The next morning, Anna opened her eyes to loud purring. Esther was curled up against her pillow, and as she sat up, excitement flooded through her. She looked to her nightstand where the leather-bound book lay, then around her room with a satisfied sigh. Sunshine poured in through the curtains, lighting the flecks of dust in the air so they seemed to sparkle. Her childhood doll still sat on her dresser—the one thing she’d been allowed to bring from Ireland besides a small bag of clothes. It had dark ringlets, a porcelain face, and a green dress with a Celtic knot embroidered on the front.
Her grandfather had been out late so she hadn’t told him about Heather. Greta never pestered her about her whereabouts, and given how her grandfather felt about the Duwamish, it just seemed easier not to bring it up at all.
She dressed and grabbed her book. As she strode into the living room, she peeked out the window, hoping to see the mountain. It was half-visible through the remaining smoke that seemed determined to hover like fog. What would it be like to climb a mountain?
And why couldn’t she get the idea out of her head?
She pictured the thick woods, the ice and snow past the tree line. After talking about it with Heather, it actually seemed to be in the realm of possibilities: the thrill of mountain air, the towering glaciers, the achievement of being a mountaineer—surely her parents would have been proud of that. She had never hiked through mountainous forest or icy terrain, but she’d spent plenty of time in the snowy woods, and she could train. With the possibility of an emerald ring to be found, she could barely contain the hope blossoming in her chest. Might it be worth enough to fund a mountain expedition?
She peered up the stairs, surprised her grandfather wasn’t already rushing her to the bookstore. He usually liked to get an early start.
A knock on the door prompted Greta to call from the kitchen, “Can you get that?”
She opened the door, and June flashed a smile, then dipped into an ironic curtsy. Brass filigree buttons stood out against her purple silk dress, a large bustle trailing behind her.
“I hoped you’d come soon.” Anna hugged her tightly.
Greta wiped her hands on her apron and rushed to embrace her. “Good to see you, dear.”
June was grinning peacefully as she held onto Greta just a moment longer than usual. “You too.”
“Our usual spot on the porch?” Anna grabbed June’s hand as Greta returned to the kitchen humming a slow melody.
She sat on a large reclining wooden chair her grandfather had made and grinned at June. In the daylight, her usually hazel eyes looked light gray.
June lowered herself into a chair, then crossed her legs at the knee. “Well, the finest brothel in town burned to the ground.”
Anna gasped.
“What? Are you all right? I had no idea. We walked through town but didn’t make it that far south.” She shook her head, still in shock. “Where have you been staying? You’re always welcome here, you know that.”
“One of my regulars offered to put me up. Bought me this new dress and everything.” June grinned. “Our services are free to government officials, you know. They spoil us to make up for it.”
“Is that how the infamous Lou Graham keeps the police away?”
June laughed. “Well, luckily she had plenty saved and has already commissioned a new stone building. I’ll wager it’ll be the first building erected in the rubble. That woman has connections, I tell ya what.”
Anna nodded, then glanced toward town. “I hope Emily is safe. Did anyone die?”
June stiffened. “They’re still searchin’ the wreckage. No bodies yet. But I’m sure Emily’s safe and sound with her rich husband in an ivory tower.”
Anna frowned.
“I’m sure you’re right. She wouldn’t have purposely gone near the fire, anyway.” Her gaze wandered south to Mount Rainier, and she swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. “Would it be crazy to climb the mountain?”
“What? Seriously?” June shook her head, then laughed. Her dimples were visible until the smile slowly faded and worry lines deepened in her usually smooth forehead. “Sounds awfully dangerous. Why bother?”
“I think I need to. To do something wild, get out of this city. To prove to myself I can.” She paused to blow out a deep exhale. “I’ll need money and a train ticket.”
June grinned encouragingly. “Indeed.”
Anna pulled out her new book.
“I met a Duwamish woman in the forest yesterday. I also saw a strange man watching us.” She paused. He hadn’t frightened her as much as made her wonder who he was. “Anyway, the woman gave me this. There are clues to find a ring, but I need to do some research to figure out if it’s already been found. A mystery from the past! Isn’t it incredible?”
June eyed the book warily. “A mysterious woman in the woods? I can’t keep up with you sometimes.”
“If I find the ring, I could use the money to join a mountaineering group and summit Mount Rainier.”
“How much do you need? I can just loan you some.” June pulled out her coin purse.
