Beauty and the Baker Page 3

  For someone that was so wealthy, why wouldn’t he have sent money to cover the ticket? Her friends who responded to advertisements for mail order brides always received either a ticket or the money to purchase one. Perhaps he just forgot.

  Afterall, he must have quite a bit on his mind if he owned a fleet of ships. It was understandable that he may have forgotten to put the money in the envelope.

  Georgina folded the letter and placed it in the nightstand drawer. She would run by the telegraph office and send Lawrence a note in the morning, letting him know that she would be arriving as soon as she secured a ticket.

  She fell asleep dreaming of a wedding along the water and adventure on the high seas with a dashing groom by her side.

  Sending the telegram to Lawrence would be the easy part. Sneaking out of the house to catch the train, without her parents knowing would not. She couldn’t bear to look in Thomas’s eyes and tell him she was leaving, when she promised she wouldn’t just the day before.

  She finished up her shift at the hospital and let the nurse know that she needed some time off for a bit. To take care of family matters, she said. I can always send them a telegram once I arrive.

  She collected her last pay, said goodbye to the nurses and patients, without having to say anything more.

  As soon as she got home, Georgina complained of a headache and told her family she needed to rest. It afforded her an opportunity to pack one bag with what she might need until she reached San Francisco. Lawrence was surely wealthy enough that he could provide her with a wardrobe once she arrived.

  Reaching under the floorboard, she pulled out the jar with all of her money in it and placed it inside her bag, surrounded by dresses. She knew if she went to the bank and withdrew her savings, the manager would call her father. That is what happens when you live in a city where everyone knows everyone else.

  She had just finished packing and put her portmanteau in the closet next to her train case. She was going to wait until everyone had retired for the night, when she heard a knock on the door.

  Thomas peeked his head in. “Are you feeling better, Georgie?”

  Georgina gave him a half smile. She was going to miss his face most of all. “I am, pet,” she said, gathering him in a hug.

  “We missed you at dinner,” he said.

  “I know. I just needed to rest for a bit.” Georgina noticed something in his hands. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the envelope he was holding.

  “Oh, Mama asked me to bring it up to you. It is a letter from Aunt Maybelle.” He handed her the letter.

  “Thank you. I’ll read this in a bit. I think I’m going to lie down for a bit more.”

  “Would you like a cup of tea? I can have Mama make you a pot and bring it up. I know that always makes you feel better.”

  Georgina slid the letter in her pocket. “That would be very nice.”

  “And how about a piece of cake?”

  “But I didn’t eat dinner.”

  Thomas leaned in really close. “I won’t tell.”

  Georgina laughed and hugged him close once more. She knew if she didn’t, he might see her start to cry.

  Chapter 3

  Georgina jumped at the sound of the compartment door sliding open. She had enough money to pay for a semi-private compartment for the ride out West, but not enough to pay for a private compartment.

  The three passengers she was sharing the compartment with had reached their destination and now she was alone as the train pulled out of St. Louis.

  Georgina waited a minute for someone to appear before turning back to look out the window. The door slid closed again, blocking the noise from the general train passengers.

  A petite woman in a dusty, outdated mourning gown placed a basket on the bench across from Georgina. Her large hoop skirt swept across Georgina’s legs and took up most of the compartment.

  “Oh, I am sorry,” she said in a British accent. “I keep forgetting how small these train cars actually are.” She gave Georgina a toothy grin before sitting down on the hard bench. “How you are doing, dearie?”

  Georgina looked at the woman. She was dressed from head to toe in black silk. She had a hooded cape covering the dress. Georgina was surprised the woman wasn’t flushed from wearing all those layers. In fact, she looked downright pale, her ivory skin a sharp contrast against the dark fabric.

  The woman pushed back her hooded cape revealing soft gray ringlets surrounding her face. Her eyes were the palest color of blue Georgina thought she had ever seen.

  Georgina lost all her thoughts in that moment, and for the life of her couldn’t remember the question the elderly woman asked. The woman in black gave a soft laugh.

  “Don’t worry, love, it happens to the best of us. I just asked how you were doing, Georgina.”

  “F-f-fine. I’m doing fine.” Georgina panicked a moment. How did this woman know her name? She looked around but didn’t see anything that the woman might have seen.

  “Your name is there on the envelope,” the woman said, pointing to the paper in Georgina’s hand.

  “Oh,” Georgina said, turning the envelope around. “I didn’t realize it was there.”

  “Not to worry, love. It looks like a letter from someone very special.”

  “It is.” Georgina said, folding the papers back up and placing them in her pocket.

  “Looks like you’ve read them quite a bit, too.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Well, the edges look worn.” The woman leaned back and sighed, placing her hands over her middle. “I remember when my Edward would write me letters. I would keep them and read them over and over again. Pretty soon there was barely any ink left on the papers, I had read them so many times.”

  “Edward is?”

  The woman sat up. “Oh, Edward is my husband. But he’s dead,” she added as an afterthought.

  Georgina sat back. She had never met anyone so flighty. It was as if the woman moved from one thought to the next without slowing down.

  A dark man popped his head in the car. Georgina recognized him as the porter for this particular car.

