We are about a month-and-a-half away from the publication of my novel, MISS ETTA, and I'm getting excited about sharing this novel with all of you. MISS ETTA is a fictional novel about a real-life woman, Etta Place, who lived an extremly exciting life, then vanished into thin air. She rode with the famous outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and was also Sundance's girlfriend. She was described as being beautiful and well-mannered, yet could ride and shoot as well as a man. Still, no one knows her real name or what became of her, and that is what I find the most interesting of all.
Below are the first three chapters of MISS ETTA. I hope you enjoy them.
Miss Etta: A Novel
Historical Women's Fiction
Release date: September 4, 2018
Preorder now:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2MjfFdP
Paperback: https://amzn.to/2PyKgDh
Prologue
San Francisco , CA
1972
Susan Sheridan hurried out of her car and headed across the
street to the assisted-living facility where her grandmother lived. She checked
her watch as she waited for the cable car to pass. As a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, Susan
usually sprinted from place to place to catch a story for the paper. But today
was different. Her grandmother had called and requested she come to see her. Susan
loved her grandmother dearly, but she wished she could wait until the weekend
to talk to her. But Grandma Em wasn’t normally an impatient woman, so Susan
felt she should at least check on her.
She entered the building and waved to the receptionist in
the office near the entryway. As a frequent visitor, Susan was recognized and
didn’t have to check in. She slipped into the elevator and shared the ride up
with Mrs. Jenkowski, who complained that her grandchildren never came to visit
and proclaimed Susan to be a very good girl. Susan didn’t feel like a good girl.
She felt guilty about wanting to rush her visit with her grandmother so she
could leave.
Susan walked down the plush carpeted hallway, and sure
enough, there was her grandmother waiting for her in the apartment’s doorway. The
receptionist had obviously buzzed her to let her know her granddaughter was on
her way up.
Grandma Em gave Susan a hug. “I’m so happy you could come by
this morning.” She turned and walked to her favorite rocker in the living room.
Susan noticed that her grandma walked a little slower these
days. But at ninety-six years old, it was expected that this once lively woman would
slow down.
Susan followed and sat on the sofa across from her
grandmother. In-between them on the coffee table sat an antique carved wooden
box with a tiny gold key. Susan gazed at the box, enchanted. It had intricate
leaf detailing decorating the lid and looked to be made of very fine wood. She
was surprised she’d never seen it before.
“That’s for later, dear.” Grandma Em settled back in her
rocker. “For now, we need to talk.”
Susan noticed that her grandmother sounded weary. Her long,
silver hair was styled in its usual bun on the top of her head, a few loose
tendrils framing her face which was wrinkled and soft with age. Her eyes were a
beautiful lavender-blue that Susan had inherited. Susan thought her grandmother’s
eyes looked different today, though. They weren’t just tired; they looked resigned.
“Is something wrong, Grandma?” Susan asked, beginning to
worry why she’d been summoned here on such short notice. Was her grandmother
ill? Her grandmother had always been the picture of good health. Susan hoped
whatever was wrong wasn’t serious.
Grandma Em shook her head. “No, dear. Nothing is wrong. And I
know you’re a busy woman, but I have something I need to tell you. A story that’s
waited a long time to be told. Do you have that recording device of yours I
asked you to bring?”
Susan nodded and dug through her purse for her small tape
recorder. She used it on interviews to report quotes accurately. After checking
to make sure the tape in it was new, she set it on the table in front of her. “Grandma,
I’m sure what you want to tell me is interesting, but maybe we could do this on
Saturday. I have two stories on deadline and one interview I still have to go
to and…”
“Dear,” Grandma Em interrupted. “I think you’ll want to hear
this. I’m not sure I’ll ever be as ready to tell it as I am today.”
Susan took a deep breath and nodded. She could never deny
her grandmother anything. They had always been close, but after Susan’s mother
had died of cancer when Susan was fifteen years old, their relationship had
grown even closer.
“Okay, Grandma,” she said, resigning herself to staying put
for a while. She clicked the tape recorder on. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Susan,” Grandma Em began, settling deeper into her rocker. “You
know me only as your grandmother, the retired teacher. And your father knows me
only as his mother and the wife of his stepfather, Edward Sheridan. But once, a
long time ago, before I met your grandfather, my life was different. Very
different indeed.”
