Tomorrow, Corsets and Cuffs (Baker City Brides – Book 3) will release!
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about that!
Today, I thought I’d share something fun from the story.
Brianna Dumont has grown up with a pampered, privileged lifestyle. When she arrives in Baker City, the last thing she expects is to find a hotel that offers even the barest necessities, let alone one that hints at luxury.
The Hotel Warshauer mentioned in the story was (and is – although it’s now called the Geiser Grand) a very real place. Built in 1889, the hotel brought elegance and refinement to the town.
In each guest room, a little gold cloth hanging from a little gold rod trimmed with imitation coins graced the back of the hotel room door. The hotel rules and regulations were printed on the cloth.
Rule 2 was “Fires in rooms charged extra.” Since we have to assume they didn’t mean setting fire to the room, I think they referred to the stoves available in each room for warmth.
Rule 6 is the one that gave me the idea for a funny scene for Brianna. It states: “We will not be responsible for boots and shoes left in the hall. Guests desiring them blacked will please leave with the porter.”
At that time, hotel guests from big Eastern cities and Europe often left shoes outside their hotel room doors to find them shined in the morning.
Baker City had not yet reached that pinnacle of sophistication.
However, Brianna didn’t know that.
Mr. Isaac smiled in greeting. “Good morning, Miss Dumont. How does this day find you?”
“Quite well, except for one small matter. I’m in desperate need of my shoes, Mr. Isaac. Have the staff returned the others?”
“The others?” The young clerk appeared completely confused. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking, Miss Dumont.”
“Last night, I set my shoes in the hall to be polished. This morning, they should have been left outside my door, but weren’t returned. Would you please have someone bring them to my room?” Fast losing patience, Brianna glared at Mr. Isaac. “You do have my shoes, don’t you?”
“I’m sorry, but that is not a service we offer here at the hotel. If you set your shoes in the hall last night, my only guess is that someone took them.” Subtly, Mr. Isaac backed away from the counter. The furious woman leaning against it looked like she wanted to hit something — or someone.
“You’re saying someone stole my shoes?”
“Yes, Miss Dumont.” Mr. Isaac slid a little further out of reach. “You could report the theft to the sheriff’s office. I’m sure he’ll…”
Before he could finish speaking, Brianna spun around, marched out the hotel and down the street in the direction of the jail.
She’d just crossed an intersection on the main street of town when she stepped on something sharp and pain sliced through her foot.
With no dignified way to examine the wound, she took a deep breath, trying to determine if it bled without raising her skirt to look.
“You look like you had persimmons with a side of lemons for breakfast this morning.”
The deep voice, becoming all too familiar to her, caused her to spin around and spear the sheriff with an enraged grimace.
