“Oh shit,” I said turning my face back to the wall. Union Station was bustling. I heard the All Aboard call and hustled down the platform to my car. I lugged my suitcase through the narrow passageway and up to my stateroom, boy wasn’t that an exaggeration, and stuffed it into the little closet. The room wasn’t much but it would be home for the next fifty hours, if everything ran smoothly. I really didn’t expect it to. I figured we’d be late arriving and I didn’t give a damn how late we were.
I didn’t care because I didn’t have anywhere I needed to be or any time I needed to be there. I had worked all my life, mostly helping others get rich. A few years ago, I decided to make a go for myself. I started a web company, built it up, hired a few dozen people, built it bigger and started to pull some market share, just enough to be noticed, from the big boys. I made some inquiries about going public that got back to them. The IPO business is a small group of powerful people and they all know each other.
One of the big boys made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. At first, I was worried about my employees. What if Macro Behemoth bought my baby just to close it down? I got assurances that the employees would keep their jobs. So I sold the company, lock, stock, and web design to Macro Behemoth, and a covenant not to compete, for an unseemly wad of cash.
Here I was in Seattle with more money in the bank than I could spend in three lifetimes and absolutely no responsibilities. And because of the covenant I couldn’t even work in the computer industry. I’d always wanted to see the US, but never had the time. Now I had time and money. I made reservations to travel on the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, then the California Zephyr from Chicago back to San Francisco.
The trip from Seattle was a novelty since it was the first time I’d ridden a train for more than an hour or so. The Empire Builder is the northernmost train route in the US and travels through some beautiful parts of America. It also goes through some of the loneliest - Montana, North Dakota. When a town like Grand Forks is a welcome diversion to break the monotony you know you’re in the backwater of the world.
I’d spent a couple days in Chicago, wandering around downtown, seeing the Chicago Art Institute, eating dinner at Charlie Trotter’s, which I could now afford. It had been a fun lark but, frankly, I was starting to look forward to getting home. I thought about changing my mind and getting on a plane. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that sense of hurry was what was wrong. I needed to be able to relax and enjoy. And I would never have met Chloe.
After the train lurched out of the Chicago station, I went up to the observation car and grabbed a choice seat. I’d learned to be early to the car if you wanted good seats. The car quickly filled up.
I was sitting in an individual swivel seat with an empty one next to me. Most of the rest of the seats were filled. I heard a soft feminine voice from over my shoulder, “Is this seat taken?”
I looked back to see a striking young woman. I took in her beauty in a glance. She had shoulder length black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a ton of freckles. It was an unusual combination; a young Elizabeth Taylor and an Irish girl-next-door combined. “No, nobody is sitting here,” I answered.
She sat down as I turned to look back out the window. I watched her out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t help it; she was remarkable and drew my attention to her like steel to a lodestone. I tried to guess her age; anywhere from sixteen to twenty-two. She was wearing tight jeans and a tight belly shirt. I think the belly shirt was invented by a sadist to make fat girls objects of scorn. She, however, looked good in it. I realized that she had a killer body to go with her exotic looks. She was beautiful enough to be intimidating. Six weeks before, I probably would have been intimidated. But I was still slightly euphoric with my good fortune. It didn’t occur to me to be tongue tied.
I’ve noticed that many people, including me usually, act strangely around attractive people of the opposite sex. Like trying to be cute, or suave, or funny, or they get tongue tied. All those add up to be being fake, not being themselves. But I was, for once, completely unconcerned and myself.
So, we started talking. At first, she was closed up. But then she uncrossed her arms and eventually she turned her swivel chair towards mine. Soon, she was chatting away. I found out she was in high school; she had been visiting relatives outside of Chicago. She was a little vague as to why, during the school year, she was traveling by train instead of plane, and why the visit at all. There was something she wasn’t saying, but I let it go rather than push and maybe turn her off. I also was able to look a little closer. I noted that she didn’t appear to be wearing anything under that shirt. If so, she had an amazing rack. I watched, surreptitiously, and saw that her tits moved naturally as she laughed. No medical enhancement there. ‘Wow,’ I thought.
Since she was happy and chattering away I decided that manners demanded I introduce myself, “I’m Mike.”
“Chloe,” she answered.
“I’ve never met a woman named Chloe... seen the name of course, but never met anyone.”
“I hate it. Nobody ever spells it right,” she said disgusted.
“I hated my name too. I think everyone hates their name to some degree. I mean, we all have some name that we wish was ours.”
“I suppose,” she said.
