Callie's Calamity

As the daughter of a high class family in South Carolina, the worst thing Callie has to worry about is surviving a ball or other social gathering without making a fool of herself. But when tragedy strikes in the fall of 1875, Callie decides to follow her best friend to Colorado to start a new life.

James has had enough with people stealing his life's work, and relocating to Denver is the perfect way to start over. Meeting Callie at the boarding house next door is just the icing on the cake.

When James invites Callie to help him with a new invention, sparks fly between them. But when their past comes back to haunt them, they must decide if they'll fight for each other, or if their former lives are too much to handle.

Callie pushed herself up to standing and wiped the mud and dust off her skirts the best she could. Her curls she’d worked on all morning were flying everywhere, and people stopped to stare. She lifted one foot, then the other, making sure she hadn’t sprained either. Both wrists seemed fine, and she managed escaped a fat lip this time.

“One of these days you’ll remember there’s a step right here.” Samantha, Callie’s best friend, laughed and straightened Callie’s bonnet. “Let’s go get you changed so we’re not late for tea.”

“I think this is a sign.” Callie glared at the carriage that splashed through the puddle next to her. “Can we please just go somewhere else? Anywhere.”

Samantha laughed and looped her elbow through Callie’s. “It’s not a sign. It’s just your ability to find ways to fall into mud puddles. Ah, there she is.”

Callie blinked in confusion and turned. “What is my mother doing here?”

“Oh, dear. Look at you. I guess Samantha was right.” Mother laughed. She held out a gown and gestured toward the shop. “Change in there, and then we’ll head to tea.”

Callie glanced between her mother and her friend. “You planned this?”

Samantha patted her on the shoulder. “It rained last night. I warned her this might happen, and she came prepared.”

“I’m not that predictable.” Callie snatched the dress from Mother and stalked into the dress shop. The clerk looked up from his desk and went back to work. She’d been in here often enough to clean up that he never questioned anymore.

She huffed as she changed, fighting the ribbons as she loosened them. It wasn’t her fault the ground was so uneven in that spot. Or that Samantha always had something funny to say right as they were walking past. 

The new gown was the newest style in South Carolina, and much more comfortable than the one Samantha had chosen for her. Mother must have picked it up on the way to meet them. Callie left the old one in the changing room—she’d pick it up later after they mended it again—then went out to find her friend.

“There you are. What a beautiful gown.” Samantha looped her arm through Callie’s again. “All right, let’s go to tea.”

Mother walked alongside them. “There’s no need to be nervous. This tea is just like the others we’ve been to except there will be potential suitors present. You have four brothers. Just talk to these men like you would your brothers.”

Callie nodded. “I know, Mother. We’ve gone over this a million times before. I fell—I didn’t lose my mind.”

 “One would wonder.” Mother patted her on the shoulder. “Now, I’ll be with the other ladies in the drawing room. Samantha, please tell me you’ll make sure she doesn’t embarrass herself.”

“That is the goal.” Samantha nodded and smiled to a young man who passed by. “But Callie is her own person, and I’m sure she’ll have her say.”

Callie rolled her eyes. She loved Samantha almost like a sister, but that almost meant that she wanted to punch her at times. “I’ll be fine.”

They stopped at a large manor with lush gardens in front. Wagons pulled up with guests, while others came in by foot. This was Callie’s first time here, but she recognized some of the other guests who were arriving, dressed in their finest. It was a good thing Mother had brought the new gown. Callie would have felt out of place otherwise.

Callie was careful not to trip on the stone path as they walked up to the main door. Why she had to be so accident-prone was beyond her.

“You’ll be all right, sweetheart.” Mother kissed her cheek and separated from her as they entered the home.

Callie turned to Samantha. “I’d really hoped she could stay with us. You know, another buffer between me and humiliating myself.”

Samantha laughed. “You’ll be fine. Come on—I see Bess and Rachel over there.”

Perfect. Callie relaxed and followed her best friend across the room. The tea was already much better knowing that her other friends were there as well. They were flirts, and would catch the eye of every eligible bachelor in the place while she hid behind her teacup.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. If you’ll take your seats, we’ll be serving tea in moments.” Mr. Wilmington stood at the front.

Callie hesitated, biting her lip. Something seemed off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. The tingle going up her spine usually came right before something bad happened, and it was never wrong. But Samantha shot her a look, and as much as Callie wanted to investigate, she knew she’d better sit down. 

“Samantha? Does it feel . . . odd? Like something is going to happen?”

“That’s just your nerves, Callie. It’ll be just fine. Look, it’s your favorite cake. White with white frosting so it won’t stain if you get it on your dress. And your favorite tea.”

Callie shook her head and leaned closer. “No, I mean, I have a feeling something is going on. You know, ‘the’ feeling.”

Samantha pursed her lips. As much as she liked to tease Callie, she knew better than to argue. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Just stay calm and we’ll make it through this. Then we can investigate.”

Callie finally nodded. “All right. Could you pass me the cake?”

“Here you go.” Samantha served her a piece. “And don’t look now, but you seem to have caught the attention of more than one man here tonight.”

“That’s the last thing I wanted to have happen. Curse this dress Mother bought me.” Callie stabbed her cake with her fork and took a bite. She closed her eyes and groaned. “Oh, this is good. I think I might need a second helping.”

Samantha sighed. “Keep eating like that, and you won't have to worry about talking to any men because you will have scared them away. You’re right, though. This is the best cake I’ve ever had.”

“Which is why I want a second piece.” Callie took another bite, then froze. She could have sworn the floor moved. “Wait. Did you feel that?”

“Feel what—?” Samantha’s words were cut off as the room shook. 

Plates crashed to the ground, and pieces of ceiling fell from above. People screamed as they scattered, running for any doorway they could find. Callie grabbed Samantha’s hand and pulled her under the table. Callie held her friend close and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the screams around her. 

“You and your feelings. Maybe sometime you can figure out what the problem is before it happens.” Samantha’s voice wobbled into the movement. 

“If only it worked that way.” 

Ten seconds passed, then twenty, then thirty before the shaking finally subsided. Callie didn’t move for another minute just to make sure it was done.