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A 'Mail Order Bride' company agrees pay a young ladies entire expenses if she will marry single men out west. With the help of a brothel owner, a young boy allows himself to be disguised as a woman and soon finds himself heading west on a train. His only intention is to escape the city, however, the boy in costume, meets up with a kindly old woman who exposes him unwittingly to the linking spell. A VERY slow transformation.

Chapter 1

I caught the paper as it blew across the dusty cobble stone street, and quickly tucking it inside my shirt, I ran and hid under the porch of the busy hotel. Slowly, I unfolded the torn newspaper and began to read. Right away I noticed a big gaudy ad that said, "BRIDES WANTED." Below it was a smaller sub-head in bold stating, "Homesteaders out west needing healthy women of child-bearing age!" I laughed and quietly turned the page. "If only it were that easy," I mumbled to myself.

I slowly flipped the pages and calmly tucked it under the can that contained my candle, to keep it from blowing away. The pang in my stomach notified me that supper was rapidly closing in, so quietly I made my way to the entrance of my secret hiding place. Once determining the coast was clear, I shot out from under the porch and merged into the throng of passers-by.

The pang of hunger to a poor orphan boy of Irish decent knew no bounds, and theft of food was the only way I knew that could quell that pain. I was too young for decent labor, but too old for the handouts that the church was giving to the local street children. I had escaped the harsh life of the local orphanage to test the waters of living by my own hand, so terrible were the state-run establishments that to stay would have brought me to an early demise. I had been on my own for almost a year now, stealing what I needed, and catching a cozy sleep from a kindly soul here and there. For the most part, I was needing no one, and no one was needing me.

I headed toward the center of the great city, intent on finding something to sustain another worthless day on the streets of New York. Slowly I made my way across the street, eying a new merchant who was busy selling his wares to the local public.

The air was cool; Fall would be approaching soon as a late August breeze blew down the dark street. Beside me a horse whinnied and shifted against his harness; his large dark eyes studied me as I held near to the wall. The summer of 1880 proved hot and wet, but the fall promised to be much cooler. I shuddered at the thought of what another winter on the street would bring. I quickly made a furtive glance along the sidewalk and quickly crossed the multicolored bricks that made up the Lopshire Avenue.

I moved to the opposite side of the street. Near the corner, I studied a short, stocky merchant as he stacked apples in a cart outside his store window. I slowly made my way along the shops. Appearing to study the windows of one shop, closely beside the cart with the apples, I began to drop apples into my pocket, one by one. Soon having three apples, I saw on the opposite side, a bald grocer had some dried fish wrapped in a white waxed paper.

I waited until the man turned to discuss an item with an old woman, his black handlebar mustache in contrast with his shining bald head. Once I felt it was safe, I moved to the opposite window that was nearest his packaged fish. In one move, I lightly pilfered a package and disappeared into the alley where I ran as fast as my young legs would take me down a filthy street. Slowly I made my way back to my porch home.

I scurried beneath my porch in due time, hurrying so no one would see either me or my hiding place. I took a bite from an apple and held it with my teeth as I slowly opened the white waxed paper. I ate the apple in silence as I popped the cork on an old whiskey bottle that I had used to fill with water. I set down the apple and fingered the newspaper. Again I studied the gaudy advertisement and mulled over the possibilities. At the bottom was an address; as I held it up to a crack in my roof, a thin shaft of fading light allowed me to realize that this business was only a few blocks from where I called home.

I listened to the passing horses on the street, the shouts, the filth and despair. I knew that if I didn't get myself away from this city soon, I would most likely be dead in just a matter of months. Either icy winter would take my life, another street rat like myself might kill me to get what little I had, or, I may run afoul with the law. One way or another I was sure that my days here in this city were numbered. I just preferred to leave on my feet instead of feet first.

I began to form a plan, and it would need a disguise. Hopefully if my ruse worked, I could get away from New York without paying anything on my part. I slowly began to tear out the ad and once done, I felt a lot better about what I was attempting to do. One thing was for sure, I’d be needing some help...and I knew just where to get it!

I pushed the ad into my shirt pocket, all the while wondering if what I contemplated tomorrow was a crazy fool's adventure, or a last grasp at straws. Either way, I would do it with or without the help of my friend. I lifted the old can with my candle deep inside and glowing, and blew it out. As the darkness fell around me, I set the can back onto its crate, stretched out on my dirt bed and quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 2

Her name was Rose, and she was the head madam of a brothel that I would work for from time to time. She looked up and down the street, making sure that I wasn't followed by the local constables. "What brings you here, sonny?"

