by Marilyn Kensington
When Julia climbed aboard the train, she chided herself for not getting to the station sooner. At first glance, every empty seat seemed to be next to rough-looking characters, which didn't bode well for the eight hour trip to Hays City. Although Julia was looking forward to the adventure ahead, this was her first journey alone and she'd been hoping to sit next to someone who would help put her at ease.
Just as she began to despair, she spotted a well-dressed, middle-aged gentleman sitting by himself. He had thinning hair that had started to grey at the temples, and a neatly trimmed salt and pepper mustache. He exuded a grandfatherly air that was somehow comforting. Screwing up her courage, Julia approached the man and said, "Excuse me, sir, is the seat next to you taken?"
In a noticeable German accent, the gentleman replied, "No, my dear, but I would be honored if you'd sit with me and help pass the time at least part of the way to Hays City."
"Thank you so much. Actually I'm going all the way to Hays City myself. My name is Julia Ericsson, and I'm going to be working as a cook on a cattle ranch outside of town."
"Well, I'm very pleased to meet you, Julia. My name is Dr. Weiss. I have a practice in Hays City, but I've been here in Kansas City for the past couple of weeks enjoying some of the amenities one doesn't find in a small town on the prairie."
"Oh heavens, I've spent my whole life here, and I'm so fed up with city life, I can't wait to get away to somewhere where there isn't so much hustle and bustle."
"If you don't mind me asking, dear, just how old are you? You seem much too young to be traveling alone."
"I'm nineteen, but the past several years have been rough for me. My father died unexpectedly in '75. Luckily he left my mother and me a healthy nest egg, but unfortunately mom is now married to a man who only seems interested in her money."
"Why aren't you staying home to look after her?"
"I wish I could, but she never listens to me, and I can't stand living with my stepfather any longer. In a couple of years, I'll begin receiving money from a trust that my father set up, and until then, I want to experience life a bit. I've always loved reading about the Wild West, and when I decided that I wanted do something exciting before I settle down, I secured a job that will allow me to experience life on the frontier."
"My goodness, you certainly do sound like an adventuress, but now that the 1880s are here, I think that the Wild West you've read about your in novels is rapidly fading into history. Indian attacks, desperadoes, and gun fights in the streets are just a distant memory where we're headed. Even though things are safer than they've ever been, I still can't believe your mother is allowing you to take such a menial job so far from home."
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