When the Whistle Blows: Prairie Sisters Series, #2

By Janet Syas Nitsick

When the Whistle Blows, Hugh Warren paces outside the depot, waiting to see if his love, Winifred Preston, will step off the train to meet him. He only had himself to blame for his predicament. Could she give him another chance? He did not know. Heart in his throat, he looks this way and that hoping against hope she did not already marry the beau back in Virginia.

 

When the Whistle Blows takes readers to the Midwest of 1877, where two unlikely individuals collide with each other physically and emotionally. However, only Winifred can determine whether duty and Hugh's betrayal will keep her in Virginia or allow her to return to the man who still haunts her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Syas Nitsick
• Release date: Feb 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215562857

Janet Syas Nitsick

Author Janet Syas Nitsick is the daughter of former Nebraska State Senator George Syas, who served 26 years in the Unicameral and died Feb. 7, 1997. He was well respected for his knowledge of Nebraska’s constitution. Janet earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 as a nontraditional student. She is a former journalist and language arts teacher. She is married and has four sons with two being autistic. Their oldest nonverbal autistic son passed away suddenly on January 15, 2022. His loss leaves a hole in Janet and Paul’s hearts as wide as the Mississippi River.

Book preview

Chapter One

September 1877

Charles City, Virginia

SMOKE SWIRLED FROM the train’s engine stack. The conductor stuck out his head and beckoned with his hand from the passenger railcar then shouted, Last call!

Run! Run! shouted Hugh Warren to his brother, who stepped behind him, while they raced to the train and jumped up the stairs to the car. Hugh steadied his feet and searched for two seats side by side. The whistle blew, the train clanged and jerked forward. He crooked his head over his shoulder and called out to his brother, Come on, Jack, or we won’t get a good seat.

Hugh sped forward. His brother’s feet echoed on the metal floor. While Hugh stood in front of the first row of passengers, Jack bumped into him, propelling him into a tower of a man.

The man, who wore a pinstriped suit with a briefcase in his lap, glared up at Hugh. Watch it, he growled.

Hugh avoided the businessman’s gaze and swallowed the lump in his throat. Sorry, we’ve never traveled on a train before.

Well, watch where you’re going, he huffed, adjusting his body in his seat.

Hugh grimaced then pulled himself away from him. He turned to his brother and whispered, Try to be more careful. We don’t want people to think we’re a couple of country bumpkins.

I – I d – didn’t m – mean- Jack began.

Stop stuttering or they’ll think we’re hicks. Hugh’s throat constricted. Maneuvering down the aisle, he spied two empty seats in a middle row. A young lady, who donned a hat with three puffy balls perched on one side, sat beside the window. Hugh moved to the seat. The train lurched, pushing Jack into him and hurling him into the lady, knocking off her hat and landing it on the floor next to her feet.

I’ll be, she yelped. She grimaced.

Sorry. His cheeks grew warm. He pushed his head away from her and reached for her hat. With the brim in his grasp, he rose to his feet just as the train made a sharp turn, causing Hugh to again lose his footing and his grip on the hat. This time his head landed in her lap.

What are you doing? she whispered in a strained voice.

I – I’m so sorry, he mumbled. He pressed his arms on the empty seat beside her and inched his face off her wool skirt. He settled himself in his seat and leaned over to grab the crushed hat. Presenting it to her, he apologized. His gaze searched the fair-freckled face of the redheaded woman. Her hair bobbed around her ears. He gulped. I’m afraid I ruined your hat.

She studied the flattened piece. Her eyes welled up with tears. How am I to travel like this?

He thought of the money he carried with him. He had just enough to purchase that land and cover other expenses, but he must replace that hat. Clearing his throat, he said, I’ll buy you another one at the next stop. I’m sure we’ll have time to make a quick trip to a store.

She gritted her teeth a moment then replied, One as fine as this one, which my sister, Opal Boyer, sent me to wear to Lincoln, Nebraska?

What a way to begin our new life. We’ll do our best to find something similar. He forced a smile to help raise her hopes. You’re going to Lincoln?