I sat down and ran my sleeve along my nose, "I want to get out of the city."

"Boy, are you asking for money? You know I can't spare any." She flopped down on the velvet couch and sipped her brandy from a teacup. "If I'd known you was looking for a handout this early in the morning I'd have sent you along your way." She frowned and pointed toward the clock on the wall, it was showing half past 5:00 a.m. She then glared, "Is the law after you? What did you do this time? I ought to box your ears for waking me...little street rat, do you know how often I'm able to get a morning's rest?" I looked at the floor, embarrassed and her expression softened. "Okay, now that you got me up, what's inside that head of yours this time?"

I said nothing but handed her the little clipping. "What's this?" She turned it over in her hand. "I don't understand. Why are you handing this to me?"

I looked down the hallway with a quick glance and then over my shoulder. "I aim to go west, using them."

"The Mail Order Bride Company?" She laughed, "And how do you propose to do that?" She handed the paper back to me, taking another dainty sip of her liquid breakfast. "You're forgetting one thing kid, they only take women...hence the emphasis on 'WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE?'" she laughed.

I swallowed hard and with a deep breath, began to let my idea unfold. "I figure that the Mail Order people need women to marry off to the bachelor homesteaders out west..."

"Go on," she squinted at me, unsure of where I was going.

"I'm thinking, if they thought I was a girl, they would pay my way out west. Once I got to wherever they were sending me, I could ditch the clothes and fade into the crowds like I do here."

"And you're wanting me to make you into a convincing girl?" She giggled and slapped her knee, "Just how old are you, Street Rat?"

I sat up a little taller, "I'm 19." She gave me a long look, because she knew that I was lying.
"Oh...really?" She tapped her foot and folded her chubby arms.

"Okay...I'm actually 18, but I'm as big as any woman of 19 or 20!" I retorted, lying through my teeth.

"I doubt if anyone could make you look 20. But, if you look here on your ad...it says, of childbearing age." She leaned forward and pointed to the bold print. "I'd have better luck making you look somewhere between 17 and 18."

"Does that mean you'll help me?" I asked, trying to not sound hopeful.

She gave a short laugh, "The thing is, kid, they're going to be looking for women, not girls. If we're going to pull this off, then you need to make a convincing woman."

I fingered the ad and pushed it back into my pocket, "So, I ask again, does that mean you'll help me?"

She sat staring into the brandy in her cup, "Sure. I'd love to put one over on those fellows. I'll make you so convincing that even your own father would sprout wood at your sight!" She snickered and took another drink from the cup.

"That won't be necessary; I just want a ticket west. I could really care less if I'm that convincing." I replied leaning against the soft velvet couch.

The busty blonde set her cup down, "If you want my help, Street Rat...you're going to be convincing. No 'just passing' will cut it for my help."

I smiled and shrugged, "Well, when do we start?" She laughed loudly and slapped my knee, leaving me feeling like I had gotten myself into something that I just might regret.

"Oh well, if it'll get me a ticket west...that's all that matters." I shrugged and laughed with her.

"We'll get you west...one way or another!" She broke into laughter again, falling into the couch where she stared at the ceiling, "Mail Order Bride..." Again she laughed hard until she fell off the side of the couch.

Chapter 3

"Get in," she said pointing to the huge tub.

"I'm not getting into that thing." I stood with a towel wrapped around my waist in the middle of the windowless room.

"When's the last time you had a bath?" she shot back.

"I had a bath once, and I didn't like it then either!" I growled.

"Oh quit your complaining and get into the tub!" She felt the water, "It's warm and will feel pretty good."

"Forget it," I said, searching for my clothes. "Where the heck did you put my stuff?"

"I dropped it into the chute, it's in the washroom by now," she smiled, jerking the towel from around my waist. "Quit whining and climb inside."

"It stinks," I growled, holding my nose and quickly turning my back toward her.

"That's the smell of 'clean.' Now quit stalling and get in." She laughed and got a brush down from the cabinet to scrub my back. Finally, she folded her arms and faced me, the long handle of the scrub brush still in one hand. "Look here, kid, how do you expect to pull this off when you smell like some decaying fish? No girl in her right mind would stand herself like that. Not even the girls who gut fish down at the docks!"