Again, I noted the sadness just below the surface. I changed the subject, “I’m glad I met you. I rode the train from Seattle and it can get a little boring without someone to talk to.”
She thought for a second, “Yeah, me too. You’re kind of cool for a guy who’s…”
“Old?” I ventured.
“Not old, older,” she corrected me.
I dipped my head, “Thank you from the old guy.”
“Okay, I was going to say old. But I didn’t mean it that way.”
I laughed and she joined me. I was a little surprised how easily Chloe and I had hit it off, what with most teens being so stand offish. I guessed that she was a little worried to be traveling alone and a friendly face was welcome.
The train was pulling out of Princeton, Illinois, after a quick stop, when the steward came through the car taking dinner reservations. “Would you care to join me?” I asked.
She did a quick look at the steward and back at me. I could see the decision hanging in the balance. She answered, “Yeah, sure.”
“Early or late?” She looked up as the steward explained to another couple that there were two seatings; six and eight.
“Early, if you don’t mind,” she said.
“I'd prefer it,” I said.
The steward stopped and looked at me. “Two for the early seating,” I told him.
“Room number?” he asked.
“412,” I told him and he was on to the next couple. Chloe looked bemused. “Yes?” I asked her.
She shook her head, “Nothing.”
“Baloney.”
She laughed. “Okay. I was thinking it’s almost like the movies. Meeting a stranger on the train then a date for dinner. Are you a spy?”
I said very quietly, “Retired. Don’t let anyone know or I’ll have to kill them.”
Her eyes started to get wide, then she realized I was teasing. “Okay. I won’t tell as long as you don’t tell anyone that I am too.”
“It’s a deal.”
We sat back and watched the scenery change, talking only occasionally but quite easily. Again, I was surprised how well I was getting along with Chloe. She certainly seemed older than sixteen.
We had crossed the Mighty Mississippi into Iowa when they announced dinner. Even this far north, before all of the other rivers empty into it, it is an amazing river. Chloe and I watched the traffic on the river below the train bridge. I led Chloe to the dining car. It was a scene out of the movies, the stewards dressed in white jackets and black slacks, the tables all with white linens and sparkling wine glasses on the tables. Chloe stopped momentarily as we entered, letting the vision sink in. She smiled as the steward motioned to a table. I let her sit next to the window. The steward caught my eye before I sat and motioned me forward. I followed him until we were out of earshot of the table.
“Sorry to disturb you but I checked your room and there is only one person paid,” he said.
“Well yes, but what’s that to do with dinner?”
“The young lady is traveling coach and I’m afraid her ticket doesn’t include the dining car. She is supposed to eat in the lounge,” he said apologetically.
The ‘lounge’ was nothing more than a snack bar with sandwiches and the like. “Could you put her dinner on my room?”
“That wouldn’t be a problem,” he said obviously relieved of the embarrassment of having to kick Chloe out.
“And could you mention to the other crews that she will be sharing meals with me in the future and just to put her on my room,” I said.
“That won’t be a problem either sir. This crew does all of the meals breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” he said.
I laughed, “They get their money’s worth, huh?”
“Yes sir, they do,” he laughed as well.
I went back to the table and sat down.
“Is there a problem?” asked Chloe.
“No, he was just confirming that we wanted the early dinner for the rest of the trip. I hope you don’t mind but I put us down together for breakfast and lunch,” I told her.
“That sounds fine. You know, I wasn’t looking forward to this trip. I was thinking I’d be bored to tears on the train. It is nice to have someone to talk to,” she said.
I thought dinner was a little disappointing. It wasn’t exactly an expansive menu. Oh there was a steak, roasted chicken, pork, and vegetarian lasagna. Not exactly inspired. The food didn’t live up to the presentation but it wasn’t bad and Chloe seemed to enjoy it. I had ordered some wine and I let her ‘steal’ a few sips from my glass. Dessert was a chocolate mousse and it was incredible.
After dinner Chloe and I went back up to the observation car where we mellowed out with full bellies. About nine I told her, “It’s getting late. I think I’ll hit the sack. Can I walk you to your cabin?”
Her demeanor turned very serious. “I don’t have a cabin. I guess I’m supposed to sleep in a chair.”
“Oh. You worried?”
She nodded. “I guess.”
“What about?” I asked.
“It’s creepy, sleeping out like that where anyone can see you. And somebody could grab my stuff.” She was clearly agitated.
“Don’t take this wrong, but I have a bunk bed in my cabin. I know that sounds kind of funny but you could have the top bunk. Nobody will see you. And I’m not inviting you ‘to bed’ or anything like that.” I could tell she was considering it so I knew how upset she had to be at the prospect of sleeping in the coach car.
