Beauty and the Baker

by Christine Sterling

  Charlie didn’t know how long he was asleep. When he first woke up, he patted his pockets. The forty-cents was still there. Breathing a sigh of relief, he leaned back down.

  He couldn’t close his eyes. He was able to make out Sam’s weathered face on the other side of the car. Behind Sam, Charlie could see the door that was slightly open to let a breeze blow through. The sun was beginning to set.

  “Won’t be long now,” Sam said. He pulled a watch from his pocket and angled it at the light so he could read the numbers of the dial.

  “Less than an hour.”

  “How do you know that?” Charlie asked.

  “When you’ve been riding these rails as long as I have, you learn the train schedules.” Sam shoved the watch back in his pocket.

  “You going to see your sister, Sam?” one of the men asked. Sam nodded.

  “Where does your sister live?” Charlie asked.

  “East side.”

  “I’m from east side,” Charlie said.

  “Once we jump the train, we can head over there together.”

  “Jump the train?” Charlie asked.

  Duncan gave a laugh. “Yah. When we get close enough, we hop off. Tuck and roll, isn’t that right, Sam?”

  “You mean you don’t wait until the train stops?”

  Duncan laughed harder, his white teeth gleaming behind the dirt on his face. “You can wait if you want to be picked up by one of the coppers waiting for the train.”

  “No thank you,” Charlie responded. He looked at Sam who was watching him thoughtfully.

  “You runnin’ from the po-leece?” Sam asked.

  Charlie shook his head. “I just heard they were corrupt. Why invite trouble?”

  “Good,” Sam said. “Gather your stuff, we hop in five minutes.”

  Sam stood and slid open the train door. The wind was blowing his hair as he popped his head out of the train car. He looked both directions. “Duncan, you go first. I need you to help young Charlie here.”

  “I can go by myself,” Charlie insisted. “I’m not a child.”

  Sam scratched his chin. “Never said you were. I just figured with your back as bad as it is, you might need something soft to land on.”

  “My back?”

  “I see the way you are carrying yourself. You got burns on the back of your neck, so I figure the rest must be the same. No shame, son, asking for help.”

  Charlie nodded. Duncan went to the door. The train started slowing down as it approached the curve into the station.

  “I want you to jump right after me. Try to land on me if at all possible.”

  Charlie didn’t look convinced. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Duncan barked a laugh. “You won’t. Just watch where you are falling.” Before he could respond, Duncan disappeared out the door and Charlie was flying through the air after him.

  Sam must have pushed him!

  Charlie landed with a thud on top of Duncan. He heard the man grunt, and roll over, dropping Charlie on the ground next to him.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “Depends on who you ask,” Charlie replied.

  Duncan hopped to his feet, stretching his tall frame upwards. He leaned a hand down and lifted Charlie to his feet. They could see Sam a few yards down, along with several others of the men that were sleeping in the car.

  “Does everyone get off here?” Charlie asked.

  Duncan nodded. “Yes. They bring dogs around to run off squatters. Once they do that, most of the men will hop back on and ride to the next destination.”

  “Do all freight yards do that?”

  “Not all,” Duncan replied. “New York does. There’s one in Ohio. One in St. Louis and I think one in Kansas City. They all have dogs. The rest just do a walking inspection.”

  “How do you not get caught?”

  “Stay in the shadows, son,” Sam said, catching up to them. “Where you headed next, Duncan?”

  “West.” Duncan picked up his pack and flung it over his shoulder. “I’ll leave on the early morning train.”

  Sam shook Duncan’s hand and Charlie did the same before following Sam down the tracks towards the city. It didn’t take long to arrive at the outskirts of east side.

  “I’m this way,” Sam said. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m headed over here,” Charlie said, pointing to a tallish building in the distance.

  “You got family there waiting for you?”

  “Not any more. I really shouldn’t go back there, but I need to check on someone.”

  “You in some kind of trouble?”

  Charlie shook his head. “I honestly don’t know.” If Weston thought Charlie had survived, who knows what would be in store for him next.

  Sam looked in the distance for a moment before turning back to Charlie. “Then how about I go with you? You check on what you need to check on and then we’ll go to my sister’s house for some eats and a rest before heading out tomorrow morning.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “West, Charlie. We are headed West.”

  Chapter 2

  Baltimore, MD

  Georgina Jacobs removed her hat and unpinned the rest of her hair, shaking her curls loose from their bindings. It had been a long day. She was still in training at the Baltimore Infirmary.

  Not that she didn’t enjoy the job, but her duties mainly consisted of emptying bedpans, reading to patients, assisting with feedings, changing sheets, and the chores that the other nurses didn’t want to do.

  Georgina was secretly jealous of the nurses in their starched white aprons and pinafore dresses. She yearned for a bright blue cape with a red lining that signified she was one of the chosen few that made it to the rank of nurse.

  A real nurse.

  Not just one in training.

  Georgina sighed. Every day there were patients leaving the hospital as new ones were admitted. She never knew their names or their stories, as she wasn’t responsible for tending to them, but she did her best to ensure that they had as much comfort as possible for their stay.