She scrunched her nose and nodded.

Oh then, we’ll see a lot of each other. He took a long breath to calm himself, knowing this incident would follow him all the way to Lincoln. My brother Jack and I are going there, also.

Hugh could not get up the courage to continue a conversation with her so he sat in his middle seat between her and his brother. Hugh stared at the dogwood trees as the train chugged down the tracks. He loved his brother, of course, but he could not believe how clumsy Jack could be and that stuttering made everyone believe he was not smart. He, though, knew this was not the case. Throughout their lives, Hugh had defended his brother against those who belittled him. A fresh start was what they needed, and this pending land purchase gave them that opportunity. But with this opening salvo, a new beginning might not be as easy as he wished.

The conductor made his way down the aisle, punching each ticket as he strode toward them. He stood in front of their row. The lady presented her ticket. He punched it and returned it to her. Hugh gave them their tickets. The short and pudgy railroad man glanced at the papers in his palm. I see you’re all going to Lincoln, he said as he emphasized the word, all.

The woman bit her lip. Yes, I’m afraid so.

Hugh forced a smile, seeing by her tone how displeased she was with the prospect. It’s quite coincidental my brother and I ran into another traveling to the same place. He gulped. Why did I have to use those words? He turned his gaze to the lady beside him, but she did not look his way.

Nothing in God’s world is coincidental, the conductor added, winking at the woman and Hugh before he stepped forward.

Her face paled. She jerked her head to the side to peer out the window.

Hugh sat there for a long time without talking but could not tolerate one more minute of quiet. He shifted his attention to his brother, who sat to his right with his eyes closed, and mumbled, What a way to start our new life.

I’m sorry, Hugh. Jack opened his eyes and looked at his brother.

I know you are. Hugh lowered his voice. I told her I would buy her another hat at our next stop.

He winced. We don’t have much money.

Hugh nodded. But it’s the right thing to do.

The lady squirmed in her seat.

She can’t stand sitting next to me and I can’t blame her, Hugh whispered.

It wasn’t your fault. Just tell her I’m the reason you bumped into her.

We’re a team, Jack. Always have been and always will be. He would love to tell her it was his brother’s fault. But as his older brother, who protected him all his life, Hugh could not humiliate him in that way.

THE LADY ACCEPTED HUGH’S hand as he assisted her onto the platform. She wished she could pull her hand away from his, but this would not look proper. Instead, she must tolerate it. If only his brother would not have stayed at the depot, then she would not have to interact with this detestable man. Sighing, she glanced at the man who held her hand. His dark brown hair drooped around his brow. He had an infectious smile and a strong chin. If circumstances were different, she might have been taken with him. However, they were not.

Hugh released her hand and took her arm to escort her down the boardwalk. He scoured the premises. They stopped at a millinery shop and peeked into the window. He turned to the woman. They do have lots of hats.

Mister ...

Hugh Warren.

Mr. Warren?

Please call me Hugh and your name is?

Miss Winifred Preston and you may call me Miss Winifred Preston.

Yes, Miss Winifred Preston. He shook his head. Taking a deep breath, he gazed at the window display. I don’t see any with those ball objects on them but would you like to go inside anyway? He smiled.

She sighed. You’re exasperating, Mr. Hugh. No, there aren’t any with pom-poms on them. But they do have a delightful array of items, I just wish, she said, swallowing the anger building in her, that some looked like the one my sister sent me.

You didn’t answer my question, though. Did you want to go inside?

I guess. It sure isn’t respectable to not wear a hat.

He grimaced then muttered, I’m sorry about the hat. He opened the door for her, and they entered the small shop, which had a few rows of tables.

She studied one hat after another before stopping at a small brimmed, straw bonnet with white and purple violet flowers on top. Winifred stroked the forest-green ribbon, which tied under the chin before moving to another display.

Hugh shrugged and followed her. A woman approached.

She turned to Hugh. May I be of help? I’m the shop owner.

