Kate’s Railroad Chef

Kate Flanagan came to Jubilee Springs as a mail order bride for one of the local miners. Although she initially preferred another man with whom she corresponded, the major draw for accepting the proposal she did was that her sister lived in the same town. Only after she arrives does she realize another woman has claimed his heart. Garland McAllister works as the Jubilee Springs ticket agent for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Having been a stutterer all his life, he has dealt with ridicule and social rejection by developing quiet interests, like reading and cooking. He soon finds himself drawn to Kate, especially after he rescues her from a train wreck. Unfortunately, she came to town to become another man’s wife. Since she cannot be his, and it is unlikely he will easily find a woman willing to marry a stutterer, he decides to fulfill his other dream—becoming a chef. He starts the new year by opening his own restaurant during the weekend hours he does not work for the railroad. But how can he manage employees—assuming he can eventually afford to hire some—or take food orders when the more stress he’s under, the more difficult he finds it to speak clearly? In spite of careful planning, on opening night, more people than Garland anticipated show up to order supper. Things begin to fall apart and failure rears its ugly head. Along with his heart, is his business doomed? Or will he succeed in fulfilling both his dreams?