I stared into the mountain of bubbles and frowned, "Well then, I'll just be one of those rare 'stinky' ones that aren't in their right mind."

She rolled her eyes and stepped past me and into the hall; I figured she was going to give me an ultimatum. Once she left, I was through the door and out of the house, with or without clothes. She maintained her hand on the doorknob. I heard her talking to someone low in the hall, in a moment she returned to her spot of persistence.

I stepped away from her and back against the wall, covering my nakedness with my hands. She leaned against the linen closet and flipped my towel over her arm; I slowly backed toward the door. "I've changed my mind. I'll figure out an easier way to hitch a ride west."

"Don't be stupid, this will work if you only let me try and help you." Rose glanced past my head, causing me to turn around. Behind me were about four women who helped work the brothel. I spun back to Rose who had a smirk still resting on her face.

"This isn't fair!" I shot out as they closed in and deposited me into the frothy bath. "It stinks in here!" I shouted to their laughter.

"You still don't like that smell?" Rose stood up, suds falling slowly down the front of her sleeping gown. "We can fix that, can't we girls." They all began giggling as I sat in the neck deep water as one pretty girl dumped the contents of a bottle into the tub. "Besides making your skin soft and silky to touch, it'll make you smell so pretty, like the fresh scent of Lavender."

"How the heck am I supposed to be able to go back to my home, smelling like this?" I sputtered as a large pitcher of water was dumped over my head.

"We don't expect that at all. You can spend the night here with us and then we'll have you signed up as a bride, for the next trip west. Besides, you wouldn't want to go crawling under that filthy porch anyway, no self-respecting young lady would." She began to rake my back with the rough brush.

"Ouch! Damn it, that hurts!" I cursed aloud. She smacked me on the top of the head with the brush.

"Good girls don't curse! Isn't that right, ladies?" She laughed as she continued to scrub.

"Hell yes, Rose...hell yes!" One said, causing them all to giggle.

All the while they continued to scrub, clean, and wipe away my filth. I felt a great fear that soon, one of them may just hit bone. Rose reached into the flowery scented water and pulled my leg up, leaning down she looked at it closely. "This won't do." I looked at the spot where she had been examining, it only looked clean to me.

She returned, and even before I could resist she drew a straight razor down the entire length of my calf! "Hey! What the hell is that for?" I again felt the brush come down onto my scalp with a thud; I looked up into the giggling face of another brothel beauty.

"No respectable young lady would want all that unsightly fuzz on her leg, especially in my profession!" She smiled and splashed water across my smooth leg, washing the hair into the bath. “Besides, I like a smooth leg on my girls!

"But I'm not in your profession!" I shouted. “And I ain’t one of your girls!”

"Oh, that's right," she laughed and shrugged, "Oh well, can't leave a job half finished now can we?" She again drew the long blade close to my leg, finishing the lower leg, then continuing up and scraping the hair from my thigh as well. She didn't even have me raise it out of the bath; she shaved them under the water and out of sight of the bubbles. She gave me a sly smile, and whispered low, "I can tell somebody down there is happy..."

My face flushed with warmth, "Careful you don't cut something that I may need later," I shot back.

She brought her hand to the surface, laying the razor knife on the edge of the tub. "I have something here that will fix that! She opened up a jar and scooped a large handful of thick, white goo. She submerged her hands under the water, I could feel her spread it around my groin.

"Hey! Watch it there!" I shouted. "That stuff burns!"

She giggled, "It's a cream that we use on our clients that don't want to pay for services rendered. Trust me, it isn't permanent, but you won't be having that little problem for about two weeks. That is if you wash it off."

Another girl who was washing my hair laughed, "Look at it as your incentive to take a bath." They all began to laugh and giggle.

By this time, Rose moved around the table to the other side. She slowly scraped all the hair from the other leg, leaving it as smooth and void of hair as the first. "I don't understand why the heck you had to do that!" I growled.

Rose shrugged, "It's what we do all the time. No man likes a girl with hairy legs. Don't worry, it'll grow back eventually." She looked up from her work and frowned, "Lacy, Why did you do that to his hair?" She only giggled, causing the others to snicker as well. I touched my head, failing to notice anything different, I frowned at Rose.

"What did she do?" I asked.

The girl named Lacy piped up, "If this boy is supposed to pass as a girl, then we need to make her convincing. We only have one wig here and that's blonde. I figure if her short hair under the wig was brown then it would be pretty obvious that it was a wig. Now, the short hair is blonde too!" She finished and I watched Rose nod in approval.