Miss Winifred Preston here is looking for a certain type of hat—one with those fluffy-ball things on it.

The lady giggled. You mean pom-poms?

Glimpsing toward Miss Winifred Preston, he gulped. Yes, that’s what she wants.

I can speak for myself. I don’t need you telling her. She forced a smile before she shifted her gaze from Hugh to the proprietor. Do you have anything of that sort? She sure hoped she did since Opal visited the town’s shop several times before finding a blue one to closely match her shirtwaist. That would be similar to the one my sister sent me. It got crushed.

Oh, that’s too bad. How did that happen?

Someone stepped on it, Miss Winifred said as she glanced at Hugh.

He cleared his throat. I’m afraid I’m the culprit. That’s why we’re here. We were hoping to find something similar.

The petite woman, who wore a black shirtwaist, strode to another table toward the rear. I believe this is the closest hat to what you described. She picked up the Navy blue hat with a large-cabbage rose sewed on the front.

Ooh, Winifred uttered as she eyed the felt hat. The corners of her lips grew into a broad smile. Why that’s beautiful. She stroked the white silk rose.

It just arrived from New York last week. Turning to Hugh, the owner added. It’s quite exquisite. We usually make our items here, but I saw this in a catalog and couldn’t resist ordering it for some special person.

It is quite nice. I’ve never seen anything like it. She examined her skirt, knowing this would match it perfectly. But what did it cost? She searched for a price tag.

The shopkeeper smiled. We’ve not had time to mark it. I’ll check my books and be right back.

Winifred faced her companion and whispered, I’m afraid it will be very expensive. I’ll look for something more affordable. I don’t like this man. Yet, I don’t want him spending more money than what my hat was worth. She set the hat on the table and returned to a front display.

Hugh followed and mumbled, Is it something you would like?

Of course, but you have to be practical.

The proprietor returned. That hat is fifteen dollars. A high price but it’s of superior quality, and there‘s nothing like it in the area. Her eyes twinkled.

Winifred glanced from the woman to Hugh. She did not want them to see how much she desired this small-brimmed hat. Taking a deep breath, she redirected her gaze to them. It’s too costly. She picked up a blue bonnet with a large bow. This one will work. It’s pretty enough, examining the tag, she continued, and it’s a dollar. She had to learn to tamper down her yearning for the finer things. After all, her father’s business had suffered but her passion for luxury had not diminished.

Hugh stood there for several seconds. He dug into his pocket and presented an assortment of bills before counting out fifteen dollars.

Don’t pay that much. Winifred opened her mouth to protest, but Hugh interrupted before she could speak.

My clumsiness brought about this misfortune, and I intend to make amends.

It costs too much. Please, I beg of you.

He smiled at Winifred before he returned his gaze to the storeowner who stuffed the assortment of bills into the drawers. Grasping the hat, he set it on top of her head. This looks quite pretty on you.

Her heart melted a tiny bit at his kindness. She stepped to the mirror and adjusted the hat’s brim. She sighed. It did look pretty, indeed, and went well with her pleated blue skirt. She shifted her gaze to Hugh. Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.

Hugh took her arm and guided her out the door.

Winifred peered up at him as his warm fingers pressed against her elbow. It was nice of him to have done this, but did this expenditure leave him with enough funds to finish the trip?

HUGH GULPED. PAYING for that hat would mean they would finish the journey with the peanuts he carried in his pocket. His stomach grumbled. He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out the stash of nuts. They could chew on them at stops and always grab a drink of water to wash them down.

He glimpsed toward Jack, who sat next to him.

Jack stared at a row of seats ahead of them. He turned to his brother. Why doesn’t that lady want to sit by us anymore?

He wanted to blurt out that his brother’s clumsiness caused her to sit elsewhere but instead said, Miss Winifred Preston is not pleased with us.

"Miss Winifred Preston?"

Yes, this is the way she expects to be addressed.

Alright. But this doesn’t explain why she didn’t want to sit beside us.

I don’t think she likes us much. We’re not her type.

"Why is that? We’re all from