“I was also shy when I was a boy.” Hungerford smiled and shook hands with JT. “It’s nice to meet you as well. Perhaps you’ll one day work for our railroad.”

JT shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.” They all laughed at this.

Luke finished introducing the men and then stepped aside. Gloriana could see that Mr. Munger had already commanded Hungerford’s attention.

“Isn’t that something?” Pastor Johnson declared as he joined them. Johnson had taken over the church when Pastor Sedgwick and his wife decided to move east with Theodore. There was a great hospital in Boston that might help their son, and they wanted to see that he had what he needed. Everyone missed them, but Pastor Johnson and his wife had ably led the congregation through the transition.

“It certainly is,” Luke agreed. “This is going to change everything.”

Gloriana had heard Luke mention this before. He had filled her head with stories of towns that tripled in size within a year of getting a railroad. She wondered if that would be the case for Duluth. Already there were a great many more people living here. She’d had no trouble renting the larger house to a family and the cottage to a father and son who fished. The money was making a nice nest egg for JT, should he desire to go to college.

There were two short speeches, with the promise of more on the morrow. It wasn’t long before the crowd dispersed, much to Gloriana’s relief. The railroad officials were taken to the Clark House. By the time Luke had the family loaded and headed home, JT was asleep with his head on Martin Carson’s lap, and baby Sally slept in Gloriana’s arms.

At home, Luke bid his father good night and then carried JT upstairs to bed while Gloriana followed with Sally. Once the baby was tucked into bed, Gloriana made her way through the adjoining door to their grand bedroom. Never in her life had she had such finery, but Luke had insisted she was worthy of such a house and room.

“Finally, the day is done,” Luke said, coming into their room.

“Seems like everyone was pleased.” Gloriana began to pull the pins from her hair. “I’m sure tomorrow will be more of the same. I know your father is certainly proud of you, and I am too.”

Luke just leaned against the closed bedroom door and watched her. She could feel his gaze follow her as she readied herself for bed. She had scarcely known Luke even a year, and yet she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

She finished with the pins and carefully began to braid her curls into order. “I never figured so many people would turn out that late at night.”

“Well, it’s not every day you get your first train.”

“I suppose now they’ll focus on the canal, while you busy yourself with the Northern Pacific.”

“About that . . .” Luke came over to her. “Would you mind terribly if I didn’t work with the Northern Pacific?”