Chapter One
Pine Creek, MN
August 1911
Emily Pleasants stepped off the train onto the platform,
scanning the small station with her lavender-blue eyes. It had been a long trip
across country from California to Minnesota and she felt weary. The August
afternoon was hot and humid, forming beads of perspiration under her corset. She
raised a slender, gloved hand to smooth the back of her already perfect chignon,
making sure her small hat was still in place, as she continued to scan the Pine
Creek train station. She wanted nothing more than to find the gentleman who was
supposed to meet her and be taken to her rooms.
From beside her came a soft sigh. Emily smiled down at the
small boy standing there. Dressed in a brown suit and hat, he looked like a
miniature adult, his gray-blue eyes staring up at her in question.
Emily lifted her gaze to the platform again, but the only
people she saw were the ones who had also stepped off the train. At the far end,
she caught sight of a man neatly dressed in a navy three-piece suit,
impatiently staring at a gold pocket watch as if he was late for an
appointment. He didn’t look like a small-town school board member to her—he
looked like a banker. Emily chuckled softly. She could spot a banker in a crowd
any day. She’d had plenty of experience with bankers.
Sighing, she gave up waiting and decided to go inside the
station’s building. Perhaps the manager would know who was picking her up. Leaving
her bags on the platform, Emily offered her hand to the boy beside her.
“Come along, Harry,” she said, her voice gentle but
authoritative. The little boy took her hand and followed her into the plank
board building.
***
Edward Sheridan stood at the end of the platform studying
his gold pocket watch for the hundredth time. He watched as the passengers
disembarked and scattered, becoming impatient when he didn’t see the new
schoolteacher among them. A pretty, young woman with a small child beside her
caught his eye, then he dismissed her immediately. He was not waiting for a
young mother. He’d been sent by the school board to greet the new schoolmarm.
Edward watched the woman and young boy enter the station and
turned his brown eyes again toward the train. No one else alighted from the
passenger cars. Sighing, he contemplated what might have become of the woman. Perhaps
she’d missed one of her transfers and would arrive on a later train. That wasn’t
entirely impossible, considering the distance she was traveling. His biggest
fear was that she’d decided not to come after all. It had taken the board
months to find a new schoolteacher and her references had been impeccable. Perhaps
she’d decided Minnesota was too far a distance, the weather was too dreary, or
the pay was too low for her liking. He truly hoped not. Finding a teacher for
their small town was becoming more difficult with each passing year, especially
with the larger cities paying higher wages and offering more opportunities for
advancement. Small towns had so little to offer. They were lucky to keep a teacher
for an entire school year.
The heat became increasingly unbearable and Edward felt
trickles of sweat under his three-piece suit. He adjusted his vest over his
waistline and studied his watch once more before deciding the train held no
more passengers. Dropping the watch back into his vest pocket, Edward walked
into the station to inquire about the next train.
“Well now, here’s just the man you’re looking for,” Ernie
Carlson, the station manager, blurted out as Edward entered the stuffy
building.
Edward looked up to see the young woman with the child
standing in front of the counter. The woman turned and stared at Edward, a look
of relief on her face changing into one of confusion.
“Mr. Sheridan?” she inquired in a soft, yet purposeful
voice. The boy beside her only stared.
“Yes, ma’am, this here’s Edward Sheridan,” Ernie replied as
if the question had been directed at him. “This here’s the new schoolteacher,
Mr. Sheridan. She’s been asking about you.”
Now it was Edward’s turn to be confused. He stared at the
handsome woman before him, studying her with furrowed brows. She had hair the
color of shining mahogany piled expertly upon her head and skin so smooth not
a line showed on her face. Her traveling outfit and small hat looked to have
been made of the finest materials and fit her slender figure as if cut
specifically for her. Just above her left breast hung a lapel watch that glittered
of gold with an intricate leaf design etched on its cover. This was a woman of
substance and quality standing before him, not a woman of meager means,
scratching her way through life on a schoolteacher’s salary. Surely, there was
some mistake.
“Mr. Sheridan?” the woman inquired again, this time her
voice holding a more commanding tone.
Realizing that his eyes were still upon
the watch that hung above her breast, Edward snapped them up to her face,
feeling his face flush all the way up to his hairline. A small chuckle came
from Ernie behind the counter. Edward thought for certain he would perish from
the heat rising inside him from his embarrassment than from the temperature
outside. Anger at his lack of discretion caused him to draw his full lips into
a thin line under his neatly trimmed mustache.
The schoolteacher, however, seemed unaffected by either
Edward’s rude stare or Ernie’s chuckle. She crossed the space between them,
offering her gloved hand in greeting. The little boy followed quietly at her
side.
