“Girlie, what did I say about keeping your voice down? I’m trying to sleep here.”
“I’m sorry, Father. I was just talking to Mrs. Pennyworth.”
“Don’t see no one there,” he said, looking where Cassie was pointing.
Cassie turned. Mrs. Pennyworth was still there with a smile on her face. “He can’t see me, Cassandra. Only you can see and hear me.”
“Why’s that?” Cassie asked.
“Why’s what?” her father grumbled.
“I am your guardian angel. Not his,” Mrs. Pennyworth explained. “Just remember what I told you.”
“Haberdashery. Mr. Blue, Creede, Colorado.”
Mrs. Pennyworth nodded, and she faded right before Cassie’s eyes. She let out a little gasp. The basket was still on the seat. Cassie pulled it over to her lap and peered inside.
It was filled with apples, several sandwiches and two jars of tea. Cassie gave a little sigh and looked to the ceiling of the train car. “Thank you, Lord,” she said. There was enough in the basket to last them for at least three days if they ate sparingly.
“Now what?” her father asked. “And where is Creede, Colorado?”
“I think that is where we should be headed,” Cassie said and raised her hand to flag the rail man as he walked by.
Chapter 4
The train pulled into Creede in the early evening. It had been a long trip, and Cassie was tired and dirty. Her father appeared rested. He slept most of the journey, apart from awaking to use the lavatory or eat from the bottomless basket of sandwiches and apples.
He didn’t ask where they came from, he appeared just happy to have something to eat on the train.
Cassie secured passage with the rail man to continue to Creede as Mrs. Pennyworth suggested. They didn’t even need to get off the train in Denver. Cassie thought that would be best, so they wouldn’t be seen by anyone. If someone came looking for them, then Denver would be a dead end.
The train station was small, but Cassie could see the town within walking distance. Wooden structures appeared out of the ground, with boardwalks in front of each building. It was much more primitive than she imagined. In New York everything was so tall. Here not much was over two stories.
“I need to go see someone,” Cassie said. “Stay here and I’ll be right back for you.”
“Who?” her father demanded. “Do you know someone here? Is that why you had us come out to this town?”
Cassie shook her head. “No. I just have a job lead. We could use the money. I’ll also see how much a room at the boarding house is.”
She walked the short distance up to town, passing a variety of shops before she saw the haberdashery sign. She shook the traveling dust off her skirt and tried to flatten the wrinkles in her jacket. Taking a deep breath, she walked in the door.
“I’m about to close,” a voice called from behind a door at the far corner of the room.
“I’m looking for someone named Mr. Blue. Do you know where I might find him?”
A man dressed in a tailored frock made from material the color of gunmetal in the sunlight appeared from behind the door. He had paired the jacket with a pair of light-colored pants, which told Cassie he stayed up-to-date on the latest fashions.
Cassie felt her mouth go dry and her palms start to sweat. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
His hair was slicked down, but it looked so much better than Mr. Weston’s. His soft brown eyes regarded her with interest. Cassie noticed they had flecks of gold. His lip curled in a smile under that neatly trimmed mustache.
She took a swallow and wiped her hands on her skirt.Horse feathers. Her hands were now coated in dust from her skirt. She looked for a place to possibly wipe them, but simply grabbed her skirt again.
The man faced the door again and pushed it closed, before opening it again. He counted three times before patting the door to make sure it was shut. Cassie counted along with him.
He turned back to Cassie. His frown furrowed. He didn’t look happy in the least to see her.
Cassie looked down at her shoes. No wonder he wasn’t happy. She was trekking dust and dirt into his pristine store.
