RAILCAR GOLD Chapter 1 . . Eureka . . Part 4
RAILCAR GOLD is a historically accurate multi-generational fictional tale of hidden treasure, primarily set in York County, Pennsylvania during the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. This is Part 4 of Chapter 1 . . . Eureka. A new part will be posted every Thursday. New readers may want to start at the beginning.
CHAPTER 1 . . . EUREKA . . . Part 4
Stephie’s Mom looks at her daughter sitting at the kitchen table, off her phone now and intently listening. After another protracted period where Melody continues doing all the talking, Stephie’s Mom at long last responds, “I’ll keep your secret.” She then announces, “Stephie, I guess you realize who’s on the phone. Melody. She wants to ask you a question.”
Stephie darts to the phone and grabs it from her Mom. Stephie exclaims, “Melody, nice to hear from you. What’s new?”
Melody gushes, “I’m getting married this coming Saturday. I want you to be in my wedding? Will you do that for me?”
While Stephie was prepared to act surprised, she actually got caught up in the moment and was almost genuinely surprised. “Congratulations. How long have you known him? Where are you getting married? Is it going to be a big wedding? I’ve never been in a wedding. What do you want me to do?”
Melody interrupted the string of questions, “I want you to be one of my bridesmaids. I know that it is short notice, but if you could fly out to Denver early Wednesday, you can help with everything that needs to get done before the big day on Saturday.”
Stephie quizzed, “ Really, only a few days to get everything done for a wedding?
Melody assured her, “As I told your Mom, I call my wedding a limited elopement. The wedding will be extremely small as far as guests, however the wedding party will be typical except for casual dress all around. My parents and his parents think they are meeting us for dinner on Saturday. The wedding is going to be a surprise to them. I’ve already sworn your Mom to secrecy.”
“I told your Mom that I just got off the phone with Ashley. I’ve also asked her to be a bridesmaid. I’ll e-mail the details. Got to run now.” As Melody concluded, “Talk to you later,” Stephie was brought back to reality, this was all part of the plan to get them out to Colorado.
Stephie was discussing the rather strange wedding with her Mom as Ashley knocks on and enters the back door of their house. Ashley excitedly asks, “Did you get your call from Melody?”
Stephie raised her hands high and started to dance around the kitchen. Ashley immediately joined her, with both girls repeating in unison, “We’re going to be in a wedding. We’re going to be in a wedding”
Later that evening, Ashley told her parents about the wedding and swore them to secrecy. Ashley knew her Mom would be the one to check into the wedding further, so she let it slip that Stephie’s Mom had first hand knowledge about the wedding.
The girls soon had their plane tickets for Denver and the blessings of their parents. Ashley’s Dad even managed to get them booked on a direct flight from Baltimore-Washington International to Denver. It was definitely an early departure, although worth it for getting them into Denver at 9:45am local time on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, while waiting at the departure gate, Stephie quizzed Ashley, “What about the end-game for your ‘brilliant plan.’ Does Melody have to get married to pull the plan off?” Ashley explained, “It’s all a smoke-screen. We’ll tell our parents when returning Sunday, Melody and her boyfriend had a fight Saturday before the dinner. The dinner with their parents continued, however the marriage was delayed for the time being. Their parents none the wiser that there was ever going to be a wedding.”
At long last, Ashley and Stephie are on the plane bound for Denver, on yet another quest for Danny’s Gold. Anxious to find a key clue they were convinced was in a Nineteenth Century Billmeyer and Small rail car being restored at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Just as the plane takes off, Stephie exclaims, “You know what we forgot?
Go to Part 5
