Captain William Wilkerson and his wife Judith were as amiable as their daughter, Pamela. They set a wonderful meal before the two travel weary women and listened attentively to them as they retold their recent experiences.

     Judith, a bird-like woman with laughing eyes, was taken by the ladies courage. "Your story is absolutely amazing. How brave you were, my dears."

     Lottie and Kate shared a smile.

     "Which is exactly what bravery is, young lady." Capt. Wilkerson pointed out. The Captain came from a long line of seafaring men. At first glance his weathered face seemed unfriendly but as soon as he smiled, which he did often, any such idea was immediately dispelled.

     Pamela noticed that her guests were only slightly interested in their food. "Why don’t we show you to your rooms and we’ll continue our talk in the morning?"

     Her thoughtfulness was rewarded with grateful smiles. Judith Wilkerson took Lottie under her wing and proceeded to show her to her room. Pamela linked arms with Kate and led her up the stairs behind the older women.

     The room, which was to be Kate’s for the duration of their stay in San Francisco, was more beautiful than anything the reporter had ever seen. Cotton candy colored curtains graced the high window frames and blue and white braided rugs covered the hardwood floor. Landscapes painted by Mrs. Wilkerson hung on the floral-printed walls.

     "Oh, Pamela," Katie exclaimed. "How could you ever leave a home like this to live in a tiny town like Crescent City?"

     "I didn’t leave my home to live in a town," she smiled. "I left my parents to live with Donald."

     "You must love him very much."

     "I do," Pamela beamed.

     Kate sat on the bed, running her hand over the thick down quilt. "Did you love him from the start?"

     "I suppose so. Our families knew each other way before either of us was born. In fact there was only a brief time when we weren’t sure we would be married."

     "When was that?"

     Pamela sat next to her new friend. "The day he announced he would be pursuing a medical career. Doctor’s give so much of their time to others, I just didn’t want to share him with anyone."

     "You loved him that much."

     Pamela grinned, "Well, actually, Donald thought it was because I was spoiled."

     "Spoiled?"

     "He was right. I’m an only child and was used to being the center of attention. Donald was the only person in my life who didn’t cater to my every whim."

     "Yet you married him anyway."

     "I wanted and needed him in my life. Donald challenged me to do some nursing while he studied medicine. I did and discovered I loved it. By the time we married, I had gained a deeper respect for my husband’s work and he got a wife who was good at something more than attending charity events."

     Kate smiled, "And now you live happily ever after."

     "Well, it hasn’t always been happily but after twelve years we have always been together. What about you, Katie, are you and Mr. Bolt…?"

     "Engaged?" Katie shook her head. "I’m afraid I wouldn’t make him a very good wife."

     "Have you given yourself time to think about it?"

     "Not really. Up until a few weeks ago, Josh was just Josh and I thought he felt the same about me. I don’t know what to think any more."

     "Well, you have a week to relax, reflect on your feelings and enjoy yourself while you wait for him to recuperate. And to help you get into the mood…."

     Pamela went to a large wardrobe across the room and flung open the doors. Kate saw that it was filled with beautiful gowns.

     "These are all yours?"

     "They were. None of them fit me now but I have a feeling they would suit you perfectly."

     She took out a frock of soft lavender. "Why not wear this when you visit Joshua?"

     "He’d never recognize me in something so fine."

     "But would he like it?"

     Katie fingered the rich material, "I’m certain he would."

     "The dress is yours, Katie and all the others. Seattle doesn’t have the reputation of being a city of fashion and a pretty young lady must have a dress or two like this at her disposal."

     "Thank-you Pamela, I’ll take this one but only this one. You see…" she paused, then proceeded with difficulty, "we’ve had a fire in Seattle. Twenty-five of the girls lived in the dormitory that burned to the ground. They lost everything." Katie’s voice grew soft. "I just couldn’t own gowns like this when I know they have nothing."

     "A fire too?" Pamela marveled. "Do you have any monotony in your life, Kate Macready?"

     "Not much," she admitted.

     "Listen, several of my old schoolmates still live in the area. They’ve married well and order at least three or four gowns a season. They wear them once or twice and then forget them. I’m sure we can pull together enough gowns to outfit your friends in Seattle. What do you say?"

     "God has led us into the arms of an actual angel!" Katie exclaimed.

     Pamela laughed outright. "If Donald heard you say that he would think you were the one with the fever and not Joshua." She headed for the door. "Sleep as long as you need to, Katie, and choose any of those dresses you like. I’m planning to show you off to San Francisco tomorrow. Good-night."

     Pamela closed the door behind her. Katie then realized that she had never told her host that she had lived and worked in San Francisco only months before.

     Oh well, I’ll tell her in the morning if the subject comes up. The girl walked over to the wardrobe eyeing the beautiful gowns in amazement. Papa always wanted this for me. I never believed I could ever wear such finery and here it is being dumped into my lap.

     The girl fell backward onto the soft bed and drifted off to sleep within minutes. Her dreams were filled with visions of a happily ever after all her own.