Trailblazer

by Anna Schmidt

  Back in their small room, she picked up the letter she’d been writing to her mother when the whole thing started and set it aside. The hours since she’d arrived in Juniper had been so full of new experiences. She needed some time to find the words to relay them to her parents, words that would send the message that she was all right and had made the right decision.

  But had she?

  Chapter 3

  Nick Hopkins was already seated at the lunch counter when Grace hurried to her post two days later. The three girls had overslept, and Lily had spent so much time in the bathroom that Grace had only had the time to run a damp washcloth over her face and brush her teeth before following Emma and Lily down the back stairs.

  “Good morning, Miss Rogers,” Nick said with that smile that made Grace’s pulse jump in her throat. “Take a moment,” he said softly, studying a menu that, as a regular customer, he must surely already know by heart. His cup was once again turned upright, so Grace turned away to prepare his coffee.

  “Think I’ll start with some orange juice, please,” he added.

  She smiled. He was testing her to see if she’d gotten any more confident. Expertly, she sliced oranges, placing the halves one by one on the citrus press until she had a glass filled with juice. She scooped ice from a bucket Jake had left next to the press, filled the shallow dish, set the juice glass in its center, and presented it to the cowboy. “Will there be anything else, sir?” He grinned at her, his eyes sparkling with respect. She had impressed him and found she wanted to keep on surprising him with how competent she was. “The chef has prepared his famous orange pancakes this morning or—”

  Polly came all the way from the far end of the counter. “Get the customer his coffee, Grace,” she instructed through gritted teeth, then turned to Nick. “Your usual, Mr. Hopkins? Eggs over easy with bacon and toast?”

  “No thanks. Just the juice and coffee.” He kept his eyes on Grace.

  Polly glared at her but went back to her customers. Lily had told her she’d heard that Nick had taken Polly out once or twice.

  “She’s not one who would appreciate competition,” Lily had said.

  “I’m hardly competition,” Grace had protested, but Emma had sided with Lily.

  “You don’t mean to be, but Nick Hopkins has taken a shine to you, and Polly will not like that.”

  So Grace forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath before she prepared Nick’s coffee. Polly was watching her every move, but Grace was determined not to allow that to force her into hurrying and making a mistake.

  He had finished the juice by the time she brought his coffee. “Will that be all, sir?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  She moved on to serve a man and woman who had just taken seats at the counter. The couple was barely aware of her, they were so wrapped up in each other.

  “Newlyweds,” she heard Nick mutter. She glanced his way and saw that he was grinning at her. Polly also saw him grin. It was pretty clear she did not like it.

  Later, long after Nick Hopkins had paid his bill and left and Grace had served coffee or juice or both not only to the newlyweds but to the steady stream of customers who followed, she stole a quiet moment for a quick break. She was standing in the small yard outside the kitchen door, her eyes closed as she breathed in the remarkably clear air, when Jake stuck his head out the door.

  “Miss Kaufmann wants to see you.” He held the door open for her, and it did not escape her notice that he looked worried.

  Grace straightened the bow in her hair and checked her apron for any small stains, then wove her way between the preparation counters and dishwashing sinks until she reached Miss Kaufmann’s office. She knocked lightly on the open door.

  “Ah, Grace. Come in, please.”

  Since she had not been invited to sit, Grace stood with her hands clasped in front of her while Miss Kaufmann walked to the open door and closed it. She returned to her desk chair, sat, and let out a long sigh as she studied a paper before her.

  “Grace, you are new to this. I understand that, and because of that, I am inclined to give some leeway.”

  Scanning her brain for any misdeed or failure to perform her job, Grace recalled the hours she’d spent the day before polishing silver and glass. It seemed every time she thought they were perfect, she’d discovered another smudge. “I can do better. I mean, I tried to polish the coffee urns to the best of my ability, but admittedly, I—”

  Miss Kaufmann stared at her. “This has nothing to do with performance of your duties, Grace. This is about the matter of a young man.”