“Mr. Sheridan, I’m Emily Pleasants. It is so nice to finally
meet you.” She stood there, hand in mid-air for several seconds before Edward
had the good sense to grasp it in his own. Her petite hand was practically lost
in his large one.
“Miss Pleasants?” he asked, still not quite believing this
was the woman they’d hired.
“Mrs. Pleasants,” she corrected, returning her hand to her
side and placing it around the boy’s small shoulders. “This is my son, Harry.”
Hat in hand, little Harry stretched out his other hand to
greet Edward. Still somewhat dazed, Edward reached down and shook the tiny
hand. Little Harry smiled up at him with shining eyes, his blond head bright
in the dim light of the station.
“Pleased to meet you,” Edward mumbled, and Harry only smiled
then stepped back to his mother’s side.
Silence filled the small station as the seconds ticked by. Outside,
the train whistled in announcement of its taking leave, heading east to St.
Paul.
The shrill of the whistle pulled Edward to his senses. He
cleared his throat and focused on the woman before him, who continued to watch
him in anticipation of his making the first move. Finally, he found his voice. “I’m
sorry for my confusion, Miss, ah, er, Mrs. Pleasants. I wasn’t expecting a
married woman.”
Mrs. Pleasants gazed calmly at him. “I’m a widow, Mr.
Sheridan.”
“Oh, yes, of course, er, I mean, I’m sorry.” Edward stumbled
over his words once again, feeling awkward, yet not understanding why. He was a
successful merchant in town. Talking was as much a part of his business as
selling. He was also part-owner of the town bank and held prominent positions
on both the school board and town council. Yet, here he was, tongue-tied in front
of this widowed schoolmarm while she stood there with perfect posture, looking
in complete control of the situation.
She had not a hair out of place, not even
a bead of perspiration on her person from the extreme heat. And he, under his
suit, was sweating like a farm animal. The lack of control he felt over the
entire situation made his anger rise, and her complete coolness fueled it on.
Furrowing his brows, Edward blurted out in a razor-sharp
voice, much louder than he’d intended, “Mrs. Pleasants. I’m afraid you’ve
caught me at a disadvantage. I was expecting a single woman without a child. As
you can imagine, I am shocked to find the situation different than anticipated.”
Mrs. Pleasants straightened her shoulders and stood as tall
as her five foot, three inch frame allowed. With eyes bright and blazing, she stared
directly at him. “I see no problem here, Mr. Sheridan. I was hired to teach the
children of Pine Creek. I intend to do just that.”
Edward returned her intense stare only to find himself speechless
once again in her presence. Her eyes completely distracted him. They were the
most unique color he’d ever seen, not blue, but lavender-blue. Trimmed in thick,
brown lashes, they were riveting. Absolutely beautiful.
Another chuckle from Ernie shook Edward awake. Bending his
head close to Mrs. Pleasants, he suggested softly, “Perhaps we can discuss this
outside.”
Mrs. Pleasants tipped her head in agreement then turned back
to Ernie. “It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Carlson,” she said. “I look
forward to having your son and daughter in my classroom.”
“Pleasure’s all mine, Mrs. Pleasants,” Ernie said, tipping his
cap.
Edward watched as Mrs. Pleasants took her son’s hand and
stepped up to the door. She paused in front of the unopened door for a moment
before Edward remembered his manners and rushed to open it for her. Nodding her
head in appreciation, she stepped outside with Harry, Edward close behind, as
the sound of Ernie’s chuckle followed him through.
Mrs. Pleasants walked over to her bags still sitting on the
platform. There were only two, a large one for her, a smaller one for Harry. They
looked well-worn and well-traveled.
“These are mine,” Mrs. Pleasants told Edward, who still felt
unnerved by the situation. “Will we be walking, or did you bring a carriage?”
Edward’s mind drew a blank. Nothing about this situation was
as he’d anticipated. He’d expected an older woman of single status, mousy, shy,
and unsure of herself. Hadn’t the last teacher been like that? Proficient at
teaching numbers and letters but uncomfortable in social situations? Not that
it mattered; she had been plain as a board and had no need for social graces. The
only determined action she’d had in the year she’d worked there was to hand in
her resignation. She had no liking for this small town on the plains of
Minnesota, and was homesick for her family in Illinois. Just as the schoolmaster
before her had quit and just as the schoolmarm before him had left. Edward simply
wasn’t prepared for a self-assured woman like Mrs. Pleasants.
“Mr. Sheridan?” Emily said again to catch his attention.
“Yes?” he replied, confused.
“Walking or carriage?”
