All the usual disclaimers!
New York City
The morning dawned grey and dull, and the rain battering against her window woke Emma Jane from a troubled sleep. In her dreams she had seen Hank in the distance and had tried to run towards him, but her feet seemed to be stuck to the floor and although she called out to him, she couldn't appear to make a sound. Carolyn was also in the dream, her laughing face inches from Emma Jane's and then moving further and further away to join Hank. She awoke with a start and realised she was sweating.
"Oh for goodness sake," she chided herself, swinging her legs over the bed and standing up. Victoria was still sleeping peacefully in her cot and for a while, Emma Jane had no desire to wake her. She washed in the bowl provided and then selected one of her better dresses, a deep green colour which highlighted her fiery hair. She stood looking out of the window at the street below, her mind made up. She was going to get a job today, although she had absolutely no idea where. There were few things she was in any way qualified to do, serving behind a bar being one, but for some reason, she didn't feel as though that was what would be accepted.
She turned back to her daughter and roused her gently, "Wake up sleepyhead." Victoria protested loudly at being woken and wailed.
"No, no, no!" she protested, this being her favourite word at the moment, "No Mama, no!"
"Come on sweetheart," Emma Jane took her over to the bowl and gave her a good wash, "You're going to help Mama find a job today, aren't you?" When she had finished washing her, Emma Jane dressed Victoria in a pretty pink dress and then carried her downstairs to the kitchen. As she peered through the door, she was thankful to see that Carolyn was nowhere in sight.
"Mornin' Emma Jane," Mrs Kimble greeted her heartily, "Sleep well?"
"Yes thank you," she lied, sitting down at the table. Mrs Kimble passed her a plate containing a slice of bread and some strange looking meat substance and a small helping for Victoria.
"Hope we didn't make too much noise last night," Mrs Kimble continued, "But we do like a good time in this place."
"No, not at all."
Mrs Kimble greeted a few other people who came into the kitchen and sat down at the table before she turned back to Emma Jane, "So," she said, "how do ya know our Carolyn then?"
"She…we used to live in the same town."
"I see," Mrs Kimble's eyes shone with the desire for gossip, "Where was that then?"
"Colorado Springs."
"Back west?" Emma Jane nodded, "What kind of place is it?"
"Very nice," Emma Jane replied, forcing down the meat, and turning to help Victoria with hers, "Small, but nice."
"Carolyn don't talk much about there."
"Well, she left a number of years ago and I haven't seen her until now," Emma Jane closed her mouth, fearing she may go too far.
"Hmmm…" Mrs Kimble regarded her steadily, "So, what are your plans for today then?"
Thankful for the change of subject, Emma Jane forced a smile on her face, "I'm going to try and find a job."
"Really? What kind of job?"
"I'm not sure. Anything that pays well, I suppose."
"Doubt you'll have much luck round here. Lot of folks without a job. What can ya do?"
Emma Jane didn't want to reveal that all she could do was pour whiskey, so she played dumb, "Not much. I'm hoping someone might give me a chance though."
"Ya should try the market," Mrs Kimble said, "Might find someone there willin' to give ya a try."
"Thank you," Emma Jane stood up, "I will. And, thank you for breakfast." If you could call it that.
"No worries, darlin', no worries," Mrs Kimble replied, "Have a nice day now."
Emma Jane lifted Victoria into her arms and made her way towards the door of the boarding house. Just as she reached it, it opened and Carolyn stepped in, her wet hair plastered to her head, her cheeks red with the chill of the morning air. The two women eyed each other for a long moment and Emma Jane waited for the stinging remark, but it never came. Carolyn lowered her eyes and pushed past her towards the kitchen, where Emma Jane heard her being greeted by Mrs Kimble.
She pushed the door open and stepped outside. Instantly the rain battered against her and, having no umbrella to shield her, she instantly felt herself getting soaked. Still, she ploughed gamely onwards up the side-street and out onto the main road. In the distance, she could hear the sound of market traders hawking their wares, their voices rising out of the damp, grey morning. Putting her head down, and holding Victoria close to her, she walked in the direction of the voices, until she began to make out various market stalls and the people working them.
She wandered along, glancing at the stalls and the wares they sold, wondering if there was anything she might be good at. Some of them, for example the stalls selling whole, dead pigs, made her want to vomit back up her breakfast, but the others, the ones selling clothes or jewellery, looked a better bet. How hard could it really be?
"Excuse me?" she approached a thickset lady selling what looked like cheap dresses.
"You looking for a dress, my love?" she asked in a voice that was distinctively English.
"Oh, no, I'm not," Emma Jane replied, "I was wondering…well, whether you were looking for anyone to help you. On your stall, I mean," she added, seeing the look of confusion on the other woman's face.
