OCR Text |
Show Nettie, Page 81 loved each other. None of this mattered to Nettie, even if shehad thought about them. All that filled her thoughts now was beginning a new life totally on her own, the excitement of a larger city, work in a hotel, never mind that she knew not what the work would be. Papa knew warnings and admonitions would fall on ears too filled with the vibrations of excitement to really hear anything. "All right, Nettie. I'll do what I can to help you get to Cody. I'll write the Colonel you are coming," Papa said finally. Nettie stopped him. "No, please, I want to surprise him. I haven't seen him since I went back to school last September and he hasn't seen me walk. I want to show him myself," Nettie thrilled at the thought of that meeting. Papa inquired around town during the next few days and found someone who was travelling by wagon to Cody, some forty-five miles southwest of Lovell and arranged to have Nettie ride with him. In the meantime, Mama readied Nettie's meager wardrobe, and tried to tell her daughter something of what she might expect. Mama could not simply send her daughter off without parental clucking, whether Papa could or not. "Keep to yourself, Jeannette. There will be men who may want to get right friendly with you. Keep your wits about you and remember the teachings of the gospel. Don't be afraid to go to the Colonel should you need help. He's been a good friend to this family and to all Mormons," Mama lectured on, and Nettie nodded agreeably at each point. At the appointed time, the wagon drove up in front of the house. It was early in the morning of a March day, still sweet with spring's promise. |