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Chapter Eleven
Later that afternoon Eddy accompanied Sylvia to the Union Saloon for the Lincoln Club meeting. As soon as they stepped inside, all Eddy could think about was Rhine: being sequestered upstairs in his bedroom, their encounter that morning over the oranges, and that she could no longer use Natalie Greer as the excuse for keeping her feelings about him at bay. There were quite a number of people already inside and she discreetly looked around for Rhine. Not seeing him, she relaxed and followed her landlady deeper into the room.
This was Eddy’s first time in the saloon proper. The interior was long and narrow yet spacious enough to hold ten tables and chairs. There was a bar to the left and on it sat a bevy of covered dishes and pitchers of water and lemonade. She assumed Jim had provided the food and wanted to go into the kitchen and say hello to him but didn’t want to chance running into Rhine.
Eddy recognized many of the people in the room, like Janet Foster, the hairdresser, and fishmonger Amos Granger. She also saw Whitman Brown seated at a table with Dr.Randolph, and immediately settled her attention elsewhere, but there were a handful of men she’d not yet met.
Sylvia’s boarder and hotel dishwasher August Williams was there as well, sitting at a table with a young woman Eddy also hadn’t met.
“Let’s sit with August and his fiancée,” Sylvia said. “Her name’s Cherry. She’s a maid at the same hotel and they’re planning to marry later this summer.”
Unaware that August had a fiancée, a surprised Eddy followed her over.
Once they sat down, August made the introductions. “MissEddy Carmichael, this is my fiancée, Cherry Young.”
Cherry said, “Nice to meet you, Eddy. August speaks very highly of you.” She had beautiful brown skin and was as plump as her fiancé August was thin.
“That’s good to hear,” Eddy replied with a smile. “Nice meeting you as well.”
Then to her delight, Zeke walked up. “Hello, Eddy.”
“Hi, Zeke. You’re back from Reno.”
“Yes, last night. Finished up the job late yesterday.”
She was glad to see him and hoped being in his calm presence would counteract having been melted like butter on a hot stove by Rhine.
August added, “All he’s been talking about since getting back was seeing you again.”
Embarrassed, Eddy dropped her eyes.
Zeke nodded. “He’s right. Missed you, and your fine cooking.”
“I’m glad you’re back.”
“So am I.”
“Would you ladies like something to drink?” he asked.
“Lemonade for me,” Sylvia said as she waved to Janet the hairdresser.
“I’ll have the same,” Eddy told him.
“Me, too,” Cherry said.
The cousins stood and set off for the bar.
While they were gone, some of the men drifted over to introduce themselves to Eddy. First came bricklayer David Quinn, whose light skin showed off his freckles. Next came Barrett Garnet, Mr.Rossetti’s butcher, followed by farmer Oswald Henry, who wanted her to meet his three daughters. Eddy was unaccustomed to so much male attention and had no idea how to respond other than politely. She thought back on Sylvia saying she’d have to beat the men off with a frying pan and smiled inwardly.
Once the men moved off, Cherry laughed, “You may need to start selling tickets, Eddy,”
Sylvia commented, “I warned her. And Eddy, you don’t want to meet Oswald’s girls. His wife recently passed away and he’s looking for someone to marry who’ll help raise those little terrors of his.”
Zeke and August returned with their refreshments, and she found herself peeking over her glass at Ezekiel. It pleased her that he was doing the same.
Doc Randolph called the meeting to order. While Sylvia eyed him tersely, Eddy wondered again about their mysterious past. The doctor began with what he called the race’s current events. “We’re pleased that the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was officially certified on March thirtieth by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.”
Applause greeted that announcement, and Janet Foster called out, “They forgot about us women!”