"I got yellow hair?" I felt the top of my head and frowned.

"You have blonde hair, or if you prefer, flaxen colored hair. She's right, this will work well with the wig. Good idea Lacy." Rose slowly stood up from her kneeling position. "Ladies, get him out and march him down to the extra bedroom where he can get dressed. I watched them all exchange glances, then after a long pause they smiled and helped me from the water. Rose tossed me a towel so I could cover my sad member, I slowly wrapped it around myself and she stopped my hand. "Up over the chest, girls wouldn't wear it around their waist." I gave her a begrudging look that caused her to giggle, and then slowly wrapped it around my chest.

Chapter 4

Into the bedroom, I followed Rose, and she bade me to stop and move behind a three panel changing partition. "Toss these on and throw out the towel, once you've done that, come on around so we can have a look at you."

I tossed out the towel and picked the item she threw. "What the heck is this contraption?" I asked. "It's all silk and straps!"

"That's a fancy pair of bloomers with the straps sewn right in, and it's straight from Paris, France!"

I don't care if it's from Paris anywhere, I can't wear this...I'll look foolish!" I pouted.

"Trying to pass yourself off as a Mail Order Bride is foolish enough as it is, this is just one little step toward that outcome. Put it on." The frustration surfaced in her tone.

I stepped in and pulled it up to my hips, "What's all the little straps for?" I replied as I let it go.

"They are to hold your stockings up. Most women wouldn't wear something this expensive, but it was all we had." Rose said taking a seat on the bed.

I slowly walked out from behind the partition; there in front of me were almost a dozen scantily clad women. I inhaled deeply, then headed toward the bed. "Oh, for crying out loud! It's not like you're walking to the gallows!" Rose growled, causing the others watching to snicker.

She picked up a long cloth with seams running up and down its shiny surface, strings dangled from the ends. The strings connected it on one end, lacing it in a crisscross pattern up the entire surface of the garment. "Is that what I think it is?" I stared in disbelief.

"Probably. Amber, help him into it." Amber caught it as Rose threw, Lacy laughed and giggled, "Since you think it's so funny, Lacy, you may help Amber with him." Both girls smiled and held it out, "Step inside and let them pull it up onto your waist."

They drew it up my body and it settled at my hips, the top curved around gently into a low 'v' to accentuate a woman's cleavage. Since I had none, I guess it didn't matter. I felt the material; it was silky and soft. However, I was troubled by strange stiff items that had been sewn inside the material. Once they were finished, Rose motioned for a portly, but pretty faced woman to come over. Rose stood up and smiled, "Better hang on to something, dear; Rebecca can really put some muscle into the strings of a corset.

I felt her take hold of the strings and slowly draw it up, "This isn't so bad." I laughed to them. I could feel her picking at the strings then draw it in again. "Ugh, take it easy back there!" It felt as if she were trying to crush me with each pull.

Rose laughed, "It isn't so bad, is it?" She turned toward the other women, "This one doesn't think it's bad to wear a corset. Wait till Rebecca's done, then tell me that it isn't bad!" Again Rebecca drew on the strings, I felt as if my insides were being shoved out both ends.

"I can't breathe!" I gasped.

"Save it for somebody who cares." Rose laughed, "You'll get used to it eventually. We all do."

"I'm not planning on wearing this any longer than I need to." I whispered, still out of breath and holding on to the tall dresser for support.

One last time Rebecca pulled on the strings, and then tied them off at my waist.Rebecca leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Better get someone to help you out of that contraption, honey; I tied it so that you can't do it alone." I looked down into the slight swell of my chest; I did indeed look like a young woman in that corset. Rose stood up and walked over to my side; she began to pull at the skin that was confined within the chest area; by the time she was done, I was startled by the appearance of breasts she had manipulated from the loose skin upon my chest. It was strange for me to look down into a slightly swelling chest and the actual cleavage it created.

Then they rolled a long off-white stocking up my legs and hooked it with the little straps going every which way on my legs. Once that one was attached, they continued on with the other until both of my legs were encased in the thin, silky stockings.

