
“I need to find my cell, and I have to call my secretary.” `
Rutherford looked at her perplexed, “I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t know what a cell is, but if you’ll describe it, I’d be happy to help you look for it.”
“It’s a phone, a mobile phone.”
Rutherford laughed, “I think you’ve been reading too many of those Dick Tracy comics. I’ve never heard of a mobile phone, but there’s a telephone at the station, and you can even call long-distance for 15 cents.”
Mariah shook her head; “This has got to be some kind of dream, right? Last night I boarded the Amtrak from Williamsburg, Virginia, and when I wake up, you tell me I’m in Oregon? I’m sorry this doesn’t make any sense. What day is this?”
Rutherford started to laugh but held it in, still unsure if Mrs. Keaton was pulling one of her usual well-contrived jokes on him. “Mrs. Keaton. Are you alright? Perhaps I might summon the Railroad physician?”
“I’m fine, I just don’t understand what’s going on! Why won’t you tell me what day it is and why I’m in Oregon?”
“I apologize Ma’am. I didn’t realize you were serious. No, we’re not in Oregon. We won’t arrive there until the usual time of 5:33 this evening. We’re still in California, and it’s now 7:20 am Railroad time. Today is still March 6th, and it’s still Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Seven, just like yesterday morning when you came on board.”
“Nineteen Thirty-Seven….” Mariah quipped, shaking her head, confused. That’s not possible. I boarded the train in Virginia last night, March 6th, 2025, and I booked passage on Amtrak nonstop from Richmond, Virginia, to Tampa, Florida, and I have to make a meeting in the morning.”
“Tampa? Mrs. Keaton, I don’t recollect any railroad called Amtrak, and the only train that runs coast to coast from Los Angeles east is the Transcontinental line, but that would take better than a week to travel on. You could’ve booked a flight this morning, but the plane from San Francisco would take twelve hours, and doesn’t leave ‘Cisco until around four last evening.”
“Twelve Hours? No, I’m sorry but you’re wrong, I’ve flown coast to coast before, and the jet took less than six hours with a layover in Dallas.”
Rutherford smiled, “You mean like a Jet Aereo-plane? Boy, Mrs. Keaton, you really had me going. That must have been some dream you were having last night. I guess them Dick Tracy comics can seem real. Perhaps you need to eat something. I think your Valet will be here soon. Why don’t you let her get you ready and then you can head to the dining car. It’s the car ahead of this one. Cookie will make your breakfast and maybe you will feel better.”
Mariah, though still not sure what was going on, nodded. “Maybe you’re right, um… thanks… Rutherford, is it?”
He laughed, “Yes Ma’am, always Rutherford. You have yourself a good morning, Ma’am.” he tipped his hat, then shook his head, smiling, and continued down the corridor.
She stepped into her cabin and closed the door. ‘Hot water, maybe that will help,’ She thought and walked into the lavatory. She turned on the water, then glanced down at a large make-up kit sitting on the lavatory counter. She opened it still baffled and glanced inside. “What’s this?” she remarked and pulled out a straight razor. “I don’t even know how to use one of these….” A knock came on the door. “What now?” She said exasperatedly and set the razor down. When she opened the door, a woman was standing in front of her in a white smock holding a towel over her arm, pushing a wooden service cart.
“Good morning, Ma’am. You requested Valet service, I’m Gladys, I’m here to get your morning started.”
“A Valet….um, I don’t remember….well okay…. come in I guess.”
Gladys smiled and walked in, then she went into the lavatory, “I see you have your razor, but iffen you don’t mind, I am comfortable with the way mine feels in my hand.” She smiled, “I’d just assume not nick those beautiful limbs, it would not look good under your silk fishnets. Please have a seat whilst I get things ready.”
Mariah nodded in bewilderment, “By all means….”
Gladys began running water in the lavatory sink and pulled a long stainless-steel box from under the cart she brought with her, revealing steaming hot towels. She took one out, opened it, and placed it over Mariah’s face. “This will help you relax ma’am.” Gladys closed the steam box and continued setting her equipment up. She turned and smiled, ” If you’ll excuse me for saying this, Ma’am, but Rutherford said you seemed a bit out of sorts. She set the box on the vanity, took a cup of shaving cream out, and began stirring it into a full lather. “Maybe this will help you feel more like yourself. So, are you enjoying the trip this time, Mrs. Keaton?”
“Yes…um I guess so. You’re my Valet?”
