AUGUST 10, 1860
Blythe picked up the package and told Mr. Cromwell that she would be back in a few
minutes. It had come in on the stage a few days ago, addressed to Anjanette Gardiner, but
nobody had come to pick it up. So she decided to deliver it, never minding that she would
have to go to Le Chateu to do so.
Reaching the bordello, she paused just before walking in. This was a classy place, but
still . . .
When she walked in there was only one person there. She recognized the girl, Corey, from
around town. She didn't know that Corey worked here though.
"Blythe," Corey approached her. "Can I help you?"
Blythe smiled. "I have a package for Miss Gardiner. Could you give it to her for
me?"
Corey took the package from her. "Sure. I'd be happy to."
Blythe looked at her quizzically. "Corey, I don't mean to pry or anything but . . .
well, I didn't know you worked here."
Corey laughed. "Oh, I don't . . . well, not permanently. Vanessa and I switched jobs
for a while."
Blythe nodded, understanding. "Do you have any idea when everyone is going to be
switching jobs back?"
Corey shook her head. "I'm not sure. It will probably be soon though. I know nobody
will be able to switch back unless somebody pays for them to do so though."
Blythe smiled. "It certainly is a great way to make money for the town. Well, I have
to get back to the post office. I told Mr. Cromwell that I would only be a few minutes.
I'll see you around town though."
Corey said goodbye to her, and Blythe headed back to the post office.
�
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Dear Leah,
I am here in Dreamville, at last. I even found a job right away! I'm a waitress at the
hotel, and I really do like it. I even get room and board at the hotel, so I didn't have
to find a place to live. Isn't that wonderful?
How is boarding school? Are Mr. Clay and Miss Johanson still secretly in love with each
other? And have they figured out that everybody knows yet?
I don't have time to write much, because I have to get this letter out before the post
office closes, but I wanted to let you know that I am here, and I am fine. I really do
miss you though. Maybe you can come visit me during your summer holidays or something.
Okay, write me back a nice fat letter, full of news from school. Tell everyone else I said
hi, and I miss them all.
Marta
Marta addressed the envelope to her best friend Leah. Leah was at school in St. Louis, at the boarding school she had gone to for the past four years. Marta was happy to be done with the school. She really should have been there this year, as it would have been her last year, but she had decided she couldn't stand to go back there, so she had moved to Dreamville instead. She walked to the post office to mail the letter.