Beatrice hurried into the kitchen and Toria followed helplessly. “If you want to take a full bath, it will take a few minutes to heat the water. If you’re willing to just take a sponge bath, I can have that ready in a few minutes.”
Toria really wanted a full bath, but she didn’t want to put Beatrice out. “How about if I use a bowl, but you heat enough water to wash my hair? It hasn’t been washed in the ten days since I left Massachusetts, and I’m used to washing it twice a week.” It was one of the luxuries of living in a boarding house, and she was going to miss it.
“I’m happy to. I’ll even help wash it. My baby girl is taking her nap, so you came at just the right time.” Beatrice hurried to the basin and pumped some water into a huge pot.
Toria pulled the clothes she’d brought to marry in—a simple skirt made of blue linen, and a frilly white blouse—out of her bag. Before she even asked, Beatrice put her iron on the stove to heat. “Thank you. I appreciate being able to clean up before I marry.”
“It’s not a problem,” Beatrice responded. “I’ll even iron your things for you while you wash.”
“Thank you.”
“Mortimer was so excited about your arrival. My friend, Hannah, cleaned his house for you so it would be perfect when you arrived. He offered to pay her, but she wanted a stethoscope in exchange for the work she did. It was an odd request, but they were both happy in the end.”
Toria smiled at that. If he’d been as excited as Beatrice said before she’d even arrived, surely she was mistaken about his disappointment upon seeing her. Beatrice handed her a bowl, and she took it gratefully. “Thank you.”
“Go into my room to change. It’s just to the right. Put your nightgown on when you’re done, and I’ll be pressing this. Then we’ll wash your hair. I’m so happy you’re finally here. Mortimer needs a good wife, and just by talking to you, I can see you’ll be just that.”
Beatrice’s happy chatter made Toria feel a little more comfortable about the situation. She hurried into the bedroom and removed her dress, washing everywhere. When her hair was washed, she knew she’d feel like a new woman.
Thirty minutes later, she was dressed and Beatrice was brushing her hair dry in front of the fire in her parlor. “Thank you so much for helping me get ready.”
“It’s not a problem at all. I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends, and a woman can never have too many friends in a town like Creede.”
“What does that mean?” Was there something wrong with the town she didn’t know about?
“It’s getting to be a better place every day. When I first arrived, there were women who went missing. They were all found in a cellar, and half the town burned down. They were being taken and held so they could be forced to be saloon girls.”
“Saloon girls? That’s terrible!”
Beatrice nodded. “It is terrible. I will say, those missing women have become some of my closest friends. The town is working on rebuilding.”
“Did they catch the man responsible for the kidnappings?”
“Yes and no. They caught one of his henchmen, but the man who hired him has been freed. His uncle has a great deal of money, and our sheriff is easily bribed. Hopefully the townspeople will find a way to replace him soon.”
“That’s terrible! Are the women all right?”
“They are. They’re a little worse for the wear, but they’re strong, and they’ll be fine.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Toria knew there had been some disappearing women back in Beckham as well. What was it with women being considered possessions?
Beatrice sighed. “Our modern world isn’t always a good place, is it?” She stroked the brush through Toria’s hair one last time. “I think it’s as dry as we can get it within our time constraints. Would you like me to put it up for you?”
Toria nodded. She’d always enjoyed it when someone else did her hair for her. “I’d like that, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. It’s good practice for when Sally gets a little older.”
“How old is Sally?”
“We think she’s about thirteen or fourteen months old now. At least that’s what Dr. JT said when he saw her last week for her earache. She’s been walking for about six weeks, so that seems right. We’ve chosen a birthday in mid-September for her.”
Toria frowned. “You chose a birthday? And you don’t know her real age? How can that be?”
“We found her on our doorstep shortly after we married. We’re keeping her, but we don’t have a lot of information about her. My husband is the telegraph operator, so he wired other towns, but no one knows where she came from.”
“That’s really sad. I’m glad she was left with people who will love her and protect her, though.” Toria couldn’t imagine leaving a baby with strangers, but obviously it had worked out for the best for little Sally.
Beatrice made a final twist to Toria’s hair. “There. Let me go get my mirror.” She hurried out of the room, and Toria sat there quietly, wondering for the millionth time if she was making a mistake.
“You’re doing the best thing for both you and Mortimer. Just give him time to see that.”
Toria jumped at the voice, which came from right beside her. “You were on the train!”
“I was, and I wasn’t. I want you to realize everything is going to be fine. You’re doing the right thing, marrying Mortimer.”
Toria sighed. “I don’t think he likes me. He seemed very disappointed when he saw me.” As startling as the woman’s presence always was, Toria seemed drawn to her, and she had no trouble sharing her inner most thoughts. It was odd.
“Give him some time. He had unrealistic expectations.”
“Oh?” How did this woman know what sort of expectations Mortimer had? Did she know him?
“Just give him time. I’ll be here when you need me.”
“Toria, I found it. Arthur must have moved it somewhere unexpected, and I didn’t want to wake the baby by searching for it.”
Toria turned her head when she heard Beatrice calling her name. When she looked back, the woman was gone. She decided not to say a word to Beatrice about her because she didn’t want her new friend to think she’d lost her mind.
She took the mirror from Beatrice and looked into it. Her hair was styled differently than she usually did it, but it looked good. “Thank you so much for your kindness today. I hope we’ll see each other frequently.”
“We definitely will. I provide baked goods for the store to sell. I come in every morning.” Beatrice grinned, accepting the mirror back. “We’ll have to find an afternoon every week where we can visit as well.”
“I’d really enjoy that! I’ll talk to Mortimer about what days the mercantile is the busiest and ask which day he feels like he can spare me.” Toria had no idea how much she’d be working in the store, but she was good at it. She’d even done the books for Sebastian and his wife. She would offer to do the same here if Mortimer needed her to.