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Authors: Janet Lee Barton
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Bea’s references to Marcus when he came to pick her up the next day to visit several other bathhouses on her list.
He handed the papers to the agent. . .she believed his name was Nelson. She’d been introduced to him the day before, but because Marcus had someone at the hotel nearly twenty-four hours a day, she was still a bit confused on who was who.
Bea had helped her get ready for the day, and Abigail felt confident that she looked her best. She found that because she was doing business for her father, she wanted to look professional, not just for her sake, but for his as well.
“You are awfully quiet this morning. Are you all right?” Marcus asked as they started down the street.
“I’m fine, thank you. I forgot to tell you that I’m meeting Sally Monroe at the hotel for lunch at noon. She’d asked me about it at your parents’, and I had a note reminding me of it first thing this morning.”
“I’ll be sure to have you back in plenty of time. We can visit one or two bathhouses this morning and another this afternoon or tomorrow. But before I forget, my mother wondered if you’d have dinner with us on Saturday evening.”
Abigail had been wondering when she would see Mr. and Mrs. Wellington again and was quite happy to receive the invitation. “I’d love to.”
“Good. I’ll let her know.” He gripped her elbow as he accompanied her inside the Big Iron Bathhouse. After a quick tour of its facilities, they agreed they had time to visit the Independent Bathhouse. Marcus led Abigail up to the reception desk.
“Good morning, can we see the manager, please?” Marcus asked.
“I’ll see if I can find him. Please have a seat.” It was apparent that the young woman was attracted to Marcus by the smile on her face. She appeared to be about Abigail’s age. When she got up to go find the manager, Abigail could see that she was a bit taller. She had dark hair and brown eyes and was quite pretty. Abigail couldn’t help but wonder if the young woman and Marcus knew each other—and then she wondered if he was courting anyone.
Knowing it really wasn’t any of her business and trying to ignore a little niggle of jealousy at the thought that he might, Abigail turned and looked around the foyer. “This is nice. All the bathhouses seem to be a bit different inside, but I suppose it is that and the way each are managed that draw in different people.”
“That is true. The city also has a free bathhouse for those who can’t afford to come to the nicer ones.”
“Oh? I didn’t know that.”
“With Hot Springs being inside the National Reservation, and even though it has its own city government, the federal government oversees the springs and anything to do with them.”
“I see. Papa will have to take that under consideration, too.”
“Yes, he will. I can set up an appointment with the park superintendent, if you’d like. He can tell you all you’ll need to know.”
“I might need to do that. I’ll let you know.” Hard as she tried, Abigail couldn’t keep the coolness out of her tone, and she wasn’t sure why it was there.
When Marcus raised an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly, she realized he’d heard it, too.
She quickly added, “I need to check with Papa, first. Then if he thinks I need to meet with the superintendent, I’ll ask you to make an appointment.”
“Good enough,” was all Marcus said.
The receptionist returned, and Abigail caught the smile that passed between her and Marcus. She didn’t like it, and more. . .she didn’t like that she didn’t like it. What was wrong with her? This man had been hired by her father to make sure she was safe. He was the son of dear friends of her parents. That was all. She and Marcus had no relationship, and she wasn’t looking for one. Not after loving someone for as long as she’d loved Nate and then to have it all for naught. No. She didn’t need to think along those lines.
The receptionist turned to her. “Mr. Martin
He handed the papers to the agent. . .she believed his name was Nelson. She’d been introduced to him the day before, but because Marcus had someone at the hotel nearly twenty-four hours a day, she was still a bit confused on who was who.
Bea had helped her get ready for the day, and Abigail felt confident that she looked her best. She found that because she was doing business for her father, she wanted to look professional, not just for her sake, but for his as well.
“You are awfully quiet this morning. Are you all right?” Marcus asked as they started down the street.
“I’m fine, thank you. I forgot to tell you that I’m meeting Sally Monroe at the hotel for lunch at noon. She’d asked me about it at your parents’, and I had a note reminding me of it first thing this morning.”
“I’ll be sure to have you back in plenty of time. We can visit one or two bathhouses this morning and another this afternoon or tomorrow. But before I forget, my mother wondered if you’d have dinner with us on Saturday evening.”
Abigail had been wondering when she would see Mr. and Mrs. Wellington again and was quite happy to receive the invitation. “I’d love to.”
“Good. I’ll let her know.” He gripped her elbow as he accompanied her inside the Big Iron Bathhouse. After a quick tour of its facilities, they agreed they had time to visit the Independent Bathhouse. Marcus led Abigail up to the reception desk.
“Good morning, can we see the manager, please?” Marcus asked.
“I’ll see if I can find him. Please have a seat.” It was apparent that the young woman was attracted to Marcus by the smile on her face. She appeared to be about Abigail’s age. When she got up to go find the manager, Abigail could see that she was a bit taller. She had dark hair and brown eyes and was quite pretty. Abigail couldn’t help but wonder if the young woman and Marcus knew each other—and then she wondered if he was courting anyone.
Knowing it really wasn’t any of her business and trying to ignore a little niggle of jealousy at the thought that he might, Abigail turned and looked around the foyer. “This is nice. All the bathhouses seem to be a bit different inside, but I suppose it is that and the way each are managed that draw in different people.”
“That is true. The city also has a free bathhouse for those who can’t afford to come to the nicer ones.”
“Oh? I didn’t know that.”
“With Hot Springs being inside the National Reservation, and even though it has its own city government, the federal government oversees the springs and anything to do with them.”
“I see. Papa will have to take that under consideration, too.”
“Yes, he will. I can set up an appointment with the park superintendent, if you’d like. He can tell you all you’ll need to know.”
“I might need to do that. I’ll let you know.” Hard as she tried, Abigail couldn’t keep the coolness out of her tone, and she wasn’t sure why it was there.
When Marcus raised an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly, she realized he’d heard it, too.
She quickly added, “I need to check with Papa, first. Then if he thinks I need to meet with the superintendent, I’ll ask you to make an appointment.”
“Good enough,” was all Marcus said.
The receptionist returned, and Abigail caught the smile that passed between her and Marcus. She didn’t like it, and more. . .she didn’t like that she didn’t like it. What was wrong with her? This man had been hired by her father to make sure she was safe. He was the son of dear friends of her parents. That was all. She and Marcus had no relationship, and she wasn’t looking for one. Not after loving someone for as long as she’d loved Nate and then to have it all for naught. No. She didn’t need to think along those lines.
The receptionist turned to her. “Mr. Martin
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