Charity placed a plate in front of Holly and said, “I need to go out and see if the men want anything else and I’ll be right back. Start eating before it gets cold.”
Holly didn’t wait and began eating as Charity left the kitchen. A few minutes later, Charity returned and dropped onto the chair at the small table in the kitchen. Her face was flushed as she sipped her tea.
“Are you all right?” Holly asked. “You’re either blushing or began running a fever in the past two minutes.”
Charity’s hands flew to her cheeks. “Oh my, it was the mayor, Jason Shepherd. Every time he comes in and smiles at me, he makes me blush. His smile is different. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s more than a simple smile.”
Holly smiled. “Maybe he’s smitten with you.”
“He couldn’t be. Why would he be? I’m just a simple widow with two small children.”
“A widow, maybe, but you’re still young and beautiful. If his smiles make you blush you must like him a little bit. Am I right?” Holly asked and stared straight at Charity.
Charity shrugged. “A little.” She sipped more tea to keep from saying more.
Charity’s silence made Holly giggle and in turn, caused Charity to giggle. Joseph walked in and asked, “What’s so funny?” The look on his face made both women burst out into laughter.
Joseph shook his head as he picked up a full coffee pot and mumbled something about women as he walked back into the dining room.
Charity winked at Holly. “You know, Joseph looks at you a little like Jason looks at me.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open for a moment before she said, “What? I just met him.”
“You’re beautiful, and I’m sure he noticed. After all, he is a man.”
“True,” Holly admitted. “But, I’m not here to find a man.”
“I know you told me why you left Chicago, but why Belle?” Charity’s blue eyes filled with questions.
Holly slowly shook her head. “When I saw how much money Mister Royalton tossed at me, I had to decide how much to spend on leaving and how much I might need to live on once I arrived somewhere. The ticket agent at the train station suggested Belle. He said his brother has been here a few times and it was a nice safe place to live. I think he was worried about me traveling alone to a strange town without knowing anyone.”
Charity nodded. “It was a good decision. Belle is a wonderful town, and now you have friends.”
A broad smile crossed Holly’s face, “I do have that, and I do miss my old employer, Miss Constance, but she will be pleased to know that I am safe. Oh my, I should write to her. I’m sure it will be all over town that Matthew didn’t marry me. She did warn me and will wonder where I am.”
“You could send her a telegram. Why don’t we walk to the office now before Joseph wants to teach you my job,” Charity suggested.
“That’s a good idea. We could hurry there and be back soon. I don’t want Joseph to be upset with me before I start to work,” Holly answered as she slipped on her coat.
When Charity donned her coat the two women hurried through the dining room chatting and ignoring a surprised Joseph as he watched both his waitresses walk out the door and down the road.
Holly breathed a sigh of relief that Miss Constance wouldn’t worry once she received the telegram that she was safe and would follow up with a long letter. On the way back to the café, Charity suggested they stop at the mercantile so she could pick up a few things she needed for home and her children.
An hour later, Holly and Charity walked back into the café to find a scowling Joseph filling coffee cups at three tables.
“Oh, no,” Holly stammered. “I was supposed to be here working. Well, I can certainly serve coffee. It was one skill Miss Constance taught me. A lady always needs to know how to serve she’d tell me each time we had tea.”
Charity nodded her agreement. “Just start serving, and I’ll make sure Joseph isn’t grumpy.”
Holly hung her coat on a hook near the door, picked up a coffee pot, smiled at the customers, and filled coffee cups asking if they wanted anything else. Joseph watched Holly with furrowed eyebrows and a slight frown until Charity whispered, “She’s a wonderful person, Joseph and has been through a lot. Be kind.”
“I am kind,” Joseph retorted. “I just didn’t expect the two of you to disappear leaving me to deal with the customers alone.”
Charity quickly explained why she and Holly had to leave and kissed Joseph on the cheek. “I have to go. I said I’d be home early and by now Ben and Annie will be up from their naps. I’ll be back in the morning. Remember, be nice.”
Joseph hugged her and gently pushed her toward the door. “Go home. Miss Martin and I will get along perfectly as long as we don’t have a rush and she drops a lot of plates.”
Charity suggested, “Make stew. Bowls are easier to carry.” She waved as she hurried out the door.
“Stew,” Joseph mumbled. “I could make that the special tonight. Maybe bowls will be easier for Miss Martin to carry. Beef stew, biscuits, and apple pie. What could go wrong?”
Joseph smiled as he began the night’s dinner special doing his best to keep an eye on Holly who seemed to be charming all the customers.
Chapter Four
Holly absorbed all the information Joseph offered that afternoon and felt comfortable enough to begin serving supper as the café began to fill. She brought bowls of stew, plates of biscuits, and coffee with a smile and
