Sheila knew this was a busy time in the restaurant, because the train had just pulled in, so she decided to go and find her mother first. She could reintroduce herself to Mrs. Jordan after the rush hour.
She walked by the Reading Room and noticed several of the train employees going in and out. She could hardly wait to get inside and see all the books, but it would have to wait until she was steadily working and had a day off.
The town looked just as she remembered, although a few new buildings were going up. Someday, this would be a thriving place, but not for years.
When she finally reached the small patch of land her mother owned, now that her stepfather had died, she stood arms akimbo staring at the forlorn tent she’d called home for two years.
Finally, she rushed forward, pushing open the flap and calling for her mother. The space inside the tent was silent. She expected to find her mother in the chair, sewing, but the chair was empty. Her eyes scanned the room, in a worried fashion.
“Mother? Mother!” she called, searching inside and outside.
Just then she heard the school bell ring, indicating lessons were over for the day.
Perhaps she’s gone to meet the children.
However, her mother had never done that before. The need to provide for her family outweighed the desire to walk her children to and from school. Still, Sheila turned toward the sound and began walking.
Not far away, she noticed two small children, heading in her direction. Susie and George, her sister and brother. Just as she was about to call out to them, they suddenly turned down a different street and headed away from home.
Sheila frowned. The children had been taught and scolded until they knew to always come straight home. Mother didn’t want to worry about them getting run down by a wagon.
Sheila stepped up her pace to follow the children. They were too far ahead to hear her calling their names so she lifted her skirt slightly and began to speed down the muddy street.
She was surprise to see them headed toward the depot. Perhaps they just wanted to go and watch the passengers on the train. That was always interesting. Still, at ages seven and nine, they shouldn’t be wandering around the town.
Sheila almost caught up with them as they neared the Harvey House, but at the last minute, the children seemed to duck around the building.
Now she was worried. This was such strange behavior. What could’ve happened since she left to make the children misbehave like this?
She turned quickly to follow them. Unfortunately, her shoe, which was stuck in the mud, didn’t turn with her. She felt a sickening wrench in her ankle.
With a small whimper, she fell, landing on her knees in the mud, right in front of the Harvey House.
~
“May I help you up, Miss?”
Sheila lifted her head at the gentleman’s voice. He stood beside her, blocking the sun. A tall, muscular man, perhaps twenty-nine years old, his hair a wavy auburn color and his eyes grey and welcoming. He stood, holding out his hand.
Sheila reached out a mud stained hand and allowed him to pull her to a standing position. She winced when she put weight on her foot.
“Ouch. Oh, no.”
“Do you think it’s broken?”
Sheila shook her head. “No, but sprained. I’m supposed to start work at the Harvey House tomorrow. How will I do it with a twisted ankle?”
The man allowed her to lean on his arm as they made their way toward the boardwalk in front of the Harvey House.
“I assume you live in the rooms above the restaurant?”
Sheila grimaced at her pain. “Yes, at least I will, once I’ve spoken to Mrs. Jordan. She’s not going to be happy to see me, covered in mud with a twisted ankle.”
“I wouldn’t worry. It’s wasn’t your fault. I saw what happened. It rained all last week, and the street is a thick, muddy mess. I’ll vouch for you to Mrs. Jordan.”
Sheila glared at him. “Do you know her?”
The man chuckled slightly. “I should say so. I’m the librarian in the Santa Fe Reading Room. Mrs. Jordan takes advantage of our quiet reading corners quite often.”
Sheila’s interest in the man increased. “I can’t wait to see the library, but I need to find my brother and sister. Before I got hurt, I saw them heading around the building. I can’t imagine what they are doing here. I just got back to town and can’t find my mother. Then I saw the children disappear behind the Harvey House. I don’t know what’s going on.”
The man grinned. “Susie and George?”
Sheila’s eyes popped open. “How do you know their names?”
The man began to steer her away from the front of the building and led her around the back. “You must be Sheila. I’ve heard all about you from those two. Let me take you to the kitchen. You can get cleaned up there and get all your questions answered.”
She was embarrassed she needed to lean on the man so much, but her ankle did hurt quite badly. He guided her carefully until they were standing at the back door which led into the Harvey House kitchen.
“I will leave you here. You can slip up the stairs to get cleaned up, but I think there’s a surprise for you in the kitchen. If you get in any trouble, remember, I can speak to Mrs. Jordan for you.”
The man lifted his flat cap with his fingers and bowed. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sheila.”
Again, Sheila was surprised he knew her name. She understood it was a small town, but why would such a good looking, respectable man know anything about her and her family?
“May I ask your name?” Sheila inquired.
“Dale. Dale Daughtery.”
“Thank you again for your help, Mr. Daughtery. Perhaps I’ll see you in the Reading Room soon.”
The man bowed again. “The pleasure will be all mine.” He turned and walked away.
Sheila watched. He had a strange way of swinging one arm and not the other when he walked.
Sheila turned, opened the door and hobbled inside. She could see the busy workers in the kitchen—the cook and a woman washing dishes. For a second, Sheila thought the woman’s shoulders looked familiar. She took a step closer, but the pain in her ankle made her cry out slightly.