“Huh?” Edward squinted at her in the bright sun before
realizing how stupid he must sound. Flustered, he tripped over his words again.
“But we haven’t settled our dilemma yet. I mean, we haven’t decided what we’re
going to do about this situation.”
Mrs. Pleasants sighed, her patience seeming to wane from the
humid heat. Beside her, the little boy squirmed restlessly. Edward couldn’t
blame him. He was feeling restless in this heat too.
Mrs. Pleasants said
in a steady voice, “Mr. Sheridan, I don’t understand what there is to decide. The
school board hired me. I have a contract for employment for the school year of
1911-1912. I’ve just spent four days shuffling from one train to another,
making the trip from California to here. I’m hot, I’m tired, and I’d appreciate
getting settled in my rooms.”
Edward couldn’t have agreed more. He was also hot and tired,
and had to return to his store. Resigned that they were not going to resolve
the matter standing here on the platform, Edward decided to let the school
board deal with the situation. He’d finish what he came here to do—deliver the
new schoolteacher to her quarters.
Nodding his assent, Edward said, “Carriage.”
Mrs. Pleasants looked puzzled. “Excuse me?”
Edward smiled a true smile for the first time since meeting her.
“I have a carriage waiting behind the depot,” he explained. “I’ll take you to
your room.”
Looking relieved, she returned his smile. “Thank you.”
He lifted her two pieces of luggage and led the way. Mrs.
Pleasants reached her hand down to Harry, who dutifully took it and the two
followed Mr. Sheridan to the open carriage.
Chapter Two
Pine Creek, MN
Nestled one hundred miles northeast of Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, and sixty miles southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pine Creek sat
alone in the middle of prairie land. The Minnesota River flowed through the
north end of town on its way to the southernmost part of the state. Named for
the variety of pine trees that grew along the river’s edge, the remainder of
Pine Creek was open prairie, a small but prosperous town surrounded by fields upon
fields of farmland growing hay, wheat, and corn.
From the simple beginnings of a single train depot when the
Union Pacific first laid tracks through the area, Pine Creek grew from the need
of nearby farmers for a place closer than Minneapolis or St. Paul for supplies.
Zachariah Sheridan complied by moving his family from Illinois in 1881 and
building the first dry-goods store in the fledgling town. It was a much-needed
addition to the saloon, blacksmith shop and stable, and combination boarding
house and restaurant that were already there.
Soon, several businesses sprouted up in the prairie town: a
hotel, another restaurant, several saloons, a church, and eventually as more
families moved there, a schoolhouse. Zachariah’s son, Edward, continued the
tradition by expanding the dry-goods store over the years, offering luxury
items as well as staples to the growing population of townspeople. Whatever he
didn’t stock, he could order and have delivered promptly by train, making the
need for trips to the big city unnecessary. He and two partners also opened the
first area bank that sat adjacent to his store.
The town was a nice place to live and for area farmers to
shop. With its neatly painted buildings, boardwalks, and cobblestone Main
Street, Pine Creek showed its prosperity on its sleeve. Many lovely two-story
Victorian homes were built on the fringes of town; green lawns sprawling toward
the gravel roads and flowerbeds lining white picket fences that separated the
yards.
This is what Emily saw first of her new home, the neighborhood
of well-kept houses, for Edward had taken the west road into town, heading
north to Main Street. She was confident he wanted her to see Pine Creek’s best
side. Emily had been in enough small but prosperous towns to know there was a
seedier side to them as well, possibly a red-light district with questionable
boarding houses filled with young, eager women and saloons that could become
bawdy at night. But she said nothing as she surveyed her surroundings with a
keen eye as they slowly rounded a curve to Main Street. The streets changed
from gravel to cobblestone, much to her surprise. Of the many small, mid-western
towns she’d experienced, she’d rarely seen one as refined as Pine Creek.
To her left, she noted a large building with a bell on top.
“That’s the schoolhouse,” Edward said, as if reading her
mind.
“It looks like a fine building,” she said, pleased to see
its neatly painted exterior and well-tended lawn.
“Our town is very proud of its commitment to education,”
Edward told her.
The businesses ahead of her were built in an orderly fashion,
as if the entire town was planned and constructed all at once. They passed Doctor
Jenson’s office, his gaily-painted sign swinging slightly in the gentle breeze.
Next was a restaurant that emitted sumptuous aromas, immediately tempting Emily’s
appetite. They stopped at the building beside the restaurant, Sheridan’s Dry
Goods Store, which was attached to the First National Bank of Pine Creek. Emily
found the proximity of the bank amusing.