  “Is there anything you mighta be needin’, miss?” he asked Georgina.

  “Why don’t you order a pot of tea, Georgina,” the woman said.

  “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Miss?” the man asked. “Most’em folks just call me Smalls.”

  Georgina looked from the woman across the bench back to Smalls.

  “He can’t see or hear me, dearie. Only you can.”

  “That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard of.”

  “Excus’um me, miss?”

  Georgina was mortified. She put her hands up to her lips. “Oh, please forgive me. I wasn’t talking to you.”

  “Who was you talkin’ to, miss?”

  “Don’t you see her?”

  Smalls shook his head. “No ma’am. It is just you in here.”

  Georgina shook her head. The woman in black was still there. She gave Georgina a little wave with her gloved fingers.

  Georgina sighed. “I don’t think I’ll have anything. I need to rest. Thank you though, Mr. Smalls.” The man nodded and backed out of the compartment.

  “Call him back,” the woman said, reaching her hands out towards Georgina.

  “Wait,” Georgina called automatically.

  The man turned and looked at her.

  “Order tea,” the woman said.

  “Actually, I’d like a pot of tea.” Although I don’t know how I’m going to pay for it, she thought.

  “Oh look, there is a nickel,” the woman said pointing to the floor of the compartment. Georgina knew it wasn’t there a moment ago but didn’t say anything. Instead she reached down and picked it up in her hand, flipping it over to examine both sides.

  “That will be three-cents, miss,” Smalls said.

  Georgina put the coin in his hand. “Keep the change.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank y
ou very much.” He pocketed the coin and headed down to the next compartment in the car.

  Once the man had disappeared, Georgina turned back to the woman across from her. “Who are you?”

  “You may call me Mrs. Pennyworth. My first name is Louisa, but I’ve not had anyone call me that in years.”

  “Mrs. Pennyworth?”

  “Why, yes, child. Did I stutter?”

  “Uhm, no,” Georgina said. She felt a little bewildered. “I guess I’m just confused. You said that man couldn’t see you or hear you. But why can I?”

  Mrs. Pennyworth gave a laugh, her silver curls bouncing as she rocked. “I’m your guardian angel, love. Biscuit?” She held out the basket in front of her. Georgina peeked inside. There was a small plate with several shortbread cookies inside the basket. Georgina took one.

  The door slid open again, disappearing into a pocket hidden within the wall. Mr. Smalls pushed a small cart just inside the door. “Your tea, miss,” he said, placing a tray next to her on the bench. “Just put the tray outside the door when you are done, and I’ll remove it. Is there anything else?”

  Georgina shook her head. “I’m good for now. Thank you.”

  The man gave a quick bow and exited the compartment, the door slamming back into place behind him. “There is nothing better to calm the nerves than a cup of tea.”

  “My mother says that,” Georgina laughed, pouring herself a cup of tea. “Are you nervous, Mrs. Pennyworth?” Georgina settled back into the bench nibbling on the biscuit.

  “Oh no, not me. I was worried about you.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Mrs. Pennyworth took a sip from the cup in her hand. “Aren’t you nervous, headed out West on your own?”

  Georgina shrugged. “Not really. I suppose many women made the journey by themselves.”

  “You are headed West to get married.” It wasn’t a question.

  Georgina nodded. “He is a shipping magistrate. He owns a fleet of three merchant ships.”

  Mrs. Pennyworth sniffed. “Three does not a fleet make. But I suppose it is a good start.” She looked at Georgina. “Do you know what he looks like?”

  Georgina shifted. Lawrence never sent a picture. “I know he has brown hair and brown eyes. He must be terribly handsome because women have been vying for his attention.”

  “He told you that?” Mrs. Pennyworth said, raising her eyebrow.

  “Well, yes.” Georgina put her tea cup down. “And it is no wonder. Hard to believe that someone so rich is still eligible.”

  “How did you meet him, if you don’t mind me asking.” Mrs. Pennyworth put her cup back in the basket. Georgina returned her cup to the tray and rooted in her bag for an envelope. She pulled it out and opened it up, removing a piece of newsprint. She handed it to Mrs. Pennyworth. “Read it to me.”

  Georgina cleared her throat. “Gentleman Shipping Magistrate seeks young woman with appetite for travel. Advertiser can introduce her to some of the best society in Europe as we sail around the world. Address is…” Georgina put the paper clipping down on her lap. “Well, the address isn’t the important part.”

  “San Francisco, eh?”

  Georgina sat straight up on the bench, nearly spilling her tea. “How do you know that?”

  “The envelope. Remember?” Mrs. Pennyworth adjusted her cape, so it was like a blanket. “What do you know about this man?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What do you know about his character? How long have you been writing?”

  “I responded, at the urging of a friend. I guess it has been about six months now.”

  “What do your parents think?”

  “Isn’t this a terribly intrusive line of questioning?” Georgina asked. She didn’t want to know what her parents thought. Right now, they were probably worried sick about her.

  “I don’t think that this is the man you are supposed to marry. You probably don’t even have a picture of him.”

