From my work in progress draft, titled Chapter 13, in 1913. Liam Muldoon is 23. He and his friends/co-workers on the railroad are wanting to form a group (union) to attach themselves to the International Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees. *This is what I am currently researching.

“My apologies, Tim, that I couldn’t make any headway with Mr. Tillis.” Liam climbed the steps behind Tim up to The Blue River’s front door. Dishes, and voices echoed inside the lodging house, when Tim unlatched the door and stepped inside. “My hope now is that our group of six will have enough power to force the important changes we need.” 

Liam breathed in deep of the aroma of afternoon coffee. He had skipped lunch because of his nervous stomach, so he hoped there would be cakes or cookies to accompany his drink. He paused to allow his eyes to adjust to the dimness inside. The carpeted staircase rose in front of him, and several doors, both opened and closed split on both sides of it. Fresh paint assailed his nostrils. “Miss Portillo keeps up on repairs, doesn’t she? Good for business.”

“She does.” Tim pointed in the direction of the dining room. “I’ll be right back after I check on Dan’s whereabouts. Being Sunday, he could be napping in his room. A nap sounds good to me.” He rushed up the wooden staircase.

Liam found an empty table by the window overlooking the Missouri River. Something about water always soothed Liam’s angst. We could accomplish this together. The swirling river’s movements mesmerized and slowly eased his tension. Ducks paddled near its shore and two fishermen cast their lines further upstream. “I’ll have Green River access myself when the claim is approved.”

“Was right, Mr. Muldoon. Dan is on his way down. Napping as I suspected. Let’s order something, I’m hungry.”

After Tim settled in his chair, a young blonde woman approached. Miss Portillo. “Hi, Tim. Mr. O’Hare, I mean.” She flushed and turned her gaze to the lacy tablecloth. 

Tim smiled. “We’d like two cups of your coffee, Angie, and whatever you’ve baked for the afternoon crowd. Dare we hope you’ve made fresh cake or pie?”

She nodded. “Either chocolate cake or a berry pie. Would you like cream or sugar?”

Liam’s mouth watered at the mention of the afternoon treats. “Mine is fine black. Since I can get a piece of your cake.” He glanced at his watch hooked to his chain again. Ten minutes at the most had passed. Time couldn’t pass fast enough. He jiggled his leg, then pushed on his knee to stop it. Patience. Perseverance. One step at a time will do the job. God, may Your sense of justice and fairness prevail. 

“What do you think of Angie?” Tim’s eager expression invited his opinion, yet what did he know about her? 

Liam pushed the silverware aside and folded his hands on the tablecloth. “I’ve seen her here a couple of times. Never spoke more than a few sentences with her to order a meal. I’d say she seems like a nice person to everyone.”

Tim huffed. “That’s it? Nothing else? What about how pretty she is?” 

“That’s a more obvious thing to judge.” Liam sniffed. “But since you want more, I’d say she’s nearly as pretty as Laura, er, Flo. Miss Andersen.” 

“No sir, you can’t change what you first said. Who is Laura? I don’t recall her.” 

Liam glanced around to find out if his coffee and cake were on the way. He blew out a breath. No sidestepping it. “A young woman I knew a few years back. She moved to Faribault with her family. Haven’t seen her in quite some time. Here it comes.” A greatly desired interruption.

Angie set the cups of coffee and two plates with chocolate icebox cake before the men.

Tim smiled up at her. “Thank you. Hey, are you going to the dance this Saturday night? I plan to go. I’ll look for you there. Are you?”

“Sure. I’ll go since you are. Talk to you later, I’ve got a customer waving me over.” 

Liam savored the first bite of the chilled chocolate frosting melting inside his mouth. Rich. Not too sweet. And cake as moist as fresh bread. He shut his eyes for a second. God bless the monks who created chocolate.

“Hey now, drink your coffee and wake up, Liam.” Tim grinned at him. “Angie’s, Miss Portillo’s, cooking is noteworthy, isn’t it?” He forked a big chunk of cake and cut the bite in half before inserting it into his mouth. “M, m.”

Liam swallowed. “Best thing to happen today so far. Let’s discuss plans before the others arrive. How about we vote on having titled officers for our group? A Chairman, Vice Chairman, and a Secretary. That way we’ll be more organized and count on who is accountable for what issues we think are important to address.” 

“Yep. Good idea.” Tim ate his serving of cake in what seemed like four bites. 

“Don’t believe in savoring a good thing?” Liam chuckled. “God made us with smaller mouths than He could’ve because He knew some of us would gulp down good food like dogs.”

“Pardon me, friend, but I’ve a bit of a sweet tooth.” Tim dabbed at his lips with his napkin. “Here’s the sleepyhead now.” 

Dan ran his hand over his tousled golden hair, and strands poked up further. “Hey fellas. That coffee smells good.” He turned and waved for Miss Portillo and set a pad of paper with a pencil on the table.

Angie sent Dan a nod, finished up poring coffee for a customer, and returned to their table again. “I believe you’d like a cup of coffee? Anything else?”

“Ah, you’re a sweetheart.” Dan pointed at his friend’s empty plates. “I’d like what they had. By the looks of the crumbs, it was chocolate cake. Thank you, darling.”

Liam glanced at Tim. “Well, Dan, Tim’s already got a claim on her. Didn’t you know that? You’d best choose someone else to woo.”

“Apologies, friend.” Dan grinned at Tim. “I’ll drop it.”

The entry door into The Blue River squeaked open, the rest of their group filed through it, and joined them.