The Morning After

By Donna and Abby

After enjoying the services of Angelique (she seemed intent that he choose her), Mosby left Lovelace's establishment and headed back toward the Hotel.  He greatly desired a hot bath, and could not wait to get back to his rooms!  He was satisfied, sexually, but uneasy about the way the night had gone. He would not be going back there again soon.

It was just after dawn when he entered the Hotel. Mosby spotted the cook, Coriander, helping one of the Norwegian twins hang up some fancy curtains edged with handmade lace. Coriander waved at him, telling him they were planning on having one of his favorite meals, ham and scalloped potatoes, for dinner that night.

"Ah can hardly wait," said Mosby kindly.  "Will Ah be too late for some of yuah lovely hotcakes, if Ah go up to myah room to freshen up?”

"Of course not," Corriander said brightly. "One order of sourdough pancakes coming up with bacon and eggs on the side just the way you like it."

"Thank you, Miss Coriander, you shuah keep my belly happy."  Turning, he saw Emma and, raising his fingers to the brim of his hat, he saluted her as he passed.

A short time later, he returned to the dining room, feeling clean and refreshed. He was a little surprised to see that the Norwegian girl he had seen before was now setting the table where he would be eating. "I help Corrie," she explained. "I am named Emma."

"Pleased to meet you, Emma. Are you working heah now?"  She certainly would add to the decor, if she was!

"I am lace-maker," she said, smiling at him brightly. "We fix the curtains here."

"They look lovely.  Remind me of the ones . . . "  He got silent suddenly, his face turning solemn.  "Never mind.  That was a long time ago. Before the wah.  Have you eaten?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I leave boarding house before breakfast was served to come here."

"Well, then you must join me!" said Mosby, brightening. He pulled a chair out so she could stand. Being a gentleman, he had not taken his seat in front of a lady.

She smiled at him again as she gathered up her skirts and sat down. "Thank you. I am honored."

"As am Ah.  Ah don't usually have the company of such a lovely young lady."

A soft blush flowed over her cheeks. "I tell Corrie that someday I teach to make Norwegian pancakes. They are called lefsa."

"Ah bet they are delicious. Ah am a hopeless cook.  Men are, wheah Ah come from," he said.  "So, you live at the boarding house?"

"Ja ja, I do. My sister is married now. I live there alone and make lace."

"Ah have always lived at the hotel," said Mosby carefully.  He did not tell her why, since this was a fault in his character a "good" girl might not appreciate.  After the night's debauch, he was enjoying her chaste company.

He got her talking about her homeland, and her experience of coming across the Atlantic with her family. They had lived in Minnesota for a little while, but had joined up with the wagon train to go to the Pacific Northwest. For a young woman, she had gone through a lot of changes in her life, not the least of which was being transported to Edan!

Mosby was a bit less open about his past, because it was painful; but when Hannah Peale came in for breakfast, Emma noticed him stiffen.  Yet he was unable to take his eyes off her.

The Norwegian girl lowered her own eyes, studying her plate. It was obvious that he cared for that woman!

But Hannah walked by without saying more than good morning.  It was just as obvious that she could not see his interest, and if she did, she did not share it.

Emma chased a piece of pancake around her plate, soaking up some of the maple syrup. The silence was almost deafening. After a moment, she spoke up. "You go to Box Lunch social at the church this Saturday?" she asked hopefully. He was handsome and acted like a gentleman. So far, Emma had not enjoyed having much attention from the men in Edan.

Mosby hoped he was not blushing too badly. It had been a long time since he saw the inside of a church!  After last night, he probably needed to go.  "Ah can go," he said softly.  "If theah's a reason."

"I fix good lunch," she said with a smile. "Perhaps you bid for it?"

"Ah will certainly try to win it, my deah!"

She smiled at him again. Perhaps there was some hope after all!