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Memphis Sultry Train
Chapter 6 The Stranger I wondered out of my room and made my way down into the Turquoise Lounge, my favorite car on the train. My father designed and decorated it in the most exquisite colors of turquoise and burgundy, and spent a fortune on the delicately hand carved mahogany furniture. When I was a child it was a forbidden place because of the alcohol that was served. But I would sneak in after everyone retired for the night and sip on the fine whiskey’s that came in the most beautiful bottles. I can remember drinking a little too much one night and falling asleep on the velvet couch. When I woke the next morning I was terribly ill and swore I would never drink alcohol again. But after the memory of being sick wore off, I was right back at it. I think father knew I was indulging in his expensive liquors, but he never confronted me about it. Maybe he knew it was an escape from mother’s wrath for me, as it was for him as well. I entered the car, my silk dress flowing behind me, and sat in my favorite spot, a large comfortable chair close to the bar, next to the window. Henry was tending bar as usual and always went out of his way to be kind to me. “Hello Mrs. Scarlet. How are you today?” Henry said as he polished the crystal glass in his hand. “I’m just fine Henry. Thank you for asking. How are you today?” I replied. “Very well. Would you like a little something to warm you up?” He asked. It was early in the day, not quite one in the after noon so I hesitated. I looked around and noticed a man staring at me from across the room. He held a brandy glass in his hand and slowly sipped the dark liquor, but never removed his hardened stare. My body shivered as a rush of fear swept through me. I thought of the woman who was murdered less than a month ago on the train. I trusted no one these days. The man had a strange vibe that was strong and precise. It was as if he wanted me to be intimidated by his presence. “The usual please.” I smiled at Henry and turned my gaze out the window. I took a long drink of my whiskey and relaxed as the burn flowed down my throat. A warmth came over me that always reminded me of my father. I opened the book in my lap and began to read, determined to ignore the piercing gaze from the dark headed, handsome stranger. I crossed my legs and my dress slipped above my knee. I didn’t bother covering my legs back up even though I knew it would be the proper thing to do. I decided to hum a soft tune while twirling a lock of my hair and gazing out the window, still ignoring the strange guest across from me. The fear I was feeling began to fade into curiosity. Maybe I should look at the passenger manifest and see who’s name was on it. But only the passengers who booked their tickets in advance would be on the list. So my chances of finding out his name were limited. Maybe I should just ask him what his name is. After all he is on my train. Before I could decide he rose from his seat and approached the bar brushing against my leg as he passed. “Another please.” He smiled at Henry and then turned his gaze back to me. Was he being an arrogant ass hole trying to intimidate me like this? I suppose it was working. I reached down and slowly removed my shoes, stretched my leg out in front of me and caressed my calf, making sure to not meet his gaze. I could feel his presence even stronger the closer he got to me. It was maddening. No, it was enticing. My mind began to wonder what it would be like to feel this strange man’s body next to mine. “May I buy you a drink?” He asked while extending his hand to me. I looked up into his eyes. They were the most exquisite green I had ever seen. He had a strength and presence about him that was drawing me in. I quickly reminded myself of Hamilton. “No, thank you.” I said and turned back to the window. “Would you mind if I join you?” He asked. Being the hostess of this grand train it was my duty to accommodate my guests. “Please, have a seat.” I replied. At least that is how I justified the invitation I extended to him. An excitement stirred inside of me as he sat down. Suddenly heat pulsed through my body and the woman inside of me took over as passion moved me to want this man without reservation. All I could think of was to grab him by the hand and force him back to my private room where I could then … “My name is Richard.” He smiled at me and extended his hand again. “Richard Rothchild.” Oh my God, my husband’s arch-enemy. The man he despises the most in this world. I’d never met him before, but Hamilton spoke of him often the first few years we were married. Oh my, this could prove to be very interesting.
