Free Westward the Dream by Tracie Peterson, Judith Pella Page A

Brenton Baldwin,” he replied, easily maneuvering through the remaining people separating them. “We’ve a carriage just over there.”
    â€œÂ â€™Tis yar sister Victoria who’d be married to me brother?” Caitlan questioned.
    The young man stopped in his tracks and smiled. “That’s right. I should have better introduced myself, but I hated to keep you standing out there on the docks.”
    Caitlan laughed softly. “I’m sure I’d be no worse for it.”
    Brenton smiled and gave her a gentle nudge. “Come on. Jordana is anxious to meet you.”
    â€œFor sure?” Caitlan found it hard to believe that anyone would be anxious to meet her. Much less a family of such quality and refinement.
    He led her to a bright blue open carriage, which had been richly upholstered in black leather. A driver sat waiting, while a young girl dressed in a blue serge afternoon dress waved cheerily from the carriage seat.
    â€œCaitlan! I’m Jordana!” the enthusiastic girl exclaimed. “Come sit beside me.”
    â€œI smell of cattle and all manner of foul things,” Caitlan replied. “Best I sit opposite, or at least downwind. Perhaps I should ride with the driver.”
    â€œNonsense!” Jordana laughed and shook her head. “I’ve no doubt smelled worse. Now, come sit beside me.”
    Caitlan was taken aback. This delicately refined young woman was actually welcoming her. She was nothing like the uppity women and prosperous landowners’ daughters who sneered down their noses at the workingwomen in their presence. Gathering up her skirt, Caitlan allowed Brenton to help her into the carriage. She hesitated only a moment before joining Jordana. Sitting gingerly on the edge of the seat, she tried to act natural about the entire matter.
    â€œSo what do you think of America?” Jordana asked. “Isn’t it big and loud and wonderful!”
    Caitlan laughed. “Aye, that it is.”
    â€œMother and Father took us abroad once when we were younger, and I thought America surely the loudest of all the countries I had visited,” Jordana said, her eyes twinkling as though it were somehow a great joke to be shared.
    Brenton joined them and closed the door to the carriage. “We’ll take you to the boardinghouse and get you settled in. Then, if you like, we can go for a walk and see a bit of the city and perhaps get something to eat.”
    â€œI’d just as soon have a bath,” Caitlan replied.
    â€œOf course,” Jordana said, sounding as though Brenton should understand this to be the natural order of things.
    â€œWhere do ya live?” Caitlan looked around with wonder as the carriage moved through the busy docks streets.
    â€œWell,” Brenton replied hesitantly, “Jordana is currently finishing a semester in a school for young women. I’m staying at a boardinghouse several blocks up Broadway. I’ve managed to secure a room for you there, and when the semester is over, Jordana will join us.”
    â€œYa had to purchase a place for me?”
    Brenton smiled. “We needed a place for Jordana to stay when school finishes for the summer. You see, because of the war we are unable to return to our family’s home in Baltimore. Thus, it just seemed natural to go ahead and rent the room early on and put you there as well.”
    â€œI can’t be havin’ ya spending yar hard-earned money on me,” Caitlan said, tightening her hold on her meager possessions. She frowned. “I don’t suppose any of us thought much past gettin’ me here. I have some money but—”
    â€œDon’t give it a second thought,” Brenton replied. “It just so happened my landlady, Mrs. Clairmont, had an open room. You’ll be just two doors down from me and quite safe.”
    â€œMe safety isn’t a-worryin’ me. I can’t be havin’ ya pay me way.”
    Jordana