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Secord, Proprietor       
     
                  That evening, thoroughly exhausted and entirely pleased with herself, Claire decided she deserved a hot meal for all her hard work. She strolled down to Rose’s Café and ordered the blue plate special. Connie served her the meal and refilled Claire’s water glass. Moments later she came back with the blue enamel coffee pot and topped off Claire’s mug.
                  “ Miss Rose , this dinner was fabulous! Did you prepare it?” Claire asked, wiping her mouth delicately and setting aside her fork. Connie laughed as she surveyed the scant remains on Claire’s plate. Two pieces of fried chicken, roasted potatoes, steamed carrots, and an enormous slice of peach pie had disappeared. Claire delicately wiped her mouth as if s h e hadn’t just devoured it all.
                  “ My cook handles the meals. I did make the pie, though. Desserts are my specialty. In fact, those peaches came from my own tree back behind my restaurant here.”
                  Claire got a sudden grin on her face. “You own this place? Rose ’ s is your café? ”
                  “Yeah, well , it’s mine and the bank ’s .” Connie’s brown eyes were twinkling. “Someday I’ll own it free and clear. Until then I just keep serving and making payments. ”
                  Claire motioned to the empty chair at her table.
                  “Please, if you have a moment, would you join me? I’d love to hear more about your restaurant and how you came to be here.”
    Connie pulled out the oak chair and plunked down. “Feels good to get off my feet.  I come from a large family over in Council Bluffs. You went through it right before you crossed the Missouri , ” She paused . Claire smiled and nodded. “Anyway, I learned how to cook and bake helping to raise a passel of brothers and sisters. As soon as the youngest was in school I figured I ’d done my part and skedaddled. I found a job waiting tables at this place and started socking away money and ideas. When the owners retired I bought the place from them, oh, about three years ago. I cleaned and painted, hung some curtains and improved on the menu. I also started baking my special p ies and, well, they turned out to be a huge hit.” She smiled, showing perfect white teeth. “Turns out folks around here have sweet tooths. Thank goodness. I grow fresh vegetables and herbs in the garden out back and even had fruit tre e s sent out from back east. Fresh apples, peaches and pears make great pies, cobblers and cakes.”
                  “I’ll say. I completely devoured that luscious piece of peach pie.” Claire leaned over and whispered in a conspiring tone, “If my corset wasn’t s o tight I’d have another!”               Connie guffawed before quickly sober ing up. “ Say, I was awfully sorry to hear about your aunt. She was a very special lady. We were in a quilting club together. Your uncle, he was special , too. This town is going to miss those two. They were some of the earliest settlers .”
                  Claire nodded and fought the tears from coming back. “I only wish I’d been able to spend some time with them. Why is it that you think you have plenty of time for loved ones and then they’re gone?”   
                  She shook her head and soft brown tendrils danced about her face. She squared her shoulders and lifted her head. She noticed the counter of baked goods again and inspiration struck.
                  “ Say, my grand re - opening of the store is Saturday. Would you bake cookies and prepare lemonade for me? I’ll pay you well. It would really help me out, and your baking skills are sure to be miles ahead of mine.” Claire smiled, hoping to win Connie over without much persuasion. Connie smiled back, her eyes shining.