She shrugged.“They were wealthy and cared more about how they were seen by society than anything else.I was raised in New York, near Central Park.”
“I’ve heard about Central Park.It sounds like a wonderful place, so those in the city can experience nature.”
“I walked in it every day.”She didn’t add that there was always a maid following her.Even when she thought about that time period, she felt like she was being suffocated.It had been hard to live under her mother’s thumb.
“That’s good!Was this town Beckham you lived in like New York?”
Lula laughed.“Nothing is like New York.New York is crowded, and you see people of every race and nationality.You can’t walk five blocks without hearing several different languages being spoken.”She paused for a moment.“Beckham was much smaller.It was a good place to live.”
“Is that where you lived with your husband?”he asked.
“No, Bill and I moved to a small country town about fifty miles from Beckham.He worked as a delivery driver for a local merchant.I hunted, fished, and did whatever it took to feed us both.It was a good arrangement.”
“How long were you married?”he asked.
“Only a few months.Bill was killed while delivering one day.”Because the locals had objected to their marriage.Everyonehad opposed their marriage, but her parents had been the loudest opponents.
“He was killed?It wasn’t an accident?”
She shook her head.“No, he was murdered.”
“Did the police catch the killer?”
She shook her head again.“No.They didn’t.”She didn’t want to have to explain why.That would give too much away.“After he died, I found a job in Beckham at the hotel.”She’d moved far enough away that no one would know.Not that she was ashamed.She’d loved Bill, and she’d married him.There was nothing wrong with marrying a man when she was in love with him.Nothing.
He looked at her for a moment, then let her change the subject.“Did you like working for the hotel?”
She laughed.“Not particularly.But I made some good friends there, which makes me happy I worked there.”
“The girl you were standing with.Ella?”
Lula nodded.“She’s become like a sister to me.”
“I’m glad you found friends.Did you ever consider moving back with your parents instead of trying to make it on your own?”
She shook her head.“They didn’t approve of Bill.They made it clear that if I married him, they wouldn’t have anything to do with me.I was their only child.Father said he’d leave everything he had to charity when he died, and I’d get nothing.”She shrugged.“I never wanted his money anyway.”
Sebastian knew there was something she wasn’t telling him, but he let it go.In time, she would tell him.
When they reached the cabin, she spotted the bed in one corner of the room and smiled.“It’s been weeks since I’ve slept in a bed and not on the ground.”
“There’s only the one bed.Do you mind sharing?”
She shook her head.“Of course not.I expected that.”She hid a yawn behind her hand.“Are you hungry?”
He shook his head.“I’ll make us something.My mother wouldn’t let me move away until I knew how to cook two meals—beans and oatmeal.I haven’t soaked beans, so I’ll make some oatmeal.”
“Thank you.”She hadn’t expected such kindness.“I haven’t had anything but jerky and hardtack since we reached Ketchikan.I would be thrilled to have oatmeal.”
He grinned.“Then I’ll make it while you look around and settle in.Do you think you’ll join the other ladies in their business ventures?”
“I think so.I need to see what my task would be.”While she’d been married to Bill, she’d learned to hunt and fish.Hopefully, one of those skills could help with what the others were doing.Hunting was her favorite, but she’d fish if there was a need.“And I’m not quite certain I understand all the others are doing.Belle wrote about her endeavors, but more people have been added.I think I need to sit down with them all and find out what they do.”
“They seem to do everything.I’ve been happy that I can get bread at the store a couple of times per week.”
“I learned all about cooking at the hotel.You won’t have to suffer through burnt meals like Bill did.”
He laughed.“I’ll eat just about anything, so we won’t have a problem.Most people have a very fish-heavy diet in the winters.Maybe they’ll have you fish.”
