next meeting would require.
SIX
uesday afternoon, Ida carried two teacups to Kat’s table and sat in the chair that faced the one glass window. Last night she had enjoyed a family dinner at Nell and Judson’s modest home. Then this morning her sisters had given her a tour of the town. She’d never seen so many evocatively attired, brash-mannered females. But then, she’d never been out West before. Now she knew Tuesday was the morning designated for the other women to do their shopping.
The morning also included seeing Kat and Morgan’s new home, still under construction, and the telegraph office, where she’d sent a wire to Aunt Alma and her sister Vivian to let them know of her safe arrival. Ida, Kat, and Nell enjoyed lunch with Morgan and a couple of the Sisters of Mercy in the hospital dining room, and then Nell parted company with them to go tend to a widow’s children.
Ida had been torn between needing a rest and wanting to see Kat’s infamous miner’s shanty. After vowing to tend to her own need for peace and quiet that evening, she had agreed to make the trek up the hill to see the Cutshaws’ temporary nest. Now she’d glimpsed both sisters’ new lives here, and tomorrow she would take long strides into her own.
Kat set a plate of cinnamon-topped oatmeal cookies on the table in front of Ida, then sank into the chair across from her.
Nodding, Ida lifted the cup to her mouth, breathing in the memorable scent of peppermint—their mother’s favorite. “This was a good idea.”
“I couldn’t send you off without spending a few more minutes with you.” Kat tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, then drizzled a stream of honey into her cup and stirred it. “I didn’t think I would … I was sure I wouldn’t, actually, but I like having a man in my life.”
Ida glanced around the one-room cabin. Lace curtains hung at the window. The True Lover’s Knot patterned quilt Aunt Alma made for Kat was spread across the bed. And a man’s razor and strop lay on the washstand in the corner. Ida might have that one day, but for now marriage wasn’t in her plans.
“Morgan seems good for you. Marriage suits—”
“And what about you?”
She hadn’t expected this from Kat. Nell had always been the hopeless romantic in the family.
“You don’t want love in your life?” Kat had never pressed her about such matters.
Ida studied a gouge in the plank flooring near the door. “I have my sisters. You three provide enough love for me.”
Kat laid her hand on Ida’s. “It’s not the same, Sis.”
“I know that.” She might never have experienced romantic love before, but she’d seen enough of it in the people around her to know love could be distracting. Something she couldn’t abide. Not now.
Ida took another sip of tea. “Did I tell you how proud I am of you—writing for Harper’s Bazar ?”
“You told me last night over veal and sweet potatoes.” Kat’s smirk formed soft ripples at the corners of her mouth. “I think what you plan to do is pretty exciting myself. Not many of us would want to brave the world of business. The world of businessmen, I should say.”
“It may be a challenge, but I think I’m ready for it. Right now, I’d best go. I’m sure you have writing to do.” Ida rose from her chair and carried her empty cup to the cupboard. “Thanks for the tour and the tea.” She pulled her wrap from the peg by the door and slipped into it.
“I do have an article to finish.” Kat retrieved Ida’s reticule from a side table and handed it to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow after your interview. Nell and I will be at Hattie’s at four o’clock.”
“I should be back by then.”
Kat walked out to the porch with her and pulled her into a hug.
After the warm embrace, Ida took the gravel path to the road. The weariness of the past two days tugged at her eyes as she walked to the corner on Pikes Peak Avenue, then down Florissant. She needed a little
SIX
uesday afternoon, Ida carried two teacups to Kat’s table and sat in the chair that faced the one glass window. Last night she had enjoyed a family dinner at Nell and Judson’s modest home. Then this morning her sisters had given her a tour of the town. She’d never seen so many evocatively attired, brash-mannered females. But then, she’d never been out West before. Now she knew Tuesday was the morning designated for the other women to do their shopping.
The morning also included seeing Kat and Morgan’s new home, still under construction, and the telegraph office, where she’d sent a wire to Aunt Alma and her sister Vivian to let them know of her safe arrival. Ida, Kat, and Nell enjoyed lunch with Morgan and a couple of the Sisters of Mercy in the hospital dining room, and then Nell parted company with them to go tend to a widow’s children.
Ida had been torn between needing a rest and wanting to see Kat’s infamous miner’s shanty. After vowing to tend to her own need for peace and quiet that evening, she had agreed to make the trek up the hill to see the Cutshaws’ temporary nest. Now she’d glimpsed both sisters’ new lives here, and tomorrow she would take long strides into her own.
Kat set a plate of cinnamon-topped oatmeal cookies on the table in front of Ida, then sank into the chair across from her.
Nodding, Ida lifted the cup to her mouth, breathing in the memorable scent of peppermint—their mother’s favorite. “This was a good idea.”
“I couldn’t send you off without spending a few more minutes with you.” Kat tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, then drizzled a stream of honey into her cup and stirred it. “I didn’t think I would … I was sure I wouldn’t, actually, but I like having a man in my life.”
Ida glanced around the one-room cabin. Lace curtains hung at the window. The True Lover’s Knot patterned quilt Aunt Alma made for Kat was spread across the bed. And a man’s razor and strop lay on the washstand in the corner. Ida might have that one day, but for now marriage wasn’t in her plans.
“Morgan seems good for you. Marriage suits—”
“And what about you?”
She hadn’t expected this from Kat. Nell had always been the hopeless romantic in the family.
“You don’t want love in your life?” Kat had never pressed her about such matters.
Ida studied a gouge in the plank flooring near the door. “I have my sisters. You three provide enough love for me.”
Kat laid her hand on Ida’s. “It’s not the same, Sis.”
“I know that.” She might never have experienced romantic love before, but she’d seen enough of it in the people around her to know love could be distracting. Something she couldn’t abide. Not now.
Ida took another sip of tea. “Did I tell you how proud I am of you—writing for Harper’s Bazar ?”
“You told me last night over veal and sweet potatoes.” Kat’s smirk formed soft ripples at the corners of her mouth. “I think what you plan to do is pretty exciting myself. Not many of us would want to brave the world of business. The world of businessmen, I should say.”
“It may be a challenge, but I think I’m ready for it. Right now, I’d best go. I’m sure you have writing to do.” Ida rose from her chair and carried her empty cup to the cupboard. “Thanks for the tour and the tea.” She pulled her wrap from the peg by the door and slipped into it.
“I do have an article to finish.” Kat retrieved Ida’s reticule from a side table and handed it to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow after your interview. Nell and I will be at Hattie’s at four o’clock.”
“I should be back by then.”
Kat walked out to the porch with her and pulled her into a hug.
After the warm embrace, Ida took the gravel path to the road. The weariness of the past two days tugged at her eyes as she walked to the corner on Pikes Peak Avenue, then down Florissant. She needed a little
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