Edward alighted the carriage with an agility that defied his
stuffy suit. He came to Emily’s side and raised a polite hand.
She accepted, stepping down beside him without a word. Next,
he reached up and took Harry into his arms as easily as if he’d done it a
thousand times before. Setting the young boy down beside his mother, Edward
cleared his throat.
“Here we are.” He raised his hand toward the store. “Your
room is upstairs, over the store. I’m afraid it’s not much, but it’s what we’ve
always given the teacher in the past.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” she said, reassuringly.
He reached into the back of the carriage and pulled out the
bags. Then, with a nod inviting them to follow, he led the way through the
propped open door into his store.
Holding Harry’s hand, Emily glanced around. It was one of
the nicest stores she’d ever seen in a small town. The oak counter stood in the
center. To the left of it were food supplies, and to the right, necessities for
the home and of a personal nature. Bolts of fabric, sewing supplies, ready-made
clothing, toiletries, pots, and kettles sat on shelving down tidy rows. Just
about everything one might need was here. All items were neatly organized,
displayed like the larger, big-city stores. Emily silently approved of Mr.
Sheridan’s store. It gave her a little insight into the man who owned it.
From behind the counter bustled a short, pudgy woman with
graying hair piled askew upon her head, and a warm smile.“Well, here she is, our new school mistress herself,” the
woman said, her bright blue eyes peering at Emily over gold-rimmed spectacles.
“Mrs. Pleasants,” Edward began formally, “this is Gertrude
McAffee, my assistant.”
“Call me Gertie,” the woman told her as she raised her hand
to shake Emily’s outstretched one. Her touch was warm and gentle. Motherly, Emily thought, as Gertie’s
friendliness touched her heart.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Gertie,” Emily said, their
hands still clasped.
The small woman turned her eyes to the little boy at Emily’s
side. “And who do we have here?” she exclaimed. “What is your name, young man?”
The kindness in her voice made Harry smile up at her. “I’m
Harry.” He offered his small hand. A slight nudge from Emily reminded Harry to
remove his hat indoors, and he did so promptly while shaking the older woman’s
hand.
“Well, well. Harry, you say? What a fine young man you are,”
Gertie said. “You look to me like a boy who would enjoy some licorice. Follow
me and we’ll find a piece.”
For one brief second, Harry glanced up at his mother for
approval, and with a nod of Emily’s head, he dashed off behind his new friend.
Edward laughed at Harry’s exuberance, making Emily smile
also.
“That’s very nice of her,” she said. “I’ll be happy to pay
for it, though.”
Edward shook his head. “Believe me, she loves giving candy
out to the children. We both do. Sometimes, it’s a contest as to who will get
to the candy jar first when a child comes through the door.” He chuckled and
Emily liked the gentleness she saw in his face. “I’m sure Harry will be eating
far more candy than you wish him to,” Edward said, still beaming. Emily liked
how his smile softened his features, making his face appear years younger.
As the silence grew between them, Edward soon appeared
self-conscious again and his smile faded. Returning to the task at hand, his
expression sobered, and he cleared his throat, returning to his position as
Chairman of the School Board.
“Well, I shall show you your room,” he said, all business
now.
Emily found humor at his quick transformation, understanding,
of course, that appearances were everything. If she’d learned anything in life,
it was at least that. She nodded in answer, and he lifted her bags and carried
them through the store as she followed. They caught up with Gertie and Harry,
the latter sitting on the counter, gleefully swinging his short legs while chewing
on a string of licorice. Gertie sent Emily a sweet grin.
“This young man tells me he’s your son and he’s all of three
years old. What a pleasure it will be to have a young person around here.” The
excitement in her voice matched the gleam in her eyes.
“Young Harry,” Gertie
said, turning back to the boy, “you come visit me here in the store often, you
hear?”
Harry nodded enthusiastically, and Emily reached over the
counter and grasped Gertie’s hand affectionately. “Thank you, Gertie. You’ve
made us feel very welcome here.” The two women held hands for a moment longer,
both smiling kindly at each other, then Emily let go and stepped back.
Out of
the corner of her eye, she saw Edward shuffle his feet in discomfort, embarrassed
no doubt by the fact that he hadn’t welcomed them so sincerely.
She ignored his uneasiness, saying aloud to Harry, “Come
along, dear. Mr. Sheridan is going to show us our room.”
Harry scooted off the counter and, without prompting from
his mother, turned to Gertie and said, “Thank you for the candy, Miss Gertie.” Plopping
his hat back on his head, he turned to follow his mother.