“I couldn’t accept your hard-earned money!” She was moved by the gesture, though. “But thank you. Don’t you have expenses to keep up with?”
“Mmhmm for boarding. You know, I am allowed to take money directly,” June said with a sly smile. “A privilege reserved only for Lou’s best girls. But I also gotta order new dresses and negligees every three months from Paris.”
Anna’s mind raced; if she couldn’t find the ring, maybe she could join the brothel just long enough to earn some cash. But then she remembered the sandy-haired doctor. Maybe he was the adventurous, mountaineering type.
“I think Doctor Evans might ask to court me.” She glanced up for her friend’s reaction.
June smiled. “Continue.”
“But gentlemen typically don’t want their wives climbing mountains or traipsing around the forest.” She twisted a lock of hair around her finger, then flung it away. “Just thinking about that makes me furious. It’s a new world here. Women can build houses and chop down trees. We can do anything we want, June, but not from sitting rooms with respectable gentlemen expecting good behavior.”
Anna paused and leaned forward. “Would I be better off joining up at the brothel for a few months? With my own money I could do whatever I want—go wherever I want.”
“I don’t know, Anna . . . It’s not so bad being with fancy men all the time. The whole thing is over before you know it.” She smiled devilishly and rested her chin in her hand. “Some are more fun than others. You’re still a virgin, though, aren’t you?”
Anna’s cheeks flushed. She’d never even been kissed. “I can’t imagine it’s so difficult, is it?”
“Course not. They all want the same things.” June smoothed her dress, eyes down. “You mostly lie there and act like you’ve never done anything so fun and interesting in all your life. Usually does the trick.”
June laughed and lifted her eyes to meet Anna’s—she still sat with her elbow on the armrest, chin resting on her palm.
Could it be that easy? It wasn’t that Anna didn’t believe her, but there had to be more to it.
June bit her lip and put Anna’s hand in hers. “But I’ll tell ya this: two years of livin’ there has been enough time to realize it’s not the life I imagined. Actually, one week was long enough.”
Anna looked down at June’s hand over hers, then back into her eyes. Had it really been so bad for her?
“It seemed glamorous at first,” June continued, “when new girls were escorted around town in fancy stage coaches so everyone could see ’em. But here I am now, confident that no man has ever truly loved me. And it’s all I ever wanted—a family of my own. I was stupid to think I could find love at the brothel.”
June’s eyes became watery as she glanced up.
“You took the only job you could at the time,” Anna said, tears coming to her eyes as well. “I wish you had moved in with us, but I know you wanted to earn your own keep and start saving.”
“It’s not like I had many job and housing options after my father threw me out.” Her face steeled at the memory, then her voice grew quieter. “And I hate to admit it, but some of the men at the brothel are mean. They ask me to do things I’m ashamed of, and if I say no they leave.”
Dread creeped over Anna, and she shuddered. “That’s just awful.”
“Two things make my life bearable. It’s a respected place, as brothels go. No violence allowed, and I have money and a room of my own.” June closed her eyes and leaned back against the chair. “You have a good chance at findin’ real love. I’m further than ever from havin’ a family.”
“Don’t worry about the future, June. In a few years we’ll run away together and build our own house in the woods. Live happily forever.” Anna reached her hand to grab June’s. “And we can learn to hunt with bows and arrows.”
They both smiled, and Anna watched June’s face relax. She let the notion of joining the brothel go. Being forced to let any man with cash caress her bare skin didn’t seem like freedom at all. She’d lose all hope of marrying honorably. And although she’d had plenty of moments longing for that kind of closeness, she didn’t know the first thing about entertaining a man.
June began drumming her fingers on her lips in thought.
“So, you think the doctor fancied you. Think about it: the wife of a handsome doctor, a house in town with lace curtains and glass dishes. Dinner parties and babies—you could have it all. I get marriage proposals all the time, but not from that type of man.” She smiled broadly and winked.
“It’s tempting. A Faustian bargain of sorts,” Anna said with a mischievous smile.
June laughed. “You and your love of literature. I can’t say that story was a favorite of mine.”
Anna flashed a smile and looked up to the mountain—her mountain. “I should get to know him. If he’s interested. I wonder if the good doctor might want to travel with me by his side? Climb mountains? You never know.”
June seemed doubtful but shrugged.
“I’ll see how things go and bring it up when the time’s right. Nothing wrong with keeping a little mystery.”
June laughed. “Now, tell me about this ring…”