Eugenia's Embrace

"How can you possibly do that?"

"A lot of the wives can't furnish the men with the needs they have. They almost welcome an establishment that they can send their men to. But they hesitate when they don't know if the establishment is clean. They worry about diseases."

"Diseases?"

"Honey, you're so naive," the girl said, rising, going to Eugenia. "Why don't you stay here and let me take care of you? I'm afraid you're going to run into a lot of trouble out there all by yourself."

Remembering what "taking care of" would mean she hurriedly grabbed her hair brush and began to pull it through her hair. "No, I've got to get away from this," she said sullenly.

"But I can supply you with the finest clothes and the best of food," the girl said, putting her hands behind her back, clasping them together. "And I'll see to it that you won't even have to participate in any of the activities. I like you. And I want to protect you."

Eugenia felt that maybe she could trust this girl. But she remembered what t

his girl was now used to; sex from other females, and drugs. No. She wasn't ready for such a life. She had other plans. She had to seek out Drew. He would save her. He would protect her. "I really appreciate what you're sayin'," Eugenia said, picking up one of the combs that her Papa had made for her, making her heart ache for home… Mama… Papa… Elizabeth. She turned and faced this girl. Yes… she so resembled Elizabeth.

"Why don't you come with me?" she blurted. "Quit this way of life. Get away from the drugs. You could find yourself a man and settle down. Live a normal life. I know you could. You're so pretty. Come on. Leave with me."

The girl lowered her head, making her dark curls cascade across her shoulders and around her face. "No, I can't. It's too late for me. I need to be supplied with morphine each day or I grow frantic. No, I must stay here," she said. Suddenly she threw her head up, tilting her chin up in the air. "No, I'm now to be known as Madam Dawn. Everyone will look up to me. You'll see."

Dawn. So that was her name. Eugenia was glad to finally be made aware of it. And such a pretty name, for such a pretty girl. Her heart raced, wanting so to help her, but knowing it was truly now an impossibility. "I really must run," she said, thrusting her brush and soiled travel dress inside her travel bag. "I've much to see and do today. I've got to find a place of employment. I've got to get established myself. But in much nicer surroundings."

"And where do you plan to go?"

"I thought maybe I could get some work in some kind of boardinghouse. Maybe changing bedding. Something like that. Until somethin' better comes along."

"Well, if you insist on doing such menial labor as that, they need a cook over at the Hillcrest Hotel," Dawn said. "Maybe you could get on there."

Eugenia's face reddened, hating to let anyone know that she didn't know the first thing about cooking. Her sister Elizabeth had been taught all those womanly chores. "I don't think so," she murmured.

"Well, maybe they need a parlor maid," Dawn said.

"A… parlor… maid?" Eugenia gasped. "Do you mean they have women like that in the hotels?"

Dawn threw her head back and laughed, making the lace at her neck stand straight. "Honey, a parlor maid is a girl who does work in the hotels and boardinghouses. But only dusting, mopping, cleaning."

"Oh, I see," Eugenia said, blushing once again.

"Are you sure you want that kind of work?" Dawn asked, going to Eugenia, running her fingers through her hair. "Before long, it could take its toll on your appearance. Could make you look old before your time."

"I'd much rather look old before my time doin' that kind of work than doin' the work you and your girls do here."

"Touché," Dawn said, softly, moving toward the door. "But, honey, you get yourself off Myers Avenue. No respectable job can be found here. You go on up to the upper street. That's Bennett Avenue. You'll find the best hotels there. I'm sure you can find someone who'll take you in."

Eugenia had wondered if all of Cripple Creek was like this one segment that she had walked into. Her heart pumped with eagerness to see what she had missed the day earlier. If she had only decided to take the other street, when she had the chance, then none of this ugliness would have happened to her. She grabbed her travel bag and walked behind Dawn until they reached the stairs.

"Now, Eugenia, you remember this," Dawn said, embracing Eugenia. "You can always come back here. I plan to be around for some time now. And I'll always hold a room open for you. I feel we could be the same as sisters. No hanky panky as far as you're concerned."

Eugenia returned the embrace, even though she was remembering that this girl was a thief, a murderess, and a drug addict. Even though she remembered all this she couldn't help but like her. Also she had to remember how Dawn had become to be all those things. It had been none of her own personal preference. She had been led into it all.

"What about Madam Valerie?" she asked, her eyes wide in wonder. "Won't the girls here know?"

Dawn laughed, walking away from Eugenia. "Yes, I'm sure all the girls suspect," she said, lighting a cigarette. "But they're glad I did it, so they wouldn't have to."

"Oh. I see," Eugenia said, gulping hard. "Well, I really must be on my way. Please take care of yourself, Dawn. I still feel you don't belong here."

Dawn turned toward Eugenia, her eyes heavy. "I belong here. Nowhere else. This is my home. And will be my home until I die."

Eugenia walked out the door knowing she would always remember the lost look on Dawn's face. Her eyes were so sad, yet she seemed so innocent in her dress of blue silk, with the tiny lace trimming around the neck and cuffs of her long sleeves. She hurried down the front steps wanting to erase it all from her mind. All of it. The twenty-four hours that she had spent in hell. She forced her legs to move, even though they were still heavy with weakness. And her head, how it ached. But the sun shining, and the view of the upper street that stretched out before her gave her courage to go on.