Laura's Secrets by Augusta Wright

Author:Augusta Wright [Wright, Augusta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dream Wolf Publishing
Published: 2016-12-14T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Laura was dressed and coming down the back stairs before seven o’clock the next morning, even though it had been late before she settled down and gone to bed. She had played with her new clothes, trying them on and whirling in front of the mirror to see how she looked. She chuckled to herself because she had never had a problem like this before.

Last night, after she’d settled down, she had written letters to her family back in Independence so she could post them before she left. She did not tell them anything about her gold or about Abner’s death. She described things to them to let them know she was happy and doing well. She had never told them about how her life truly was because then they would worry and fret over her. It was late before she turned out her lamp and went to bed.

She descended the stairs in the morning pleased because she had not had any of the stomach upsets she had been experiencing since coming to Denver. But as she reached the bottom near the kitchen, her senses were overwhelmed with the smells of cooking. She ran for the back door and out into the alley before throwing up with gusto. Laura leaned against the building wall until she could regain her composure. Why did this happen when she smelled food? Still puzzled, she walked over to the well, drew up a fresh bucket of water, and washed her face, rinsing her mouth out before going back inside.

Sadie and the twins greeted her happily. “Why are you in here?” Sadie asked. “We’ll serve you breakfast out in the dining room.” She tried to usher her in there.

“I’d like to have breakfast with you and the girls, if it’s all right? I don’t want to sit alone. It will be much more fun in here,” she said winking at the twins.

“All right you can sit in here, but no giggling,” Sadie said to Laura who started to giggle setting the twins off.

As Sadie set a plate of food before her, a large black man appeared in the doorway. “Who’s this?” he demanded.

Sadie led him over to the table. “This is my husband, John Long.”

Laura extended her hand in greeting.

Hesitantly, John shook it.

Sadie set his breakfast before him and asked Laura, “What have you gotten done since we last talked?”

“I purchased a newer and larger wagon because the other was busted, and I had to buy four new horses to pull the larger wagon.”

John snorted loudly, unable to contain himself.

Female eyes turned in his direction as his wife said in a no-nonsense tone, “And what is so funny?”

“Well, first I find it funny this pretty white lady is sitting in the kitchen eating with black folk. Second, she now has a four up team to pull her new wagon. Do you even know how to drive a four-up team and wagon?” he asked her.

“I …I…uh…drove the wagon with two horses to Denver. I guess it will be the same but with four horses going back.

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