Hello again! as we count down to the July 15th release of What Shows the Heart. Today's short pre-release excerpt comes from Chapter 6.
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Mamie’s breakfast next morning came accompanied by the weekly newspaper. She could hardly help but notice the headline, “Bold Newcomer Prevents Invasion of Departing Marshal’s Farewell Festivities.” A reporter had come by the next day and pestered her into giving a short interview with few specifics. The reporter, or perhaps the editor, had filled in the gaps with colorful fiction. The drunken cowboy had transformed into three fearsome ruffians, over whom Jake prevailed due to his unusual strength and admirable courage. Mamie swallowed her mouthful of coffee before she could snort it out her nose. Would people actually believe such stuff, when there were plenty of eyewitnesses to gainsay it? Though they might not want to remind the townspeople that they had been part of a gathering at her scandalous establishment.
She was somewhat surprised to see Rena come into the kitchen with the Omaha Daily Bee. Mamie kept it in the parlor for the occasional customer to look at while waiting. What was Rena doing with it?
Rena had folded the paper to show the personals ads, and she was too excited to apologize for disturbing Mamie’s breakfast. “Look, ma’am! There’s a rich gentleman looking for ladies with what he calls worldly experience, because he wants a wife as knows what’s what, and —”
Mamie snatched the paper out of her hand. “Oh, of all the nonsense! Girl, if you want to work at another house, probably a place with a row of huts and a line of unwashed men waiting their ten-minute turn before the next man shoves in, and get charged so much for your cot and the slop they feed you that you just get deeper into debt and can’t run off without some corrupt local lawman dragging you back, then by all means write to the gentleman and see how you like it. You think it over and let me know — after I’ve had breakfast. Scoot!”
Rena stood there with her lip quivering, then turned on her heel and ran out sniffling. Mamie blew out an exasperated breath and took another sip of her coffee — lukewarm. She started to thrust it toward Cook, then got ahold of herself and stood up to bring it to her. “Could you throw this away, please, and bring me hotter?”
Waiting for her coffee and scooping up some eggs, which had also got less than agreeably hot, she read the offending ad and put the paper down. She was about to look for any news of interest when another ad caught her eye.
E. in Deliverance seeks news of his brother J., not seen in many years. Please send word to . . . .
Mamie dropped the paper on the table just as Cook brought her fresh coffee. She forced a smile and thanked her, hoping she’d managed to act normal. She sipped the coffee, too hot this time, and gulped it down even though it burned her mouth.
Of course it could be anyone from Deliverance, maybe someone who’d arrived there in recent years, whose name started with E and had a brother — anywhere — whose name started with J. Why would Ethan be spending the money to put ads in who knows how many papers? How could he even afford it? It probably had nothing to do with Jake.
But . . . why had Jake left home?
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