Idanha Hotel Page 4

  The rooms, as she called them, were similar to Carol’s suite four floors up. Megan had a wonderful living room with a fireplace that was burning softly. Books lay scattered around a few tables and a heavy patchwork quilt was tossed aside on the back of one of two couches facing the fireplace.

  “This is wonderful,” Carol said, looking around. It felt comfortable and lived in.

  “I enjoy it,” Megan said, moving into the second room, which was a bedroom, and taking off her apron and hanging it up. Again a fireplace there was burning lightly. Clearly during the night Megan must have come from the kitchen and stoked the fireplaces to keep the rooms comfortably warm.

  Megan had changed clothes since their meeting in the restaurant and wore a full dress tied at the waist with a cloth belt.

  “Would you be a dear and help me with these buttons?” Megan asked as she started on unbuttoning her dress up the back.

  “Glad to,” Carol said, moving forward and hoping she could keep her hands from shaking.

  She got the dress unbuttoned exposing a lace undergarment of some sort. Carol could feel herself growing slightly flushed as she stepped back. Being so close to Megan was just wonderful, but rushing could end everything.

  “Thank you,” Megan said, moving away and heading toward the bathroom. “Always feels good to get out of my nightly work clothes.”

  “I would wager it does,” Carol said, watching Megan disappear into the bathroom, then turning to look at the room. The fact that Megan clearly was a reader pleased Carol more than she wanted to admit. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but this was a pleasant surprise.

  Megan came out of the bathroom a few moments later wearing a long brown robe and slippers.

  “I warned you I would be a sight,” Megan said, moving toward another door that led into a small kitchen.

  “I think you look wonderful,” Carol said. “A hard-working woman who knows how to be comfortable after long hours on the job.”

  Megan stopped and glanced back at Carol. “Thank you.”

  Then Megan smiled and moved into the kitchen.

  Carol followed Megan and sat at the small wooden kitchen table. Then they talked and laughed and Megan told Carol about her night as Carol watched the woman of her dreams put together a light breakfast of toast, jam, and juice for the two of them.

  A perfect morning.

  Just perfect.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  November 9th, 1901

  Boise, Idaho

  MEGAN AGREED TO meet Carol that night for dinner again and they went across the street to a fine restaurant. This time they both had lamb and finished with tea instead of dessert.

  And Megan noticed that neither of them tried the bread.

  The conversation during dinner was light and fun and again, Megan couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying Carol’s company. She didn’t want each meeting to end and from what she could tell, neither did Carol.

  After breakfast that morning, Carol had left and Megan had gotten in to a warm bath. And all she could think about was wishing Carol was there to scrub her back and help her wash her hair.

  She couldn’t believe she could even think such thoughts, but they felt right and she was going to go with them.

  And when she finally did get to sleep, the dreams were of her and Carol together.

  She always knew, right from when she was a young girl, that she liked women better than men. Men just didn’t interest her and marrying her husband had been of necessity to get out of that small Montana town.

  But she had no idea if women could be together. Granted, there were two older women who always came in together for breakfast. But past that, Megan knew nothing more than that she really, really liked Carol.

  And she knew if something came of meeting Carol, they would always have to be in secret.

  But that didn’t matter. She wanted to spend time with her as often as possible.

  As they were sipping their tea, Megan decided to ask the question she was the most afraid of hearing an answer to.

  “How long are you planning on staying here in Boise?”

  Carol smiled that wonderful smile that Megan loved so much. “I was hoping to stay through the winter.”

  Megan could feel her heart leap and she put her teacup down for fear of her hands shaking. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “It will be wonderful if I can continue to spend time with you and get to know you better,” Carol said.

  Then Megan saw that Carol flushed slightly.

  Megan smiled when Carol looked down at her tea. Carol was actually embarrassed to have said that. How wonderful was that?

  “I would love that,” Megan said.

  Carol looked back up and the two sat staring for a moment into each other’s eyes.

  “I’m glad you do,” Carol said. “Very glad.”

  And after that moment, for Megan it was settled.

  Every spare minute away from work or sleeping, she wanted to spend with Carol.

  For the next few weeks, every morning the two of them met in Megan’s rooms for a light breakfast.

  Then they had dinner together and often went back to Megan’s rooms to talk about books or just talk while Megan got ready for her nightly baking.

  It was on the second week that things changed slightly, for the better as far as Megan was concerned. She was no longer doubting that Carol was attracted to her as much as she was attracted to Carol.

  And they had become very, very comfortable together. Megan felt that Carol was far smarter than she was, but yet they seemed to get along as equals.

  And there was no doubt that Carol hid many, many things from Megan, but she didn’t mind. She knew, given time, she would find out all about Carol’s secrets.

  So after breakfast, just as Carol was about to excuse herself, Megan said simply, “Would you mind scrubbing my back? That is a pleasure I have not had for a very long time.”

  Carol blushed and then nodded. “On one condition.”

  Megan laughed. “I find myself bargaining to have my back washed.”

