by Lori Wick
time.
"What about?" the little man at the rear of the dining
area asked again. She hadn't been willing to give her name,
and he thought this might work.
"I'll tell the manager when I see him."
It went a long way toward strengthening Reagan's
resolve to hear pots crashing behind the closed door to the
right of her and a woman's voice above it all. It didn't take
any great skill to hear that she was unhappy.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Do I need an appointment?"
The little man gave up, saying with long-suffering,
"Wait here."
Going through the very door Reagan knew led to the
kitchen, the man disappeared. As Reagan watched, her
eyes caugjit a glimpse of a kitchen she felt sure had seen
74
better days. For a moment she doubted her idea, and at that
moment a woman appeared.
"Meddlesome busybody," she muttered. "As if I can't
use a few minutes out of that steaming kitchen." The
flushed woman didn't see Reagan until she was almost on
top of her, but she didn't look sorry, only hot and cross.
"Are you the manager?" Reagan asked.
"I am. What can I do for you?"
"I hear you need a cook. I'd like to apply for the job."
Much as the woman looked as though she needed relief,
she still asked, "Do you have any experience?"
"Not much, but I'm a fast learner."
City Girl 43
The woman's eyes rolled heavenward. "As if I have any
time to teach you."
Reagan eyed her, taking in the stains on her apron and
the beads of sweat over her upper lip.
"Maybe you're right. It doesn't look like much fun."
Reagan was turning away when the manager said, "It
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pays well if you're experienced."
Reagan turned back in surprise. Had she not heard her
say she wasn't?
"What does it pay if you're not experienced?"
The manager smiled. "I like your honesty."
"I won't promise something I can't give you."
The two eyed each other.
"So how much experience have you had?"
"I can cook anything. I've just never done it for a large
group."
"Well, thafs a start."
"You didn't answer me about the pay."
The woman quoted a wage that was so low Reagan was
outraged.
"A week!"
"That's right"
"I'm used to twice that."
"Where are you from?"
"New York."
"This is not New York."
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"I know that, but I don't even have a place to stay. It
could cost a fortune to live in this town!"
"It's not that bad, especially since you can eat here anytime
you cook. That would leave most of your pay for
rent."
"And clothing. Kitchen work is murder on fabric."
The manager smiled; this one was as dumb as a fox.
"I'm Sally March, by the way." The woman offered her
hand.
"Reagan Sullivan."
"Megan?"
44 lori wick
"No, Reagan with an R."
"That's different"
"I'm different"
"I can see that. I'm willing to give you a try, but it's
only fair to warn you that my cousin from Cincinnati is
supposed to be coming to take this job. If he ever shows up,
I might not need you."
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"Well, at least for the moment 111 have work, but I'd
better warn you, I plan to eat plenty."
Sally's eyes twinkled. She didn't know what the food
would taste like, but the new cook was sure to lighten the
load and the atmosphere. There wasn't much to her, but
over the years Sally had found that the plucky applicants
worked the hardest Indeed Sally was getting ready to put
her to work when Reagan moved as if she was leaving.
"I thank you for trying me, Mrs. March. 101 see you
tomorrow."
"If s Miss, and you can call me Sally. I was thinking
you'd be starting right now."
Reagan faced her squarely.
"I just got off the train. I don't have a place to live, and I
haven't eaten yet today. If I find a place to stay, I'll come
back as soon as I can, but for right now, I've got to make
plans for tonight."
"Fair enough. Plan to eat when you get back here, even
if you don't have a chance to work. The least I can do is
feed you."
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Reagan smiled and left without another word. She
wasn't at all sure where to start, but start she would.
"A place to stay on only my new salary," she said quietly
to no one but herself. "This could take awhile."
9f -
"Whose
bag is this?" Holly Bennett asked of Russell
when she brought him his lunch.
City Girl 45
"Some little gal's. I didn't get her name."
"Did she take a horse?"
"No. She said she was job hunting and the bag was
heavy."
Russell smiled at his wife's wide eyes.
"She knew what she wanted, Holly. You would have
liked her."
Holly looked at him teasingly. "I don't know what
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you're talking about, Mr. Bennett. You speak as though I've
been strong-willed in the recent past."
She chose to turn her back on him and jumped a little
when he landed a swat on her seat
"Russell Bennett! Someone could have seen that."
But the blacksmith had just put half his sandwich in his
mouth and managed to look innocent as he chewed.
Holly only shook her head. He was always so much fun.
