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Eddy felt awful.
“Regan, stop that sniveling and go help your sister.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Eddy caressed her cheek in good-bye and Regan left the room.
“You didn’t have to be so mean, Corinne.”
“Don’t tell me how to raise my children. When you get your own, you can treat them any way you like. And, I don’t have any money for you or your highfalutin dreams. I told you years ago, you’d make more money down here than you’d ever make uptown. You had the bosoms and the looks, but no, you thought you were too good.”
“No, I didn’t want to become a whore, Corinne.”
“Yet here you are begging help from a whore.”
“I’m here begging help from my sister.” Corinne’s legendary allure had faded; too many men, too much whiskey, too much hardship. Now, instead of features that could’ve launched ships like the fabled Helen of Troy, she looked as tired and worn-out as any other women of her profession. Eddy was saddened by that.
“I have nothing for you. Guess you and your dreams will have to walk there.”
“I guess so.” Eddy thought back on how much she once loved her sister, the giggles they’d shared in their bedroom at night, the way they’d played as girls, and the sense of family their parents always tried to instill. Standing before her now in a ratty, faded green wrapper was a woman she didn’t know and it broke Eddy’s heart. “Good-bye, sister. I’ll write when I get settled.”
“Fine.”
Eddy left.
Setting aside the sadness of the painful visit, Eddy set out to see an old friend of her parents, an aging teamster named Mr.Biggins. He rented wagons for tradesmen and sometimes for people traveling. It was possible he knew of someone going west who might let her tag along in exchange for her cooking skills. Thanks to her father, she also knew her way around wagons and animals. Although it had been years since she’d driven a team, it wasn’t a skill one forgot.
When she entered his establishment his old blue eyes brightened in much the same way her nieces had.
“Morning, MissEddy, you finally coming around to accept my marriage proposal?”
Chuckling, she said, “No, Mr.Biggins, but I do need your help.”
His smile stretched the gray beard on his cheeks and showed his missing teeth. “Guess I’ll have to settle for that. What can I do for the prettiest little lady in Denver?”
She told him about the thief and explained her dilemma.
He blew out a breath. “I’m so sorry. Set you back, did it?”
“Quite a bit. I’m wondering if you know of anyone going west who will let me go with them? I can pay my way by cooking.”
“As a matter of fact, I might. Got a wagon out back belongs to a drummer. He’s on his way to Fort Collins. I know it’s north and not west but a lot of travelers pass through there, so you’ll probably find someone heading west. He’s a nice, easygoing man. Pretty sure he’d like some company, especially if you’re willing to cook along the way.”
Even if she wasn’t going directly west, Eddy was elated. Leaving Denver was a start.
“He’s due to pick up his wagon any time now. You had breakfast? Got some eggs in the skillet on the stove.”
She hadn’t eaten, so she sat and ate with Mr.Biggins while they waited for the drummer to make his appearance.
The drummer, a portly middle-aged man named Abner Pickerel, looked Eddy up and down after hearing Mr.Biggins’s proposal. “Only going as far as Fort Collins, miss.”
“I understand but if I can ride with you I’d be truly grateful.”
“How many trunks do you have?”
“None. Just a carpetbag and my cookstove.”
He eyed the stove where it stood on the floor by the door. “You sure you can cook?”
