“Good afternoon,” she replied. “I am supposed to meet a Mr. Wade Pierce. I don’t suppose you’re familiar with him?” She held out the photograph of a serious yet handsome dark-haired man.
The stationmaster adjusted his spectacles as he examined the photo. He shook his head as he returned the image to Hazel. “I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with the man.”
“Oh.” Hazel clutched the photo, uncertain what to do or say next. She’d been counting on a message, or at least a location of Mr. Pierce’s ranch.
“This Mr. Pierce was supposed to meet you here, at the depot?”
She nodded, her throat suddenly tight. Hehadabandoned her. What would she do now?
The stationmaster’s brow furrowed as Hazel tried in vain to keep tears from clouding her eyes. “There, there, miss. It can’t be all that bad. We have a fine hotel in town, and a good, reputable boarding house, just built. Perhaps if you have a meal and a good rest, you’ll know what to do next?”
Hazel’s throat ached as she willed herself not to let the tears fall. She nodded quickly. “Might I—” Her voice came out like ribbon that had been a cat’s plaything. She took a deep breath and tried again. “Might I inquire as to where this boarding house is located?”
As the stationmaster gave her directions to the far edge of town, Hazel prayed the place wouldn’t cost more than she had in her reticule. She’d brought barely enough to pay for food and drink along her route here. She had a few coins left, but not nearly enough to pay for expensive lodgings—and certainly not for train fare home.
She didn’t dare ask how much the latter might be. Nothing awaited her back in Boston anyhow. She might as well remain here, at least for now. Perhaps she could find work to pay for her lodging until she made a decision.
“Are you certain you’ll be all right going alone?” The stationmaster eyed her as if he thought she would dissolve into tears right there on his floor.
“I will. Thank you for your help and for your kindness.” Hazel slipped the photograph of the absent Mr. Pierce back into her reticule.
Mrs. Crenshaw!She’d nearly forgotten about the elegant and kind matrimonial agency owner. She would write to Mrs. Crenshaw, Hazel decided as she gathered her carpetbag from beside the door and exited the depot. Surely she would know what Hazel should do. Of course, she would be appalled at what Mr. Pierce had done. When Hazel and her sister Ada had gone to visit Mrs. Crenshaw, the friendly widow had assured them that she only accepted the most upstanding of men to her agency.
Hazel sank down upon the bench outside the depot. Despite all of Mrs. Crenshaw’s assurances, Ada still hadn’t been certain that this was the right path for Hazel.
And now Hazel thought her sister must have been right. Because here she was, essentially stranded in an unfamiliar town, rougher than any she’d ever seen back home in Massachusetts, with hardly any funds to her name.
A slow-building panic began to rise in Hazel’s chest. This was supposed to be her ticket to a happier, better life! She was to have a husband, a home, and no worries about where she’d find her next meal. Hazel pressed her hand against her sternum, willing the growing bloom of fear and hopelessness to go away. She couldn’t break down here, in public at the depot. She needed to maintain her composure until she’d found the boarding house and safely locked herself away in a room.
A few deep breaths later, and the knot in her chest slowly unraveled. Standing, Hazel ran a hand over her skirts and gathered up her carpetbag. The stationmaster had said the boarding house was run by a brother and sister called Darby, and that it sat at the south end of Crest Stone.
Hazel turned and began walking across the platform. Hopefully a night at the boarding house wouldn’t be more than she could afford. Perhaps she could offer help to the Darbys in exchange for additional nights. Or they might know someone in need of a young woman unafraid of hard work.
It would work out. Ithadto, or else she’d find herself making a bed out of that bench on the platform. Hazel shuddered at the thought as she stepped off the platform and turned to round the depot—
And found herself running right into a man.