  What young man? The only male Grace had befriended in the short time since she’d arrived in the hotel was Jake in the kitchen. “Jake has been kind to me, but I assure you—”

  “A customer,” Miss Kaufmann interrupted. “Nick Hopkins to be specific. You do know who he is?”

  “Yes, ma’am, but—”

  Miss Kaufmann held up her forefinger, silencing Grace. “You know the rules, Grace—rules about fraternizing with the customers while on duty. Should you care to see this young man outside of your hours, that is acceptable. However, while you are wearing that uniform, I expect you to conduct yourself properly. I understand the line between friendly professional service and flirtation is thin, but there is a line, and assuming you wish to continue your work here, I would suggest you keep your distance from Mr. Hopkins.”

  “I have not encouraged any—”

  “Perhaps not, but I have received word that he seems somewhat smitten with you. It is hardly unusual. The men in this town seem to make it a habit to test the new girls, especially those as pretty as you are.”

  It was a compliment wrapped in a reprimand, and Grace was unsure which she should address. “I can hardly—”

  “Avoid the man?” Miss Kaufmann smiled. “Ah, but you can. Beginning tomorrow, Polly will be the one to serve Mr. Hopkins. In time, he will get the message that he has overstepped, and the issue will resolve itself. In the meantime, keep your distance. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Very well. You may go, and let’s have no more discussions of this nature in future, shall we?”

  “No, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.” She wondered if she should curtsy but instead turned and left the office.

  Jake was waiting just outside. “You’ll need to watch yourself around Polly,” he said in a low tone meant for her ears only. “She’s got her eye on Nick.”

  “You heard?”

  His cheeks reddened with embarrassment. “Yeah.” He motioned to the recently washed plates and bowls he was inventorying just outside Miss Kaufmann’s office. “Can’t help it if the walls are thin as paper, and Miss K has a voice that could call pigs to supper.”

  Grace felt a bubble of laughter well up and stifled it by covering her mouth with her hand. She squared her shoulders and went back to her post serving customers at the lunch counter, returning Polly’s smirk with a bright smile. Once again, she reminded herself that she’d been in Juniper less than three days, and in spite of getting off on the wrong foot with Miss Kaufmann—and Polly—she had found friends in Lily, Emma, and now Jake.

  Later that night, she sat up in bed, going over the handbook she’d been given in training. She had almost memorized the entire training manual word for word. Despite Lily’s teasing and Emma’s assurances that she was doing just fine, she was determined to succeed in her position. The thrill of being on her own was one thing, but she would not lose sight of her true purpose to do her part for her family. She had a goal in mind—leaving the lunch counter as soon as possible for a position in the dining room. Away from Polly—and from Nick.

  In the meantime, Nick Hopkins continued to show up at least once a week, and every one of those mornings, Polly sashayed her way down the counter with her bright smile to wait on him. Grace told herself she should be relie
ved. With Polly serving the cowboy, there was little danger Grace would be called back to Miss Kaufmann’s office. But the truth was, she missed their brief encounters. He was someone who perhaps she could trust, the way he’d murmured helpful clues to her that first day and the way he’d come to her defense with the customer who’d tried to flirt with her. He could be a friend, like Jake was. But even though Polly’s jealousy was misplaced, there was little Grace could do. Hopefully in time, she could win the other Harvey Girl over.

  * * *

  It didn’t take long for Nick to realize what had happened. Grace barely looked his way when he sat down at the counter these days. He’d come to town for his appointment with the bank, and he was in the mood for celebrating. Bank president Jasper Perkins had approved the loan. Of course, the letter of recommendation Nick had handed him from Mr. Lombard had helped. Mr. Perkins was married to Mrs. Lombard’s sister, which probably also worked in his favor. No matter how it had happened, he had the loan, and that meant he had the land.

