Johnny entered the lobby, hurrying as he was a few minutes late. Barranca seemed to be feeling better- he actually let his foot touch down for a brief second or two, making Johnny hopeful that they could leave soon. He pushed open the door to the kitchen, taking in the sight before him. Polly and Sue were placing platters of food on a scarred, round, wooden table with four chairs set around. A heavy-set, older woman was pulling an apron over her head while walking to the back door, preparing to leave. The dishwasher – a young man with light brown hair and the beginnings of a mustache – was putting away the last pot, his eyes on the woman taking off the apron. She turned and said to him "come on, Bobby, walk me home – it ain't safe out there for a woman alone at this hour." Bobby smiled and putting down his dishtowel, called out "see you tomorrow" heading towards the door. Sue and Polly responded "see you tomorrow Bobby. See you Muriel – great food today!". He had the feeling this was a well-practiced dance, with everyone playing their role.
Polly walked over to some stairs that were hidden in the corner and called up "Martha, dinner", while smiling at Johnny. He moved to the table, seating himself in a chair. Martha came running down the stairs at a ferocious pace, slowing as her mother said "no runnin' inside, young lady". She came over and started setting the table, sitting down when everyone had their plate and cutlery. When Polly and Sue finally sat down, the food was passed around without much discussion. He noticed Martha pass the peas to her mother without taking any, but her mother put a spoonful on her plate. The girl looked at them with a grimace. "Remember, if you don't eat your vegetables, no dessert" Polly admonished lightly.
Johnny leaned over to the little girl "I don't like peas much either" he whispered conspiratorially. "I don't know why we have to eat them", the little girl pouted. "Well, I was always told they help you grow big and strong and keep you healthy", he said, smiling slightly at the pout. "Yeah, I know", she replied, "but why do they have to taste so bad?"
"Do you know what's for dessert? Is it worth it?" Johnny asked, continuing to whisper. "Yeah" the little girl said, smiling, "Mama made chocolate cake this morning and I know there is some left." "Oohhh", he replied, "I think chocolate cake is worth eatin' a few peas for". "I know", Martha said, "but …" she left the rest of it unsaid as Polly looked at her, motioning for her to start to eat.
"So Johnny", said Polly, looking at his vegetable-free plate and passing the peas to him, "how is Barranca doin'?". Johnny picked up the bowl and put a spoonful on his plate, giving them a look similar to the one Martha had earlier. "He seems comfortable. I'm hoping by tomorrow he'll be able to put a bit of weight on his foot. If so, then I should be able to head out the next day". Sensing Martha watching him, he scooped some peas with his fork and put them in a mouth, chewing as little as possible and swallowing quickly. He looked at the little girl and smiled as if to say 'that wasn't so bad'.
The rest of the meal passed with light conversation about the hotel, some of the guests and some news from town – Martha sharing that her friend Nancy's cat had had kittens the other day and Nancy's mother had thought they could see them tomorrow. Polly narrowed her eyes slightly looking at the girl and said "we're not getting' a cat", but Martha just looked at her mother and smiled sweetly. Johnny suspected she was already preparing her arguments for when the kittens were ready to leave home.
As everyone finished, Sue and Martha cleared the plates to the sink, stacking them carefully. Polly went through an entrance way covered with a heavy piece of leather. She returned quickly with four slices of chocolate cake, already on plates. She passed them to everyone's spot and offered coffee to the adults, shaking her head at Martha when the look girl looked at her hopefully.
Johnny took a bite of cake and was amazed at the richness and texture - this would rival Maria's (not that he would ever tell the woman that). "Wow, this is amazing, Polly. Did you make this?". "Yes, Johnny," she replied. "I do most of the baking around here. My mama was a great baker, and she taught me." "Wow", he continued "it might not be so bad if I have to stay here if I can have somethin' like this every night". Polly smiled at the compliment and blushed slightly – something else he couldn't remember having seen her do. He found himself looking into her eyes and smiling slightly at what he saw there – the warmth, the laughter, the slight embarrassment at his compliment.