At the sound, the woman at the sink turned. “Sheila!” The woman rushed towards her.
“Mother? What are you doing here?”
In seconds, she found herself in her mother’s arms.
“I’m so glad you’re home. We all missed you.”
Sheila pressed back and glared at her mother. “I’m glad to be back, too. But, Mother, what are you doing here?”
“I’m working.”
Sheila took in a breath. “Working, as a dishwasher?”
“Yes, dear. After you left and we buried your stepfather, I just couldn’t stand to be in the tent all day, alone. One day, I took a walk. I came to the Harvey House to see where my daughter would be working. The counter was crowded, and people were complaining. I overheard one of the girls mention that the dishes were backing up because their dishwasher had quit.”
Sheila sat on a small stool to relieve the pressure on her foot. “Go on.”
“Well, I just slipped around to the back door, knocked once and walked in. No one noticed me at first, they were all so busy. I just began washing dishes.
When the rush was over, Mr. Howell, the cook, noticed me. When I explained how I’d ended up in his kitchen, he went to Mrs. Jordan straightaway, and she came in and hired me.”
“But what about sewing?”
“I’m making better wages here. Mr. Harvey pays all his employees a good wage. It’s harder work, but I enjoy it.”
Sheila chewed her bottom lip in thought. “What about the children, after school?”
“They come here. They sit at a small table and do their homework. They play out back. We all get our meals here, and then we walk home together.”
Sheila was surprised by the news but not upset. “I’m glad, Mother. I was worried that my wages alone wouldn’t pa
y all the bills.”
“With the money I make and getting to eat our meals here, we are doing very well. You’ll be able to build yourself a small nest egg with your own wages.”
Sheila shook her head. “Not until we get a house built. I don’t want you living in a tent for another winter.”
Her mother nodded. “We’ll put our money together and get that taken care of as soon as we can. But Sheila, why are you covered in mud?”
Sheila looked down as her dress and blushed. “I was chasing after Susie and George. I saw them coming this way instead of towards home. But I fell and twisted my ankle.”
Her mother slipped down to the floor, lifted the hem of her skirt and began to look at her ankle.
“Let’s get this shoe off, and we can soak your foot in cold water. That should help.”
“I’m worried I won’t be able to start work tomorrow if it’s sprained. Mrs. Jordan won’t be very happy.”
Her mother patted her hand. “Don’t worry. Mrs. Jordan is a very nice person. She has to be tough with the girls, but she’s fair. I think she can understand if you were injured. But how did you get here?”
“A gentleman named Mr. Daughtery helped me.”
“Dale? Wonderful. He’s a true gentleman. There are many men in this town not to be trusted, but Dale isn’t one of them. He’s been kind to the children. Tells them stories.”
Sheila relaxed her shoulders for the first time that day. Even though her ankle ached, she was glad to be back in Slaton.
Now, that’s something I never thought I’d feel. But for now, it’s the place where my family is as well as my job.
“Mother, I need to get out of these clothes. Can you help me up the stairs and into my room?”
“Yes, and then I need to get back to the dishes. I think Mr. Howell can get along without me for a half hour.”
Sheila leaned on her mother as they made their way up the stairs. There was a long hallway with several doors on each side. Mrs.Bennet led her to the second on the left.
“Your room overlooks the train depot. It will be noisy when the trains pull in, but you’ll get used to that.”
Sheila nodded then made her way to the bathroom, which all the Harvey Girls shared. She quickly slipped out of her dirty clothes, into a robe, and washed off the mud from her hands.
When she was back in her room, her mother insisted she lay down and put her foot up. Within minutes, Sheila’s eyes grew heavy, and she slipped off to sleep.
Mrs. Bennet smiled at her weary daughter then closed the door as she left the room.
Chapter 3
S heila was not able to work the next day. Mrs. Jordan was understanding, although she did purse her lips and frown. “Well, since it’s New Year’s Eve, we won’t have too many customers.”
“I’m sure I’ll be ready to start tomorrow. I’m going to do a little walking today to make sure it’s strong enough.”
The older woman nodded. “Just don’t twist it again. I’ve held this position open for you, but I really can’t wait much longer.”
Sheila clasped the sides of her skirt nervously. She didn’t want to lose her job before she even began. “I promise to be up in the morning and ready to work.”
When Mrs. Jordan turned to leave, Sheila stopped her. “Thank you for hiring my mother. She seems very happy working here. I only hope it wasn’t any imposition.”
“Not at all. I needed your mother because our dish washer left, just like I needed you when one of our girls left. Your mother is probably qualified to do something more in life; however, she insists washing dishes will do.”
Sheila felt a surge of pride at the woman’s words. “Yes, she is a wonderful seamstress, but there isn’t enough work in this town for that yet. When more stores get established and more women move to the area, she can open a small shop. Right now, we just need to get money to build a house. Living in a tent is very difficult and very cold in the winter.”
“At least this is Texas. We have some snow, but not too much.”
