Johnny woke to feel sun on his face. Wondering what time it was, he pushed aside the heavy quilts that covered him and stood up from his brass four poster bed. Looking out the window onto the back yard of the hotel, he realized it was probably much later than he usually got to sleep – it felt good to sleep in, but he was a bit surprised that he had. Washing his hands and face quickly using the pitcher and basin on his dresser, he dressed and headed downstairs, wondering about breakfast. He came across Sue looking at the mail in the lobby, and she looked up at him, smiling slightly. "Good morning, you slept late." She continued "it's after nine – you missed breakfast, but you might be able to convince Polly to make you somethin' in the kitchen."
Johnny smiled at the thought and pushed his way through the door. "Polly" he said, seeing the woman standing at the counter with her hands in a big bowl of dough. She looked at him and put her finger to her lips and then motioned him to come in. When the door closed behind him, she pointed to the corner where Martha stood facing. Johnny leaned his back against the kitchen door, watching to see what was happening. "Okay, Martha" she said, "come over here and tell me why you were in the corner." The little girl walked over to her mother, looking down at her feet. Her mother put her hand under her chin, pulling the girl's face up so that their eyes could meet. She then put her hand back down. "I ain't supposed to hang around the front of the hotel, unless someone's with me", the little girl answered contritely. "Why not?" her mother questioned. "Because it is busy and dangerous, and because it ain't proper for a young girl to be hangin' out in front of a hotel, even if she lives there. But Mama, I was only tryin' to help the delivery man!" the little girl attempted to explain. "I know you were only tryin' to be helpful Martha, and that is why we're here right now and not talkin' about this in your room", her mother said with some firmness to her voice, looking down at the girl with a slight frown. Martha squirmed slightly when her mother mentioned 'talking in her room'. "Next time a delivery comes, you come and get someone to help – you do not go out to help. You could get hurt. Or you could get the delivery people hurt by being in the way." "Yes ma'am", the little girl replied, looking back down at her feet. "Now go outside", Polly admonished, "but you stay in the backyard today". "But Mama, I'm supposed to go see Nancy's kittens today" the little girl complained, looking back up at her mother. "Martha, you stay in the backyard – you can go see the kittens tomorrow. Hopefully by then you will be remembering to stay where you're supposed to". "Yes Ma'am", the little girl replied, looking down and heading out the door.
Polly looked at Johnny and smiled. He moved closer to her, looking at the contents of the bowl. "Are you just up?" she asked. He nodded, "Sue said I should come in and you might be able to fix me some breakfast". "I'll see what I can find" she replied, taking a plate and heading behind the leather curtain, which he now realized led into a cold room which they also used for storage. She returned with a piece of ham on the plate and two eggs. She looked at him, and he smiled at the sight, watching her head to the stove. "Sue and I manage breakfast by ourselves", she explained, "the cook comes in for lunch and dinner. I use this between time to get the baking done." He spied a bowl of apples resting on the counter and walked over to it, picking one and holding it up slightly. She nodded at him and he took a bite. After chewing and swallowing, he looked at her with a small smile and said "glad I had permission – wouldn't want ta have ta stand in the corner," he teased. Polly gave a small laugh. "I don't imagine that a little time in the corner would scare you too much" she replied, looking up at him as she reached for a plate from a shelf by the stove. She plated the freshly fried ham and cracked the eggs directly into the pan. She then reached into a cupboard and pulled out a basket containing a couple of biscuits which she quickly walked over to the table after reaching into another spot for some cutlery. Heading back to the stove after she had placed the items she was carrying down, she put the eggs on the plate beside the ham, picked up the now filled plate and brought that to the table for him, along with some butter and jam. Going back to the stove, she picked up the coffee pot, poured some into a cup and brought that over as well. Johnny walked the short distance to the table and sat down, looking happily at his plate. He sensed Polly moving around him, and noticed that she was going back to her bowl of dough.
He ate silently, watching the woman out of the corner of his eye as she shaped the bread into loaves and then started to make a cake. Looking at the pies already on the counter, he realized she had been quite busy and wondered at the amount of work it took to run the hotel. "What kinda cake are you makin'?" he asked. She smiled at his question "shortcake – Martha's mentionin' of it yesterday reminded me we have some strawberry preserves from last year that I can use. Also, it's her favourite and we ain't had it for a while". He noticed the smile that was on her face as she mixed the batter, seemingly happy with her work and he chuckled slightly. She shot him a questioning look, and he smiled at her and said "I'm just thinkin' about how happy you seem". "I am" she replied, shrugging slightly. "I like what I do." He smiled again. "I'm glad" he said, surprised at the words – and the fact that they were true. He finished his cup of coffee "Thanks for the breakfast. I'm goin, to see Barranca now – I'll see you later." "Johnny?" she called as he headed out the door. "Yes" he replied. "Umm … would you like to join us for supper again?" she asked, seemingly uncertain for a moment. "That would be nice" he replied, realizing he was looking forward to seeing her again, "see you at 7:30".