"Help on the stall?"
"Yes. I'm…I'm looking for a job and I thought…" Emma Jane was cut off by the raucous laughter of the woman, "I'm sorry…what's so amusing?"
"You are, my love," the woman replied, "Thinking that I can afford to take on staff!" She laughed again, "Can barely cover me own costs."
"Oh…I see," Emma Jane replied, "Well, would you happen to know of anyone who may need some help? I really am in need of work." She hoisted Victoria further up into her arms.
"She's lovely," the woman said, tickling Victoria's cheek, "but I'm sorry love. Ain't nobody round here got enough pennies to pay anybody else. We're all struggling to make ends meet as it is. Times are hard and business isn't that good."
"I understand," Emma Jane smiled wanly, "Thank you anyway." She turned to leave when the woman called her back.
"How desperate are you?" she asked.
"Well…quite."
"Why don't you pop into the Black Bull? It's on the corner of the next street. Sure Danny might have something for you. If you don't mind going into a public house that is?" The woman looked her up and down.
"Thank you," Emma Jane replied, wondering what the woman would have said if she had told her she had lived the last ten years in a saloon. Turning, she made her way through the market towards the corner of the street where the Black Bull loomed before her. It was clearly a British establishment, the flag of St George flying above the door. It didn't look anything like the saloon. A large building built of brick with a heavy door and proper windows. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately assaulted with the smell of tobacco and whiskey, familiar scents that made her ache for home.
The customers stopped and looked at her, in pretty much the same way they had back in Colorado Springs in the beginning. Emma Jane hurried forward to the bar where a young woman, her dress falling off one of her shoulders was holding a tankard of beer.
"Excuse me," Emma Jane said quietly, "I'm looking for someone called Danny?"
"I'm Danny," an English voice said behind her. She turned to see a man, most likely in his early forties, looking back at her. "What can I do for you?"
"One of the women on the market said that you might be looking for staff," Emma Jane replied.
"Staff?" he looked her up and down, "I think you must be in the wrong place darling."
"I have experience," she told her, "I worked in a saloon back west for ten years."
"Did you now?" he said, his eyes falling on Victoria," She yours?"
"Yes."
He glanced at the woman behind the bar, "As it goes, I am short of barmaids. I'm willing to give you a go."
"About my daughter…"
"No children allowed."
"I understand that, but I have no-one else to look after her," Emma Jane said, "I thought perhaps, if you had rooms upstairs, I might be able to bring her with me. I could check on her during the day." She searched his face, "Please. I really do need a job."
Danny nodded, "A'right, you can bring her with you. But I don't want her causing any trouble, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand," Emma Jane said with relief, "When can I start?"
"Come back tomorrow. I'll get you acquainted with everyone, how's that?"
"That's great, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she made her way back through the crowds in the bar and back out into the fresh air. She turned to look back at the building behind her. It wasn't ideal, but it would do.
SSSS
"You're working where?" Thomas demanded that afternoon, "Emma Jane, you can't be serious!"
"I am serious!" she replied, wrapping her cold hands around a cup of Cook's hot tea, "I need a job, Thomas. I've got rent to pay."
"But…in the Black Bull of all places!"
"I lived in the saloon for ten years," she reminded him.
"That was different."
"How?"
"Well…Hank was there and…you were married to him and…it was just different." He stood up and looked at her, "What's Father going to say about all this?"
"We won't tell him," Emma Jane said, "Tell him I got a job in a dress shop or something."
"Couldn't you have done that? Couldn't you have tried one of the dress shops instead of a local bar?"
"To be honest, I don't know anything about selling dresses. The only thing I know how to do properly is pour whiskey." She sighed at his exclamation of frustration, "I'm not saying I'll do it forever, but it's something to give me some money to start with."
He sat down opposite her, "I don't like it."
"Neither do I, but it's a job. Besides, Hank always said I was good with the customers."
Thomas regarded her for a moment, "Why won't you tell me what really happened between you and Hank?" She looked away, "I know something did."
"I've told you, we just…had our differences."
"And that made you up sticks and come all the way back to New York? I don't believe it."
"Believe what you like, Thomas, it's the truth."
"You loved that man, Emma Jane. I saw it in your eyes on more than one occasion. And he loved you. I don't believe for one minute he was happy to let you just leave."
"It wasn't up to him!" she shot back, "It was my decision!"
"But why?"
"I can't tell you," she said, "it's private."
"Emma Jane…" he touched her shoulder gently, "I'm your brother, your only brother. And you're my only sister. We've always been so close, able to tell each other everything. Why can't you tell me this?"
