“This is our cook, Mrs. Murphy.”
Mrs. Murphy was a stocky woman with a serious expression. Laura had often heard it said that she should never trust a skinny cook. There was no concern of that here.
Mrs. Murphy looked to be somewhere in her late fifties or early sixties. She gave Laura a nod, then looked her up and down as though trying to assess how much she would eat. The thought made Laura smile once again.
“I’m sure you are a blessing, Mrs. Murphy. Good food makes all the difference in a household.” Laura saw her comment caused the older woman’s expression to relax just a bit.
“And this young man is Curtis. Curtis does whatever needs to be done with the yard and stables. He often works with Mr. Grayson, my driver and stableman.”
It was clear that Curtis was uncomfortable. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen or seventeen. Laura took pityon him and offered him her best smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Curtis.” The young man blushed and looked away after a brief glance.
Her father gave the trio a nod, and they all hurried away as quickly as they’d come. Laura untied her cloak, since the warmth of the room proved more than enough. Father put aside his hat and gloves, then doffed his coat and hung it on a nearby coat-tree.
“Not a very elegant approach to outdoor garments,” he said, reaching for Laura’s cloak. “But as I said, next year I intend to begin building a new and luxurious place for us. We’ll have a full staff to take care of everything.”
Laura pulled the pin from her hat and set both aside on a nearby table. Last of all, she drew off her gloves. “This looks like a lovely house, Father.” She could see to his right that the pocket doors had been pushed back partway to reveal a large comfortable-looking room, complete with a hearth on the far wall. A fire blazed in welcome.
“It is sufficient for the time being, but I intend to better myself further. Many of us here feel the same. There are a great many quality families who have settled this growing community, and we intend to see that the elite make a clear and present mark on society.”
Laura had never heard her father talk in this snobbish manner. She didn’t feel it was proper to approach him on the matter her first day home and so gave a simple nod and followed him as he took her bag and led her upstairs.
“I’ll show you to your room first. I hope you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Laura replied. “Everything seems perfect.”
“I run a well-ordered house. Mrs. Duffy understands that and follows my instructions to the letter. I brook nononsense, as I have a great many important people who come here from time to time.”
She noted the highly polished oak banister and stairs. Mrs. Duffy apparently kept a very neat house. The upstairs hall was papered in a print of gold, beige, and green stripes, with prominent gold fleur-de-lis running down wide panels of powder blue. It wasn’t something Laura would have chosen, but it gave the hall a touch of elegance.
A beige hallway runner covered the oak floors nearly wall to wall. A few decorative tables were placed between the multiple closed doors.
“My room is to the right,” Father announced, pointing. “If you should need me for any reason in the middle of the night, do not hesitate to knock on my door.”
“Thank you, I will.” Laura turned as he drew her to the left.
“The door to your right is a bedroom that has been appointed for sewing and storage. The next door is a bathing room. I had a copper tub brought in from Boston. It’s situated beside a stove that can be used to heat the water and keep the room warm when in use. I find a hot bath to be one of those things I cannot live without.”
“How very nice.” Laura had wondered what kinds of things would be available for their personal needs.
“And this door on the left is your room. It’s actually two rooms. They seemed rather perfect to join together, so I had a doorway created when I knew for sure you’d be coming home.” He smiled. “One can be used as your sitting room and the other your bedroom.”
He opened the door, and Laura stepped inside. The room had been furnished with a large wardrobe and desk of matching white oak. Dark rose-colored draperies were hanging at the windows, and a delicate print of pink roses on whitepaper trimmed the walls. It had been designed with a young woman in mind. On the wall to the right was a small but efficient fireplace trimmed in white tiles with the same rose pattern as the papered walls. A fire had been built up, and it, along with the lamps, gave the room a beautiful glow. A large chintz-covered chair waited in welcome.
“I shall be quite comfortable here.” She turned to her father and kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much.” She ran her hand along the back of the chair. “It’s just perfect.”
“Nothing is too good for you, my dear Laura.” He patted her shoulder. “Now come see the bedroom.”
Turning away from the fireplace, Laura found the bedroom door already open. Inside was a beautiful four-poster bed and dressing table in the same white oak as the wardrobe and desk. The draperies and paper matched the sitting room.
“This is certainly everything a girl could want,” she said, touched at all the details her father had put into the setting.
She went to the dressing table and found all sorts of bottles of perfume and lotions for her skin and a delicate silver hairbrush, comb, and mirror set. A large framed mirror was attached to the dressing table so that she could simply sit and survey her appearance at will.
“It’s all so very nice, Father, thank you. I’m quite surprised by all of this. I read almost everything I could get my hands on about Cheyenne and Wyoming Territory, and I must admit, I wasn’t hopeful of finding much, but I am pleased to be mistaken.”
He chuckled. “We have worked hard to improve the situation in our little town. Mark my words, Cheyenne will one day be as fine a city as any other. Important people are making their mark here, and incredible things will be accomplished. You are to be a part of all that, my dear.”
She could see the excitement in his eyes. This was significant to him, and she intended to join in as much as she could. If only to please him.