  Carol laughed. “Not at all. I just hope that you will return the favor for me some morning, since I too have been far too long without my back getting washed correctly.”

  Again Megan laughed and she could feel herself blushing as well, trying not to let the image of Carol without clothes into her mind. “That is a bargain I can hold to.”

  And with that they both set to heating the water for the large tub in the bathroom.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  November 21st, 1901

  Boise, Idaho

  CAROL MANAGED TO not gasp as Megan took off her robe and then slipped out of her underwear to step into the bathtub. She was the most beautiful woman Carol had seen without clothes.

  Megan’s body was firm and clearly in shape. Her breasts firm and rounded with small brown nipples. She had full brown pubic hair and a wonderful butt.

  And she moved with a smoothness that was alluring, almost like a cat.

  Megan seemed slightly embarrassed about being naked in front of Carol, but not too much. Not enough to even attempt to try to cover up.

  “You are very beautiful,” Carol said as Megan slid into the warm water with a sigh.

  “Thank you,” Megan said, looking up at where Carol stood beside the tub.

  Carol had no doubt she was blushing and it was everything she could do to restrain taking off her clothes and climbing into the tub with Megan. She wasn’t sure if Megan would mind. But the fear of moving too fast kept her in her clothes.

  Carol pulled a chair close to the edge of the large tub, taking the soap and the washcloth and dipped it in the water to get some lather.

  “You’re going to get your blouse wet,” Megan said.

  Carol nodded. “Good point.”

  She quickly unbuttoned it, pulling it off and draping it over the edge of the nearby sink.

  She turned back to see Megan watching her with a puzzled look on her face.
That was when Carol realized her mistake. She was wearing a sports bra, nothing even close to what women wore in 1901.

  “Is that as comfortable as it looks?” Megan asked.

  That question surprised Carol. Not a question about what it was or where it was from, but of comfort.

  “It is,” Carol said, laughing and lathering up the washcloth. “I’ll let you try one of mine on at some point.”

  “I’d like that,” Megan said as she turned around so that her back was exposed to Carol.

  Carol then spent the most wonderful ten minutes washing and rubbing Megan’s smooth-skinned back.

  Carol flat didn’t want to stop, but she knew she had to if this wasn’t to go any farther.

  “Your touch is heavenly,” Megan said, leaning back and stretching in the water. Carol could tell that Megan was relaxing and letting the long night slowly catch up with her.

  “Your smooth skin is just as wonderful,” Carol said, standing and picking up her blouse and slipping it back on.

  “Leaving?” Megan said, glancing up at Carol.

  “To give you some time to finish and get some sleep. I’ll see you at seven for dinner?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Megan said. “And thank you for washing my back.”

  “I can honestly say it was my pleasure,” Carol said, smiling at the woman she was falling for her more and more every minute.

  Carol barely made it out the door. Her heart was racing and she could feel her face blushing. She so wanted to just go back, strip off her clothes and climb in the tub.

  But not this morning.

  Maybe another morning.

  The promise was there and just the idea of it made her short of breath.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  November 21st, 1901

  Boise, Idaho

  CAROL RODE OUT to the Institute after breakfast to dig out a few more sports bras for Megan. The day was cold, but clear and the snow that had fallen earlier in the week had melted, leaving the wagon road rutted and muddy. The big oak trees surrounding the Institute had all lost their leaves and three large Victorian homes sitting side-by-side looked almost stark and alone so far out of town.

  Carol went into the caverns and took a hot shower, wondering the entire time what Megan would think of the cavern and of a hot shower and modern bathroom.

  There was no doubt that Megan needed to learn of the Institute sooner, rather than later. But Carol decided that after the first of the year might be the best time.

  Besides, she still felt like the relationship between her and Megan was still just starting to really grow. No point in pushing the relationship and knowledge of where Carol came from too quickly.

  By the time she made it back to the hotel, the sky was turning dark. It was still a few hours until dinner with Megan, so Carol went to her room to rest a little.

  She hadn’t been there for more than a few minutes when a knock at the door surprised her. It was a chambermaid that Carol had seen a few times but never talked with. The maid was very short, round, and had dark black hair. She had on the standard black skirt, white blouse and white long apron of all the house staff.

  “Mrs. Taber has asked me to tell you,” the maid said, bowing slightly, “that she is under the weather and won’t be able to make dinner this evening.”

  Carol managed to keep her sudden fear under control.

  Somehow.

  She nodded, thanked the maid, then closed the door. It took her just two minutes of panicked movement to change out of her muddy riding clothes and into some clean riding clothes, grab her medical kit disguised in a cloth bag that looked like a sewing bag, and head out the door.

  One minute and four floors later, she knocked lightly on Megan’s door and then pushed it open.

  Megan was lying on the couch under a colorful patchwork quilt made of wide gold and brown and orange patches. She looked pale and sweaty.

  She looked up and smiled lightly at Carol.

  “What’s happening?” Carol asked, moving around and kneeling beside Megan.