Finally she said, “Thanks, but I guess I’ll just sleep in the car. It can’t be that bad.”
“I understand. But if you change your mind, I’m in cabin 412, two cars back.”
We said goodnight and she headed off to her car. I went to my cabin. I took a quick shower which was quite pleasant after a day of travel. I felt clean again. I pulled out the bottom bunk and climbed in. I turned out most of the lights just having one as a reading light. I was reading Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco and another murder had just occurred. I picked up the book and was immediately back into the story. Who was killing the monks?
I was startled by a knock on the door. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my waist before opening the door. Chloe was standing outside with a backpack, a bag, and tears in her eyes. “I can’t sleep there.”
I opened the door, “Come on in.” She came in and stood, clutching her backpack to her chest. “Wait a second,” I said as I turned and pulled out the top bunk. “It’s not much but it is private.” She looked at the bunk and down at mine. “Chloe, you can trust me. I won’t peek if you don’t peek.”
That broke the tension and she laughed. “I guess. You don’t think it means I want to…”
I laughed, “I think it means you want to sleep without being bothered by anybody.” She smiled and nodded. "I’ll throw your bag in the closet so we can walk in here.”
“Thanks. I’m traveling light. My Aunt is shipping everything else.”
“Help yourself to the shower. I promise I won’t peek.” I winked and turned towards my bunk, adjusting the sheets that had become twisted when I got up. I heard her rustle around a little and open the shower. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough room in the shower to change.
“You promise not to look?” she asked.
“Cross my heart,” I said not even turning.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to thinking about taking a peek as I heard her rustling out of her clothes but I kept my promise. I guess I was assuming she was also turned away. You see, I always sleep au natural, so I dropped the towel and climbed into the lower bunk before pulling the blanket over me.
I heard an “Oh,” behind me. The noise caught me off guard and I turned towards it. There was Chloe starting to pull the towel around her.
“Oh shit,” I said turning my face back to the wall.
“You peeked!”
“Shit, shit, shit,” I mumbled. Then louder, “I’m sorry. I heard you gasp and I thought something was wrong. I didn’t know you had already taken off your clothes. I apologize.” I really was mortified that I had broken my promise so easily and continued mumbling apologies for a while until I heard what sounded like a giggle from Chloe.
“That’s not fair. I only got to see your butt,” she said.
“I take it from your giggle you’re not mad at me?” I asked.
“Maybe a little mad,” she offered.
“And maybe just willing to use it against me,” I said.
“Humph. I think I’ll take my shower if you promise not to sneak over and peek through the door.”
“I’ve learned my lesson,” I said. I heard the door open and close and the shower come on.
I thought about what had happened and realized she had been looking when I dropped my towel and climbed into bed. I had mooned her without knowing it. No wonder she gasped. My snow white ass must have blinded her. Then I thought about her. I had been correct - she was an incredibly lovely woman. It had only been a glance but it was enough to drink in her body like an intoxicating beverage. My head felt light. And the other predictable response occurred, my cock rose and my thoughts about Chloe took on a different cast.
I heard the shower turn off and I turned back towards the wall to make sure I wouldn’t screw up again. I heard the door open a crack then, “You’re not looking, are you?”
“I’m staring at the wall.”
I heard a snicker and she came out. I heard more rustling noises as she put something on then she climbed up into the top bunk.
“Can I look now?”
“Yeah.”
“Chloe, I do apologize. I didn’t do it on purpose,” I said.
“I figured that out,” she said. “I was kind of shocked when I saw you look at me. It’s okay, I guess.”
“Well, I’m sorry I shocked you with my butt. I know the sight of my lily white ass could make anyone gasp.”
She giggled, “It wasn’t that bad. I just didn’t expect it. Do you always sleep that way?”
“Yeah. I have for years. I like it better,” I said. “I hate having clothes on me when I’m trying to sleep.”
“Oh,” she said quietly. There was a pause then she said, “I still think it isn’t fair that you got to see everything and I only got to see your butt.”
“Life isn’t fair. What am I supposed to do? Get up and dance around the room naked.”
“You don’t have to dance,” she said.
“Maybe I ought to, but I sure ain’t going to.” This conversation had brought my cock to full staff. No way was I showing off with Peter at full staff.
“Chicken,” I heard from the top bunk.
“Bawk, bawk,” I mumbled. I heard Chloe laughing. “Good night,” I said turning out the light.
“Good night,” was the last I heard from her that night.
Copyright Rod O'Steele © 2005, 2007, 2014