  She often dreamed of moving far away from Baltimore. She didn’t much care for the city. There was too much smog from the iron factories in town. She imagined living somewhere with clean air. She didn’t even care if she was near the water, although she did love to walk along the Chesapeake Bay when she could.

  She sat on her bed and removed her boots, emitting a sigh of relief as soon as she pulled her feet from the tight elastic. She rubbed her ankle before stretching her foot out and wiggling her toes. She really did need to invest in a pair of the leather Oxfords that some of the nurses wore. They looked very comfortable.

  “Georgie,” her mother called. “Supper is almost ready.”

  “Coming, Mama. I just need to put my uniform away.” Georgina quickly changed from her uniform into a pale pink poplin dress. She hung the uniform up ensuring it wouldn’t wrinkle so she could wear it the next day. There were four aprons hanging on the pegs in the armoire. Her apron from today was soiled, so she put it in the pile to wash when she was not working.

  Placing a pair of kid leather slippers on her feet, she went downstairs to join her family for supper.

  “You got a letter, Georgie,” her father said. His name was George and she was named after him.

  “I did?” she asked, her voice squeaking a little. How she hoped that it was from Lawrence. She had sent him a letter just over six weeks ago. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he wrote her back so quickly?

  “Georgie has an admirer. Georgie has an admirer,” her little brother Thomas sang as he marched around the table to bring her the letter.

  “You little nuisance,” she said affectionately, mussing his hair. Thomas had just turned ten. She was a full eight years older than him.

  “Mama got a letter from Auntie Maybelle,” he said, ducking out of her reach.

  “You did?” Georgina said, looking at her mother. “Is everything alright?”

 
; Maybelle Jacobs was her uncle’s wife. They moved to Colorado several years prior. Georgina loved getting letters from her describing the mountains and cool temperatures. Aunt Maybelle made it sound as pretty as a postcard.

  Lorraine Jacobs came in carrying a platter and placed it down on the table. Georgina could see it was piled with slices of roast beef surrounded by boiled potatoes. “I’ve not had a chance to read it yet. Thomas, will you please sit down,” Lorraine directed at her youngest child.

  “Yes, Mama,” he said before sliding into one of the empty seats at the table.

  “Are you going to read it?” Georgina asked. She hadn’t received a letter in nearly two years from her aunt. The last one she received was right after Uncle Elmer passed. It was to let Georgina know that she was going to stay in Colorado and had opened a bakery.

  “I will after supper,” she replied. “Who is your letter from?” she asked looking at Georgina with a sly grin on her face. “I noticed the penmanship was very masculine.”

  “Just a friend,” Georgina replied nonchalantly, holding the letter in her hand. She looked at her address emblazoned in bold script on the envelope and lovingly traced her fingers over the ink.

  “Well, you can put that letter away and read it later,” her mother said, moving her hands in a shooing motion towards the letter. “I don’t want you reading it at the table.”

  “Yes, Mama.” Georgina slipped the letter into her pocket and gave it a little pat before grabbing her brother’s hand for the blessing.

  “George. We are ready,” her mother said bowing her head. Georgina followed suit and her father’s rich voice carried over the table asking the Lord to bless what was in front of them, ending with a resounding amen.

  Georgina picked up her father’s plate and served him from the platter of meat. She scooped a few potatoes and covered them with gravy before passing it back to her father. She repeated the motions for her mother and brother before setting her own filled plate on the table.

  “Did anything exciting happen at the hospital today?” her father asked.

  Georgina took a bite of the succulent meat and chewed while nodding her head. She put down her fork and sipped her water before responding. “Nurse Watts is leaving. She is getting married and moving to Kansas City or somewhere.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous?” her mother asked. “I heard that it is heathen country west of the Mississippi.”

  “Now, Lorraine, don’t go putting nonsense in these children’s heads. There is nothing dangerous west of the Mississippi. Why the country is expanding every day.”

  “You really think so, Poppa?” Thomas asked. “Teacher at school said that it was filled with Indians and cowboys.”

  Georgina laughed. “Imagine how exciting it would be to go out there and explore.”

  “Well it is a good thing you won’t have to. No daughter of mine would be heading out west.”

  “But Poppa,” Georgina cried, “You just said there is nothing dangerous west of the Mississippi.” She grabbed her father’s hand. “I would love to go to San Francisco. They had pictures of it in one of the journals at work.”

  “And whatever would you do out in San Francisco, Georgina?” Her father patted her hand before moving his arm.

  Georgina shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose I could work in the hospital out there.”

  “I really don’t like the idea of you working at all, daughter,” her father said between bites of supper. “I only indulge you, because I know you have no suitors and you might end up an old maid. You’ll need a way to support yourself.”

  “Father!” Georgina cried.

  “George!” Lorraine said at the same time.

  “What?” her father said looking confused. “You indulge her too much, Lorraine,” he said jabbing the air with his fork.

  “And you indulge her too little,” she countered back. Lorraine patted her daughter’s hand. “Ignore him, my dear. You just haven’t bloomed yet.”

  “Mama! I’m nineteen years old. Many of my friends are courting or are already married.”

  “You just haven’t found the right person, yet.”