"Where's Alisa?" Russell asked.
"Mrs. Ellis stopped in and offered to stay with her, but I
should probably get home."
"Thanks for lunch."
"You're welcome. I'll see you tonight."
A quick kiss later, Holly went on her way. Russell
watched as she turned back at the door and waved at him
the way she always did. He waved in return, but as soon as
she was gone, his eyes landed on the bag that had been left
He wanted to laugh all over again. He also wondered how
the mystery woman was doing.
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*Sr
"This door has no lock on it."
"You want how much a week?"
"I have to share a bed?"
Those were Reagan's three responses to the three places
she checked. Kinkade was not lacking for rooms to rent,
but it was also clear why some of them were empty.
46 lori wick
Nevertheless she was undaunted. At the moment, Reagan
was following directions she'd been given at the general
store and found herself wishing she'd started there. The
lady had been kind, almost motherly, and not asked a
dozen questions that Reagan did not have time to answer.
"This must be it," she said, still talking to herself.
Knock on the door of the big house, not the little one.
"I don't even see a small house," Reagan mumbled as
she remembered the woman's words and climbed resolutely
onto the porch. She was about three blocks
from Mr.
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Harmond's place and thought that if this didn't pan out,
she might have to ask him for help, at least for the night.
"Of course Sally might have an idea. That would probably
be..."
"Hello."
Reagan had not heard the door open, so she was startled
to hear someone speak to her.
"Hello. My name is Reagan Sullivan, and the woman at
the general store said you might have a room to rent."
"Oh, I do, yes. Did you say your name was Megan?"
"No, it's Reagan with an R."
"It's nice to meet you, Reagan. My name is Holly. Would
you like to see the house?"
"If s a house?"
Holly Bennett smiled. "A small one."
"How much is the rent?"
She named a price that made Reagan's heart sink..
"Would you still like to see it?"
"Well," she said honestly, her truthful nature rising to
the surface, "it's a little steep for my pay right now."
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To her surprise the woman smiled.
"Why don't you see it anyhow?"
Not sure if this was wise or not, she agreed.
Holly Bennett led the way around her own house and
down a short lane. About 20 yards behind the main house
was a small structure. A shed might have been the best
City Girl 47
description, but it was in good shape and had windows
and a front door that made it look like a small house.
Following the woman, Reagan walked over the
threshold behind her host, and in the space of one heartbeat
fell in love. All in one room, this tiny house had every
amenity. In one corner was a brass bed, and next to it was
a low table. Opposite the door was an overstuffed chair
with an ottoman, and behind the chair was an oak dresser.
A tiny stove sat next to a table for two and there were even
shelves for a pantry. Holly opened a closet that had been
built in behind the front door, and Reagan could only stare.
Reagan had never imagined such a place. Visions of
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living alone, something she had never done--quiet mornings
and no one snoring in the night--floated through her
mind.
"How much did you say it was again?"
Seeing her face, Holly made herself quote the price she
and Russell had decided on. It was hard to do because she
wanted this woman to move in, but she remained true to
her agreement.
Reagan licked her lips. She would probably be in rags
because she wouldn't be able to afford new clothes, but she
couldn't let this get away.
"Is there a lock on the door?" she remembered to ask at
the last minute.
"Of course," Holly answered in surprise.
Reagan felt a smile building up inside of her. She
wouldn't even have a blanket for the bed that night, but the
thought of being chilly didn't stop her. Before she headed
back to the livery for her bag, she gave Holly Bennett the
money for one month's rent.
84
9cwk
russell realized she could have taken her bag and left,
but she didn't do that. He had been busy shoeing a horse
when she returned, and when he looked up she was
standing there, the bag at her feet.
"Thank you for watching my bag."
"You're welcome," the big man said as he used his handkerchief
on his face. "How did the job search go?"
"I found one, and a place to live as well"
"Well, now, you've been busy."
Reagan couldn't hide her pleasure and didn't try.
"So where do you work?"
"At the hotel, in the kitchen."
Fearing that her skills would be inadequate, she hesitated
to call herself a cook and then find herself out of work
in a week.
"So you cook?"
Reagan smiled. "I hope so."
The big man laughed again.
85
"And where did you find a place to live?"
Reagan's guard went up in a hurry. She had learned
many survival skills living in New York City, and one clear
law was not volunteering information to strangers. Her
hand came out as if he hadn't spoken. Russell shook it
automatically.