“You are ever so welcome, my dear.” Gertie’s words floated
to them as they followed Edward to the back of the store.
Edward led them to a storage room behind a velvet curtain. There
they found a set of stairs and they all walked up to the second story. The steps
curved as they ascended until they had made a half-circle when they reached the
top doorway. There was only a frame, no door, and the three stepped through
into a long, narrow hallway. To the right stood a door and a small window
overlooking the back of the store’s property. To the left was only a long hallway
with two doors, one on each side.
Emily and little Harry followed Edward down the hallway and
he opened the door on the right.
The afternoon sun poured in through both of the room’s
windows, giving off a cheerful glow. The room was large, Emily assessed as
Edward placed her bags on the floor. It was wide and long. She guessed it was
the size of half the store below.
To her left, at the front of the building, there was a
double bed covered with a cheery patchwork quilt of blue, green, and yellow. Beside
that stood a nightstand with an oil lamp. A round table with two chairs sat
under one window, and at the other end of the room was a pot-bellied stove, a
shiny copper tea kettle upon it. An oak armoire stood against the far wall, and
a screen made of mahogany and bamboo sat in the corner for privacy while dressing.
Oil lamp sconces hung on the walls to light up the room at night, and yellow
calico curtains adorned the windows.
The room was large, airy, and gave off a comfortable,
welcoming feel. Despite the hot sun outside, it felt pleasant in the room, an
early evening breeze drifting through the open windows, caressing the cheerful
curtains.
Emily smiled, pleased with the room, but Edward was
immediately apologetic about it.
“I’m sorry it’s not much. It will be cramped with the two of
you here, I’m afraid. But it’s the room we usually provide for the
schoolteacher.”
Emily turned to him. If he’d seen the small, sparse room she
and Harry had shared at the convent over the past three years, he would not be
apologizing. “This will do just fine, Mr. Sheridan. It’s lovely. The coverlet
and curtains brighten the room beautifully.”
Edward’s serious expression brightened. “That was Gertie’s
work. When she heard the new teacher was coming, she took it upon herself to
make new curtains and a quilt. She said the room had become far too shabby over
the years.”
Emily watched Edward as he spoke, noting the admiration in
his voice when he talked about Gertie. She wondered in what capacity were his
affections for the kind woman. Perhaps he admired her like a sister, or a
mother? Or as a lover? She tried hard to keep a straight face over this last
thought. She couldn’t imagine the two of them together.
“Please thank her for me,” she said, erasing the last
thought from her mind. It certainly was not a thought that should have been
there to begin with.
Edward again cleared his throat. “Evy’s Restaurant next door
has always supplied meals for our teachers. The Townsend’s own it, and they make
delicious food and are very nice people. I eat there quite a bit myself.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Emily said. She stifled a yawn. The
long trip and hot day were beginning to wear on her. Harry, too, was fading
fast. Emily noticed he’d sat down on the bed and his lids were drooping.
Edward seemed to notice too. “I’m sure you’re both tired. If
you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
She pulled off her gloves and couldn’t wait to slip out of
her suit jacket. “Thank you, Mr. Sheridan, for seeing us here and showing us
our room.” She followed him to the door. Reaching up, she slid the pin from her
hat, releasing it from her hair. Her long hair tumbled about her shoulders.
When Edward turned at the door, his eyes widened as he
stared at her hair, seemingly entranced. Emily held back a chuckle over the
dumbfounded expression on his face. Had the poor man never seen a woman’s hair
down before?
She smiled up at him. “Is that all?” she asked politely.
Edward regained his composure. “Oh, well, yes,” he answered.
“Good evening, Mrs. Pleasants.” And with a final nod, he hurried from the room.
***
Edward stood in the hallway for a long time after Emily had closed
the door, trying to compose himself before going downstairs. What an idiot I must have sounded like, he
thought. She must think I’m a complete
fool!
And what was all that
throat-clearing about? As he’d spoken to Mrs. Pleasants, he’d noticed he’d
done it several times. What an annoying
sound. When did I develop such an
awful habit? She must think me a dolt! Every time he’d spoken to her, he’d
had to force himself not to clear his throat. What in heavens was wrong with him?
When she’d taken off her hat and her hair had fallen, it had
completely unnerved him. He just stood there and stared. Her hair was the color
of mahogany, gleaming as a table would after it had been hand-rubbed for hours.
And her eyes. They weren’t a color he’d ever seen before. Not blue, but
lavender-blue. So beautiful, so intense, and yet so kind.
