I Am Not Yours

Surprise Guests

May 1917

Abigail awoke the next morning to the sound of Josephine's cries in the crib beside her bed. With a yawn, the mayor got up to quickly tend to the newborn just in time before her cries would awaken Cody, asleep in the next room. She made sure Josie didn't need a clean diaper before feeding her and getting herself and the baby dressed for the day.

After heading down into the kitchen, Abigail checked the time, seeing that it was only four thirty in the morning and she laid Josie down in the bassinet that she keeps downstairs now and began to prepare the food for the cafe's breakfast rush.

By the time Minnie had arrived, at around six o'clock, the preparations were already finished and Abigail was just starting to clean up the messes she had made. She and Minnie greeted each other before the other woman began to help the mayor clean up. Once finished, they turned the cafe sign over to "Open" on the door and waited for their customers to arrive.

It was about eight o'clock when some of the early risers were leaving after their meals and the next rush of customers found tables to have a seat at once the mess from the previous customers was cleaned. It was at this time that Christopher, Rachel, and Beatrice entered the cafe and found themselves a table. Abigail only looked at them briefly as they sat before the door opened again and the three unknown women from the saloon walked in, dresses just as low cut and scandalous as the last ones they had worn.

Abigail's eyes moved to Florence and Molly's table. She was not surprised to see the redhead woman raise an eyebrow as she looked the three women up and down whilst her brunette best friend sipped her tea with a judgemental stare.

"Hmm, where can we take a seat so that every man that enters this adorable little place can see us?" The blonde stranger asked her friends as she winked at Florence, recognizing the judgemental look they were receiving.

Abigail noticed she and Florence had made eye contact and quickly stepped out into the dining area with a smile to intercept the three ladies before Florence or Molly could respond. "Welcome, ladies." The owner of the cafe greeted them as if they were any other customer. "Perhaps you would like a seat right here?" She walked over to the table at the back corner, exactly diagonal from the door. "It is always the first table that can be seen when anyone enters."

The three women went over to the table and turned to measure its location in comparison to the door. The light blonde smiled. "It is perfect. Thank you, ma'am." She said as she and her friends had a seat. "I don't think we've met." She said to Abigail, reaching out her hand in an offering to shake Abigail's though the mayor was smart enough to recognise that the woman did not seem too enthused in the introductions. "You can call me Clarice." She said as Abigail shook her hand anyways. "These are my friends Lola and Natty." She gestured to the brunette first and then the dirty blonde across from her.

"Clarice, Lola, Natty." Abigail amiably smiled and nodded in each of their directions. "My name is Abigail. I am the owner of this cafe and the town's mayor. Welcome to Hope Valley. Can I get you three started on some tea or some coffee?"

"A lady mayor?? No shit!" Lola said, a bit too loudly for anyone present's comfort.

Abigail's smile faded a bit as she heard an audible gasp come from Molly and Florence's table as well as another's. "Yes. I am a lady and I am the town's mayor. It is a bit progressive, but we are still not progressive enough to tolerate that kind of language around the children here." Abigail politely informed them.

"Our apologies." Natty spoke up as she gently nudged Lola beside her. "Sometimes our friend forgets to have manners around other women. Or around little ones. We don't spend much time with them...if you understand what I mean."