  Walking out of the bank, he’d wanted to share his good news, and he’d thought of Grace. He hardly knew her, but something told him she would understand what this meant to him. After all, they were both following a dream, and he knew she would appreciate his excitement. So he headed for the hotel. But to his disappointment, it was Polly who stepped forward to serve him.

  “You look happy,” she said as she prepared his coffee.

  “Had some good news,” he replied, looking past her to where Grace was preparing a cup of tea for a customer at the far end of the counter.

  “Care to celebrate with a slice of apple pie?” Polly shifted slightly so that she was blocking his view of Grace.

  He smiled at her. “Not today, thanks. I need to get back to the ranch.” He downed his coffee and laid a coin on the counter.

  Polly frowned, and he knew she was disappointed. He didn’t know what he could do or say. When it came to the way a female mind worked, Nick had to admit he was often at a loss.

  On his way out, he tried to get Grace’s attention, just to nod or offer her a tip of his hat if nothing else. But she kept her focus on her customer, casting a quick glance toward Polly, and he understood. It was evident Polly was the jealous sort, and Nick knew she hadn’t liked the attention he’d given Grace. Probably best to keep his distance—from both of them. He didn’t want Polly getting any ideas that things went deeper than friendship between them, and he didn’t want to get Grace in trouble.

  On his way home, he made a detour to ride out to the land he’d had his eye on for some time now, so it was coming on dark when he rode into the yard at the ranch. As he passed the main house, John Lombard and his wife, Rita, motioned for him to stop.

  “Well?” Rita demanded.

  Nick grinned. “I got the loan, thanks to you folks, I’m sure.”

  “Nonsense,” his boss said. “Your hard work and reputation as a man of good moral standing and integrity—that’s what got you the loan.”

  Nick was glad for the shadows of the night. He didn’t take compliments easily, and he could feel a blush coloring his neck and cheeks. “I’d like to tell the men,” he said, nodding toward the bunkhouse.

  “Of course. Congratulations, Nick,” Rita said.

  Nick unsaddled Sage and turned the horse loose in the corral as he strode to the bunkhouse, which he realized seemed unusually quiet as he opened the door.

  The other hands were all seated around a worn plank table, and they looked up as he entered. Nick understood that in many ways, his getting the loan would be a kind of victory for them as well. Most cowboys aspired to have their own place someday, but few ever got the chance to fulfill that dream.

  “Well?” Smokey Sanger demanded.

  “Got it,” Nick replied with a wide grin.

  The men all cheered and stood to pat him on the back and make room for him at the table. As soon as he sat down, two of the hands set a large cake in the center of the table and handed him a knife.

  “Don’t be chintzy with the pieces,” Slim instructed. “We’ve been waiting all day to cut into this cake.”

  As he divided the cake, he told them about his meeting with the banker. “My knees were actually shaking,” he admitted, and he saw by their expressions that they understood how difficult it must have been for a ranch hand—even a foreman—to walk into a bank and ask for a loan.

  “Well, at least you’ll still be close by,” Slim said.

  “Oh, you’ll not be rid of me so easily,” he said. “Got to make those payments every month until that loan is paid off, so I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Shucks,” Smokey muttered, and everyone laughed.

  Later after the night riders had left to watch over the herd and the rest of the hands had bedded down, Nick took Sage to the barn to brush him down. It had been a good day. Most of his days were, but this one had been special. He had set out a plan, and today, he’d made a huge first step toward realizing that future, and he still found himself wanting to share his good news not just with his friends at the ranch but with Grace. He thought about the way her eyes would widen and she would smile up at him, delighting in his success.

  Why Grace? Why not Polly?

  Because he was pretty sure Grace would understand what this meant to him and be happy for him. “Best keep your distance,” Jake had advised.

  Trouble was, when it came to Grace, Nick didn’t want to keep his distance.

