Page 13 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“I’m sorry.”
Ella forced a smile, willing the tears to stay at bay. “It’snot your fault.”Shelooked back at the tray of food.Herfeelings were because the day was weighing on her. “I’mnot sure what helpI’llbe withMr.McCoy, butI’lldo my best.Whendo you want to meet with him?”
“In two days’ time.Ihave some other thingsImust take care of.Ipromise it will be quick.”Thanesmiled at her.
She looked around the room.Shehad no other reason to be with him there.Sheshould leave, even if part of her wanted to stay. “Alright.Ifthere is nothing else,Ishall leave you to your evening.”
“No,Ishall not keep you any longer.Enjoythe rest of your evening,Ms.Moon.”
His sadness again pressed down on her.Perhapsit was her own for having to leave him alone in a strange town. “Please, call meElla.Anda broken heart can be mended.Sissysays that’s what love’s true kiss is for.”Shemeant for it to sound playful.Insteadit sounded childish. “Imean, that’s what all the tales say.Ifyou believe in them.”Hervoice cracked.
“Do you?”
“I wishIdid.”Inthe storySissytold,Lovewas a god who would give her kiss to those who loved without conditions or expectations.Onekiss from the god could break a curse or mend a broken heart. “Enjoythe rest of your evening,Mr.Tenebris.”
“Please, call meThane.Andgood night,Ella.”Heturned back to the window.
“Good night,”Ellawhispered, backing out of the room.Shetrudged up to her room, exhausted and sad.
CHAPTER7
ELLA
This had possibly been the longest day ofElla’slife.Atleast the life she remembered.Nothinghad gone right, and everything felt like it had taken too much effort.Theguests were demanding.Thewash water was too hot.Thelinens would not come clean.Shesnapped atSissyfor asking ifMr.Tenebrishad ordered an evening meal.Shewanted to stuff cotton in her ears whenLillianprattled on about her wedding.Shewanted to wish awayClara’sability to speak so she wouldn’t have to listen to the girl gossip aboutThane.Itwas too much for her today.
And that was because ofThane.Hehad invaded her dreams for the last two nights.Fortwo days now, when she brought his evening meal, a meal he never ate, he asked her something.Lastnight, if she’d ever leftRiverton.Thenight before, where he could get his horse shoed.Eachtime she left him, she felt exhausted and confused.
And then there were the dreams.Itwas no longer a faceless man butThanein place of him.Thane, standing in the distance, speaking words she could not hear.She’drun to him only to find he was gone or had moved further away.Dreamsof a lake with no bottom and a valley filled with tears.Heconsumed too many of her thoughts.Theworst part was she didn’t know if she was happy or sad that she had lost the faceless man.
Mrs.Abustled into the kitchen with a tub full of dishes.ThankfullyClarahad dish duty.SheandSissyhad cleaned the rooms.
“Room five had to check out early,”Mrs.Asaid.
“Ella andSissyare on room duty today.Ihave dishes and mopping.”Claraheld up the mop she had not been using.
“And yet there is still a tub of dishes,”Mrs.Ahuffed as she set the tub near the sink.Clararolled her eyes and dragged herself over to the wash water.
“I’ll clean it in the morning,”Ellasaid.SheandSissyhad just finished the laundry, and her back hurt.Plusshe wanted to bathe before she met withThane.Shefelt an excited nervousness about seeing him.
“If you do it tonight, we can rent it tomorrow,”Mrs.Asnapped. “Itwon’t take long.Nowgo.”
“Fine.”Ellagrabbed clean linens and stomped up the stairs.
Thane’s midday meal still sat on the tray outside his room.Histrays always came back barely touched.Shehoped he ate elsewhere.
“Ella?”Sissycalled, walking up the steps, carrying a bucket.Shelooked at the same doorEllastared at.
“Don’t start.I’mnot in the mood,”Ellawarned, unlocking room five.Thescent of unwashed bodies and stale linens greeted her.Thetwo men who had stayed in the room were here working on the railway, and the entire room was covered in a fine black dust.Itwould take hours to get the room clean.Ellatugged the corners of the sheets from the first bed.
“Are you alright?Youdon’t seem like yourself.”Sissywent to the other bed.
“I’m fine.”Ellatossed the dirty sheets on the floor.
“Does this have something to do withMr.Tenebris?”Sissyasked, shaking a pillow from its case.
“Why does everyone seem to be so worried about him?He’sjust a man.Wehave an inn full of men.Mr.Crawfordis a man, and no one asks about him.Noone wonders what that old goat does all day,”Ellasnapped.Sissy’seyes rounded in surprise. “I’msorry, that isn’t your fault.”Ellaflopped onto the lumpy bed, which squeaked under her.Hermind raced with all the thingsWilliamandLillianhad said about marriage and life. “Whatdo you want out of life,Sis?”Ellaasked as she watchedSissymove around the room.Hermovements were smooth and well-practiced.Shewould make a good wife and mother.
“Oh,Idon’t know, the same things every woman wants.Ahusband that loves her.Afew children.Maybea milk cow and a few chickens.Oh, and a large hearth to cook meals in.I’dalso like a cast iron pot, one with a lid that fits.”Sissysmiled.
