Felicity’s eyes widened. “Yes! Don’t tell me that’s what you chose?”
Eleanor regaled her with the story, dancing lightly over the tragedy she and Rebecca experienced before coming here.
“You appear happy with your decision now, but weren’t you scared?”
“Out of my mind. But I had to be strong for Rebecca and her children, so I pretended as if I wasn’t.” She paused then, thinking of Merrick’s positive reaction to learning she was with child. “And I am happy. It’s turned out well.”
“Well, you are far braver than I could ever be,” Felicity replied.
“I don’t know about that. You uprooted a comfortable life you knew to come to a town on the frontier,” Eleanor said.
“Yes, well . . .” Felicity chewed her lip again. It was clear that she didn’t wish to discuss the reasons she left Chicago.
As curious as she was, Eleanor wasn’t about to be the one to cause her new friend to relive memories that might be painful.So instead, she began pointing out some of the buildings as they passed. “The reverend and his wife at the church are wonderfully kind. And that’s the mercantile.”
“I’ve been in there,” Felicity said. “Dreadfully small, but surprisingly well-stocked.”
Eleanor bit back a grin. The difference in their reactions to the store given their perspectives was amusing. “Merrick paid a visit a little while ago and brought me home so much material for baby clothing. I keep looking at it and imagining what I might do with it, but I have yet to begin.”
Felicity stopped still, right in the middle of the road, and put her hands on her hips. “Then what are we doing out here, meandering around town? That baby will be here before you know it. I’ll help you.”
And with that, she strode off, leading the way back toward the house with Eleanor hurrying to catch up with her.
Chapter Twelve
“THEY’RE STAYINGthere?” Merrick couldn’t believe his ears. “At the El Dorado?”
“She didn’t mention a name, but if that’s the place near the saloon, then yes.” Eleanor settled into the kitchen chair beside him.
“No.” He still couldn’t believe it. What man would choose such a place with a wife in tow? “I told Inman to get a room at Darby’s.”
“Well, unless Felicity is prone to making up stories, then I think it’s true.” Eleanor rested her hands on her stomach. “She certainly doesn’t love it, but I don’t think they can afford anywhere else.”
Merrick leaned back in his chair, his ledger book forgotten on the table in front of him. “I’ll speak with Inman next time I see him. It isn’t right. There has to be another way.”
“Perhaps he’s saving his wages, and then they’ll relocate,” Eleanor suggested.
“Perhaps.” It still didn’t sit well with him. A lady like Mrs. Inman deserved lodgings that were safe and clean—and not littered with men who spent most of their waking hours and wages at the saloon.
“Merrick,” she said suddenly, sitting up in her chair. “I have an idea. Felicity helped me start piecing together some of the baby’s clothes today. She’s quite good with a needle. What ifI claimed I couldn’t possibly find the time to do any of it myself and offered to pay her to do it for me? It wouldn’t have to be much. Maybe just enough to help get them out of that boardinghouse.”