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Darkness: The Lower Energies of the Universe
Let’s imagine for a moment that we are in Heaven or Nirvana or whatever you imagine it to be. Now think about being there for a period of time. I would like to start with 80 years. So for 80 years I have lived in perfect bliss. No worries, no problems, no heartache, no pain, just pure uninterrupted bliss. Now let’s imagine being there for 150 years. There are still no worries, or sorrow, no problems, no pain. What if we imagined being there for 5000 years? Would it still be bliss? Would the feelings and experience of bliss change at all? Would it remain the same? And if it remained the same would we be able to know that it was bliss after a period of time? Would we appreciate that bliss after let’s say 150,000 years? Let’s imagine something else now. Let’s pretend that we are in this eternal state of bliss. Close your eyes and feel what it would be like to live in bliss constantly for 150,000 years. Now let’s decide to experience something else, something different from bliss. I would like to imagine what it would feel like to sit in the warm sun and then jump into a cold pool of water. I would also like to imagine what it would be like to ride a bicycle. I think I would like to know what if feels like to carry a baby inside of me. I also think I would like to experience the feelings and sensations of holding hands with my lover and watching beautiful fire works explode while we sit on a blanket together with the stars beaming down on us as we snuggle close to keep each other warm. Next I wonder what it would be like to be separated from the love of my life for a while and then get to feel the anticipation of knowing he’s coming back to me. Then get to run to him and jump into his arms and cover him with sweet beautiful kisses. I would like to know what it feels like to watch my four year old son blow out the candles at his birthday party and experience the feelings of watching his face light up when he opens his birthday presents. Huuummmm……. Where can I go to have these beautiful experiences? As I look around the universe I see a place that is lovely. It has large mountains with singing birds all around. I see amazing bodies of water that land on sandy white beaches and are covered with people running and laughing and playing together. I see famalies loving each other and …….and ……wait, I see something else down there. Someone has tears rolling down his face. What is wrong with him? What is he feeling? What is he experiencing? I want to understand this. I want to feel what he is feeling. Is it possible that we choose to leave Heaven and come to earth to have experiences that we cannot have there? Do we come here to experience the lower energies of the universe because we can’t experience them in the form of pure spirit? And if this is ultimate reality, then are we experiencing pain on purpose? And if we are doing these things because our soul wants to experience them, then what is there for me to fear while I’m going through them? And can I choose to change my experience while I’m here on Earth and make it a better human experience? These are just a few thoughts I had this morning while meditating. What do you think? Memphis Sultry Train
Chapter 5 Scarlet’s Journal As I sit in my rail car, in the dark, thought’s and feelings circle through my mind and body. I have a husband back in Memphis who doesn’t seem to care if I am present in his life or not. I struggle so very much with my feelings for him. One moment I long to be in his arms again and hope to feel safe. And the next moment I loathe him and fear I would scratch his eyes out if I were near him again. How can a woman have such conflicting feelings about someone she is married to? Why do humans wrestle so with emotions? Why are emotions not ever consistent and soft and flowing? I long for my feelings towards my husband to be only of love and flow out of me like a clear, beautiful stream of water that calms his thirst. I feel as if Hamilton is a stranger to me. I didn’t realize that when we married, but it soon became apparent as the days turned into years and I could never really reach him on an emotional level. I tried so very hard to touch his soul. To reach deep down inside of him and softly embrace him. But the wall he kept so dutifully in place wouldn’t allow me to reach him, or to even see who he really is. And in turn I feel that he has never seen me. So what do I do about all of this? I act like a school girl and jump on my train and run. I let this train sweep me off to another place so that I don’t have to face the rejection and loneliness I feel when I’m around Hamilton. I run so that I don’t lay in bed next to him and silently cry myself to sleep every night. There is no real safety here on this train, but somehow as I lay in this darkness trying to sort out my life, I do feel safe. There is a soft, glowing light inside of me that whispers beautiful nothings to me. It’s as if this light is like the wind gently moving through me and telling me that everything is fine and as it should be. I will lay here