When Mrs. Jordan left the room, Sheila sat on the bed with a sigh. She hated the idea that her mother had to wash dishes for a living, but there was nothing she could do about it. She would work hard and make as much money as she could to help out. Together, she and her mother should be able to get supplies for a house in a year’s time.
I’m just glad we all get our food here. That’s one thing we won’t have to spend extra money on now.
Sheila’s ankle was sore, but she decided to go to the Santa Fe Reading Room and have a look around. It might be her last chance for a while. Once she started working, she wouldn’t have a day off for more than a week.
The stairs led down to the back entrance of the Harvey House. She could smell wonderful things coming from the kitchen. The menu for the week offered scrumptious Santa Fe French Toast. She’ d already had some earlier in the morning.
Hmm, I might get rather plump eating the wonderful Harvey House food, but not if working here keeps me as busy as I was in training.
When she stepped outside the Harvey House, she noted the street was a bit less muddy than the day before. She stepped down from the porch and made her way around the building. The Santa Fe Reading Room was right next to the Harvey House.
She hesitated at the door, but her desire to see the books was more powerful than her shyness. Finally, she pushed open the door and entered.
The main room was the library. There were tables scattered throughout the room, along with several comfortable chairs.
Shelves lining the walls were filled with books. Several men lifted their eyes when she entered then returned to their reading.
She tried to memorize faces because most of these men would eat in the Harvey House, at one time or another.
Just then she noted another Harvey Girl across the room, waving at her. Sheila moved toward the girl.
“Hi. You’re the new girl?”
Sheila nodded at the red head. The girl’s face beamed with friendliness.
“I’m Annie Belle Green. I came from Baughn, New Mexico, when Slaton’s Harvey House opened. They wanted someone who’d been working for a while to help get it established.”
Sheila’s eyes widened. She was impressed. “Doesn’t this seem awfully small and insignificant to you, coming from New Mexico?”
The girl pulled Sheila down onto a chair, and they sat quietly speaking.
“Not at all. I grew up in Bowie County, Texas. We lived in a half dugout on the prairie. Sure, New Mexico was nice, but I think I like being back in Texas better. Besides…” the girl leaned closer and whispered, “I’ve got a beau.”
“A beau? But we aren’t supposed to have…”
“I know, I know. But Jon Teague, Jr. is the night ticket agent. We met out in the brick courtyard between the Harvey House and the Reading Room. At first, we just talked a bit, sat here reading together, but now, it’s grown more serious.”
“Aren’t you afraid of losing your job?”
The girl cocked her head sideways and grinned. “They need me here, but if Jon asks me to marry him, I plan to say yes. Then I’ll lose my job for sure. What about you, anyone special in your life?”
Sheila blushed slightly. “No. I’m not interested. All I care about is working and making enough money to help my family build a house. They’re living in a tent right now.”
“Oh, that must be cold for them.”
“It is now, but in the summer, it’s too hot. So, you can see I don’t have time for men.”
The girl laughed in understanding. “Well, give it a month or two, and you’ll probably have a beau. The men out here are always looking for wives. There’s lots to choose from, so be picky. Maybe you’ll marry a rich railroad man, and he can build your family a mansion.”
Sheila acted like she was agreeing, however, in her heart she didn’t think she was the type who would be interested in marriage.
“My two hour break is almost over. I’ve got to get back to the restaurant. I
heard about your little ankle twisting adventure yesterday. I’m sure Dale was happy to help you back, just so you didn’t expect him to carry you.”
Sheila straightened. “Of course not. I would’ve died of humiliation. But he was very kind and allowed me to lean on him.”
“Well, what I meant was, he wouldn’t have been able to carry you. Don’t you know about his arm?” The girl’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“No, I didn’t notice anything.”
“He used to work on the trains, but there was a fire in one of the cars. There were some people in that car. Dale pulled them all out of danger. However, before he could get out, something heavy fell on him, knocked him over and pinned his arm. He had to jerk it out before the fire enveloped the whole car. It must’ve damaged his muscles because now he can’t really do much with that arm.”
Sheila’s mouth gaped, thinking about the man’s heroic behavior and his near death escape.
“He should be proud of what he did.” Sheila scanned the room. Dale was sitting at a desk speaking to one of the railroad men. He lifted his eyes for a moment and gave her a slight nod.
Sheila smiled then turned back to Annie. “I’m glad to have met you. I hope you’ll be able to help me become the best Harvey Girl I can become.”
Annie giggled. “I’ll help you as long as I keep working, but I expect a proposal anytime now.”
Annie stood, closed the book she’d been perusing and left the room.
Sheila sat alone, just relaxing and allowing her mind to wander. Finally she got up and began to look through the bookshelves. Her heart beat quickly as she noted so many books she wanted to read.
She may not have been able to go to school, but she planned to finish her education right here in the Santa Fe Reading Room.
~
“That a new Harvey Girl?” the railroad man standing at the desk asked Dale.
“Yes. She arrived yesterday.”
The man slapped his leg with a laugh. “Ha, we all heard about her twisting her foot and falling at your feet. Good thing you were right there to help her out. I suspect she won’t be a Harvey Girl very long.”
Harvey House Bride (Harvey Girls Book 1) Page 2