Page 13 of Beauty and the Baker
“You are what?”
“Your guardian angel. It is my job to make sure you end up where you are supposed to. Who knows, you might even find love where you least expect it.”
“I think we are through,” Georgina said, standing. She pulled her portmanteau from the rack overhead. “I don’t know who you think you are, but they put people away for behaving like this.” She placed her small bag around her waist and grabbed her Baltimore train case before leaving the compartment.
She jumped slightly when she heard a door slam behind her. She saw Mr. Smalls coming down the aisle.Maybe he would have another compartment she could sit in.
She went to wave him down and as she did, she caught a glimpse of the compartment she just left out of the side of her eye.
Georgina nearly dropped her bags. The compartment was empty.
The nerve!Georgina thought.The absolute nerve.
How dare Mrs. Pennyworth get Georgina all in a tizzy and then just simply disappear. Mr. Smalls asked if everything was alright.
Georgina had him search the compartment. Not that she thought there would be any way that Mrs. Pennyworth could hide under the bench in that huge hoop skirt.
Only after Mr. Smalls ensured that the compartment was in fact, empty, did Georgina finally return to her seat. She placed her large bag on the opposite bench
The tea was still there getting cold. She picked it up and took another sip. The letter from her aunt still on her lap.
She finished up the cool tea and placed the cup back down on the tray. Sliding a finger under the seal, she opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper.
Dear Niece,
I am writing to request your assistance. I wrote a letter to your mama, letting her know that I had fallen and broke my leg. I am now laid up and cannot move for a few more weeks.
My dear friend, Mrs. Frances Brown comes to visit with me and helps me with meals and such, but it is such an inconvenience when she has her own home to tend to.
I am begging, dear Georgina, that you come visit me for a spell, here in Creede. It would be wonderful to see you, and if you could help me get my affairs in order, as I feel this is where I am going to have to sell the bakery.
I wouldn’t dream of letting your mama and papa think that I have given up all hope. But it is true, dear niece. I am afraid I’m going to lose the bakery.
If you could come and visit me, I would be extremely grateful. Enclosed is a few dollars for a train ticket.
Your loving auntie,
Maybelle
There was three dollars in the letter. That was more than enough for a train ticket. At least her auntie sent her the money for the fare. Why couldn’t the man she was supposed to marry do the same?
An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Georgina’s belly. Perhaps she would go visit her aunt and then see what she could find out about Mr. Lawrence Sweeny of San Francisco. She could also cover her disappearance to her parents by saying she left urgently to visit Auntie Maybelle.
She popped her head out of the compartment, holding her hand up, so the door wouldn’t spring back and knock her senseless. Mr. Smalls was walking down the aisle with his cart full of dirty dishes.
“Are you done with your tea, miss?” he asked as he approached her.
“Yes, let me get the tray.” He held the door while she fetched the tray and put it on his rolling cart.
“Youse don’t need to do that, miss. It’s my job.”
“Don’t worry about it. May I ask you a question?”
Mr. Smalls scratched his head. “I guess’em so.”
“Is it feasible to change my ticket to a different location?”
“Youse headed to San Francisco, aren’t you?” Georgina nodded. “Where you want’um to go?”
