Max is sitting on the train platform in St. Denis his foot tapping impatiently on the dry wooden platform. The infrnal train was late again and he had to get home to Boston. He opens his satchel and pulls a brand new journal out and opens it to begin writing.

Journal—July 18, 1901 #

I got a letter in the post from back home. I was excited becuase I never get letters from home. I hadn’t spoken to my family in years at this point. What I read shook me to my core. My father had died. An accident at his dockyard where a foreign frieghter crashed into the dock and capsized. The resulting tsunami wave had spilled over the dock and swept him out into the bay. By the time they got to him… it was over.

Worse still, my Mother is on her deathbed. The grief from his sudden death broke her. Doctors told us that she had only days left. I then looked at the post mark. It was a week old already!

She could already be gone for all I knew. I had to get back there. Now. They asked me to get back there as soon as possbile so i could settle arrangements and work with the estate trustees. But I also wanted one last chance to say goodbye. Our relationship was straigned but she was my Mother… and I never even go the chance to say goodbye to my father. There is so much unsaid. And never the time now.

Panicking I sent a letter to Jez. I had to let her know where I was going but I didn’t think I had a chacne to see her before I went. It breaks my heart to have to do this to her. I love her with everything in my soul but I have to get home. I arranged with Cat at the ranch to ensure Selene was cared for and passed to Jez when she could.

I know how much Selene meant to Jez and I needed to make sure they were reunited.

Unexpectedly, Jez replied to the letter and asked to meet in Valentine. I arrived as quickly as I could. And told her in hasty terms what I had to do. I admit I broke down knowing I had to leave her here. I could not bear to see the pain and hurt on her face as my words came out. All I could say was I loved her and I was sorry. Before I rode off blinded with tears as I galloped as fast as my horse could go to St. Denis.

She is my soulmate. I think she will always be. She is the only person in my heart, and If I never make it back to this wonderous place I will die alone knowing that there was no other that could compare.

I love you dearest Jez. I hope, some day you can forgive me for this. I know I will never forgive myself for leaving you here, alone.

Tears streaming down his face Max slams the journal closed. the train horn blasts its plaintif wail as the train hisses into the station. He shakes his head to clear his thoughts and hands his ticket to the conducter before stepping onto the train. He sits in his stateroom and looks out hoping beyond hope to see the face of his beloved in the crowd. Knowing she was not there he turns tears again flowing as he hangs his head. The train whisltes out once more and slowily, in a cacophany of noise, smoke and steam rolls out of the station and onto its destination.