Edward had always prided himself on being professional in
all situations. But for some reason, being around Mrs. Pleasants had turned him
into a tongue-tied fool. And, if acting like an idiot wasn’t enough to worry
about, realizing that he cared what Emily Pleasants thought of him rattled him
to his core.
Chapter Three
Pine Creek, MN
Emily lay in bed, her mind swirling in the darkness that
surrounded her. The room was quiet, even with the windows open to let in the
cool night air. All the businesses were closed, the last street light extinguished,
yet she was unable to sleep.
She’d been exhausted when she’d first entered the room. Gertie
had appeared at the door soon afterward with a tray of food from Evy’s
Restaurant. The older woman had instinctively known the two travelers would be
hungry but too tired to go out to eat. The creamed potato soup and fresh
homemade bread had been delicious, and Emily was thankful that such a kind soul
as Gertie existed in this new place they now called home.
Harry had barely finished eating when he crawled under the
covers and fell fast asleep. Emily, too, thought tonight of all nights she’d
fall soundly asleep when her head hit the feather pillow. She was wrong.
Night was always the most difficult time of her day. Or the
best, depending upon how she felt. It was when memories flooded back to her;
memories that caused pain, but also reminded her of some of the sweetest times
of her life. It was only when morning came that she had to face the cold reality
of her life now and of her future without little Harry’s father.
Emily glanced over at the small form sleeping beside her. Harry.
What would she do without her precious reminder of the man she’d loved? Harry
was the spitting image of his father in every way except one—he’d never grow up
to live the life his father had lived. Emily would make sure of that.
She had come a long way since that first day she’d met her
son’s father. Many more miles than her trip from California to Minnesota. Miles
that had taken her from west to east, north to south, stretching to the farthest
reaches of another continent. And it all started with a simple meeting in
Texas.
San Antonio, Texas
1895
Ethel Emily Pleasants walked hurriedly through the streets
of San Antonio’s red-light district. She had a piano lesson to give on the “proper”
side of town in less than half an hour and she needed to pick up her music
sheets at Fannie’s.
The petite eighteen-year-old woman with shining mahogany
hair pulled up in an unassuming chignon looked oddly out of place on this
street of saloons and bordellos. Anyone watching her would believe she had lost
her way from a church meeting or ladies’ tea. But Ethel knew exactly where she
was headed. She ducked into Fannie’s Boarding House, a respectable name for a
not-so-respectable business; a place that rented rooms by the hour and held far
too many lady boarders who entertained gentleman callers.
It was just past noon when Ethel entered the quiet parlor
and walked directly to the upright piano in the corner of the garishly
decorated room. Daytime was rest time for most of the inhabitants, although an
occasional gentleman caller might be lounging on the parlor sofa, enjoying a
cigar or a bit of brandy, relaxing before the night’s entertainment.
Ethel was used to such people lazing about and ignored the
gentleman in the corner as she sifted through the sheets of music. She often
practiced here in the early afternoon and occasionally met some of the
customers, but everyone knew to keep their hands off Ethel. Although she lived
in the apartment above the kitchen, she did not work here.
Feeling the man’s eyes on her back, Ethel turned slightly
and gave him a curt nod. He lazily tipped his hat and she returned to her searching,
hoping her gesture would be enough to warn him off. To her surprise, he rose
and stepped toward her. By the time she straightened, he was standing directly
behind her.
“Morning, miss,” he said softly. When she didn’t respond, he
continued with a grin, “Something I can help you find there?”
Ethel didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure of his
motives, but in a place such as this, she could guess. She studied him a moment,
trying to read into his gesture. He looked older than she, but not as old as
many of the men who passed through this parlor. His hair, peeking out from
under his short-brimmed cowboy hat, was sandy blond, as was the trimmed
mustache that dressed his lip. He wore a respectable three-piece suit with
freshly polished boots. His skin was deeply tanned, as if he worked out in the
sun, and his eyes were a deep, steel gray. He seemed comfortable in his suit,
yet she couldn’t help but think he’d be just as comfortable in work pants and a
flannel shirt, riding astride a powerful horse. Yet, there seemed to be no coarseness
about him. She could see that his eyes were kind.
“Now, Harry, don’t you be bothering my young Etta here. She’s
not one of the girls.” Fannie Mae Porter’s voice boomed from the wide staircase
in the hallway just outside the parlor. Both occupants beside the piano turned
and looked her way.