  Georgina reached into her pocket and pulled out the envelope from Lawrence. A second envelope came out with it and fell to the floor by Mrs. Pennyworth’s feet. “You should read that letter, dearie. It looks like it is from someone important.”

  Georgina reached down and snatched the letter up with two fingers. “It is just a letter from my aunt.”

  “But it might be important.”

  “I’ll read it when I get to San Francisco.”

  “Your aunt probably needs you. I would read the letter,” Mrs. Pennyworth insisted.

  “Why are you doing this?” Georgina cried. “Telling me to buy tea. Saying you are my guardian angel. Knowing that my aunt needs me.”

  “But I am.”

  “You are what?”

  “Your guardian angel. It is my job to make sure you end up where you are supposed to. Who knows, you might even find love where you least expect it.”

  “I think we are through,” Georgina said, standing. She pulled her portmanteau from the rack overhead. “I don’t know who you think you are, but they put people away for behaving like this.” She placed her small bag around her waist and grabbed her Baltimore train case before leaving the compartment.

  She jumped slightly when she heard a door slam behind her. She saw Mr. Smalls coming down the aisle. Maybe he would have another compartment she could sit in.

  She went to wave him down and as she did, she caught a glimpse of the compartment she just left out of the side of her eye.

  Georgina nearly dropped her bags. The compartment was empty.

  The nerve! Georgina thought. The absolute nerve.

  How dare Mrs. Pennyworth get Georgina all in a tizzy and then just simply disappear. Mr. Smalls asked if everything was alright.

  Georgina had him search the compartment. Not that she thought there would be any way that Mrs. Pennyworth could hide under the bench in that huge hoop skirt.

  Only after Mr. Smalls ensured that the compartment was in fact, empty, did Georgina finally return to her seat. She placed her large bag on the opposite bench.

  The tea was still there getting cold. She picked it up and took another sip. The letter from her aunt still on her lap.

  She finished up the cool tea and placed the cup back down on the tray. Sliding a finger under the seal, she opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper.

  Dear Niece,

  I am writing to request your assistance. I wrote a letter to your mama, letting her know that I had fallen and broke my leg. I am now laid up and cannot move for a few more weeks.

  My dear friend, Mrs. Frances Brown comes to visit with me and helps me with meals and such, but it is such an inconvenience when she has her own home to tend to.

  I am begging, dear Georgina, that you come visit me for a spell, here in Creede. It would be wonderful to see you, and if you could help me get my affairs in order, as I feel this is where I am going to have to sell the bakery.

  I wouldn’t dream of letting your mama and papa think that I have given up all hope. But it is true, dear niece. I am afraid I’m going to lose the bakery.

  If you could come and visit me, I would be extremely grateful. Enclosed is a few dollars for a train ticket.

  Your loving auntie,

  Maybelle

  There was three dollars in the letter. That was more than enough for a train ticket. At least her auntie sent her the money for the fare. Why couldn’t the man she was supposed to marry do the same?

  An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Georgina’s belly. Perhaps she would go visit her aunt and then see what she could find out about Mr. Lawrence Sweeny of San Francisco. She could also cover her disappearance to her parents by saying she left urgently to visit Auntie Maybelle.

  She popped her head out of the compartment, holding her hand up, so the door wouldn’t spring back and knock her senseless. Mr. Smalls was walking down the aisle with his cart full of dirty dishes.

  “Are you done with your tea, miss?” he asked as he approached her.

  �
��Yes, let me get the tray.” He held the door while she fetched the tray and put it on his rolling cart.

  “Youse don’t need to do that, miss. It’s my job.”

  “Don’t worry about it. May I ask you a question?”

  Mr. Smalls scratched his head. “I guess’em so.”

  “Is it feasible to change my ticket to a different location?”

  “Youse headed to San Francisco, aren’t you?” Georgina nodded. “Where you want’um to go?”

  “A place called Creede, Colorado.”

  “Well you can buy a new ticket, but’em, this here trains is stoppin’ there ‘morrow. I won’t say anythin’ if you just’em get off at the station.”

  Georgina nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Smalls, I appreciate your help.”

  Mr. Smalls nodded and continued back towards the dining car. Georgina returned to her seat and sat down. She might as well get some rest before the train arrived.

  She was just about to close her eyes when the glint of something shiny caught her eye. On the bench across from her sat three brand new copper pennies. The same amount as a pot of tea. She gathered up the coins and put them in her pocket along with her letters. She closed her eyes and dreamed of Colorado.

  Chapter 4

  September 1893, Creede, Colorado

  “Charlie!” Cassandra’s voice called.

  He was hiding in Max’s office. His brother-in-law was an amicable sort, even if he was rather odd. Charlie noticed Max had a few peculiar habits, but Charlie just ignored them.

  He really did like Max, and Max really loved his sister. That was all Charlie needed to know.

  He hoped one day to have a love like that, but he knew it wasn’t for him. Women wanted men that were perfect. Charlie was far from that now.

  He continued laying on the settee in the office and tried to ignore his sister’s voice calling down the hall.

  “Here you are,” she said, entering the office.

  Charlie laid the book he was reading aside and looked at her. He didn’t have much in the way of education, but he did learn to read and write when he was younger. His mother made sure of that.