on his crystal dessert plate. “I asked Charles to join us for dinner because we have come up with another brilliant plan.”
Maggie glanced at the man across from her, and his lips tilted into a crooked smile. So he’s kept a secret from me too.
Daddy took hold of her hand that rested on the table beside her plate. “Maggie, your mother and I decided last night that it’s time for you to visit your grandmother. And since it’s been awhile since Georgia has been home, she’s going to accompany you.”
“Really?” Maggie felt like jumping up and hugging her father. She knew the trip was his idea. How had he ever convinced Florence it was a good thing?
“Yes, really.” Daddy tilted his head down to gaze at her.
“And you’re going, Aunt Georgia? That’s wonderful.” She wanted to laugh out loud and shout it from the rooftops. Finally she would get to do the thing she’d wanted to do for ever so long.
Georgia smiled at her. “I’ve been wanting to visit Mother, so when Joshua and Flo asked me, I jumped at the chance. It’s not really a good thing for a woman to travel alone that far, by train or any other means.”
“It’s hard to believe that I’m going to Arkansas.” Maggie stared out the window at the sky just as a bird soared by. Soon she would be as free as that bird.
Daddy gave her hand a squeeze, drawing her attention back to him. “And I’ve arranged for Charles to go with the two of you as an escort. I’d hate to send women who are precious to me on such a long trip without a man to look out for them. Not everyone in this country is honest. And there are scoundrels who would take advantage of unescorted women. You will be traveling through some parts of the country that aren’t as civilized as it is here in Seattle.”
Maggie shot a glance at Charles then pulled her hand away and clasped both of hers in her lap. “I don’t know what to say. Just how soon will this journey take place?”
Florence cleared her throat. “I told your father we’d be able to get both of you ready in a week, so he’s going to purchase tickets for that Monday. That is, if it’s all right with you.”
For a moment, Maggie couldn’t even think straight. She’d be going to Arkansas in about a week. She let that fact soak in. Then she jumped up and gave her father a hug followed by a hug for her mother. The quick embrace lingered when Florence clasped her close and didn’t let go. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had hugged her like that. She decided to enjoy it while she could. Sometime soon, she would have to ask her parents about the adoption paper she found. But that could wait until after she returned from Arkansas.
And Charles would be going with them. She glanced at him. Maybe they could get to know each other on a deeper level on the trip, since they were both more grown up than they were when they spent so much time together during their school years.
But Charles was watching Georgia, a small smile curving his lips. Maggie felt her heart sink just a little. The handsome Charles evidently had eyes only for her aunt.
Chapter 8
A week later Maggie stood on the platform of the Columbia and Puget Sound railroad depot with her parents and Aunt Georgia. A brisk gust blew her skirt against her legs and almost lifted her hat from her head. She grasped it with one hand and held it down.
Her father had purchased their tickets ahead of time, so when they got to the station, all he had to do was make sure their luggage was loaded. In addition to their carpetbags, which they would keep with them, Maggie and Georgia each had a trunk. These held not only their clothing and essentials but also gifts for Maggie’s grandmother.
Her family had arrived at the depot early, and Maggie wondered if Charles was going to miss the train. Finally, his driver brought him in his open landau. He climbed from the buggy, and his driver handed him a carpetbag and a leather portmanteau.
Maggie gazed across
Maggie glanced at the man across from her, and his lips tilted into a crooked smile. So he’s kept a secret from me too.
Daddy took hold of her hand that rested on the table beside her plate. “Maggie, your mother and I decided last night that it’s time for you to visit your grandmother. And since it’s been awhile since Georgia has been home, she’s going to accompany you.”
“Really?” Maggie felt like jumping up and hugging her father. She knew the trip was his idea. How had he ever convinced Florence it was a good thing?
“Yes, really.” Daddy tilted his head down to gaze at her.
“And you’re going, Aunt Georgia? That’s wonderful.” She wanted to laugh out loud and shout it from the rooftops. Finally she would get to do the thing she’d wanted to do for ever so long.
Georgia smiled at her. “I’ve been wanting to visit Mother, so when Joshua and Flo asked me, I jumped at the chance. It’s not really a good thing for a woman to travel alone that far, by train or any other means.”
“It’s hard to believe that I’m going to Arkansas.” Maggie stared out the window at the sky just as a bird soared by. Soon she would be as free as that bird.
Daddy gave her hand a squeeze, drawing her attention back to him. “And I’ve arranged for Charles to go with the two of you as an escort. I’d hate to send women who are precious to me on such a long trip without a man to look out for them. Not everyone in this country is honest. And there are scoundrels who would take advantage of unescorted women. You will be traveling through some parts of the country that aren’t as civilized as it is here in Seattle.”
Maggie shot a glance at Charles then pulled her hand away and clasped both of hers in her lap. “I don’t know what to say. Just how soon will this journey take place?”
Florence cleared her throat. “I told your father we’d be able to get both of you ready in a week, so he’s going to purchase tickets for that Monday. That is, if it’s all right with you.”
For a moment, Maggie couldn’t even think straight. She’d be going to Arkansas in about a week. She let that fact soak in. Then she jumped up and gave her father a hug followed by a hug for her mother. The quick embrace lingered when Florence clasped her close and didn’t let go. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had hugged her like that. She decided to enjoy it while she could. Sometime soon, she would have to ask her parents about the adoption paper she found. But that could wait until after she returned from Arkansas.
And Charles would be going with them. She glanced at him. Maybe they could get to know each other on a deeper level on the trip, since they were both more grown up than they were when they spent so much time together during their school years.
But Charles was watching Georgia, a small smile curving his lips. Maggie felt her heart sink just a little. The handsome Charles evidently had eyes only for her aunt.
Chapter 8
A week later Maggie stood on the platform of the Columbia and Puget Sound railroad depot with her parents and Aunt Georgia. A brisk gust blew her skirt against her legs and almost lifted her hat from her head. She grasped it with one hand and held it down.
Her father had purchased their tickets ahead of time, so when they got to the station, all he had to do was make sure their luggage was loaded. In addition to their carpetbags, which they would keep with them, Maggie and Georgia each had a trunk. These held not only their clothing and essentials but also gifts for Maggie’s grandmother.
Her family had arrived at the depot early, and Maggie wondered if Charles was going to miss the train. Finally, his driver brought him in his open landau. He climbed from the buggy, and his driver handed him a carpetbag and a leather portmanteau.
Maggie gazed across
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