"You should try Mama's strawberry shortcake" Martha exclaimed, breaking the momentary spell. "It's the best anywhere – she entered it in the fair last year and won a ribbon!" "Really," replied Johnny, "I wish I coulda been around for that," and he smiled as Polly flushed lightly at her daughter's statement.
They finished their desserts in companionable silence, with Martha picking up the plates and taking them to the sink. She then went over to where her mother was sitting and whispered something in her ear. "Well, why don't you ask him?" Polly said, smiling at her daughter. "But he might have plans" she continued in a warning tone. "Johnny?" Martha asked, moving a little closer to him, "would you like to play checkers?". Johnny smiled at the girl, surprised at her comfort with him – they had only just met. "Sure, querida", he replied, "that would be fun". The little girl ran from the table to the back room, coming back with the board and pieces.
They set up the game and played, while Polly and Sue cleaned up from supper. He noticed how Martha leaned forward on her chair, excited at the game, seemingly caught up in the movements. When Polly finished the washing she came over to the table, and Sue continued drying and putting the dishes away. Martha stood up from her chair and Polly then sat down on the same one, with Martha then sitting on her mother's lap. Her mother put a light kiss on her cheek and smoothed her hair. He managed for Martha to win the game, and enjoyed seeing how excited she got when she took his last piece. "Martha", Polly said when they had finished "time for bed". "But Mama," the child started to say "now Martha" her mother said with a hint of steel, before the child could continue. "I'll come up and read you a story when you're ready", said Sue, "if you go quickly". The child smiled, stood up from her chair and turned to Johnny, "thanks for the game" she said, suddenly moving towards him and putting her arms around him in a quick hug. Johnny was surprised at first, but returned the embrace, patting her back lightly. "Good night, querida" he said, "see you tomorrow". He watched the girl and her mother head up the stairs.
Sue looked at Johnny for a moment. "Polly told me what happened with you and your brother when Martha was born. It was nice for y'all to help her that way", she said, studying him carefully. "I remember you from before, you know", she continued suddenly, "and Polly told me about your father and how things changed." "Well, sometimes life takes you different places" Johnny said somewhat pointedly, looking at the woman and thinking about what Polly had said about her past. Sue looked at him, understanding the challenge he was putting forward. "Yes, sometimes it does", she replied, "but you got to be able to see the possibilities."
They looked away from each other when Polly entered the kitchen. "She's ready for you, Sue" she said to her friend. "She was mentionin' somethin' 'bout three stories tonight". "We'll see," the other woman replied smiling. Sue headed across the kitchen, saying "see you later, Johnny" and patting Polly on the shoulder on her way past. She then went up the stairs
Polly came and sat at the table with Johnny. "Would you like some more coffee?" she asked. He nodded yes, and she got up to get the pot, filling his cup and one for herself. "Tell me about, Sue?" he asked. She looked at him questioningly. Seemingly happy with what she could read on his face, she started to speak. "Well, when I first started working in the saloon, Sue was there. She was like a big sister to a lotta us younger girls, but for some reason, her and I really hit it off. She helped me a lot – originally, I was just servin' tables and helpin' in the kitchen, but as I got older, she helped me with the other … things that were goin' on". She looked at him, and he nodded his understanding. "Anyway," she continued. "She had been sort of seein' Martin for a while – from before I met her. He was a gambler – not one of those hard ones, but one of the charmin' ones – always had a smile, maybe even a joke for people. He could be hard – he had to be doin' that - but he never started anythin' and if he could, he would try to stop it before it got violent. So one night, he's playin' poker in the saloon, and someone throws this hotel into the pot, and doesn't Martin win. He gets this look on his face, like he was in shock, and then he looks at Sue and she looks back and they both smile. So, the next day, some of us girls are hangin' out in the kitchen, waitin' for the day to start, and Sue and Martin come in and say they've just gotten married and are movin' here to start a new life. So, we're congratulatin' them all and huggin' and everything, and Sue pulls me aside and says that she is goin' to write me, and that she wants me to write her, and that if I ever want somethin' different, to come to the hotel. We wrote back and forth for a bit, and every letter from her ended with her sayin' that if I want somethin' different, to come to the hotel. I sent her a letter tellin' when I married Frank – but never got a chance to write again after that … Frank and I moved around a bit.' She looked down at her hands at that point, and then took a drink of her coffee. 'Then, when I was tryin' to think of a place to go after Martha was born, I remembered Sue sayin' about comin' to her if I ever wanted somethin' different, so I came here."