“I’m not your regular Ma’am, if ‘in I was, you’d of known right off. Mavis, well she took ill and couldn’t make the trip. I hope you’ll be pleased with me.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” she remarked still perplexed.
Gladys removed the towel and knelt in front of her and glanced up. “If you please Ma’am?”?
Mariah glanced at her a bit confused, “I’m sorry.”
“I need to get you ready to start the day. We can start by shaving your limbs and then finish your sponge-bath. Then I can do your hair and makeup. We want you to look your best before you go to the dining car. A lady do always need to look her best, don’t she?” She smiled, “If you’ll slip your robe off and pull up your nightgown I can start.”
Mariah did as she asked, and Gladys began spreading the hot shaving cream over her legs. “Now then, let’s get you all shaved and cleaned up so’s you can get to breakfast.,” She pulled a razor from the top pocket of her smock and began running the blade up and down the razor strap hanging from the chair. “Recon, it’s sharp enough now.” She grinned.
Soon, Gladys had her clean, her makeup done and her hair perfect. Mariah glanced at herself in the mirror, “Wow, you did a great job, I should bring you back to Florida with me.”
“Thank you very much, Ma’am, but I’ve never lived outside of California; I don’t know what I’d do with myself in Florida.”
Mariah looked into the mirror and just stared; Gladys dressed her in a blue pinstriped silk suit with a white silk blouse and a blue silk string bow-tie. Her hair was beautiful, and she felt really good, looking at herself. “You know, it was a relief when you showed up.” she laughed, “I’m sure I would have butchered my legs with that straight razor. I would have never thought to wear my hair this way, and this suit looks great. How did the railroad know my size?”
Gladys laughed and shook her head, “Rutherford said you was a prankster. I pulled that out of your garment bag, Mrs. Keaton. It’s a beautiful suit, and I thought it might fit the gorgeous day outside. I apologize. I should have asked, would you’d of prefer the black one?”
“With everything that’s happened since I woke up, I’m not sure that is my bag, but the suit fits so….”
Gladys laughed softly, “Now, Mrs. Keaton, whose bag would you suppose it were…. it has your name on the tag.”
“Yes, well, Rutherford said the same, but nothing today makes any sense to me.” She shook her head, “He told me I was married and had kids. He even said I had a business in San Francisco.”
Gladys shook her head, “Reckon, a lady should ought know iffen she was married or not.”
Mariah smirked, “I think I would know if I had kids or not. I think someone is playing an elaborate joke on me, and with all this detail, it had to cost them a fortune.” She paused and looked at Gladys, “Okay, seriously…. Is this all some kind of setup? What’s really going on?”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, I don’t understand. Is what a setup?”
“All this, the old steam train, the station, these clothes. Someone has gone to great effort to pull one over on me. I mean, it’s all really great and all, but you can tell me.”
She laughed, “If’n it were, nobody let me in on it. I just come to work, and they handed me your cabin number, and here I am.” Gladys stepped back, “Well Mrs. Keaton, you look ready put a shine on the day. Now you can head on up to the dining car. I’m sure Mr. Cookie can set you up with a nice breakfast.”
“I’m not one for breakfast, but I could use some coffee.”
“Wait just a minute Ma’am, you ‘bout run off and left your watch lying on the dresser.” Gladys picked the watch up and looked back at Mariah, “Do you mind Ma’am?”
She glanced at the watch, “That’s not mine either, but go ahead, I guess.”
Gladys opened the watch and smiled, “Don’t often see a diamond watch like this. It’s right beautiful, and that’s a right nice family you have, Mrs. Keaton. You must be really proud.”
“I told you…. I’m not married!”
Gladys chuckled, “Well, the woman in this picture sure do have a strong likeness to you.” She placed the gold watch on Mariah’s wrist.
Mariah looked down at the watch and how different it looked on her wrist, “Um, thank you…Gladys, I appreciate the care you gave me.”
“It weren’t nothin’ Ma’am. The station master will put the service on your bill. “Have a nice day now.” She smiled and closed the cabin door behind her.
Mariah smiled and shook her head, “If this were real, I could really get used to this. She held the watch out and looked at it. The time was eight forty-three. She had never been this late, and she really needed that coffee now. She glanced at the picture in the watch cover and fell back, sitting on the bed, stunned. The picture was a family of four, with her, an attractive man, and two children that looked like her. She stared at the picture, shaking her head. “This can’t be…. It’s me; It’s really me….”
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