Even before I could voice my concerns, they had me step into a short gauzy petticoat. It's fullness was apparent. It billowed out away from my body like a small, thin bell. A longer, second one was pulled over the first, this one had a wide six inch lace sewn along the bottom. A plain white shirt, with a high collar came next. The sleeves were long and puffy, ending in a wide wrist cuff spilling out a fine lace ruffle; it all effectively hid my entire arm from view. Over that they pulled a long blue skirt, so blue that it almost pulsed with femininity. It ended high on my waist, a captured bustle spilled out from behind. It was low enough to gently draw attention to my small pseudo breasts. Over the shirt they had me wear a tiny jacket that only came near my swelling hips, it was tight around my waist and as blue as the skirt that flowed across the floor with every move I made. Around my corset controlled, thin waist, there was nothing. However, below my waist the petticoats took over and ballooned, making my waist and hips look VERY feminine! I looked down and groaned, but I knew that they weren't done!

Around my neck they fastened a frilly, frothy lace wrap that fell against the tiny buttons of the shirt and only extended slightly below my chin. The entire outfit was heavy and warm; I was beginning to perspire from the activity of just dressing. I looked at Rose as she lay smiling on the bed, "I'm not sure I can do this, Rose."

"Sure you can, you're halfway there now any-ways." I rolled my eyes and watched as one carried the yellow wig over to where I was standing. The girl sat it upon my head and pinned it fast using a thin bent bobby pin. "We'll get you a fashionable bonnet to help you hold that wig on, Amy, can you see to it?" I heard one of the girls leave, closing the door quietly behind her.

Rose pointed toward a chair and had me sit, it was strange to not be able to slouch back into the seat, so rigid was the corset holding my back straight. They looked at my feet and one girl left the room momentarily, soon returning with a tall pair of shoes with buttons up their entire length. They pushed my foot inside and using an ivory handled button hook, they quickly gathered the shoes onto my feet. "Show her to the mirror, girls!"

Two of them helped me up and paused when they looked at my hands, "Rose, she needs something done to these!" Rose walked over and took my hand in her own, examining it.

"Clean them, file them, and give them a light buffing. That's about all we can do in such a short amount of time. She looked into my face, "Give him a light dusting of rouge to put some color into the cheeks, possibly a slight pink lip color may help as well. He needs to have a more feminine looking face too!" She held my chin and moved my head back and forth.

The girls descended on me like flies! One began to bend my eyelashes, using some strange looking equipment. She blackened them with a very fine brush, soon enough they were finished and gave me some breathing room. "How's he look, Rose?" Lacy asked.

Rose slowly walked around me, her arms behind her back. "How old would you say, girls?"

"Eighteen." Another said, "Seventeen." Rose only smiled as she pulled me toward the mirror.

"Since you have been such a charity case for our little group, I think we'll call you Charity." Rose looked around the room, and noticed a calendar that was hanging crooked on the wall still showing the month of August. Rose turned back toward the girls, "Her name is now Charity Ann August. Ann is my Mother’s name; I think it fits well for our dear little would-be bride." I felt my face flush as she turned me so I could see my reflection.

"Oh...I..I look like a girl!" I gasped.

"…Of child bearing age." Rose added laughing. "Now, let’s get you down to that office and get you signed up for a trip west." In stunned silence, she turned me toward the door; it had seemed only moments before, I had been sitting in her great parlor. "Wait here until I can make myself decent, then we'll take care of you.

Chapter 5

By noon Rose escorted me down to the Mail Order building. I felt very conspicuous walking in those strange clothes. On advice from Rose, I maintained my balance in the tall shoes without walking like a farmer. We strode into the lobby where Rose rang a bell. A short little man walked around the corner; once he recognized Rose he seemed a bit stand-offish.

"May I help you...Madam." His tone showed his contempt of Rose.

"You can help me by getting that hoity-toity sound from your tone, Richard!" She pulled me closer; the little man looked over his spectacles at me. "Charity here, is wanting to find a husband from out west."

The little man scowled, "Rose, we aren't in the brothel business. We're looking for fine upstanding young ladies that will marry bachelors out on the homesteads."

Rose pointed a painted finger at me, "What bachelor wouldn't want a lovely young thing like Charity here in his bed?" She got quieter and smiled at him, "She is the daughter of a very prominent businessman in New York. Her father was taking liberties with Charity. Her mother asked me to see that she gets on the train as soon as possible." She leaned closer to the shorter man, "I'd take it as a favor to me if you could swing this for us. I might even see my way to letting you in...on some night you're working late." The little man's eyes lit up.

He opened the book; I got a 45 year old guy in Independence that's looking for some little gal to care for his small youngins. That might be a good fit for you?"

