Four young women each brave challenges at the dawn of the 20th century. Will they overcome their hardships and find love?
Three Rings for Alice
Love and respect in 1899 Milwaukee is as close as a phone call.
Forgiven
When Henry and Jessie meet, it seems to be love at first sight until a shocking revelation tears them apart.
The Pocket Watch
Looking for the past, an orphan and a young doctor find love and hope for the future.
Flames of Hope
Love ignites in the midst of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Excerpt
Copyright © 2013
Lisa Lickel, Paula Mowery, Kathleen Rouser, Teena Stewart
Alice Smith clasped her hands inside
her rabbit muff and scurried across the frozen cobbled rubble
that was Wells Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The usual weekday
hustle, with clattering wagons stopping for deliveries, the
shouts of boys chasing each other, shopkeepers hawking wares,
and stony-faced maids on errands, was absent for the Sabbath
rest. She and her friend, Minnie Kelly, were on their way back
to Mrs. Robert’s Boarding Establishment for Young Ladies after
attending a rousing service at Brother Amos’s Christian Servants
Congregation. An imposing shadow cast by the spire of
Milwaukee’s new city hall caught hold of Alice’s attention to
the exclusion of all else. She studied the tapered outline ahead
of her, as if it pointed toward her doom. She slowly lifted her
face to the real building under construction and shivered. The
edifice reminded her of the tower of Babel she had heard about a
half hour earlier. Brother Amos’s stirring words rang in her
mind with descriptions of ancient carpenters and bricklayers,
clad in linen loincloths. She half expected such a man to come
down the road, trundling a load of mortar. Though he would
surely freeze if he were not wearing more than a loincloth.
Minnie barreled into her side like a derailed locomotive, and
shoved her onto the curb just in time to avoid being struck by
one of those rickety horseless carriages.
“I
don’t know how those ghastly things can be allowed on the
streets,” Minnie complained, as she shook her tiny fist at the
careening vehicle. She gave her long green-checkered skirt a
twist and shake to straighten her taffeta petticoats. Alice
trembled, thankful for the strength of her friend, the top of
whose head reached only as far as Alice’s nose. All spunk and
vinegar, Minnie was, while Alice was practical as a modern woman
should be.
“What were you dreaming about, anyway, silly?” Minnie demanded.
“It’s not like you to daydream.”
Alice took a few calming breaths, such as she would take before
her calisthenics routine. “Oh, you gave me a fright, Min.”
“I
believe it was the Trundel boys in their obnoxious motor car,
not me.”
Alice smiled and puckered her lips. She straightened Minnie’s
bonnet over her friend’s red corkscrew curls, retied the
ribbons, and thanked heaven for such a guardian angel. “I was
just wondering about my future.”
“Worrying, you mean.” Minnie turned the conversation away from
the serious subject, like always. “You’ve got your new blue wool
on, I see. That jacket makes you look as professional as any
man. I meant to compliment you earlier. It matches your eyes. I
shall never have as lovely skin as yours no matter how many milk
and honey washes I perform.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Alice patted her hat into place. “The
suit cost two weeks’ worth of board money. I’ve been so anxious
about losing my job. I know I shouldn’t have, though I needed
new clothes, and I had been saving.” She stared at the
strikingly tall city hall building. “Oh, Minnie, the dedication
ceremony is already next Monday. Christmas is just ruined for
me. Mayor Koch said they decided to install those new rotary
telephones. They won’t need a switchboard operator any more.
What’ll I do?”
The
diminutive Minnie clutched Alice by the elbow and pulled her
toward Mrs. Robert’s three-story Victorian. “It’s too cold to
stand about moping. Did the mayor release you from service?”
“No.”
“Then go back to being the practical Alice who has no time for
gadfly notions. Oh, Alice, you practically run the place. You
know just how to talk to people so they don’t get annoyed, and
you know everyone’s schedule. Without you, the whole city would
stumble to a halt.”
She
and Minnie clattered the few hollow steps up to the gray painted
porch and crossed the wide boards. Minnie opened the wooden
door. Eau de Yankee Pot Roast, Mrs. Robert’s Sunday special,
caressed them while they hung their wraps. “Besides, you could
always work for Emma at her stenography business.”
“True. I love the switchboard, though. Are we still meeting the
boys and Selma later?”
Minnie grinned. “Right. At the Baby Park.”
“Don’t be so romantic, Min. Baby Park is just a name. You don’t
have to get all weak in the knees at the thought. We’re modern
women. And besides, you know Frank will propose to you soon.”
“I’ll wait for Harry and Selma first.” Minnie laughed then
sobered as they took their seats at the lace-covered dining
table, joining two other ladies and the dour but kind Mrs.
Robert, who nodded grimly and led the meal time prayer.
Alice reached for the bread basket and plucked a golden brown
roll. “I’m never marrying, of course.” After growing up at the
Protestant Orphan Asylum, no one would dictate her every move,
her every breath, ever again.
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