Fannie stood on the last step of the paisley carpeted stairs,
covered in a long black satin nightdress with a red satin robe thrown over it. She
was a buxom woman, not overweight but big enough to handle any man who got out
of control. Her thick, red hair was piled flamboyantly upon her head and even
now, long before her workday began, she wore a heavy coat of face paint, her
lips and cheeks a brilliant red.
Ethel could only smile at the ‘Madame’ who stood before her.
Fannie was like a second mother to her, taking her in and watching over her
after her own mother died.
“Didn’t mean any disrespect, Miss Porter,” the man Fannie
called Harry said. “I was just offering this young lady my assistance.”
Fannie stepped down off her perch and strutted over to
Ethel. “Assistance my ass,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “I know what kind of assistance
you have in mind and it’s not the polite kind. Now, take that hat off your head,
boy. You’re in the presence of ladies.”
Harry obliged with a grin and a soft, “Sorry, ma’am.” Although
his words were directed at Fannie, his eyes were on Ethel.
Yes, Ethel thought, his hair was highlighted blond by long
days in the sun. Harry grinned at her and Ethel dropped her eyes, embarrassed
that she had been caught studying him.
His grin did not go unnoticed by Fannie. “Don’t you get any
ideas about my girl Etta,” she said, her tone serious. “She’s like a daughter
to me and I protect her like a mother bear. She’s from a good family and she
has a fancy Boston education and a teacher’s certificate. She’s going places,
places much bigger and better than here, and she’s going to do special things. She’s
not going to get herself hooked up with the likes of you, son, so don’t even
think about it.”
Harry seemed to contemplate this speech, all the while his
eyes on Ethel. Finally, with a nod to Fannie, he spoke. “Sorry to have bothered
you, miss. Good day.” He turned and walked out the stained-glass door with
Fannie hollering after him, “Come back later, Harry, and I’ll introduce you to
some of the other girls.”
Ethel heard the door shut quietly behind him. The clock over
the mantel chimed, reminding her of the appointment across town. She picked up
the pile of sheet music and hurriedly gave Fannie a hug.
“I have a lesson to give. I’ll be back in a while.”
Fannie squeezed her back and waved goodbye.
Ethel had no sooner stepped outside when Harry matched her
steps down the cobblestone sidewalk.
“Mind if I walk with you?” he asked.
She looked at him, wondering if he’d really take no for an
answer. “Miss Fannie wouldn’t be pleased if she knew you were following me.”
Harry grinned. “I’m not following you, miss. I’m escorting
you. Just want to make sure you reach your destination safely.”
Ethel laughed softly. “Would you stop walking with me if I
asked?”
“I’m hoping you won’t ask.” His eyes sparkled mischievously.
Ethel shook her head and sighed. What harm could there be in
her walking down the busy street with him? Once she arrived at her appointment,
he’d surely disappear and pursue a more willing woman.
As they strolled silently through the streets, the red-light
district transformed into reputable businesses, then into elegant homes. Ethel
kept up a brisk pace, eager to arrive on time, and Harry kept up with her at
what seemed a leisurely jaunt. Although he was not overly tall by any means,
compared to her 5’3” frame he needed less steps than she to cover the same ground.
Occasionally, she glanced his way, curious about what he
hoped to accomplish by accompanying her. But he only seemed interested in the
neighborhood around him, seemingly unconscious of her curious glances.
“Where, exactly, are we headed?” he asked.
“I give piano lessons. One of my students lives here.”
Harry nodded, as if letting this information sink in. “You’re
a music teacher?”
“Yes, partially. I’m only doing this for the extra money. I’m
actually a schoolteacher, but I won’t be starting my new position until the end
of the month.”
Harry nodded again, looking as if he were forming his next
question when Ethel stopped suddenly.
“Here we are,” she announced. They stood in front of a large
Victorian home with a steeple roof and gingerbread trim. “Thank you for your
company, but I must go now.”
“May I take you to dinner after your lesson?”
Ethel hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Could she trust a
man she’d first met in a brothel?
Harry seemed to have read her mind. “My intentions are
completely honorable,” he said, pushing back the brim of his hat and grinning
at her.
Even though he looked older than she was, when he smiled,
his face took on a boyish quality. Something about that face made her want to
trust him. She decided that as long as they were in a public place, it would be
fine to go and eat with him.
“I’ll be finished in one hour,” she offered.
Harry nodded and slipped the hat from his head. “I’ll be
waiting,” he told her with a slight bow.
Ethel headed up the brick walkway to the house, wondering if
he’d really be there when she came back out. An hour later, to her surprise, he
was.