"Nope, too old. I can't do that to the poor girl." She turned back to me and winked, "especially after what she's been through with her incestuous father."

He flipped another page, "I have another man who has been working his claim so much that he can't get into a town and spark a girl proper." He ran his finger on down the page, "Says he's a bit older than this little gal looks...this fella's about 26."

"None younger?" Rose asked, trying to sound sincere and look out for my concern.

"Nope, all of the rest are all filled." He poised his pen over the page, "I can have a ticket with your name on it right away. Along with the $12.00 traveling money he sent along with his fee." He looked from me to Rose, "Train's leaving at one."

I cleared my voice and tried to sound as feminine as I could, "One…today?" I tried to not sound as shocked as I truly was, "Uh...where about does this farmer working the homestead claim live?"

The man glanced into his book, "Inside the Dakota Territory, near the town of Webster." He waited, still looking at me. "Look ladies, this is all I have. If you wait a month or so, I may have a few more bachelors for you to ponder over. Right now I have to get the other tickets to the ladies...it's either leave today, or wait."

I looked at Rose and swallowed, "I'll take the ticket."

"Which fella?" He again poised with his pen, waiting. "Stability or youth?"

Rose blurted out in her usual tone, "Don't you mean…old man that needs a babysitter or a lonely man looking for a cook and a gal he can score in the sack?"

The little mousy man shrugged his shoulders, "Either way, she looks as if she can handle it." His reply made Rose smile as he quietly waited for my answer.

I closed my eyes, still unbelieving that I was standing in that room dressed like a woman! "Since I don't really care much for the city life, I don't want to be sent to Independence. I guess the younger man in the Dakota's will do."

He marked in his book, "Full name?"

I could barely speak; it was a moment before I finally found my trembling voice. "Charity Ann August."
"Age?" He asked, not even looking up.

"Rose blurted out, "She's 17." He looked up at me and frowned.

"18 years of age." He said as he scrawled the looping eight. "This establishment doesn't have a problem with younger ladies, but the train folks don't like anyone traveling alone under 18." He smiled at me, "So, today's her birthday." Then he smiled, showing his crooked teeth, "Happy birthday, Charity."

He spun the ledger around to face me, "Sign this page here…and here." With a trembling hand I picked up the pen. "Rose, you're her witness, so you need to sign it here."

For almost a second I studied the page, and then penned the name 'Charity Ann August' into the spaces that he indicated. Rose added her name just below mine.

"Usually we'd like to have you write the fella' a few letters before we send you to him, I guess we'll have to forgo that this time. Uh...I have to ask you this, Charity? Are you healthy, pregnant or unable to perform your wifely duties?"

"Well…" I shot a quick glance toward Rose, "I'm healthy, and I can honestly say that I'm not pregnant."

Rose smiled at the little man, "She's never been with a man before." She whispered and gave him a wink.

The little man smiled, "That's okay, most of the younger girls like her haven't been alone with a man before. That will change soon enough, by next spring; they're usually expecting their first child." He had a wry little smile that I would have loved to smack off the side of his head, but I wasn't worried as the first chance I got I was ditching this costume and jumping the train.

Rose only laughed and waived her hand, daintily. "Now, Richard if you're done with us, we need to run and get her belongings from…my...er…her home."

The man smiled and nodded, grabbing the tickets, his coat and followed us to the door where he flipped his sign. I nodded to Rose to get a ticket but the man only smiled and moved them further away, "Only when you board the train. You can't believe how many young ladies we've had skip out and use the ticket just to get west." He pulled the door closed behind us and locked it. "It's been so bad lately that we've had to take precautions to ensure that our ladies arrive to their men safe and sound. A pang of fear leaps into my throat! But a quick glance to Rose only brought a shrug from her.

Once we neared the brothel, Rose and I parted company with the little man. I was thankful to leave him behind as I was sure he continued to study my form and smile from behind us, making me very uncomfortable. As her door closed I collapsed on the sofa, "Now, how am I going to get myself out of this one?"

"You're a resourceful boy, once you're away, just melt into the crowds. They'll be looking for a girl named Charity, not a boy named...exactly what is your name kid?"

I shrugged, "The people in the orphanage called me Joe, but I don't know if that is my real name or not." I looked down at the outfit I was wearing. It was so full and feminine that I couldn't even make out my legs beneath its blue cloth. It did help me with one little aspect of my deceit, I could sit like I wanted and they would be hard pressed to see if my legs were together or not.