  * * *

  Blessedly, work filled Grace’s days. Even after the lunch counter closed late in the afternoon, there was still so much to be done. In addition to the endless regimen of polishing, she was responsible for restocking the shelves with cutlery and dishes and wiping down the counters and high stools, not to mention every other surface in the place lest Mr. Campbell walk by and run his finger over a windowsill or chairback and find it dusty. With all that, she spent a part of every evening cleaning her shoes or mending a tear in her hose. And she was determined to keep her promise to write to her family every day.

  Late one afternoon, three weeks into her time at the Palace Hotel, Grace was finishing her chores when Jake brought over a load of freshly washed cups and saucers and set the tray on the counter. He remained there watching her sort flatware and check each piece for spots. “Hey, Grace, I’ve been thinking about this picnic Mr. Campbell’s taking us on this Sunday.”

  The lunch counter was closed on Sundays, and the dining room was open only for the noonday meal. “Since this is my first such outing, Jake, what should I expect?”

  “Well, as soon as the dining room closes for the day, we’ll all get changed and meet in the yard. Mr. Campbell’s hired horses for the ride up into the hills and on into a little canyon by a waterfall. We’ll build a campfire and have our supper there.”

  “It sounds exciting.”

  “You should be sure to tell Lily—and the other girls, of course—to bring warm coats. It gets cold this time of year once the sun goes down.”

  “I have to say, I’m not sure horseback riding is something that will appeal to Lily. She’s more of a city girl,” Grace said.

  “Yeah, I thought about that. Don’t let her back out, okay?”

  “You could ask her to go yourself.”

  Everyone on the staff was well aware of Jake’s crush on Lily—a crush he was prevented from acting on because of the Harvey code that forbade staff from becoming romantically involved.

  The color deepened in Jake’s ruddy cheeks. “Now, Grace, you know the rules. But this being a group thing…well, I thought maybe we could at least get a little better acquainted. Will you encourage her to be there, please?”

  “I’ll try, okay? No promises.”

  Jake grinned and did a silly little jig as he returned to the kitchen. Grace laughed and started putting away the cups and saucers.

  “What’s so funny?”

&nbs
p; She spun around. Nick Hopkins stood at the counter.

  “We’re closed, Mr. Hopkins,” she managed, though he had to be aware of the fact already.

  “Yep. Just saw you working away here—on your own for once—and thought I’d see how things are going.”

  “Everything is fine. However, if Miss Kaufmann or Mr. Campbell see me speaking to you—”

  Nick started backing toward the door. “Just wanted you to know Jake told me about Miss Kaufmann calling you in and…well, I’m sorry if I did anything to make trouble for you, Grace. Just wanted to be sure you knew you had somebody watching out for you. I mean, not that you need looking after. You’re perfectly capable of—”

  “Did you really come to check on me? I mean now?”

  He nodded, opened the door a crack, and looked both ways. “But I’m going.”

  “Thank you,” Grace murmured as he slipped through the opening and headed away. She set down the stack of saucers she had been holding and walked to the window that overlooked the street. She pushed aside the lace curtain and watched as he mounted his horse. He spotted her then, grinned, and tipped his hat as his horse trotted away.

  “Well, well, well.” A voice behind her had her jumping away from the window and spinning around, prepared to defend herself. It was only Lily leaning against the door that led to the dining room, and Grace relaxed.

  “It was…Mr. Hopkins.”

  “I heard. He stopped by to see how you were doing. How sweet.” She sighed and pushed herself away from the door. “Honey, Nick seems like a genuinely nice guy all wrapped up in a package of gorgeous, and he’s obviously got a thing for you, but…”

  “I think he sees me as a little sister—somebody who needs a protector,” Grace said as she returned to her work. “It’s nothing more than that.”

  “Oh, Grace, trust me. That man does not see you as his sister.”

  Grace sought some opportunity to change the subject. “Speaking of men seeking to get to know us better, Jake and I were talking about Sunday’s outing. Sounds like we’ll be riding to a little canyon nearby where we’ll—”