Johnny smiled, remembering when they took her to the stage. He looked at her. "How did it go?". "You sure you want to hear all this?" she asked, looking at him. He smiled at her, a long slow smile that he hoped conveyed his interest. She smiled back, blushing slightly. "I'll never forget that trip. The stage ride was horrible – it was hot, and the stage broke down, and Martha cried most of the way. It ended up takin' five days. And when we finally got here, I pretty much looked like somethin' the cat dragged in from the heat and tryin' to deal with Martha. I came up the steps and in the door, and Sue was standin' behind the desk, puttin' mail in the slots and I said 'Sue, I want somethin' different.' And she turned and looked at me, and then rushed over from behind the desk and hugged me so tight. And Martha started to cry from bein' squeezed – I had been holdin' her all wrapped up in her blanket against my shoulder and I don't think Sue realized she was a baby. When she started to cry, Sue let me go and I put Martha down into my arms and Sue looked at her and asked 'who's this?' and I said 'this is Martha – we both want somethin' different, for the two of us'. And Sue looked at me and said "I have the perfect room for both of you – upstairs'. And she picked up my bag and started up the stairs. And we've been here ever since."
Johnny smiled at the end of the story. "So," Polly asked, "a story for a story – how is it really goin' with your family?". And Johnny talked – about how when Theresa started seeing Peter, a ranch hand, none of them had really thought he was good enough – they all wanted her to marry someone, well, someone important, with money and a future all outlined. But how he had worn them down with his easy manner, broad smile, and obvious love for the girl. How Murdoch had built them a little house not far from the hacienda so they could be close, and Theresa could visit frequently – particularly when Peter was away. And then the cattle drive, where he had gotten between some cows and a fence, and the cows suddenly turned, and he was stuck, and squeezed - something that could have happened to any of them. The long way home. Theresa's tears. The grief that came over her and how she moved back in with them because she couldn't live in their little house anymore. And how she was slowly coming back to being the happy girl she had been before, but wasn't quite there yet and he was worried she never would.
And he told her about Scott and the school teacher. And how they had a rather emotional relationship – there seemed to be a lot of tears and yelling and then silence – things that he just didn't associate with his brother, and that he didn't really like the woman but didn't feel he could say anything to Scott about it – for that matter, he didn't even want to talk to Murdoch about it. But that he worried how it would affect the life they had built together.
And then he talked about Murdoch. How they seemed to be getting along better these days – how he was accepting having a father. That they were beginning to show how much they cared for each other and that he was realizing that so much of the yelling was out of concern.
Johnny looked around, noticing that it seemed to be late – really late. He could hear the grandfather clock in the dining room striking 11, and was surprised that they had talked so long. Polly went to stand up, taking their coffee cups to the counter. Johnny watched her go, smiling at the domesticity he was seeing - again. She turned to look at him – "I need to go to bed" she said, "mornin' starts early here – and I'll be bakin' bread. See you tomorrow?" she questioned.
"Yeah," he replied "I don't think Barranca will be ready to head out for at least two more days." "Good night then – see you in the mornin'" she said, heading over to the stairs. Johnny watched her go up. "Good night" he replied, and then headed through the door to the lobby and up the stairs to his own room.