I forced my legs apart, just to prove it to myself and felt them slowly be drawn together, Rose laughed, "I know what you're trying to do, but it won't work. The straps on the stockings are keeping you from spreading your legs out, aren't they?" I nodded sullenly. "It is supposed to keep a young lady dignified and proper; I guess it works on young gents as well." She snickered as she left, heading down the hallway.

A short time later she returned, handing me a bag with a calico type material, "What's this for?" I asked as she pulled me to my feet.

"If they check your bags, it will give them the impression that you are a young woman on a trip." She quickly popped it open, "There's another dress, in case you soil the one you're wearing and a sleeping corset. I gave you my old gold hand mirror with matching brush and comb, a clean hankie that is as dainty as you are supposed to be and a shawl, in case the weather is chilly. There should be the bonnet that I had Amy pick up, make sure you put it on right now."

"That's it? Won't they become suspicious if I don't bring more?" I worried, "I can't have them suspecting me of anything!" I said placing the blue calico bonnet onto my head, the stiff brim acting like a blinder, only allowing just a small portion in my view at one time.

Rose laughed and adjusted the bow beneath my chin, "They won't think anything of it. Most of those girls have to travel light anyway. But if you're really that worried, I have an old trunk that is full of some odds and ends that my mother gave to me. Most of it is old junk. Sell it, or use it, I don’t care. I don't plan on ever making good use of it. If you're asked, tell them it's YOUR dowry."

We lugged the trunk from her bedroom, I could have carried it but she didn't want anyone thinking anything different. To any person on the street, we'd be just a couple of women carrying a heavy trunk. We carted it down the stairs and began to walk toward the train station, where we could place it into the luggage car. About two blocks from the station I fell, because my heel had become tangled with the lace in my petticoat. I wasn't hurt, but the little trunk spilled out into the street, a kindly man stooped to help us gather the items back into it.

"Where you heading with such a heavy load, ladies?" The man asked.

I glanced at him, and it was a constable, dressed in his blue uniform! I steeled my nerves, then, in my higher pitched feminine voice I answered, "I'm leaving within the hour on the west bound train. My Aunt and I are trying to carry this heavy trunk to the station." I placed my hand on his arm, "Do you think you could be a dear and carry it the rest of the way?" It was all I could do to keep from laughing.

He tugged at the long draping chain that hung from his pocket, it was his watch fob, "Sure, I guess I could spare the time." As if to show us his prowess, he swung it high onto his shoulder and balanced it there as we walked beside him.

Rose smiled at me and then looked up at the trunk high on his shoulder, "It's too bad you're heading west, Charity, this strapping man would make great husband material." I widened my eyes in horror at her comment.

He visibly blushed, "I appreciate the complement, ladies. However, I'm sorry but I'm already happily married." He laughed, but I'm sure he knew that Rose was kidding the both of us. He pushed his way to the office and sat the trunk down, doffing his hat. "Ladies." With that he turned back and left with our thanks still ringing in his ears.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, turning around I came face to face with the little man from the Mail Order Bride, company. "I wasn't sure if you were going to make it." He handed me two tickets, "This is for the train, you'll have a switch in Chicago, that train will take you all the way to Appleton, Minnesota. The other, smaller one is for the stage out of Appleton to the town of Webster. Once there, I'll arrange a ride for you to your future home. In all, the trip should only take a few days, no more than a week."

I forced a smile, but inside I was scared. My look to Rose said it all, she turned me with a hug and whispered in my ear, "It'll be okay, you'll see. Somewhere between here and there you'll get your chance." I wasn't so sure; It would be a long way to pretend to be this woman.

I watched Rose back away; she gave me a short wave and smiled. I glanced toward the train, "Go on," the little man said as he stood beside Rose. I took a deep breath and moved toward the steps that led inside the passenger car. A man held his hand out for me, and with some hesitation, I took it and moved inside. I swung into the nearest seat by a window, and raising the Isinglass curtain, I contemplated what I was about to do. My mind was whirling as the train lurched with a sudden groan.

"It's now or never!" I said to myself. My heart panicked as I stood, only to be thrown into my seat by a shudder sent through the cars. Slowly the train gained momentum as it pulled away from the station. Two short blasts of the whistle were sounded, and under a great vaporous plume that swallowed those that stood watching. We began to ease away from the station.

It was with fear in my eyes as I watched Rose disappear suddenly within the steam induced fog, gone forever. And here I sat, dressed like this girl, alone.

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