Chapter One
"You travelin' far hon?" the old woman stared at her across the aisle of the train, twisting her handkerchief in her lace gloved hands. The woman wore a dark navy dress with white lace trim around the squared neckline, and a matching hat, with a feather in it. She had a very sweet round face, and her accent was quite southern.
"To Ft. Worth, yes." Trudy O'Toole glanced at the woman and her quick smile. With a graceful toss of her long, dark hair, she eyed the woman with precision.
"Sounds exciting. I'm going to have to visit Texas one day, I'm afraid I've only stopped here in Sherman a time or two and never long enough to enjoy looking around." The woman continued to watch her, her glance sliding slowly over Trudy's beautiful blue laced dress and down to her shoes. "Pardon me for staring, but that dress is so lovely, you look as though you are getting married or something."
Trudy looked at her dress, fingering the softness of it. "I guess it is a little much, isn't it? It's just I wanted to make a proper impression on my new boss."
"You're going to work?" the lady seemed interested, and amused.
"Yes, I'm going to be a cook." She answered with her confidence soaring momentarily.
"A cook, well goodness, you'll certainly make an impression in that dress, I can tell you. Cooks don't usually dress that well, at least not out here. Where you from honey?"
"St. Louis." The lady smiled at her. "It's too much isn't it?" Trudy suddenly frowned and let a soft sigh escape her lips. "I was afraid of that. It's just I didn't want to go looking like some poor orphan." She seemed suddenly bent on telling this woman everything. She had a sinking sensation she'd done everything wrong.
Seeing the frustration on Trudy's face, the old woman rushed to say, "Oh now honey, don't get me wrong, it's lovely as can be. But in that, someone liable to snatch you up to marry." She chuckled.
"I saw it in a window in St. Louis and I thought it so beautiful. I'm going to work for a rather affluent rancher. Tell me truthfully, am I way over-dressed?"
The woman stared with a twinkle in her eyes, "Is he a bachelor?"
"Oh, I have no idea. All I did was apply by mail for the job, listing my abilities of course." She told her.
"And he hired you on the spot?" the woman turned her head in question.
"Yes… by mail of course."
"Did you happen to send him your picture?" she asked with instant curiosity.
"N-no, of course not. I just sent him an acceptance letter, is all." She told her.
"My such formality, you must come from a fine family."
Trudy inwardly grimaced, remembering how she'd come to apply for the job. It was the Mayor's daughter that told her how to apply for work by mail and the manners she must use in doing so. Trudy followed her advice to the letter.
And she was thrilled when she received a letter back saying she had the job.
The old woman smiled brightly now, her twinkling blue eyes shining at Trudy, "Well, he certainly won't be disappointed in you."
Minutes later the woman departed but she went to touch her arm, "Good luck, honey. And knock 'em dead!" The woman shook with enthusiasm and a beaming smile.
Trudy watched the older woman walk out of the passenger car and an elder man greeted her at the station.