"Please don't press me," she begged him, "some things are just better left between a husband and a wife. Anyway…" she latched onto another subject, "why haven't you got a young lady friend yet?" He blushed, "You're older than me, Thomas. Isn't it about time you found someone to help you carry on the Brown name?"
He grinned ruefully, "I suppose."
"Well?"
"There's a few young ladies I'm interested in."
"A few?"
"Well, one in particular. Her father is an important customer at the bank. Does a lot of business with Father."
"What's her name?"
"Clara."
"Clara who?"
"Now who's being nosy?" he joked, "Clara Bowman."
"Not Georgina Bowman's daughter?"
"The very same."
"Oh Thomas!" Emma Jane remembered clearly how rude the woman had been to her at Lydia's funeral, "You can't really be thinking of marrying into that family, can you?"
"Clara's not like her mother," Thomas insisted, "She's sweet and kind and gentle." His eyes took on a faraway look, "And she's beautiful."
"So, are you courting her?"
"We've been to the opera a few times," he revealed.
Emma Jane grinned, "Does she make you happy?"
"Yes, I suppose she does."
"Then I'm happy for you. Even if she is related to that…old hag." They both laughed as the door to the kitchen opened and Mr Brown entered.
"Emma Jane," he greeted her warmly, "Won't you join us for dinner? Your mother has gone out – again."
"Oh, no thank you Father," she replied, standing up, "I really want to get to the post office before it closes. I've got a letter to send to Hank."
"I'll walk you," Thomas offered.
"No, there's no need, really," she assured him, "It's not far and then I can head back to the boarding house in time for dinner." She lifted Victoria up into her arms, "Perhaps I'll call again towards the end of the week. With that, she bid them good bye and left through the back kitchen door. As she emerged from the alleyway into the main street, she was stunned to hear a familiar voice.
"Well, well, well, Mrs Lawson." It was Carolyn, "Visiting our family were we?"
Emma Jane turned to her, "Have you been following me?"
"You could say that. All the way to the Black Bull and back again." She walked towards her, "You got yourself a job in there?"
"As a matter of fact, I have," Emma Jane lifted her chin.
"I see," Carolyn replied. When she reached Emma Jane, her smile dropped and she leaned in close, "Word of advice. You don't want to work in there. Things go on."
"It can't be any worse than the saloon, can it?"
Carolyn paused, "I pity you. I really do." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Emma Jane standing, confused and a little concerned.
Trying to put Carolyn out of her head, however, she hurried along to the post office to send her letter before it closed. It had taken her ages to write it, to find the right words, and then, in the end, it had only been a few simple lines which conveyed nowhere near what she really felt.
When she arrived back at the boarding house, she was just in time for dinner, a mixture of meat and some kind of vegetable which she couldn't identify. After forcing down as much as she could, she retired to her room with Victoria and picked up one of the books she had brought with her. After only reading a few pages, however, she was distracted by a noise from the street below.
Crossing to the window, Emma Jane was surprised to see Carolyn involved in an argument with a man. She was struggling against him and screaming, while the man yelled back at her. In two minds as to whether or not she should do something, Emma Jane watched as the door below her opened and Mrs Kimble ran out, followed by Peter and his brother Kevin. At the sight of the mob, the man released Carolyn and bolted back up the street, Kevin in hot pursuit. Carolyn was crying, and Mrs Kimble pulled her into her arms before helping her back indoors.
Emma Jane moved back to her bed from the window and sat back down. This really was the strangest of places. It was New York, but not as she knew it.
Colorado Springs
Hank opened the letter that Horace had handed him, his hand shaking slightly, for he saw it was written in Emma Jane's handwriting. He opened the pages and read the few words.
XXX
Dear Hank,
We have arrived safely in New York. Victoria and I are both well and adapting to our new surroundings. Father and Thomas have been most welcoming, although I have yet to see Mother. I am staying at the boarding house of a Mrs Kimble. The address is over the page. It is basic, but at least it is a roof over our heads, and I hope to get a job soon to help with the rent. I hope you are well and do send my regards to all in town.
Yours,
Emma Jane.
XXX
He stared at the page for a long time after reading it, his eyes trailing over the words, yet not taking anything in. In the bar, the customers were loud and noisy, enjoying their beer and the company of the girls. Putting the letter into his pocket, he pushed open the door and headed back inside, pouring himself a whiskey. To hear that she was safe gave him some comfort at least, but he couldn't bear to think of her working where he couldn't watch over her, couldn't make sure she stayed safe.
"But you didn't keep her safe, did you?" his inner voice said loudly, "You let her get hurt. It's your fault this all happened."
"Hey Hank!" Jake called from a nearby table, "Ya want in on this game?"
Hank swallowed against the lump in his throat and lit a cigarette. "Sure," he said, walking over and drawing up a chair, "Why not?"
