Before Savannah can speak the woman stomps down the street. Smothering a smile, Savannah marches through the gate sending a silent prayer. ‘Lord give me faith like Daniel, I have a feeling I’m going to need it.’
The housekeeper shows her to the sitting room, where she is surprised to find three other candidates waiting.
“Have a seat, it shouldn’t be long,” the housekeeper says with a smirk and walks away.
“Let’s get on with it. Time is wasting, and you aren’t getting any younger, Henrietta!” A sharp voice snarls from the other room.
Savannah glances at the worried expression on the other women. She knows that not many women have the experience of nursing cranky patients. It will be an asset when dealing with an elderly woman.
“Mother, you promised to be on your best behavior!” Henrietta’s exasperated voice says.
“Yes, well, that was before you paraded these creatures in front of me! What did you expect!”
Savannah isn’t surprised when one woman grabs her bag and marches from the house.
“Miss Telfer, Mother will see you next.”
Henrietta smiles when she sees Savannah and guides the young woman into the room. Savannah notices she’s dressed in her Sunday best and her hair is perfectly coifed. Unlike her own long, messy, braid. Perhaps she should have taken more care with her appearance?
Henrietta is desperate to find a suitable traveling companion who will tolerate her Mother’s demanding ways. Widowed two years now, Henrietta is re-marrying in a few weeks and the pay offered reflects the desperation. It will help get her to Iowa without her family having to worry.
When a teary-eyed woman rushes from the room, Savannah is startled. “No amount of money is worth this,” she shouts as she leaves.
Henrietta glances at the next woman, “Ms. Ryder, follow me please.”
Ms. Ryder is the best dressed of the lot. Beautiful, blond, curls, perfectly placed. A thin waist, tall elegant and lovely, she is a vision of perfection until she speaks. Her voice is quite nasally, as if she has a blockage or permanent cold.
“Lord have Mercy,” the older woman’s voice shouts. “I couldn’t stand to listen to that for days on end. Next!”
“Mother!” Henrietta hisses when Ms. Ryder leaps to her feet in outrage.
“How dare you!” Ms. Ryder shouts and stomps from the room slamming the door behind her.
Savannah glances at the room and frowns when Henrietta steps out and pats her hair with a trembling hand.
“Savannah, are you sure about this?”
Walking close to her friend, she squeezes her hand gently, “It will be alright. Why don’t you go get some tea?”
“Oh, Savannah, I don’t dare leave you alone with her!” she whispers.
“Well, is she coming in or not?” Her mother demands from behind them.
“Go on,” Savannah orders.
“If you’re sure,” Henrietta watches her walk into the room and hurries away to order tea service for three.
Savanna steps inside the large room and waits for her eyes to adjust to the change in light. Mrs. Kruger is not what Savannah was expecting. She’s tiny, like a living doll with silver tinged black curls and piercing brown eyes. Sitting in a burgundy velvet wingback chair next to a stunning ornate stone fireplace, with her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“Miss Savannah Ward at your service,” Savannah drops into a curtsy before rising and staring straight into her eyes.
“Good Lord, no wonder you aren’t married. Look at that hair!”
Savannah laughs out loud. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that. I’m afraid I can’t change it, though, my brother did help me try once.”
“He did?” Curiosity overrules her need to push people away. Savannah moves closer and smiles.
“Yes, we used saddle oil to try and dye it brown.”
“Oh, no!” As the image takes shape in her mind, Mrs. Kruger smiles, “What happened?”
“It turned green!”
“Surely, not?” she gasps.
“I assure you, and not a pretty emerald green or a lovely sage like your dress, but the green one would find on a dirty toad.” Savannah smooths a hand over her copper braid.
Mrs. Kruger’s eyes grow huge as she pictures the horror. “How did you get it out?”
“Mother had to cut it shorter than my brother’s hair, but that isn’t the worst part.”
“Sit down and tell me what could be worse?” she orders. Henrietta returns and is startled to find them in civilized conversation. Hope flares, and she quickly sets up the tea.
“You must understand that as it grew back, Mother had to shear it every few weeks to get all the colors out. The strangest part is that when my hair grew back, it was no longer straight, but curly,” she sighs and gestures at her head. “I simply don’t know how to tame it.”
Mrs. Kruger throws back her head and laughs out loud, startling Henrietta so much that she almost drops the teapot.
Henrietta pours the tea and mouths a silent thank you to her friend.
“You’ll do nicely, Miss Ward. Tell me about yourself.”
“I’m a trained nurse, and photographer. I traveled with the Sisters of Mercy for two years during the war. I spent the last year working with the church notifying the families on the whereabouts of their loved ones,” her smile fades, “the ones we’ve kept records of.”
“You’ve led an interesting life so far. I think we shall enjoy our travels together.”
“I think so too.”
An hour later, Henrietta sees her to the door and struggles to hide her tears. “Savannah, I can’t tell you what it means to me to know Mother will be under your care.”
“I promise to take good care of her. You’ll be free to enjoy your time with your new husband.” Savannah smiles when her friend blushes.
“I can’t wait!” Henrietta
