Rainy Day Dreams: 2 by Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith

Author:Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: United States, Christianity, Religious & Inspirational Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles, Literature & Fiction
ISBN: 0736953493
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2014-04-02T05:00:00+00:00

Nine

Tuesday, January 15, 1856

Kathryn! A moment before you leave.”

Kathryn stopped in the center of the hotel’s empty front room and waited for Madame to appear through the doorway to her private area.

Madame waddled in carrying a bundle. “I need you to take this laundry down to Princess Angeline.”

“Princess?” Astonished, Kathryn could only stare at the woman. “Seattle has a princess?”

In the week since her arrival, no one had mentioned the presence of royalty. Surely someone would have. And would the lady not have come to tea last Thursday night?

Madame emitted the raucous cackle that had ceased to grate on Kathryn’s nerves and now caused only mild annoyance. “In a way. She’s the old Indian chief’s daughter. Earns money as a laundress.” She thrust the bundle, which Kathryn saw was a bedsheet gathered around a mound of clothing, into her arms. “Tell her to have someone bring it up tomorrow when it’s finished.”

Kathryn tried to push it back. “But I’m due next door to deliver sandwiches to the men working on the blockhouse.”

Madame whisked her hands behind her back. “I know that. Princess Angeline’s house is not far from there, down on the waterfront. It won’t take you a minute to drop by after you’re finished serving.”

“I don’t know the way.” A whine crept into her voice, though she deplored the sound of it. “And Louisa isn’t going with me this evening. I’ll be alone.”

“So ask someone. Everyone knows Princess Angeline.” The woman turned her physically around and gave her a shove toward the door.

“But…”

Further protests would be a waste of breath. Madame had made good her retreat and closed the door to her sitting room behind her. Settling the laundry into a sturdier bundle, Kathryn headed next door. Perhaps in Evie she would find a sympathetic ear, and possibly a companion to show her the way.

She was mistaken.

“Oh, Princess Angeline’s cabin is easy to find.” The cheerful restaurant owner didn’t pause in her task of loading a crate of sandwiches onto the back of the wagon, which was hitched and ready. “Just go down the hill and when you get to the pier, turn right. Hers is the first house on the left past the dock.”

“Is it…safe?”

Evie gave her a quizzical look, which cleared after a moment. “Perfectly safe. You won’t go anywhere near the forest.” A smile settled on her face, no doubt intended to be reassuring. “Only you may want to leave the wagon by the pier and walk. The ground down by the water tends to be too muddy for a heavy wagon during the rainy season.” Then she bustled back inside the restaurant for another load of sandwiches.

Still uneasy, Kathryn stowed Madame’s laundry on the front bench. If only Louisa had not felt so tired after the tea. And if only Kathryn had not felt so confident in her ability to deliver the sandwiches on her own that she urged her to go home to put her swollen feet up.

Thanks to the assistance of many of the ladies who stayed after the tea to help assemble sandwiches, she got an early start.

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