“Who–who are you?” asked Lizzie Jane in a frightened voice.
“Oh, just a traveling partner,” the voice answered. “I ride the rails often. How about you? Are you a run-away?”
“No — no — I was just trying to get in out of the rain.” Lizzie Jane replied, still with a nervous voice.
“Rain? The sun is shining, hon.”
“Well, it was raining.”
The man smiled. Lizzie Jane adjusted her eyes to the light. The man had on tattered clothing, a short beard and two front teeth missing. “You must be from North Alabama. I understand that it was raining cats and dogs up there.”
“I am from Carter’s Bend”, replied Lizzie Jane.
“Yep, know right where it’s at”, answered the man. “You are in South Alabama — a fer piece from Carter’s Bend. My name is George.”
“I am Elizabeth Jane, but my friends call me Lizzie.”
“Well, can I be your friend — Lizzie?”
“Well — I guess so,” was the young girl’s reply.
The Long Journey
(A Lizzie Jane Adventure)
Chapter 1
By Billie Sue
