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“I appreciate that. I don’t get many compliments about my food around here. People usually eat and leave without so much as a howdy-do.” And he threw his partner a meaningful glance.
Rhine countered, “I compliment you on your food all the time.”
“He’s lying of course, but that’s neither here nor there.”
She liked Jim Dade. “Maybe when I get back on my feet I can repay you by cooking for you.”
“You’re a cook?”
“I am.”
“So that’s why you had that brazier with you when we found you.”
“Yes.”
Fontaine asked, “Would you care to have company for breakfast? Jim and I would like to join you, but if you prefer to be alone... ?”
“I know it isn’t considered proper, but your company would be welcomed.”
When Jim exited to go get the food, Rhine tore his eyes away from the sight of her swathed in his black dressing gown and concentrated on placing chairs around the small table. “Would you like to join us at the table or eat where you are?” He was glad Jim would be joining them for the meal because he needed the buffer.
“The table, please.”
He made a move to cross the room to carry her the short distance but she put up a hand to stay him. “No. I can make it by myself.”
Admiring her single-minded determination, he nodded. “Whatever the lady wants.”
Draped in the too large dressing gown, she slowly made the short walk to the table and sat down. “See?” she said, showing him a small smile of triumph.
“You are moving better.”
“Still not as well as I’d like though.”
“Give yourself time.”
“Patience is not one of my virtues.”
“I sensed that.”
She cut him a look but there was a smile in it.
He sat and asked one of the questions foremost in his mind, “So why California? Do you have family there?”
“No. I was hoping for a fresh start. There was nothing for me in Denver. I’d like to own a restaurant, and from what I’ve been reading in the newspapers, California seems the place to try. I know I’ll probably have to work for years doing something else like cooking or scrubbing floors until I can save enough money, but I’m not afraid of hard work.”
The more Rhine learned about her the more impressive he found her to be. An urge to offer her the funds she needed rose up so intensely inside it almost spilled from his lips, but he knew she wouldn’t accept so he asked instead, “Did your family in Denver try to dissuade you?”
She shook her head. “My parents are dead. They died in a snowstorm when I was twelve. I have a younger sister, but she and I are estranged.”
“My condolences on both.”
“Thank you.”
“So you set out not knowing anyone?”
“Yes. Do you find that odd?”
“Frankly, yes. I don’t know many women who’d strike out that way alone.” His sister Sable had set out towards her future alone, too. He thought she and Eddy might be cut from the same cloth and would probably get along. He just wished he knew where she was.
