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Caleb nodded. “And while you’re busy, I’ll take up Fraser’s valuable time by asking if he’ll give me a tour of the rest of the cars and equipment. I’m afraid I’m more interested in the engines than pretty pictures.”
Fraser nodded eagerly. “Me, too. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be an engineer. But I’ve never had much schooling, so I joined the army and I did pretty well there. Medals and other stuff. Maybe that’s how I ended up here after I retired.”
“I’m sure that the railroad company was happy to have you come to work for them,” Jane said. “Those medals should make you proud.” She could see that Caleb was going to use her request as an excuse to take care of examining every important aspect of the facility. Mission accomplished. She took off running and reached the gates a few minutes later. Another couple of minutes and she was back with her sketch pad. “Where is it?”
Fraser was smiling indulgently. “Two rows over. It’s even got its ownREIVERplaque on the steps.” He turned to Caleb. “And the engine that pulls the Reiver train is in tip-top shape. Everything in this yard is kept in good repair, and they sent to London for all the computer upgrades that let me practically run this entire railway station all by myself. We can check out the Reiver engine as soon as we let her into the car.” He chuckled. “No fancy plaques on that engine. It’s just sheer power. You’ll be impressed.”
And Caleb had already done a good deal of impressing on his own, she thought. She headed for the row of cars Fraser had indicated. “After I do the sketches of the murals, I might want to do a few of the engines, if that’s okay?”
Fraser was nodding. “Just let me unlock the Reiver car and then we’ll leave you to your art.”
“Thank you.” She opened the door of the train car. “I’ll see you later, Caleb. I’ll try to get some sketches that even you might appreciate.”
He nodded. “Peasant though I am? I can’t wait. Come on, Fraser. Let’s go see those engines.”
Jane noticed it was dim in the car even though it was still early afternoon. The upholstery of the chairs appeared to be a dark green velvet, and that only seemed to add to the dimness. But she was able to see the star attraction at the far end of the long car. She could count seven exquisite chandeliers on the car’s ceiling leading toward the splendid murals. She was tempted to go and examine the paintings immediately, but she knew she’d want to spend more time on them than on the remainder of the car. So she stopped just inside the entry door and opened the rich walnut door to the left of the aisle. It was a small bathroom with marble antique commode and vanity and a small crystal chandelier that glittered from the ceiling. She took pictures with her camera. Then she opened the carved walnut door to the right of the aisle. It revealed a much larger room with a red leather divan and chair and the richness of a faded Persian carpet. Another crystal chandelier…This must have been the room in which MacClaren had told Fiona to hide herself until she reached the main station. It gave Jane a warm, expectant feeling, as if she was waiting for old friends to come in at any moment to say hello. Crazy? Yes, but it didn’t change the sensation. She gave the room a last lingering glance and then took some more photos and closed the door.
Time for the murals. They were as much a part of Fiona and MacClaren’s story as what had happened on this train when they had escaped from Jamie and Graeme and fled to another life. Farrell and Fiona had been together in these hills while he had done those paintings. She had probably taken him to her favorite places so that they would come to belong to both of them.
Is that how it was, Fiona?
She was walking down the aisle now beneath the seven crystal chandeliers that led to the paintings. Then she was standing in front of them. They were not only breathtakingly beautiful in color and artistry, but seemed to be a part of the Highlands they portrayed. Even part of the people who had lived and loved in these hills since Cira had come here from her volcano-torn land over two thousand years ago. The woman with the blue parasol sitting by the lake watching her child playing nearby. The young shepherd boy and his brown dog climbing a hill. An old, white-haired man sitting on a bench in front of a chapel.
You did good, MacClaren. It was too bad you couldn’t have taken these paintings with you. They’re almost all still perfect except for a ding here and there. But maybe there was a reason why you felt they should stay here. Or maybe we’ll have to think about a way to fix that.
But there was no question that she would take more than photos of these murals. She wanted to feel as if she belonged to the paintings and these Highlands in a special way. Perhaps in the same way as Fiona, MacClaren, and even Cira and her husband, Antonio. She spent thirty minutes taking the photos with painstaking care. Then she opened her sketchbook and sat down in front of the paintings.
Do you mind if I join you? I promise I’ll behave with all due respect.
No, that wasn’t…quite right. Jane went through the sketchbook and found theMist Childand propped it on the seat next to her.That seems right. MacDuff said she looks like Fiona. She’ll be good company.
Then she started to sketch.
***
It was after dark, and Jane had already turned on the chandeliers when Caleb squatted down beside her chair. “How’s it going? Get a little carried away?”
She nodded. “But I expected that. I wasn’t trying to copy the paintings. I only wanted to add my part of the story so that it showed I was here for them, too. It seemed important, somehow. I think I’ve done enough that I can transfer it to canvas.”
He gave a low whistle as he gazed at the sketches. “I know you have. It’s going to be spectacular.”
“No, it’s not. It’s just me saying,Here’s how things have changed and yet stayed the same.Like all life.”
“That’s fairly profound.”
“Not really.” She was carefully putting the sketches away. “I believe it was what MacClaren might have been trying to tell all the people who had been here in the Highlands before him. I just added my bit.”
“A spectacular bit. It’s a little like MacClaren’s and yet completely different.” He picked up the sketch in the seat next to her and handed it to her. “TheMist Child.” He was smiling. “Did she have something to say about the murals?”
“No, she was just good company.” She tucked the sketch back into the sketchbook. “Very quiet. How did your exploratory trip with Fraser go?”
“Fine. I probably know as much as he does now about the equipment and engines here at the Highlands yard.”
“I don’t doubt it. That’s good. Now, do you have any other questions? Because I’m starving. I didn’t realize it before, but I’m very empty. Can we do something about that?”
“That’s why I came to get you. I shared our rations with Fraser and he’s making supper.” He took her arm as she started back up the aisle. “Why wasMist Childgood company? Did she remind you of our daughter?”
“I didn’t say that.”