  Georgina threw her napkin down on the table and shoved her hand in her pocket. She could feel the letter beneath her fingertips. She couldn’t wait to read the words Lawrence had written her. “I don’t think I’ll ever find the right person here. I’m going to have to move to ever find a chance at love.”

  “Are you leaving us, Georgie?” Thomas asked softly from across the table.

  Georgina looked at her brother and remorse instantly came over her. “Of… of course not, pet,” Georgina said. “I was just saying … well I can’t see me getting married to anyone in town.”

  “Promise you’ll never leave?” her brother asked.

  Georgina gave him a little smile. She brushed a finger over Lawrence’s letter again. “I promise.”

  That seemed to placate Thomas who went back to munching on his boiled potato.

  “Are you?” Lorraine asked softly.

  “Am I what?” Georgina asked, leaning closer so she could hear her mother without straining.

  “Getting married?”

  “Oh heavens, no,” Georgina quickly responded. She removed her hand from her pocket. Her mother must have noticed the slight movement because she looked at her daughter once more but didn’t say anything.

  “Would anyone like coffee?” Lorraine asked, standing and removing her plate from the table.

  “I can get it, Mama,” Georgina replied. She was done eating, so she wiped her mouth on the napkin and placed it down on the table. “You should fill us in on what Aunt Maybelle wrote.”

  Lorraine nodded and left to retrieve the letter, giving Georgina time to clear the table and return with the coffee pot. She poured the hot brew while her mother sat down and opened the letter.

  Lorraine scanned the letter and put her fingers to her lips. “Oh, goodness.”

  “What is it?” George asked.

  “Maybelle fell and broke her leg.”

  Georgina gasped. “How terrible. Is there anything else?”

  “She hasn’t been able to find anyone to help at the bakery. She is afraid she won’t be able to reopen if it stays closed much longer.”

  “Why’s that, Mama?” Thomas asked. Georgina looked at him. He had a milk mustache over his lip. She tried to suppress a giggle.

  “I guess it is because she would lose all those customers.”

  “That is terrible. What is she going to do?”

  “It says she is going to hire one of the girls in town to help her out until she can figure out what to do.”

  “I know!” Thomas chimed in. “Georgie should go out there. She can help her.”

  “No, I’m not a baker,” Georgina said.

  “But you could learn, couldn’t you?”

  “Thomas, I’m a nurse. The two couldn’t be farther apart.”

  “You aren’t a nurse … yet. You make the best cakes and cookies.”

  Georgina laughed. Her brother did like it when she made sweets.

  “I have no intention of going anywhere,” she said finishing her coffee.

  Once they were done, the family retired to the sitting room. Thomas snuggled next to Georgina while their mother read from the bible. Once the reading was over, it was time to retire for the night. Georgina had to work the next day and her shifts started very early at the hospital.

  It was nearly ten o’clock when Georgina was finally able to have a moment to herself. The family had just retired, and Georgina couldn’t wait to get under the covers and read the letter from Lawrence.

  She didn’t want to pull the letter out, lest someone ask questions. Questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

  She snuggled down in her bed, her back propped up against several pillows. The oil lamp was close enough that she could read the letter on her lap.

  Once more, she traced the bold strokes with her fingers and wondered what the letter might contain. She held i
t to her chest for a moment and gave a silent prayer that it would be good news.

  She had been corresponding to Lawrence Sweeny for nearly these six months past. She found his advertisement in the newspaper circulating at the hospital.

  Although it didn’t specifically say marriage, it was after all… a matrimonial newsletter. What else could the end result be?

  She opened the envelope, being careful not to tear it, nor the tissue-like sheets contained therein. It appeared to be three pages folded in half.

  She quickly scanned the letter. The first part appeared to be pleasantries, peppered with anecdotes of Lawrence’s shipping business. Georgina gave a quick sigh.

  Imagine traveling on boats all over the world and bringing back items to sell, she thought. It sounded so romantic.

  Much more romantic than cleaning out bedpans and changing linens. She quickly scanned the rest of the letter, until she got to the part she wanted to read.

  I’ve been thinking about our correspondence. I know the time is right to ask you, my dear.

  Come be with me in San Francisco.

  When she read the words on the page, she let out a squeal and then quickly hushed herself in case somebody might hear her. Here was an opportunity to leave Baltimore!

  The letter continued…

  I have an apartment next to the harbor, where you can stand at the window and stare out at the waves. I imagine you standing there with my arms around you.

  May I be so bold, sweet, sweet Georgina, to say I cannot wait for the taste of your lips.

  I ask that you keep our arrangement a secret. It wouldn’t do to have your family or acquaintances try to talk you out of leaving.

  It is a five-day train ride to San Francisco. I pray you leave soon, so we may be together as soon as possible!

  Please let me know when you are to arrive, so I can be sure to meet the train. I leave for the West Indies in two weeks. I would love to have you on the voyage standing next to me.

  Until we finally meet, my sweet Georgina. I will caress the photograph you sent me, until I can caress you, my love.

  Yours,

  Lawrence

  Georgina sighed. She gave the letter a little hug and thought about everything she would need to do. The one thing she noticed, was that he made no mention of purchasing a ticket on her behalf.