Free Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth

scratched her knee through a hole in her gray stockings.
    An image of Ike kissing her, his eyes closed and his breath sweetened with mint, sent Edna cringing. Her mind shouldn’t even entertain that thought. “He’s my cousin. We’re heading for… up toward the swamp. To visit family.” Edna wound a curl around her finger to look nonchalant.
    Annie widened her eyes. “Only hags and ogres go there.”
    “Wilman City’s just outside the swamp,” Edna said.
    Annie shrugged. “Dad’s heading out to Strathmore tomorrow to sell furniture if you want a ride.”
    Edna’s heart sank as Ike walked toward her, his face blotchy and mouth twisted into a scowl. They didn’t need any more problems.
    “Those idiots.” He slumped beside Edna, lowering his voice. “They won’t refund our tickets and the next train isn’t due here for three days. We’ll have to hire a carriage.”
    “I told your cousin you two can hitch a ride with my dad tomorrow for Strathmore,” Annie said.
    “We don’t got a lot of money.” Ike stood.
    “Father will let you ride along if you work around his shop tonight and tomorrow,” Annie said. “He gives rides just so long as he’s already heading there.”
    Ike tapped his foot. “I’ll help out in his shop, sure thing, but what about… her?” He nodded at Edna.
    “Eddie,” she whispered, refraining from a grin. Annie’s friendly manner had come in handy.
    “What about Eddie?” Ike asked.
    “Mum can use help around the house. We’ll go see Father.” Annie slid the book into the front pocket of her coat.
    “Where’s your pa?” Ike swung the bag from Edna’s lap under his arm. His dark hair hung stiff around his shoulders.
    “He’s unloading at the store and then we’re heading home. I help him pick up the things and then I come read. It’s warm here.” She pointed at the coal stove, the station’s heating source. Back in the city, steam pipes kept rooms warm. “Father’s got Jimmy to help with the unloading, anyway. He’s our tomtar.”
    They left the station and followed Annie through the town on wooden sidewalks. Horse-drawn carriages rattled by on the cobblestone street, with a few locomobiles. Two boys tossed an airship toy, steam chugging from its miniature engine, the propeller in back whirling.
    “The storekeeper’s tomtar makes those.” Annie pointed at the toy. “He’s really crafty.”
    “Harrison would love that,” Edna said. He only had his stuffed bear, a hand-me-down from her younger years. “I shouldv’e gotten him a new toy. I should’ve done a lot for him. He was my responsibility. I… I failed him.”
    “Shh,” Ike hissed. “We’ll get him.”
    The general store, a two-story building with a wrap-around porch, had a wagon parked in front. A tomtar wearing a brown sack hefted a barrel off the buckboard. Sweat beaded his black lips and slid through the wrinkles in his leathery skin. Without a hat, sunburn flaked on his bald spots.
    “Hey, Jimmy,” Annie called. “Tomtar!”
    The tomtar didn’t respond, its gaze focused on the task at hand.
    Upon reaching the wagon, she grabbed his scarf. “I’ve been talking to you, tomtar!”
    He blinked at her through rheumy eyes.
    “Where’s my father?”
    Annie’s sharp tone made Edna wince. Tomtars had hearts and minds; they didn’t deserve to be yelled at. She chewed on her fingernail to keep from scolding Annie.
    “Inside, miss.” Jimmy shuffled his bird feet through the dirt.
    “Stay here while I go ask him,” Annie sang as she skipped past Jimmy into the store.
    “Let me help you.” Edna held out her arms for an edge of the barrel. The tomtar shook his square head and turned his back to her. She sighed, folding her arms as she studied the town.
    Two-story buildings bordered the narrow street. Each house was painted white, each office and store a brick structure. A motorcar rumbled by. The man driving watched them from his good eye, a patch over his right one. The good eye, though,