In an America that might have been, two war orphans from a divided nation, one in the north and one in the south, meet across a vast battlefield, striking out to forge a future together in the west. It's 1892, the fourth and bloodiest year of the Ci...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Over the next two days, Kay and Charity, with the help of friends, found: dressmakers to alter their clothes, sensible boots, shoulder bags, and hats that kept out the sun and rain. They tied their hair back in pony tails. Charity declared they looked more like Indian women every day. Not only were the clothes more comfortable, being able to run made crossing streets much easier and safer.
Then Kimani came to them with news. "We've found you a ride west," she said. "There's an airship captain who owes some of us a favor. He's leaving tomorrow. He wanted a $1000, but we know things about him that he doesn't want others to know and we managed to talk him down to $100."
"Where's he going? Can he take Charity?" asked Kay.
At this Charity frowned. "I don't know if I should go," she said. "You've done so much and I've done what I set out to do."
"You said you didn't have anywhere to go," Kay replied, with a smile.
"Yes," she sighed.
"Then you might as well come with me, unless you want to stay here."
Charity didn't know where she wanted to go or even where she could go. She frowned.
"It's dangerous here. You should at least go back north," Kay said. "Where's he going?" Kay asked Kimani.
"Kansas City," Kimani answered.
"I bet there are trains out of there. That's north of the lines," Kay said.
"Not by much," Kimani said.
"Still, it's north and most of all, west," Kay replied.
They had left their crinolines, corsets, and other northern womanly gear with the dressmakers. It made Kay feel lighter just to see it all gone. When they packed, they found that their belongings barely filled half their trunks, so they decided make to do with just one. They asked the matron at the desk if she knew who might want it and she said that she might.
"Maybe it is time for me to travel again too," she said.
Kay hired a carriage to carry them to the aerodrome the next morning. It was easy because there was so little work, even for the few carriages, with both the trains and boats not running. She stepped out the front door and looked for one passing in the street near the station.
The hotel matron looked them over as they checked out.
"You look much better," she said. "A lot more ready than when you came in. I was worried about you both the other night when you came in late."
"Yes, that was a bad day," Kay said.
"I suppose you found your husband," she said, looking at Charity.
Charity looked down and in a small voice said, "Yes."
"Just like mine. It will be a long time before it gets easier. You did not have children?"