and revel in it as long as possible, because I know that fear is likely to sneak up on me at any moment and dig it’s ugly claws into me again. The plight of humans is so very mysterious. Love, hate, fear, safety, laughter, sorrow. What is it all for? I’ve decided that I shall try and live each emotion to the fullest even if it is a painful emotion. Am I contradicting myself? I’m running from the emotions I feel when around Hamilton yet I want to experience each emotion as deeply as possible. I don’t know. I’ll have to sort through it all as my beautiful train moves me further and further away from him toward California. I don’t fully understand myself yet, but my journey is nothing short of fascinating. I must dig out my diary and log these thoughts before they disappear into the atmosphere. Memphis Sultry Train Chapter 4 What Woman? I woke suddenly to the sound of screaming voices. A woman seemed to be begging for something. I jumped off the couch and quickly pressed my ear against the wall. She wailed loudly “No, please Arthur . . . please.” The wall shook with a bang and then silence. Dead silence. I look around the room not sure what to do. Should I call for help? Was the woman hurt? Anxious with fear I rushed to my small closet and rummaged through my things for the gun I kept hidden. “Damn it!” I cursed as panic sat in. I dug faster and faster as foot steps approched. My head pounded with fear. Droplets of sweat rolled down my temples. Tears welled up in my eyes. What the hell was going on around here? A murder on the train last week, now a woman begging for her life. I began throwing clothes from the closet as fast as I could. I dropped to my knees and grabbed a luggage from the bottom of the wardrobe. I threw it on the couch and quickly open each zipper. I stopped suddenly at the sight of the beautiful, shiny gun. I grabbed it and held it close to my chest. I inched toward the door of the small room not certain if I should go out and find help. I quietly turned the handle on the door slowly cracking it open and peered out. The hall was empty despite the foot steps I had heard. I walked to the door of the room next to mine and laid my ear against it. There was only silence. No voices, no screaming, nothing. I raced to the end of the car and threw open the door as Jasper approached. “Mrs. Scarlet are you feeling well? You look spooked.” Jasper inquired. “No Jasper. No I am not. Come with me please.” “Yes ma’am, I’m right behind you.” We walked to the doorway of my room as I explained what I heard and tried to keep my gun concealed. “Jasper I’m afraid. What if the woman is hurt. Or worse what if she’s dead?” “Don’t you worry Mrs. Scarlet. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Now you stay right here and let me find out what’s gong on.” I stood quietly as Jasper knocked on the door of the other room, gripping the gun firmly. He knocked twice but no one answered. “Hello,” he called. “Is anyone there?” “Are you sure it was this room Mrs. Scarlet?” he asked. “Yes, absolutely sure. Try again.” He rapped on the door loudly this time and called out for a reply. Nothing. “I have a room key. I’m going in.” Jasper said. “Be careful. Please be careful.” Jasper inserted the key and turned the knob. He pushed the door open and peered inside. “There’s no one here ma’am.” “That’s not possible. I heard a woman screaming. I heard . . . yelling and fighting and, and then I came out into the hall. She was hurt.” “Are you sure it wasn’t a bad dream you were having? It’s late and you were upset from almost missing the train, and . . .” “Jasper! No it wasn’t a dream. I’m not crazy. I know it was real.” I walked into the room and looked around. There was no sign of a tussle. The room was in perfect order. “Jasper look at the passenger list and find out if this room was booked for tonight. Go fast and come back and let me know. I’ll be in my room waiting. Hurry please.” “Yes ma’am.” What I'm learning about finding peace is that sitting still and stopping my mind from thinking brings peace. When I first started doing this I had a hard time with it. Thoughts raced through my mind and I didn't know how to control them. It was very frustrating!!!! But I began to practice and work at slowing my thoughts down, and then just allowing them to float by like a cloud in the sky, and then having no thoughts at all.
When I listen to instrumental music and do this, it is much easier. And the more I practice the more peace I seem to have. Try it out. You might like it. Kindle Countdown Deal available March 22,2017 at the special price of $.99. Price increases to $1.99 on March 25, 2017 until March 29, 2007. Go to Amazon to purchase. Hope you enjoy this supernatural thriller.  I'm giving away a paperback copy of Wings of Desperation on Goodreads. Contest begins March 2, 2017 and ends March 30, 2017. Go to Goodreads.com to enter. Good luck!  Join me on Facebook to watch a live reading of chapter 1 & 2 of Wings of Desperation. Hope you enjoy it.
Wings of Desperation KINDLE VERSION AVAILABLE NOW AT THE FRIENDS DISCOUNTED PRICE. HURRY!!! 
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