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Eddy was grateful for the boon. She was bone tired from the travel and the days of sitting on the hard wooden seat of Mr.Pickerel’s wagon and could certainly use the rest.
After dinner, she was given a tour of the house. It wasn’t a particularly large one but Eddy knew doing the task in the manner she was accustomed to would take most of her day.
So the next morning after a hearty breakfast, she began. By sunset the floors in all the rooms had been scrubbed and waxed. It was backbreaking work, and when she was done her knees ached and her hands were red and chapped from the hot soapy water.
Mrs.Davis gushed over how beautiful the floors looked. “Oh my, look how they shine! Are you sure you don’t want to stay here and work for me, Eddy? I could really use a hand. I’m willing to pay. It won’t be much though.”
Eddy thought the floors looked mighty fine, too. “I thank you for the offer and for allowing me to stay, but I really need to find a way west if I can, and the sooner the better.”
“But, Eddy, think about it. You could start saving again and maybe by next year this time have enough for the train ticket.”
She was right of course. The ticket stolen from her had cost almost seventy dollars. Depending on how much Mrs.Davis was able to pay, it could take a year to save that amount. In the meantime, she would have a nice place to stay. However, California was her goal, but having been raised to be polite, she said, “Let me sleep on it and I’ll give you an answer in the morning.”
“That’s fair. Go get cleaned up and help yourself to dinner. You’ve earned it.”
After dinner, Eddy sat in the small upholstered chair in the room she’d been allowed to use and yawned tiredly. Deciding to prepare for bed, she searched through her carpetbag for her nightgown and was about to remove her clothing when a knock sounded on the door. Walking over to it, she found Mr.Pickerel on the other side.
“Can you come to the parlor for a moment? Got some people I want you to meet.” He must’ve seen the confusion on her face because he explained, “Met a man and his wife going to Salt Lake City. His wife is carrying and they’re looking to hire a woman to drive one of the wagons.”
She was stunned
He smiled. “Told you I’d help you out.”
Once again she wanted to kiss him.
When Eddy entered the room, the young White couple looked surprised. Eddy wondered if it had to do with her race but decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and to keep an open mind.
“This here is MissEddy Carmichael,” Mr. Pickerel said, introducing her. “She helped me drive from Denver.”
“Pleased to meet you,” the husband said. “Name’s Henry Cates. This is my wife, Candace.”
Eddy noted the skepticism in his gaze as he assessed her, but said, “Pleased to meet you as well. Mr.Pickerel said you’re looking for a driver?”
When he didn’t respond, Candace spoke up, “Yes, we are, and if you can drive a team of mules, we’d be real pleased to have you come with us. Right, Henry?” she asked pointedly.
His face reddened. Nodding, he stammered, “Um, yes. Real pleased. Can you drive a mule team?”
“I can.”
“How many?”
“I’ve never driven more than four.”
“You know how to hitch, unhitch, and put ’em up for the night?” he asked.
Eddy nodded. “I do.” She was never more thankful for being the daughter of a teamster. “My daddy was a teamster. Did overland hauling. He taught me to drive.”
Candace smiled. “Will you be able to leave first thing in the morning?”
“I will.”
They discussed where to meet, what time, and how much they were willing to pay. Upon hearing the amount, Eddy did her best not to kick up her heels with glee.
Henry added, “Probably take us a month or more to go through the mountain passes and all.”
“That’s fine.” Eddy knew that driving mules was even more backbreaking than scrubbing floors, and until her ride with Mr.Pickerel she’d never driven such a long distance. This journey would be a tremendous challenge, but to earn the fee they’d promised, she’d drive those mules smiling and standing on her head. After a few more moments of discussion to clarify her duties and such, the Cateses departed.
Eddy said to Mr.Pickerel, “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
Mrs.Davis groused, smiling, “Abner, if I didn’t love you so much I’d take a switch to you for finding a way for Eddy to leave me, but I’ll forgive you.”
He grinned.
“Mrs.Davis, thank for your hospitality,” Eddy offered.
“Thank you for my floors. Go on up and get some sleep so you’ll be ready to leave on your next adventure.”
Up in her room, Eddy changed into her nightgown. Thanks to Mr.Pickerel, she was that much closer to her goal. Still smiling, she crawled into bed.