  “I think I turned too fast or something. I felt faint and I am told I passed out in the hallway about an hour ago.” Megan shook her head and looked as if she might cry. “I am mortally embarrassed that Chef Pickner and one of the others found me and had to help me back here.”

  “Let me check you over,” Carol said, pulling out a stethoscope disguised to look like it was from 1901 yet much better.

  “You have medical training?” Megan asked as Carol eased down her blanket and then began to unbutton Megan’s nightshirt.

  “I do,” Carol said, smiling. “One of the many secrets about me that I am sure you have wondered about, but been too polite to ask.”

  “Where were you trained?” Megan asked.

  “Shhh,” Carol said, putting the stethoscope against Megan’s smooth skin just above her left breast. “I need to listen. I’ll explain everything soon enough.”

  As Carol had feared, Megan’s heart was working hard and was irregular. More than likely Megan had had a pretty good heart attack. If they were in 2019, Carol would have been rushing Megan to the hospital in an ambulance and prepping her for surgery.

  But this was 1901. Resting would be the only thing possible and Carol just hoped it would settle Megan’s heart back down. But the sooner she had the needed operation, the better off she would be, of that there was no doubt.

  If she got through this attack.

  After listening to everything she could, Carol stopped and put the stethoscope away.

  “Well?” Megan asked as Carol buttoned up Megan’s nightshirt and then pulled the quilt back into position. “I can feel it is not good.”

  “How long have you had these spells of feeling faint?” Carol asked, ignoring Megan’s question.

  “Since I was a young girl,” Megan said.

  “And what have doctors said about it?”

  “Doctor Stevens said I have a weak and damaged heart and that someday it will just give out on me.”

  Carol nodded, taking Megan’s hands and holding both of them and looking into Megan’s wonderful brown eyes. “I’m afraid he is right.”

  “Doctor Stevens said there is nothing that can be done,” Megan said, shrugging. “So I enjoy the time I have.”

  “He is only partially correct,” Carol said. “And if you trust me for a while longer, I will tell you what I mean.”

  Megan looked at Carol, then smiled. “You knew about my bad heart before now, didn’t you?”

  Carol nodded.

  “Why did you wait telling me?”

  “Because I am afraid of losing you,” Carol said, being as honest as she could be. “I want to spend a lot of time in the future with you.”

  Megan smiled. “I am already in love with you, my sweet. I can imagine nothing you might say that would change that.”

  Carol nodded and leaned in and gently kissed Megan.

  And after a moment, Megan kissed her back.

  Carol finally broke the kiss and stood. “Now I must get you some soup and then you must tell me a book you enjoy so I can read to you until you fall asleep.”

  “The chef is making a chicken noodle soup for the dinner crowd and it smelled wonderful,” Megan said, smiling.

  “Then chicken noodle it is, with some of your wonderful breakfast bread.”

  Megan nodded. “Thank you.”

  Carol started for the door.

  “And thank you for loving me,” Megan said, softly.

  “That,” Carol said, “is all my pleasure. Thank you for loving me in return.”

  “It would be impossible to do otherwise,” Megan said, softly.

  Then she closed her eyes and seemed to drift off with a slight smile on her face.

  Carol eased out of the door and started to the kitchen to get the soup for Megan for when she woke up.

  But Megan never woke up.

  Fifteen minutes after Carol left, she returned to find Megan not breathing.

  And there
was no amount of work that could bring her back.

  PART THREE

  A Third Chance

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Three months earlier…

  August 19th, 1901

  Boise, Idaho

  MEGAN TOOK OFF her long blue apron after a long night’s shift. She had just checked to make sure all her rolls were being stored correctly for the morning breakfast rush, and her pies and cakes were stored on racks cooling.

  Around her the wonderful-smelling large kitchen of the Idanha Hotel was coming alive with breakfast orders and preparation for the day.

  At night she often had the kitchen all to herself. She liked it that way, but she never minded when the breakfast cooks arrived and the wait staff came in to prepare the dining room.

  She followed the same routine every morning before leaving for a breath of fresh air and then a bath and long sleep. Taking off her apron was the last detail in that routine.

  She knew that outside the morning air would be brisk, but not too cool. She loved that about Boise summers, how the evenings cooled off even though the days were often very hot. So even if she only stepped outside for a few seconds, the morning air helped her.

  “Mrs. Taber,” Chef Pickner said from behind her. “There are three early diners who would like a moment of your time.”

  She turned and looked into the smiling face of the man who had hired her. He was shorter than her by a good five inches and very round, seeming to play into the look that most thought chefs should be. His hair was balding and his eyebrows as bushy as she had ever seen. They often caught flour or bits of food in them and one of the other chefs was always giving him the sign to clean off his face.

  She was about to object when he handed her a wicker basket full of her freshly-made bread covered in a white towel to keep the bread warm.

  “Smothered in butter as you instruct,” the chef said, smiling. “Just deliver these to the table near the fireplace. Two men and a woman.”