"Thank you again for watching my bag."
48
City Girl 49
"You're welcome."
With that she moved on her way.
The blacksmith was not exactly sure what had happened,
but a customer came in the door looking for his
horse, and he ran out of time to speculate.
*3^" "
"Well, you certainly can eat a lot, can't you?" Sally said
86
about an hour later, having watched Reagan methodically
polish off a large plate of food.
"If s good food."
"We certainly want the customer to feel that way," she
said pointedly, but Reagan only smiled.
"Actually," Sally started again, "I need to tell you that I
want you to come in the mornings and bake. If the truth be
told, I don't mind the cooking. It's the baking I hate."
"All right. I can do that What time?"
"You'd best be here by four, since the first breakfast customers
come between five and half past. You'll bake all the
bread, rolls, pies, and cakes for each day."
"All right, and when do I get my first raise?"
"Raise? You haven't even started."
"I know that, but you said my pay was because of inexperience.
I just figured when I had some experience, it
would be worth it to you."
Sally's look was shrewd, but Reagan met it unflinchingly.
"I'll let you know" was all she would say.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Reagan replied lightly, "I
87
don't mind asking again."
Sally was taken off guard and found herself laughing.
She'd have kept on laughing if she hadn't heard an impatient
sniff. She turned to see her front-desk man standing
nearby, his face disapproving when he saw that Reagan
was eating. It told him she'd been hired.
50 lori wick
"What is it, Pierce?"
"I was wondering if you'd had a chance to look at those
ledgers yet."
"Yes, they're done and on my desk."
"Thank you."
After he walked away, Sally shook her head.
"He drives me crazy."
"Why do you keep him on?"
Her brows rose as if Reagan should know.
"His manners at the front desk are excellent. The customers
love him."
She sounded so aggrieved that Reagan smiled.
88
"Well, if you're finished eating, you can clear out."
"You don't want help tonight?"
"Tonight's all done--thafs what you're eating. I'm
always done cooking by three, and the waitresses, who will
be here any minute, do the coffee and small stuff."
Reagan stood. "So I'll see you in the morning."
"Four o'clock."
Reagan stared at her for a moment
"Thank you, Sally, for everything."
"You'll earn it, Reagan," the older woman said confidently,
albeit kindly.
Reagan retrieved her bag
from near the door and
stepped outside. It was time to head home.
S-"3r
"Here you go," Holly said to her daughter that evening
as she handed her a piece of bread.
"Thank you, Mama/'
"How about you, Russ?"
89
"Yes, please. Elly, would you please pass me the butter?"
The ten-year-old handed it to him and then realized she
needed it back for her own bread. They spent a little time
working together and then laughed when seven-year-old
City Girl 51
Jonah realized he needed bread with butter too and the
passing began all over again. Nine-month-old Alisa sat in
the high chair, smiling at anyone who would look her way
and cheerfully eating whatever was offered.
"Someone is in the little house, Papa," Jonah announced
to his father.
"Mama told me," Russell said. "Did you meet her?"
"No, she's not home now, so we can't meet her."
"I think I might have met her earlier today," Russell told
his children. "A woman asked me to watch her traveling
case, and I think it might be the same one."
Having said this, Russell found his wife's eyes on him.
"What's the matter?"
"Is that the only bag she has--the one you watched for
90
her?"
"I don't know."
Holly worried her lower lip for a time.
"Russell, she probably doesn't have sheets or blankets
or anything. I left a lantern, but would she find it and the
matches if she didn't return until dark?"
Husband and wife finished eating as soon as they could,
and leaving Elly in charge of her siblings, took their own
lantern to the rear of the lot toward the little house. Even
from a distance they could see a light burning. Holly
knocked on the door but still called out so as not to frighten
their new tenant.
"Reagan, if s Holly."
The door opened.
"We're sorry to disturb you, but we thought you might
need some things."
Reagan didn't answer. She was too busy staring at the
large man behind Holly. When he smiled, she recalled her
manners.
"Come in," Reagan invited and stepped back. Even so,
91
Reagan took a moment to recover, especially since the
room shrank visibly with the blacksmith inside. v
52 lori wick
"We wanted to make sure you had everything you need,
Reagan," Holly said again, having already taken in the
things laid on the dresser, but also seeing absolutely
nothing on the bed. The room was warm from the fire
Reagan had lit in the stove, but Holly was not comforted.
"I'm doing fine," Reagan assured her landlady. "But if I